TOP 70
2025 MLB DRAFT PROSPECTS (NCAA ONLY) 2.1
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Yes, we know, SS/3B H.S. phenom Ethan Holliday (from the great Holliday family tree) has a great chance of going #1, and there's the prep righty Seth Hernandez from Corona (CA) that could even go 2nd, but without seeing these players in person and having better underlying data (the 9 day "draft league" and our friends at "Perfect Game" aside), it's an uncomfortable proposition for us to foray into ranking H.S. players, so for now, we're sticking with college based ranks. Plus, the college guys are/should be a step closer to making MLB rosters...and dare we say...just a bit more sure of a thing.....
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So here goes, our top 70 College Players for the 2025 MLB Draft (which takes us through 2 rounds plus compensatory picks):
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Player Position/School (What we like)
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1. Aiva Arquette 2B/SS/3B Oregon State (21.9, 6'5", .354 Avg, 19 HRs, 7/8 SBs, 1.115 OPS) Oregon State with back to back #1's? (Travis Bazzana last year and Aiva Arquette this year) Well, maybe...possibly......But get this, (the UW transfer) Aiva hit better than Bazzana did at OSU. So, if we were bananas over Bazzana (last year), we are artichette happy over Arquette...(artichoke, artichette...yeah, well...). But, look, this guy is really really good (and at 6'5" playing SS, he's in the mold of Elly De La Cruz, Oneil Cruz and upcoming A- phenom Konnor Griffin). We'd also expect a quick move up the minor league ranks (Cam Smith style).
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2. Liam Doyle SP/TN (6'2", 3.20 ERA, 164 K's in 95.2 IP [2nd in D1] Behind a 95-97 mph FB and a good slider, Liam Doyle was as dominant a pitcher as there was in baseball this year. Pitchers are risky draft capital investments, but Liam is as sure of one as there is.
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3. Andrew Fischer 3B/1B/2B/TN (21.2, 6'1", .341 Avg, 25 HRs, 4/4 SBs, 1.257 OPS) Andrew Fischer just went off in 2025. The 25 HRs were 3rd most in D1, springing Andrew to the 10th best OPS in baseball (and 1st in the SEC, min. 48 games played). The downside is he's not fast and not known as a great infielder. But, play the bat!
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4. Kyson Witherspoon SP/OK (20.11, 6'2", 2.65 ERA, 124 K' in 95 IP). Another flamethrower (sitting in the mid to high 90s), Kyson won 10 of his 16 starts behind a 1.01 WHIP.
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5. Ike Irish C/OF (21.8, 6'2", .364 Avg, 19 HRs, 11/12 SBs, 1.179 OPS [37th best in D1]) Daulton Varsho 2.0?
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6. Marek Houston SS/Wake (21.3, 6'2", .354 Avg, 15 HRs, 19/21 SBs, 1.055 OPS). A strong defensive SS, Marek also has a good speed/power (SPOW) combo.
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7. Mason Neville OF/Oregon (21.6, 6'3", .290 Avg, 26 HRs, 9/14 SBs, 1.152 OPS) Ok, the Avg wasn't elite (maybe he was trying to hit too many HRs), nor is the speed great, but the power is. And, at this point, if he can stick in RF, Mason can stick it to professional pitchers. Don't sleep on Neville! Though that could be a mattress brand, and if so, go ahead...
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8. Alex Lodise SS/FSU (21.4, 6'1", .394 Avg, 17 HRs, 6/6 SBs, 1.167 OPS) With the 22nd best Avg in the college ranks (and in what turned out to be a very good conference), Alex showed us he has what it takes to hit for average and for power. The problem may be position, with Alex having to shift to 2nd.
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9. Wehiwa Aloy SS/Ark (21.5, 6'2", .350 Avg, 21 HRs, 9/12 SBs, 1.107 OPS) Wehiwa showed an impressive hit tool with power in the toughest conference in college baseball.
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10. Riley Quick SP/AL (21.3, 6'6", 3.92 ERA, 70 K's in 62 IP). The K's don't jump off the page, but the arsenal does, starting with an approx 96.5 mph FB and a similarly plus plus slider.
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11. Marcus Phillips SP/TN (21.0, 6'4", 3.90 ERA, 98 K's in 83 IP) The converted reliever can dial it up to 100 (but sits around 97 mph). Although the numbers weren't eye popping in 2025, he has the arsenal to become a major league starter (or reliever).
