On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the
upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending
with the pick for 1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#8 Xavier Neyens
3B Mount Vernon
(WA)
18/years old
6' 4" 200
COMMITTED - Oregon State
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 65 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 |
Field: 50 | Overall: 55
There have been nine high school hitters to be drafted in the
first round and signed out of the state of Washington in the history of the
Draft, the best of which came in 2019 in the form of Corbin Carroll. Long known
for his bat, Neyens’ increase in power has helped him make the jump to a
top-level prospect, one who was extremely busy on the summer showcase circuit,
playing in events including MLB’s High School All-American Game and the Area
Code Games.
Neyens has long been seen by area scouts as a potentially
elite hitter from the left side of the plate with an outstanding approach. He
made some adjustments to his setup and swing, adding leverage and starting to
show off at least plus raw power and the ability to not only get to it, but to
do so to all fields. There was some concern about the increase in his
swing-and-miss rate as the summer progressed, though some scouts who know him
well think he was gassed after playing what one evaluator estimated was well
over 100 games during the summer.
While he’s not a runner, the 6-foot-4 Neyens is athletic with
a solid chance to stick at third despite his size. The Oregon State recruit’s
arm certainly plays from the hot corner, showing the ability to fire fastballs
up to 95 mph from the mound, leading to comparisons as a left-handed-hitting
version of Austin Riley.
2-26-25 –
MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB
Draft
https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/mlb-mock-draft-2025/
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS
The 2025 MLB Draft offers a lot of enticing left-handed power
hitters early, including Mount Vernon High School’s Xavier Neyens. He should be
able to have a long career at third base, largely thanks to his arm strength
and sufficient athleticism for the position. What the Pittsburgh Pirates would
really be picking here is Heyens’ light-tower power, with the ceiling to hit
30-plus home runs in his prime years. He is behind some of his peers in terms
of his plate discipline along with major swing-and-miss issues, but the
18-year-old offers All-Star upside.
2-25-25 - 2025 MLB Draft: A closer look at the top 20 high
school prospects entering the spring
4. Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Washington)
Neyens is a hefty 6-foo-4 with raw power from the left side
of the plate. He drives the ball to all fields and has arguably the most
long-term home run potential in the class. He’s listed as a third baseman and
projects at one of the corner infield or outfield spots long term.
1-28-25 –
MLB 2025 Mock Draft 2.0: Predictions for Every 1st-Round Pick
5. St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS
(WA)
The Cardinals have often targeted prep hitters with loud raw
power early in the draft, and Neyens fits the mold with a strong 6'4",
200-pound frame and a 50-hit, 65-power offensive profile. He has been up to 95
mph with his fastball off the mound and that arm strength plays well at the hot
corner where he should be able to stick long-term.
1-27-25 - Just Baseball –
2025 MLB Draft - Top 80 High School Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-high-school-prep-prospects/
5. Xavier Neyens – 3B
HT/WT: 6’4/205 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Mount Vernon (WA) |
Commitment: Oregon State | Age: 18.8
It’s not too often that the state of Washington is home to
one of the top prospects in the country, but Neyens is putting himself in rare
territory with his tools and performance.
With an advanced approach, top-of-the-scale bat-to-ball
skills, and loud power from the left side, Neyens’ offensive potential is
sky-high. He is rather passive, but Neyens does a good job of staying within
the zone and limiting chases.
The power itself grades out as plus with natural loft and
loud bat speed, playing to all fields. He creates a tight coil with his core
during his load, allowing his body to rotate rapidly and allowing his hands to
explode through the zone.
Against premier pitching, he’s already tattooed baseballs at
110 MPH. It’s loud. Neyens has the tools to stick at the hot corner, though
some scouts express concern about the footwork at the position, as it can get
rather clunky.
With that note out of the way, Neyens has the soft hands and
strong arm to handle the position. If he moves off third base, he’d get a
chance in a corner outfield position. Neyens is currently committed to the West
Coast powerhouse of Oregon State.
2-10-25
FLO Baseball - 2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0-
https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/13555752-2025-mlb-mock-draft-10-nats-stunner-with-the-no-1-pick
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon
(Washington)
The Pirates could take Cam Cannarella here if they want a
player who could move through the system quicker. And perhaps they should.
