Baseball America's draft content is powered by

Top 50 High School Prospects For 2025

0

Image credit: Ethan Holliday. Photo courtesy USA Baseball

Baseball America’s new MLB draft rankings of the top high school players in the 2025 class are here, with scouting reports on the top players in the country.

The No. 1 player for 2025 is shortstop Ethan Holliday. He’s the son of seven-time all-star outfielder Matt Holliday and the younger brother of Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday, who went No. 1 overall in the 2022 draft. Ethan already is bigger than Jackson, standing out for his sweet lefthanded swing and power.

While Holliday remains No. 1, several other players have made jumps from our last update with impressive looks so far on the summer circuit. Most of the top 10 players in the class are shortstops, with some having a chance to stay there long term, though others will likely move off the position.

From the college side, the top of Vanderbilt’s recruiting class is particularly strong, led by outfielder Dean Moss, righthander Seth Hernandez and shortstop/righthander Billy Carlson. While many of the top players have college commitments, several of the premier players in the country remain uncommitted, including six of the top 20 players in the class.

With some of the big summer showcases and tournaments behind us, here are the new 2025 class rankings, though much is sure to change with more big events still ahead.

1. Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 195
Age At Draft: 18.4
Committed: Oklahoma St
Report: Scouts poured into Stllwater High in Oklahoma in 2022 to watch shortstop Jackson Holliday, who the Orioles ended up drafting with the No. 1 overall pick. While they were scouting Jackson, they also got eyes on his freshman brother, Ethan, who is already bigger and built more along the lines of his father, Matt Holliday, a seven-time all-star. Like the Upton brothers when B.J. was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft and Justin went No. 1 overall in 2005, the Holliday brothers could both become elite draft picks. At 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Ethan has the physicality and strength projection that’s evident immediately, but it’s his hitterish tendencies and ease of operation at the plate that’s most exciting. He has a high contact rate with a smooth, compact swing from the left side. He can pull the ball out of the park and could have plus power once he fills out, but he’s also adept at staying through the middle of the field and driving the ball for extra-base damage the opposite way. Holliday is an offensive-oriented infielder who could fit at third base in pro ball, though his offensive game might be good enough to profile anywhere on the field.

2. Brady Ebel, SS, Etiwanda HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 185
Age At Draft: 18.0
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: The son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, Brady won a gold medal in 2022 at the U-15 World Cup, where he led the tournament in OBP and walks. Ebel is one of the youngest players in the 2025 class and has a clean, polished swing for his age. He has good rhythm and balance in the box, with a tight turn of the barrel and good path through the hitting zone. He’s an advanced hitter with the strength projection for more power to come as he fills out.

3. Sean Gamble, SS/OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 185
Age At Draft: 19.0
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: A mix of high-end tools, athleticism and ability to hit at a high level in games makes Gamble one of the premier players in the 2025 class. An Iowa native who attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and led the team in home runs in a big sophomore season, Gamble has a fast, aggressive swing, transferring his weight explosively throughout his swing to generate big power that translates in games with a lot of extra-base damage to his pull side. He’s a good athlete in the middle of the field with a quick first step and plus speed.

4. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 190
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: Vanderbilt
Report: Hernandez has separated himself as the top pitcher in the 2025 class. At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, he has a great pitcher’s frame with the strength projection remaining to add to an already explosive fastball that sits at 90-93 mph and can reach 96 with good extension. He shows feel to spin a hard curveball in the upper 70s that he can spin above 2,700 rpm with sharp bite. His low-80s changeup is an excellent pitch that flashes plus. It has good separation off his fastball with sinking action and a ton of fade to help him miss bats. Hernandez has good control with a sound delivery, leading to consistently dominant game performance. His size, stuff and pitchability all point to a starter, with the upside and projection arrows pointing toward a potential high-end starting pitcher.

5. Lucas Franco, SS, Cinco Ranch HS, Katy, Tex.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 170
Age At Draft: 18.2
Committed: TCU
Report: At 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Franco has a lean, high-waist frame with a lot of room left to fill out and he already exudes polish at the plate. He’s a patient hitter who makes good swing decisions with a knack for barreling balls in games and strong on-base skills. He’s calm and balanced in the box, tracks pitches well and has a fluid, compact swing with good sequencing and path through the hitting zone. Franco engages his lower half well in his swing and drives the ball well in the air. Now that he’s starting to get stronger, he’s showing more game power as well, with considerable strength projection left for more power coming.

6. Coy James, SS, Davie County HS, Mocksville, N.C.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 18.4
Committed: Mississippi
Report: James made a loud statement in September 2022 when he won the MVP award of the U-15 World Cup in Mexico as he led the USA 15U National Team to a gold medal. He’s a difficult hitter to strike out, he controls the strike zone well for his age and has the hand-eye coordination to put the bat to the ball even when he doesn’t get off his best swing. In 2023, James is showing more power to go with his pure hitting ability as well, coming off a big sophomore season in which he hit .457/.560/.814 in 100 plate appearances. It all adds up to a well-rounded skill set for a middle infielder with a chance to stick at shortstop.

7. Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 175
Age At Draft: 19.3
Committed: Vanderbilt
Report: Moss is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 2025 class with his mix of hitting ability, plate discipline and power. He has an advanced approach for his age with a keen eye for the strike zone and a compact lefthanded swing with good bat-to-ball skills and an impressive track record of getting on base at a high clip. Moss isn’t big and bulky like other top power hitters for 2025, but he has some of the best bat speed in the class, which helps him drive the ball for some of the best power in the country, and it’s power that translates in games. He’s an offensive-minded player who plays center field at IMG Academy and has improved his speed to become a solid-average runner, though in pro ball likely projects as a corner outfielder. He’s advanced enough as a hitter that he’s playing up a level this summer for the 17U Canes National Team with some of the top 2024 players in the country.

8. Billy Carlson, SS/RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 165
Age At Draft: 19.0
Committed: Vanderbilt
Report: Carlson is one of the most talented players in the country both as a shortstop and a pitcher. He has a lean, athletic build and jumps out right away at shortstop, where his actions are both explosive and fluid. An average runner, Carlson has quick feet, a good first step and body control, along with a plus arm that could develop into a plus-plus tool. When he’s at his best, Carlson shows a good sense for the strike zone and good bat-to-ball skills from the right side with gap power. Carlson’s arm strength and athleticism translate well on the mound, too. He can reach the low 90s with the arm speed and space to fill out to where he should be in the mid 90s or better eventually. His best pitch might be his curveball, a high-spin breaker with the sharp bite to rack up a lot of whiffs.

9. Cannon Goldin, OF, Buford (Ga.) HS
B-T: L-L | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 19.2
Committed: Mississippi
Report: Goldin has stood out from an early age for his athleticism and hitting ability. He has continued to trend up with the potential to hit toward the top of the lineup and play in the middle of the field. He has a strong, lean build and manages his at-bats well with good swing decisions. He’s a lefty whose swing is quick and direct with little wasted movement, taking a tight turn of the barrel with a high contact rate. He makes hard contact to all parts of the field with occasional home run power to his pull side. Goldin is a plus runner with a strong arm, projecting to stick in center field.

10. Ty Thompson, SS, Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, Mo.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 150
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: Tennessee
Report: Already a highly regarded player coming into the year, Thompson has taken another step forward in 2023. He has a lean, athletic frame and compact, adjustable swing that gets on plane early. It helps him make contact at a high clip with the ability to barrel good velocity. It’s a hit-over-power offensive profile and that likely will continue into pro ball, with the strength projection for more of his doubles to start turning into home runs in the coming years. He’s a plus runner with a strong arm from shortstop.

11. Jacob Kendall, OF, Bartram Trail HS, St. Johns, Fla.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 175
Age At Draft: 18.9
Committed: Florida
Report: Kendall has been a high-level offensive performer on the summer circuit, both in terms of getting on base and hitting for power. He has a knack for hitting with a smooth, compact lefthanded stroke that has good bat speed and the swing path conducive to driving the ball in the air for power. He makes hard contact now, with the physical projection and swing that should lead to more power in the next few years. Kendall has infield experience and is now in the outfield, projecting best as a corner outfielder in pro ball.

12. Marcos Paz, RHP, Hebron HS, Carrollton, Tex.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 195
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Paz offers starter traits with his low-effort delivery and feel for three pitches. He has a long arm swing in the back and delivers a fastball up to 94 mph with projection for more velocity coming. He has two secondary pitches to miss bats. One is a low-80s slider he throws with power that looks like a fastball out of his hand and has good depth. The other is a changeup that is advanced for his age at 76-79 mph with good sink and fade, a swing-and-miss weapon that he will throw to both lefties and righties.

13. Tyler Baird, RHP, William Amos Hough HS, Cornelius, N.C.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 195
Age At Draft: 18.9
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: With long arms and legs on his projectable frame, Baird has already reached 93 mph on his fastball that has good arm-side life and angle. Baird has added strength with plenty of space to add more weight and velocity in the years ahead, which could lead to him developing an elite fastball. He has feel for a changeup that he has a lot of confidence in, throwing it often in right-on-right matchups and in some outings more than his curveball.

14. Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS, San Antonio, Tex.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 5-9 Wt.: 170
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: Texas Tech
Report: At 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, Cunningham doesn’t have the size of some of the other players near the top of the list, but there are few hitters who can match his hitting ability and track record of offensive production. He has a quick, direct and adjustable swing with good rhythm and timing. He tracks pitches well, uses the whole field and is able to square up both fastballs and offspeed stuff at a high contact rate using a swing geared for line drives with gap power. Cunningham is a good athlete and a plus runner with the arm strength for shortstop, where he has good defensive instincts.

15. Vaughn Neckar, RHP/3B, Vista Murrieta (Calif.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 215
Age At Draft: 18.6
Committed: LSU
Report: Neckar was the youngest player on the team and one of only two 2025 players on the USA 18U National Team that won a gold medal at the U-18 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Mexico in November 2022. He has a big, physical frame (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) with a strong lower half and was already hitting 93 mph at 15 with good life on his fastball from a compact arm stroke. He throws a sharp, mid-to-upper-70s curveball with good shape and depth to miss bats, along with an occasional changeup.