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12. Gage Wood SP/ARK (21.7, 6'0", 3.82 ERA, 69 K's in 37.2 IP). A shoulder injury slowed Gage in 2025, but he returned in time to throw a near perfect game (1 HBP) with 19 K's in the CWS (vs Murray State). We're worried about the effort in throwing 95 mph FBs, but the results have been there thus far (including a whopping 16.9 K's per 9 --a metric that would have been tops in the nation with 30 more innings).
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13. Kade Anderson SP/LSU (21.0, 6'2", 3.18 ERA, 19 starts) Kade was the SEC's and College Baseball's leader in K's with 180 [in just 119 IP]. But....we're not sold on a top 10 rank. The FB sits at just 92-93, and in the professional ranks, Kade will have to rely on carry, movement and mixing speeds to get batters out. We're thinking a comp to the Reds lefty, Andrew Abbott.
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14. Ryan Widerman OF/WKU (21.8, 6'5", .398 Avg, 10 HRs, 45/57 SBs, 1.118 OPS)
And here is our unicorn of the draft -- a player that MLB Pipeline has at #146! Standing 6'5", Ryan's main tool is incredible speed. I know I already did an Oneil Cruz comp, so I'll go Brenton Doyle here.
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15. James Quinn-Irons OF/George Mason (6'5", .419 Avg, 16 HRs, 36/43 SBs, 1.258 OPS) Another Brenton Doyle type CF, James belted the 6th most doubles in college this year (24) and the 17th most stolen bases (36).
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​16. Ethan Conrad 1B/OF/Wake (21.0, 6'3", .372 Avg, 7 HRs, 4/5 SBs). A shoulder injury cut Ethan's season short, but he was good over his first 97 PA's (1.238 OPS).
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17. Mason White SS/Arizona (21.10, 5'11", .327 Avg, 20 HRs, 4/5 SBs, 1.101 OPS)
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18. Gavin Turley OF/Oregon State (21.8, 6'1", .351 Avg, 20 HRs, 5/6 SBs, 1.121 OPS) Just a solid overall player, that is all (with more pop to come!)
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19. Cam Leiter SP/FSU (21.6, 6'5", 4.63 ERA, 56 K's in 35 IP). Mark Leiter Jr's cousin averages 95 on his FB with room for more. Cam also boasts a wipeout slider.
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20. Kyle Lodise SS/GT (21.9, 5'11", .327 Avg, 16 HRs, 13/13 SBs, 1.091 OPS) Two Lodises in the top 20, yep, maybe...maybe probably.
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21. Bobby Boser 3B/UF (22.7, 6'1", .336 Avg, 18 HRs, 19/24 SBs, 1.050 OPS)
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22. Jared Jones 1B/LSU (21.11, 6'4", .323 Avg, 22 HRs, 5/9 SBs, 1.027 OPS) Last year, we ranked Jared Jones (the hitter, not the Pirates star SP) as the 16th best draft prospect. But alas, Jared decided to return to LSU for 2025 where he hit for better average but for less power. Jared is also a really big guy (250 ish), slow and not graded well as a defender -- so we may be talking DH here....
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​23. Gavin Kilen 2B/TN (21.4, 5'11", .357 Avg, 15 HRs, 6/8 SBs, 1.112 OPS] Gavin reminds us of Kevin McGonigle (who is thriving in the Detroit system).
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​​24. Cade Obermueller SP/IOWA (22.0, 6'0", 3.02 ERA, 117 K's in 83.1 IP) The "shorter" stature pitchers are like the Doug Fluties of MLB. But why do we do this to ourselves? if they can pitch, they can play, right? But, it just looks like it takes more effort to generate velo from a 6'0 frame than 6'5".
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25. Ethan Frey OF/LSU (21.4, 6'6", .331 Avg, 13 HRs, 4/4 SBs, 1.061 OPS). Don't let the low home run total fool you, this guy has tremendous power.
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26. Brendan Summerhill OF/AZ (21.7, 6'3", .343 Avg, 4 HRs, 11/19 SBs, 1.015 OPS). Brendan only had 207 PA's in 2025 which is about 100 less than 1400 other D1 players. So this is about athleticism and projection not results....or maybe it's an indictment of a weak college draft class....
​27. Kyle Fossum OF/Youngstown State (23.0, 6'3", .382 Avg, 23 HRs, 9/13 SBs, 1.274 OPS) After not getting an opportunity at the UW, Kyle bolted for Youngstown State and the Horizon league (which he destroyed). Ok, while not the Pac 12 or Big 10, Fossum showed us he's for real. We think. And while he's on the older side of prospects, somebody is going to take a chance on a guy that's ready to roll in A+ ball.
