Top 75 MLB 2025 Draft Prospects - Part 2
College hitters and pitchers lead the way, but what prep pitching prospects round out the Top 50 draft prospects?
Welcome back for the second installment of my Top 75 draft prospects series. Here I will be examining players 28-50 on my board. As a reminder, I value a player’s ceiling over their floor, unless there is a significant difference in risk between two prospects. There is a lot of talent in this group, and I definitely think we will see some stars emerge from it in the not too distant future, considering how college heavy it is.
Caden Bodine C S/R (21) Coastal Carolina
Bodine is a switch hitter that is equally proficient from both sides of the plate. With plus plate discipline and an approach that focuses on hitting line drives and controlling the zone, Bodine struck out in only 7.6% of his collegiate plate appearances in 2025, while walking 15% of the time; an absurd ratio for any player, let alone a catcher. However, this conservative approach and lack of average raw power significantly limits his power potential, which currently projects as below average. He receives the ball well and is one of the best pitch framers in this class, if not the best, which will help him move through the minor leagues more quickly. He is not the most athletic behind the plate, which hurts his blocking ability. His average arm is compensated by a quick release, allowing him to control the running game exceptionally well. He may be the best all-around catcher in this class and should be the first to reach the majors, given his advanced approach, plus pitch framing, and above average pop times.
Ethan Conrad OF L/L (21) Wake Forest
Conrad is a big, physical athlete who runs well for his size. His ability to move well and decent arm will see him profile in right field as a pro, where he should be at least above average. He has a plus hit tool, making regular contact on pitches in and out of the strike zone. Conrad’s biggest problem is his below average plate discipline, which hasn’t hurt him much yet because of his uncanny ability to get the barrel to pitches well outside of the strike zone. This relatively poor approach prevents him from fully tapping into his plus raw power, limiting his potential offensive output. A season ending shoulder injury suffered early in the Spring prevented scouts from seeing if Conrad had made any notable adjustments to his approach. The above average to plus raw tools across the board should see Conrad drafted between picks 20 and 30 in the draft.
30. Devin Taylor OF L/R (21) Indiana
Taylor is a plus hitter all-around. He controls the zone and has no problem making consistent hard contact against all pitch types. He has an all-fields approach and shows plus power foul pole to foul pole. Taylor’s biggest limitations are his fringy arm, speed, and range, which will limit him to left field professionally, capping his ceiling lower than other prospects with his hitting abilities. Still, the hitting tools are impossible to ignore, pretty much guaranteeing that he will go in the top 40 picks.
Andrew Fischer 1B/3B L/R (21) Tennessee
Fischer is another college infielder who is riding the wave of a massive season up towards the first round. He slugged .760 with a nearly .500 on-base percentage, which is as absurd as it sounds, all the while walking 21 more times than he struck out (63 BBs to 42 Ks). His limitations on the base paths and in the field will probably keep him from getting there, but his bat is one of the few elite ones available in this draft, especially at the college level. Fischer came into the Spring with a much more disciplined plate approach, and while there will always be swing and miss in his game because of his lofty swing, the refined approach has made it much easier for him to get to his plus raw power in game. He is currently a below average defender at third, but if he can improve his actions and mechanics, his plus arm will help him stay there in pro ball.
Gage Wood RHP (21) Arkansas
Wood possesses some truly unique, standout traits. From a low 3/4 armslot, his high spin/high IVB fastball sits 94-97 and has touched 99, and it is nearly impossible for hitters to hit, let alone square-up. The pitch has produced top of the chart chase and in-zone swing and miss rates this season, cementing itself as at least a double plus offering (it may be an 80 if he can locate it in the top third more consistently, where it posted an absurd 58.9% whiff rate this season). Wood also has a wicked breaking ball, a power 82-85 curveball that flashes plus and will become a true wipeout pitch with just a little bit more consistency in its location. As it is, hitters can’t touch it when it gets left in the middle of the zone, but that’s not a trend I would expect to continue against more polished hitters in the higher levels of the minors and major leaguers. Wood will need to develop either his cutter or splitter into a usable third offering to reach his ceiling as a top of the rotation arm. Despite mechanical flaws, such as an aggressive arm whip that hurts his command and repeatability, Wood throws plenty of strikes and has walked less than two batters per nine innings over his last two collegiate seasons, showing the necessary pieces to carry the floor of a starter into the 2025 draft. It also doesn’t hurt that he posted arguably the best start in Men’s College World Series history, striking out 19 in a no-hitter against Murray St. with Arkansas facing elimination (he also walked none; he was a hit batter away from a perfect game).