The quintessential small-market team in all of sports has a
ticking clock on a championship window it did nothing to enhance last year when
the team was competitive for two months before cratering.
This team is seemingly refusing to spend money on free agents
this offseason.
1-21-25 –
Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB
Mount Vernon, WA third baseman Xavier Neyens has been working
out for every team under the sun this month as he prepares for his 2025 season.
Bat speed really stands out. Pretty enormous left-handed
power projection. Potential Top 20 pick in July.
1-17-25 –
Introduction to the 2025 MLB Draft: Top prep hitters
available
https://bucsondeck.substack.com/p/introduction-to-the-2025-mlb-draft-1c4
Xavier Neyens, 3B
Another left-handed hitting slugger that should land at third
base, Xavier Neyens, has some of the best raw power in the entire draft class.
MLB Pipeline likens him to a left-handed version of Austin
Riley, while there are competing thoughts on whether he can play third base
long-term. He’s a patient hitter who will take walks but does have some
swing-and-miss issues against non-fastballs.
1-16-25 -
An Early Look at the Top 30 Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft
https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2025/01/15/top-30-prospects-2025-mlb-draft/#google_vignette
11. Xavier Neyens, 3B,
Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS
Big tools from a longer, rangier athletic look. Possesses
high-end power in the bat, but his swing can be a bit long at times, which
caused him to struggle to get to some contact this summer. But the power is
real and he has the tools to be an elite defender at third.
1-3-25 –
2025 MLB Draft: Top 75 Prep Prospects — Prospects Live
https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2024/12/26/2025-mlb-draft-top-75-prep-prospects -
4. 3B/OF Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon (WA)
Height: 6’4
Weight: 205
b/t: L/R
Draft Day Age: 18 YR 8 MO
Commitment: Oregon State
Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA
It's not too often that the state of Washington is home to
one of the top prospects in the country, but Neyens is putting himself in rare
territory with his tools and performance. With an advanced approach, top of the
scale bat-to-ball skills, and loud power from the left side, Neyens' offensive
potential is sky-high. He is rather passive, but Neyens does a good job of
staying within the zone and limiting chases. The power itself grades out as
plus with natural loft and loud bat speed, playing to all fields. He creates a
tight coil with his core during his load, allowing his body to rotate rapidly
and allowing his hands to explode through the zone. Against premier pitching,
he's already tattooed baseballs at 110 MPH. It's loud. Neyens has the tools to
stick at the hot corner, though some scouts express concern about the footwork
at the position, as it can get rather clunky. With that note out of the way,
Neyens has the soft hands and strong arm to handle the position. If he moves
off third base, he'd get a chance in a corner outfield position. Neyens is
currently committed to the West Coast powerhouse of Oregon State.
12-23-24
White Sox 2025 MLB Draft Notebook 1.0
https://www.futuresox.net/2024/12/23/white-sox-2025-mlb-draft-notebook-1-0/
5. St. Louis Cardinals: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS
(WA)
In Chaim Bloom’s first draft as a decision maker, he’s taking
a powerful high school infielder. Neyens is a 6-4, 200 pounder with a great
approach, discipline and power from the lefts side. There’s some swing and miss
in his game but the Oregon State recruit should stay at third base.
12-10-24 –
Here's Pipeline's first full 2025 mock draft
https://www.mlb.com/news/first-full-2025-mlb-mock-draft?partnerID=web_article-share –
8. Blue Jays: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS (No.
8)
Despite some struggles during the summer, Neyens has the
ingredients to become an All-Star third baseman with huge left-handed power and
a strong arm.
12-10-24 - FSS PLUS:
2025 MLB Mock Draft: So it begins…
https://futurestarsseries.com/2025-mlb-mock-draft/
12. Texas Rangers
Xavier Neyens, 3B — Mount Vernon HS
HOMETOWN: Mount Vernon, Washington
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: L-R
Whenever you’re picking this high in the draft you need to go
for ceiling and upside. Size, impact, physicality or up-the-middle dynamic
traits are a must. Neyens may have the loudest bat of any prep in the 2025
class. It’s comfortably ‘plus’ power with a baseball card that has pummeled
guys two years older than him on the showcase circuit for a few years now.