28. Tyler Bremner SP/UCSB (21.3, 6'2", 3.49 ERA, 111 K's in 77.1). A plus FB and plus plus change are Tyler's calling cards.
29. Max Belyeu OF/TEX (21.7, 6'2", .303 Avg, 9 HRs, .986 OPS) Just 156 PA's this year, but when he had 210 PAs last year, he hit 18 bombs for the Longhorns, along with a .329 Avg and 1.090 OPS.
30. Cam Cannarella OF/Clemson (21.10, 6'0", .353 Avg, 5 HRs, 6/10 SBs, 1.010 OPS) With above average speed and an above average hit tool, we see Cam Cannarelling quickly through the minors.
31. Devin Taylor OF/IND (21.6, 6'1", .374 Avg, 18 HRs, 12/16 SBs, 1.200 OPS) Although he's not known as a speed guy, Devin has played CF and stole 12 bases. But it's really the power and hit tool that gets Devin hanging around our top 30.
32. Beau Ankeney 1B/3B/LMU (22.3, 6'4", .358 Avg, 22 HRs, 5/6 SBs, 1.164 OPS)
33. Korbyn Dickerson OF/Indiana (21.9, 6'1", ,314 Avg, 19 HRs, 5/5 SBs, 1.014 OPS) Almost back to back Hoosiers, and an outfield mate of Devin. Would be cool if they get drafted by the same team too!
34. Jamie Arnold SP/FSU (21.4, 6'1", 3.19 ERA over 15 starts). The slider is plus to plus plus but the FB is just a touch above average.​ Maybe we're too bearish, but meh.
35. Zack Root SP/ARK (21, 6"2", 3.62 ERA, 126 K's in 99.1 IP)
​​​36. Jace LaViolette OF/Texas A&M (21.7, 6'6", .258 Avg, 18 HRs, 7/8 SBs, 1.003 OPS) Yes, the batting average was a disappointment, but Jace hit .305 as a sophomore so the hit tool is there. Plus he battled injury.​
37. Luke Stevenson C/UNC (21.0, 6'1", .251 Avg, 19 HRs, 2/3 SBs, .965 OPS)
​38. Eddie Madrigal 1B/OF/C St. Mary's (22.4, 6'1", .368 Avg, 21 HRs, 9/10 SBs, 1.160 OPS)
39. Boston Smith C/OF/Wright State (22.4, 5'10", .330 Avg, 26 HRs, 16/23 SBs, 1.269 OPS). How can MLB Pipeline leave college baseball's home run leader out of its top 250 draft prospects? We can't. We also can't ignore the 7th best OPS in college. Sure, Wright State, blah blah blah, but Boston hit everyone, and can play catcher and the outfield, Hunter Goodman style.
40. Cardell Thibodeaux OF/Southern (21.7, 5'8", .439 Avg, 18 HRs, 24/33 SBs, 1.369 OPS). Cardell has good speed, and all the hit tools you'd want in a leadoff guy (including the 2nd best BA in college baseball)...except that he played in the SWAC. Although Cardell has entered the transfer portal, we say if he's drafted in the first 7 rounds ($250K-$314K range), he should consider foregoing that extra year of college since by then he'd be 22.7, and towards the older side of the spectrum, even if it mean excelling at an SEC, ACC or Big12 school and improving his draft stock. Of course, to us, he's a 2nd round talent the way it is (let's see if a major league team agrees!)
41. Cameron Nickens OF/Austin Peay (22.0, 6'3", .422 Avg, 18 HRs, 8/12 SBs, 1.288 OPS)
42. Easton Carmichael C/OKL (21.8, 6'1", .329 Avg, 17 HRs, 14/19 SBs, 1.011 OPS)
43. Charles Davalan OF/ARK (21.7, 5'9", .346 Avg, 14 HRs, 10/13 SBs, .994 OPS)​ A spark plug for the Razorbacks will look to energize his next club!
44. ​AJ Russell RP/TEN (21.1, 6'6", 3.55 ERA, 36 K's in 25.1 IP)
45. Chase Shores RP/LSU (21.2, 6'8", 5.09 ERA, 70 K's in 63.2 IP)
46. Jordan McCladdie OF/Jackson State (23.0, 6'0", .376 Avg, 4 HRs, 49/53, 1.085 OPS) How can you steal 49 bases when everyone knows you're going to try and steal? Jordan did. And yes it was the SWAC but Jordan can fly. Someone needs to give the 2025 college #2 steals leader a chance!