Patrick Forbes RHP (21) Louisville
Forbes has a lethal pair of plus offerings. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and tops out at 99, exploding at the top of the zone with very high spin. His slider is easily a plus offering, sitting in the low 90s and coming from the same slot as his fastball. Both the fastball and slider are commanded well in and out of the strike zone. What will determine Forbes’ future is the development of a third pitch. While his changeup is usable, with decent movement and upper 80s velocity, he does not locate the pitch well and it tends to get hammered when left in the zone. If he is unable to develop into a starter, he will almost assuredly turn into an elite reliever, given the fastball and wipeout slider he already possesses.
Riley Quick RHP (21) Alabama
Riley Quick was one of the fastest risers in the 2025 Draft class. With a two seam fastball that sits in the mid 90s and touches 98-99 with plenty of sink and arm side run from a 3/4 slot, it has the chance to be an electric pitch at the next level. However, the shape of the pitch can get a little flat at times, causing it to get hit hard when left over the middle of the plate. Quick has two sliders, both of which are plus. The sweeping slider is thrown in the mid 80s and has lots of horizontal movement; it is a true wipeout pitch. He also has a firmer slider thrown in the low 90s that has sharp and tight vertical break; he relies on it for both strikes and chase. His changeup lags behind his other offerings and will need work to be effective in pro ball. It’s thrown in the upper 80s and does not have consistent movement, and the command of the pitch is poor (it gets left in the zone too often). His command with his other offerings is good enough to stick as a starter for now, and he has a reputation for being aggressive and attacking hitters. These traits should help get him drafted in the top 40 selections.
Anthony Eyanson RHP (21) LSU
Eyanson pitched his way into the first round conversation with an incredible year where he showcased improvements across the board. All of his offerings are above average, and he can throw each for strikes. Eyanson’s fastball sits 92-95 mph, touches 98, and plays best at the top of the zone, where it is difficult for hitters to get on top of. His slider operates 82-85 mph with plenty of depth, flashing plus when it’s on (was his best swing-and-miss pitch in 2025). His upper 70s curve is an above average offering on its own, but it doesn’t pair well with the slider because the movement patterns on the two pitches are similar (hitters had a much easier time laying off the curveball out of the zone). His low 80s changeup misses bats with fade and sink, but Eyanson will have to locate the pitch more precisely for it to be as effective in the big leagues. Eyanson’s mechanics are clean, and he has a smooth delivery which he repeats fairly well. Though he is a good strike thrower, Eyanson sometimes struggles to spot his pitches on the edges of the plate, forcing him towards the middle of the zone. This is something he will have to get better at in order to become a mid-rotation starter at the big-league level, but Eyanson certainly has all the tools to get there.
JB Middleton RHP (21) Southern Mississippi
Middleton is one of the better pure pitchers in this draft. Showing advanced feel for all of his offerings, Middleton’s above average stuff plays up because of above average command. He has smooth, controlled movements on the mound, and his low effort delivery allows him to repeat his motion really well. From a high 3/4 arm slot, Middleton throws two fastballs, a slider, and a changeup. Both his four seamer and sinker sit 93-95 and touch 97. They each have good movement and are tough for hitters to square up, in part because of Middleton’s ability to locate both pitches with precision. His slider is thrown in the upper 80s with impressive two plane depth and elicits plenty of chases and whiffs, and he can land the pitch in-zone for strikes. Middleton locates his mid 80s changeup well and gets in zone whiffs on the pitch, just like he does with his other offerings. Though there is not much long-term projection remaining on his frame, Middleton already possesses the quality stuff and above average command necessary to become a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues, which may make him an option at the end of the first round for some teams. He is more likely to be selected in the first comp round.
JD Thompson LHP (21) Vanderbilt
Thompson has serious upside in his profile. His fastball sits 92-93 and tops out at 95 and can be thrown for strikes consistently. It has very high induced vertical break, allowing him to generate plenty of whiffs on the pitch both in and out of the strike zone. His slider flashes plus movement and can also be thrown for strikes or chase. His curveball and changeup are average offerings, but they need to become more consistent to play at the next level. He throws plenty of strikes and does so with a consistent motion and delivery, giving him above average control. The fastball/slider/command combo will get him drafted in the first two rounds and gives him a good chance of becoming a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues. If his curveball and changeup develop, however, becoming a top of the rotation arm is not out of the question.
Zach Root LHP (21) Arkansas
Root is a very unconventional pitching prospect this day and age. He has a low-mid 90s fastball (up to 97) that is fringe-average because it is flat and gets hammered when left in the zone. Even when located well, the pitch has decent sink that creates ground ball contact but does not elicit many whiffs. His command is not good enough to locate the pitch precisely to avoid hard contact, hampering its present value. However, Root’s secondaries are all above average to plus offerings that can be thrown for strikes and chase consistently. His 11-5 curveball flashes impressive spin rates and his changeup has exceptional fade, making it very difficult to square up. Root’s delivery is unorthodox, and his repeatability suffers because of it. His arm slot moves around which hurts his ability to command the baseball with precision. He still throws strikes, but the ball is left in the middle of the plate too often, resulting in excessive hard contact. A team that thinks they can improve the shape of Root’s fastball and clean-up his operation on the mound will take him in the first 40 picks. As is, Root’s secondaries give him a good chance at becoming a reliable backend starter that can mix and match breaking and offspeed pitches.