His defensive position is still in question, though he’s made
strides at third base and is a good enough athlete to project a potential
average glove at the hot corner. If that doesn’t bore out Neyens has a very
strong arm and could make for an imposing right fielder. Still, you’re buying
the bat here. Neyens has a chance to develop into a guy with 35-plus homer
upside and a left-handed stick to boot.
Everything is bigger in Texas and Neyens’ homers fit the
bill.
8. Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (WA) HS (Oregon State
commit)
Neyens is another prep bat that MLB scouts are intrigued by.
A good all-around hitter, Neyens has seen an uptick in power that has elevated
him into the top 10 across many MLB Draft boards.
A big-bodied third baseman, Neyens stands at 6’4 with an
intriguing frame, which bodes well for his long-term power at the next level.
He also has a rocket of an arm at the hot corner. Neyens is an Oregon State
commit.
link - 3B/OF Xavier
Neyens, Mount Vernon (WA)
It’s quite easy to start with Xavier Neyens on this list.
Many see Ethan Holliday as the country's consensus number-one overall prep
player, but Neyens is making a ton of noise to take his spot. We caught him at
the MLB All-Star High School Home Run Derby, where he launched absolute nukes
(with loaded bats for the record). It’s a beautiful left-handed swing and just
fun to watch him take hacks. As I mentioned, our Tyler Jennings was at the USA
Complex to catch 18u, and Neyens may have hit the longest wood bat HR from a
prep he’s ever seen. The ball went out at a 108 mph EV and went 440 feet. Those
are some absurd numbers from a prep bat. The tools outside of the power are
elite as well. It’s a very mature approach at the plate with a unique ability
to get barrel-to-ball. On top of that, he’s got a powerful arm, giving you the
hope he can stick at third. He’s committed to Oregon State, but another strong
spring, and he’ll likely be hearing his name called at the top of the MLB
Draft, possibly even 1.1.
Tyler Jennings @TylerJennings24
Xavier Neyens just silenced everyone at the USA Complex.
108 EV/440 feet. Might have been the longest wood bat HR from
a prep I have ever seen.
Legitimate 1.1 case next summer.yler Jennings
link – 2024 National Showcase
Xavier Neyens is a 2025 3B/RHP, SS with a 6-4 205 lb. frame
from Mount Vernon, WA who attends Mount Vernon HS. Very strong, physical player
with significant strength and size with solid athleticism to boot. Primary
third baseman with a fuller arm action and accurate throws. Clean fielding out
in front and the actions to stick at the hot corner long term. Secondary
right-handed pitcher ran the fastball up to 94 mph. Fastball got up to 22"
of IVB and threw from the stretch only. Very good shape and fade to the
changeup. Left-handed hitter with a wide base, high hand set, and a high back
elbow. Excellent bat speed with the ability to generate power to all fields.
Monstrous in game home run to the opposite field gap that traveled over 400
feet at 104 off the bat. Highest level power hitter that can go out to any part
of the park. Great student. Verbal commitment to Oregon State. Selected to play
in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/winner/xavier-neyens/40306 -
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior shortstop, outfielder and
right-handed pitcher batted .455, scored 34 runs and compiled an OPS of 1.327
this past season, leading the Bulldogs (23-4-1) to a berth in the Class 3A
state championship game. Ranked as the nation’s No. 4 prospect in the Class of
2025 by Perfect Game, Neyens also produced a .615 on-base percentage and stole
16 bases. On the mound, he compiled a 5-0 record with a 0.47 ERA and 37
strikeouts against just five walks in 29.1 innings of work, holding opposing
hitters to a .163 batting average.
“I cannot think of any player I have seen in 27 years of high
school baseball more deserving than Xavier Neyens. He’s absolutely electric in
every facet of the game. He is the most talented kid I've seen in high school
baseball.”
Pat Swapp
Head Coach head coach at Anacortes High
8/11/24 - Sports Gambling Podcast - 2025 Mock Draft
Xavier Neyens is a projectable bat-first profile. He stands
6-4, 205 pounds and with raw power, and has shown a good feel for the barrel
against older competition growing up. Neyens will play a corner infield or
outfield position with a strong arm. He does still have a shot to be a serious
pitching prospect. Neyens lives in the low 90s with a good slider. Ultimately,
the Oregon State commit’s crisp left-handed swing could keep him off the mound
in the pros.
2 comments:
Neyens another Brett Baty?
You mean a failed third baseman?
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