47. Nick Dumesnil OF/Cal Baptist (21.4, 6'2", .360 Avg, 10 HRs, 27/33 SBs, 1.041 OPS)
48. Paxton Kling OF/PSU (22.2, 6'2", .358 Avg, 13 HRs, 15/18 SBs, 1.102 OPS)
49. Mitch Voit 2B/MICH (20.10, 6'0", .346 Avg, 14 HRs, 14/16 SBs, 1.140 OPS)
50. JT Quinn SP/RP/Georgia (21.3, 6'6", 2.57 ERA, 49 K's, 36 IP)
51. Brian Curley SP/Georgia (22.1, 5'10", 3.55 ERA, 85 K's, 66 IP)
52. Tanner Franklin RP/TN (21.2, 6'5", 4.89 ERA, 52 K's, 38.2 IP)
53. Murf Gray 3B/Fresno State (21.7, 6'4", .324 Avg, 18 HRs, 1/1 SBs, 1.037 OPS)
54. Colby Shelton SS/3B/UF (22.7, 6'0", .377 Avg, 7 HRs, 6/9 SBs, 1.064 OPS). It wasn't long ago, as a 20 y.o. redshirt freshman at Alabama that Colby hit 25 HRs (while still batting .300)
55. Ethan Hedges 3B/USC (21.3, 6'1", .346 Avg, 14 HRs, 10/10 SBs, 1.081 OPS)
56. Aaron Walton OF/AZ (21.2, 6'3", .320 Avg, 14 HRs, 19/23 SBs, 1.026 OPS)
57. Kane Kepley OF/UNC (21.5, 5'8", .291 Avg, 3 HRs, 45/49 SBs, .896 OPS) Sticking with speed, Kane is another player deserving of a chance on speed alone (and the ACC is known for producing top flight catchers - catchers who couldn't catch Kep)
58. Brayden Simpson 3B/1B/High Point (21.7, 5'9", .375 Avg, 22 HRs, 14/15 SBs, 1.295 OPS) Although he is draft eligible and was just named to the 1st Team All-Big South, it looks like Brayden is transferring to LSU to finish out his college career...but we've been fooled before....
59. Jack Gurevitch 1B/USD (21.9, 6'0", .371 Avg, 17 HRs, 5/8 SBs, 1.158 OPS)
60. Gabe Davis RP/OK State (21.9, 6'9", 5.92 ERA, 29 K's in 24.1 IP)
61. Nate Snead RP/TN (21.4, 6'2", 42 K's in 49.2 IP)
62. Grant Jay C/OF/Dallas Baptist (21.10, 6'0", .309 Avg, 19 HRs, 14/15 SBs, 1.091 OPS) Another prospect in the Hunter Goodman mold.
63. Antonio Jimenez SS/UCF (21.1, 6'1", .329 Avg, 11 HRs, 11/14 SBs, .982 OPS)
64. Brent Iredale 3B/ARK (22.0, 6'3", .286 Avg, 14 HRs, 9/10 SBs, .994 OPS) Pig Sooieee meets Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi! Yes, the avg wasn't great, but we liked the high exit velos!
65. Damian Bravo OF/TTU (21.10, 6'2", .330 Avg, 13 HRs, 18/20 SBs, .964 OPS)
66. Cam Maldonado OF/Northeastern (21.8, 6'3", .351 Avg, 15 HRs, 29/36 SBs, 1.098 OPS)
67. Michael Salina SP/St. Bonaventure (21.7, 6'1", 4.15 ERA, 26 K's in 17.1 IP)
68. Gabe Craig RP/Baylor (23.0, 6'5", 0.56 ERA, 51 K's, 32 IP). Yeah, a 0.56 ERA premised on a good fastball and a wipeout slider. But to be successful at the next level, Gabe will need to add some ticks to the fastball.
69. Jake McCutcheon OF/Missouri State (21.8, 6'0", .358 Avg, 15 HRs, 10/14 SBs, 1.091 OPS)
70. Christian Foutch RP/ARK (21.7, 6'3", 4.09 ERA 31 K's, 22 IP)
70. Patrick Forbes SP/Louisville (21.0, 6'3", 4.42 ERA, 117 K's in 71.1 IP)
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