Alex Lodise SS R/R (21) Florida State
Coming off the best college season of his career by far, Lodise shows off the plus raw power (above average in game) that stands out in his offensive profile. When he squares up the ball, it is loud contact (he slugged .705 this year), and he knows how to launch the ball in the air (17 home runs this season). He does chase and whiff a bit more than I’d like, but he has a decent understanding of the strike zone that should allow him to get to his raw power professionally, so long as his approach does not regress at the next level. He is currently an above average runner, but this could back up to average as he gets older. He will get the chance to play shortstop in pro ball with an above average arm, at least average range, good hands, and sound mechanics.
Mason Neville OF L/L (21) Oregon
Neville had a monster season for the university of Oregon. OPSing north of 1.100 with a .724 SLG, Neville has burst onto the scene as a Top 50 prospect in the upcoming draft. Neville’s calling card is his plus power in game, fueled by 65 grade raw and an aggressive approach that looks to hit the ball hard in the air. This approach caused problems for him in the past, leading to exaggerated chase and whiff rates against spin. He has shown some improvement in this regard, but teams will have to ask themselves whether these improvements will hold up throughout pro ball. He’ll have to continue to make strides here for his plus in-game power to play professionally. He is an above average runner, thrower, and fielder, giving him a decent chance to play centerfield professionally.
Max Belyeu OF L/R (21) Texas
Belyeu controls the strike zone well and makes consistent hard contact to all fields. He does tend to chase non-fastballs out of the zone though, which will limit his offensive ceiling in pro ball. Belyeu has at least average speed and a plus arm that should allow him to profile well in right field if center does not work out for him professionally. His slugging percentage was down almost 100 points in 2025 from where it was during his sophomore season. That, combined with a .352 SLG on the Cape in 2024, has raised concerns over how well his power will translate to the pro game with a wood bat. Still, his tools all have the potential to be at least above average, which gives him a higher ceiling than most and should get him selected within the first 50 or so picks in the 2025 draft.
42. Charles Davalan OF L/R (21) Arkansas
There is no secret what Davalan’s carrying tool is. His hit tool is at least plus; combining elite contact skills with a solid approach at the plate. He does chase at times, which results in non-optimal contact, but his exceptional ability to get the barrel to the baseball saves him in most cases. His offensive game will absolutely translate to pro ball and one day the majors. While he doesn’t show much aptitude for pulling the baseball in the air, his contact and pitch recognition skills combined with average raw power should at least get him to 15 homers if he can start to more consistently hit the ball in the air to the pull side, which is something that most elite contact hitters with above average plate discipline and pitch recognition skills eventually learn how to do. The biggest question around Davalan is where he will end up defensively. He has above average speed and reads the ball well in the outfield, which should be enough to get a chance to play centerfield in pro ball. However, if his speed backs up at all, he will likely wind up in left field because of fringy arm strength, a move that would lower his ceiling some, but the offensive profile should carry him to being an everyday player regardless of his future defensive position.
Dean Curley SS/3B R/R (21) Tennessee
Curley possesses a selective power over hit approach at the plate. He doesn’t do anything outstanding offensively but shows an advanced understanding of the strike zone that should help his offensive game to translate well into pro ball. From a tools perspective, he should be an above average shortstop whose nearly double plus arm allows him to make all kinds of throws across the diamond. However, his mechanics and throwing accuracy all regressed this season, prompting Tennessee to move him to second base in deference for Gavin Kilen, who certainly has less raw defensive talent than Curley. His hands and actions have been solid in the past, at the time indicating that he would be able to stick at shortstop professionally. I believe in Curley’s tools and think that he will begin to perform again in the right organization. It was a down year for him all around, and he may fall into the second round because of it. If he does, he will be a steal at that point for any team who selects him.
Josh Hammond 3B/SS (18) Wesleyan (NC)
Long thought to be a pitching prospect in the 2025 class, Hammond stopped starting for his high school team in deference for his hitting. Smart move. Hammond has the potential to be a dynamic shortstop. With plus raw power and plus arm strength, Hammond has the power-defense combo many teams love to see in prep position players drafted in this range. Hammond has great barrel control and impressive bat speed, but poor plate discipline prevents him from fully getting to his plus raw power in game (plays more above average). He has a “lunge” in his swing that hurts his ability to make contact, and this is something that a good player development team will quickly address and fix. His average speed may become fringy as he continues to fill out his frame. If he does slow down, he will likely move to third base, where he should be at least above average defensively, if not plus, and he has the power profile to fit the hot corner offensively.
