8/4/24

B/R - 2025 Mock Draft

 

2025 MLB Mock Draft

  1. Miami Marlins: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School (Oklahoma)
  2. Colorado Rockies: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
  3. Los Angeles Angels: Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson
  4. Washington Nationals: Brady Ebel, SS, Corona High School (California)
  5. Toronto Blue Jays: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
  6. Texas Rangers: Coy James, SS, Davie High School (North Carolina)
  7. Detroit Tigers: Ethan Petry, OF, South Carolina
  8. San Francisco Giants: Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy (Florida)
  9. Cincinnati Reds: Chase Shores, RHP, LSU
  10. Chicago White Sox: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana
  11. Oakland As: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona High School (California)
  12. Chicago Cubs: Lucas Franco, SS, Cinco Ranch High School (Texas)
  13. Pittsburgh Pirates: Marcos Paz, Hebron High School (Texas)
  14. Tampa Bay Rays: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
  15. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gavin Turley, OF, Oregon State
  16. SD Padres: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson High School (Texas)
  17. Houston Astros: Sean Gamble, SS/OF, IMG Academy (Florida)
  18. Kansas City Royals: Ike Irish, C, Auburn
  19. NY Mets: Xavier Neyens, 3B/RHP, Mount Vernon HS (Washington)
  20. St. Louis Cardinals: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
  21. Boston Red Sox: Josh Gibbs, SS, Forsyth Central HS(Georgia)
  22. Minnesota Twins: Josh Hammond, RHP, Westchester Country Day HS (North Carolina)
  23. Seattle Mariners: Trent Caraway, 3B, Oregon State
  24. Atlanta Braves: Brock Sell, OF, Tokay High School (California)
  25. Milwaukee Brewers: Matt Scott, RHP, Stanford
  26. New York Yankees: Cade Fisher, LHP, Florida
  27. Los Angeles Dodgers: Mason White, SS, Arizona
  28. Baltimore Orioles: Cam Leiter, RHP, Florida State
  29. Cleveland Guardians: Billy Carlson, SS/RHP, Corona HS (California)
  30. Philadelphia Phillies: Cannon Peebles, C, Tennessee

Best High School Player: Ethan Holliday

One benefit of being a freshman on the same high school team as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft is it means scouts have been paying close attention to everything you've been doing for years.

While that could also be dangerous because any bad stretch will be scrutinized heavily, Holliday has largely been able to avoid any rough moments. He's already listed at 6'4" and 210 pounds as a 17-year-old.

Holliday has consistently shown big power from the left side of the plate. There is very little wasted movement in his swing, with terrific bat speed and a short stroke through the zone.

Even though Holliday is currently playing at shortstop, his size will almost certainly move him off the position as he gets into pro ball. He will either end up at third base or a corner outfield spot, where there is more than enough offensive potential for him to project as an All-Star-level player.

Jackson Holliday, Royce Lewis, Mickey Moniak and Brady Aiken are the only high school players taken No. 1 overall since 2013. Ethan has a great chance to join that group next year if he continues to put up strong performances on the showcase circuit.

Best College Player: Jace LaViolette

If Holliday doesn't go No. 1 overall, Jace LaViolette would seem to have the inside track on that spot. The Texas A&M standout was on the Golden Spikes watchlist going into the 2024 season and took steps forward from his freshman campaign to think he could win the award next year.

LaViolette hit .305/.449/.726 with 29 homers and seven stolen bases in 68 games. He has more speed and baserunning acumen than that stolen base total would suggest. The 20-year-old swiped 18 bags as a freshman.

But the real draw here is the power. LaViolette probably has the best combination of raw power and in-game power in the entire class. He gets to it with ease, as there is very little load and stride before he uncorks on the ball with solid plate coverage and pitch recognition.

LaViolette isn't a great athlete and might end up playing first base, but he's got the best offensive profile of any college hitter in the 2025 class that will make him an early pick.

Sleeper No. 1 Pick: Caden Bodine

Typically, a switch-hitting college catcher renowned for his bat-to-ball skills would be a lock to go No. 1 overall. 

Caden Bodine has done nothing but hit wherever he's played. He had a 1.065 OPS in 56 games as a freshman at Coastal Carolina and followed it up with a .933 OPS in 60 games last season.

Bodine is more of contact hitter who will spray the ball to all fields rather than someone who is likely to hit 25-plus homers, but he has enough power to project as more than just a slap hitter.

The biggest thing that might keep Bodine from being the No. 1 pick is his defense behind the plate. Specifically, if he has the arm strength to contain opponents from running. He has shown the ability to receive well and is an adequate framer.

If the team that ends up picking at the top of the draft believes strongly enough in Bodine as a long-term catcher in pro ball, he could end up being the top pick because the bar for offense at the position is so low and his hit tool would be special for virtually any spot on the field.

2 comments:

Eddie from Corona said...

Love these and good start for next year
19 but drop to probably 29
Which hopefully after a good run this end of the season will be even further drop

TexasGusCC said...

Wow! Makes me want to miss the playoffs and win the lottery! Moniak was a #1 pick? Wow, he looks like a dud. No power at all and barely makes good contact, even going back to his Phillies roots.