Briggs McKenzie LHP (18) Corinth Holders (NC)
McKenzie’s best attribute is his ability to spin the ball. With an upper 70s slurve that shows exceptional spin rates (2,500+ rpm) and has good depth and bite, he will enter pro ball with a put-away pitch that can also be landed for strikes. His fastball is above average, sitting 91-94 and topping out at 95, with decent life at the top of the zone. His changeup is an average offering that McKenzie shows good feel for and can land for strikes when needed. McKenzie is able to throw strikes consistently because of a smooth delivery and high repeatability in his motion. You can project additional velocity to come in the future as he fills out his lanky 6’3 frame. I have him in the Top 50 because of the upside and pitching acumen he has displayed, which puts him ahead of other prep pitchers in this range.
Aaron Watson RHP (18) Trinity Christian (FL)
Watson possesses a feel for pitching that is not usually found amongst high school pitchers, giving him a higher floor than most of his peers in the 2025 class. He has three above average offerings and a lanky 6’5 frame that you can project more strength and velocity onto, and his fastball is already up to 95. His slider and changeup can be thrown for strikes and chase consistently, thanks to a smooth and repeatable delivery that gives him above average control. It is not hard to imagine all three of his offerings developing into above average pitches. Watson has also performed well at events such as the NHSI, increasing his odds of potentially going at the end of round 1.
Angel Cervantes RHP (17) Warren (CA)
Cervantes is one of the younger prep pitching prospects in the class. His fastball has good life and spin, sitting in the low 90s. You can easily project more velocity as he gets older and continues to mature physically. His changeup is a borderline double plus offering with great depth and movement, coming from the same slot as his fastball, making the combo of the two devastating for hitters. Cervantes can spin the ball, but he does not do so consistently, hindering the effectiveness of his two breaking pitches (both the SL and CB have inconsistent movement profiles). He is very advanced on the mound for his age, showing good instincts and feel for pitching. Cervantes possesses all the necessary tools to be a big-league starter if he can develop a more consistent breaking pitch.
Jack Bauer LHP (18) Lincoln-Way East (IL)
Yes, his name is Jack Bauer. And yes, he wears number 24. Bauer possesses a never before seen fastball from the left side. Sitting 98-99 and touching 102, it is an incredibly special offering accentuated by exceptional arm side run. This allows the fastball to play up at the top of the zone, while also making it more difficult for hitters to square up when it is left over the middle of the plate. He shows some aptitude for spinning the ball, with a slider that flashes plus when it is on, but it is too inconsistent to be effective, and he has not shown much feel for a changeup to date; he struggles to command it and its movement pattern and velocity is inconsistent. Overall, his command is below average and that, combined with his lack of a true above average secondary, will scare some teams away from the high school lefty. However, the fastball alone is special enough that a team with multiple comp picks will take a flier on him.
Johnny Slawinski LHP (18) Johnson (TX)
Slawinski is an exceptional athlete who also happens to be a pitcher. He was a four-sport athlete in high school and possesses some really intriguing qualities on the mound despite never focusing his attention solely on baseball. His fastball sits 90-93 with good action at the top of the zone. The velocity plays up on the pitch because of the plus extension Slawinski creates in his natural and repeatable delivery. His upper 70s slider flashes plus, while his curveball is less consistent and does not possess standout movement. His low-80s changeup has plenty of arm side fade but will need to become more consistent. However, it is easy to project more velocity and improved stuff for Slawinski given how little time he has spent homing in his craft on the bump. As he continues to throw more, he should naturally improve, making his ceiling as a No. 2 starter all the more attainable.
Landon Harmon RHP (18) East Union (MS)
Harmon’s fastball rivals that of Seth Hernandez. It presently sits 93-95 with plenty of carry and arm side run. His lanky 6’5 frame will continue to get stronger as he matures, meaning that the fastball should tick up to the 96-97 range. His slider flashes plus at times, but its shape needs to be refined for more consistency. His changeup is below average with lackluster movement and inconsistent velocity. Harmon has a smooth delivery with great extension. This gives his delivery a fair amount of deception without negatively impacting his ability to command the baseball. He generates premium velocity naturally; his low effort motion is encouraging for future arm health. A team that believes they can help him develop his secondary offerings will take him in the first two rounds.
That wraps up the Top 50 prospects on my draft board. Next Friday, I’ll release breakdowns of the final 25 players on my board in the third and final installment of my Top 75 draft prospects series. While the next group is much more prep heavy than this one, and it will take longer for them to develop and reach the majors, I believe there is almost as much upside within it. Let me know which players from this group you hope your favorite team can snag in the draft!