16. Brett Crossland, RHP, Mountain Pointe HS, Phoenix, Ariz.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 245
Age At Draft: 19.0
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Crossland has an extra-large frame (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) with some of the best raw stuff in the country, headlined by a power fastball that has already reached 96 mph. He backs it up with a mid-70s curveball that has good rotation and depth, along with an occasional changeup that he shows some feel for as well. Crossland will need to repeat his delivery more consistently to throw more strikes, but the high-octane stuff he has is obvious to see.

17. Xavier Neyens, 3B/RHP, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 200
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Oregon St
Report: A two-way talent, Neyens has an intriguing mix of strength and considerable physical projection remaining. At the plate, he can drive the ball for extra-base damage, with a power-over-hit offensive profile. That strength is evident on the mound as well with a fastball that has been up to 92 mph and should eventually reach the mid-90s or better, along with a solid slider up to the low-80s.

18. Nicolas Partridge, 3B, Lakeland (Fla.) HS
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 160
Age At Draft: 18.6
Committed: Florida
Report: Partridge has a lean, athletic build for a young third baseman and a mature offensive approach for his age. He tracks pitches well with good balance and timing from the left side of the plate with the strength projection for his doubles power to turn into more home run juice as he fills out.

19. Bryden Bull, OF, Las Vegas (Nev.) HS
B-T: L-L | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 190
Age At Draft: 19.4
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Bull immediately draws attention for his size, a well-proportioned 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame with broad shoulders and lots of space to add more weight and strength. Bull is already able to generate big power and does so from a smooth lefthanded swing. For a young, long-limbed hitter, Bull does a good job of keeping his swing relatively compact with a knack for barreling the ball with loft in games and a strong offensive track record. Bull moves well for his size with average speed underway, projecting best as a corner outfielder in pro ball.

20. Josh Hammond, RHP, Westchester Country Day HS, High Point, N.C.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 205
Age At Draft: 18.8
Committed: Wake Forest
Report: With a strong lower half on a physically mature frame for his age, Hammond is able to generate high-end velocity for his age. He has fast arm speed, gets deep into his legs in his delivery and reaches 94 mph with a lively fastball. The pitch has good carry up in the zone, helping him miss bats when he elevates. His low-80s slider has tight spin and flashes sharp break, giving him a potential out pitch as he refines its shape. Hammond has power stuff, but he also has flashed feel for a changeup with good fading action as well. Hammond will need to tighten his control, but the three-pitch mix is there for a starter’s repertoire to make him one of the top arms in the country.

21. Ryan Mitchell, SS, Houston HS, Germantown, Tenn.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 175
Age At Draft: 18.5
Committed: Georgia Tech
Report: Mitchell, who won a gold medal with USA Baseball at the U-15 World Cup in 2022, has a lively, athletic frame and good bat-to-ball skills from the left side. He has a high hand setup, a quick swing and good hand-eye coordination, shooting hard line drives from gap to gap. His athleticism translates well at shortstop, where he moves around well and is adept at making the play on the run.

22. Jayden Stroman, SS/RHP, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) School
B-T: B-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 195
Age At Draft: 18.2
Committed: Duke
Report: Cubs righthander Marcus Stroman was a Blue Jays first-round pick in 2012 out of Duke, and younger brother Jayden is set to follow in his footsteps as a Blue Devils commit. Stroman is young for the class but already stands out for his tools as an above-average runner with a strong arm from shortstop, where his hands and feet work well. His strength and bat speed lead impressive power for his age as well. When he’s on the mound, he can reach the low-90s with feel for a breaking ball.

23. Jackson Miller, OF, The Benjamin HS, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 19.7
Committed: Mississippi
Report: Miller blends athleticism, high-end tools and feel for the barrel at a premium position. Coming off a sophomore year in which he hit .457/.556/.814 in 99 plate appearances, Miller has fast hands from the right side of the plate, snapping the bat head through the zone with good bat-to-ball skills. As he’s gotten stronger he has added power as well, with the potential to develop into a 20-plus home run threat. Miller has the tools for center field, with speed that grades out at least plus and a strong arm.

24. Alec Blair, OF, De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif.
B-T: L-L | Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 185
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Blair has drawn interest from colleges in multiple sports as a high-end recruit in both basketball and baseball. He’s an excellent athlete with a tall, rangy frame (6-foot-6, 185 pounds) that has a ton of space to fill out. There are a lot of moving parts to Blair’s swing, but when he’s synced up he makes hard contact with potential plus power. He’s an above-average runner with long, athletic strides in center field.

25. Eli Pitts, SS, North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: South Carolina
Report: Pitts has been an early standout in the 2025 class, committing to South Carolina when he was 13. He’s a premium athlete and one of the fastest players in the class with plus-plus speed. His explosiveness is evident in his bat speed as well, with a slasher stroke and hard contact when he connects.

26. Sebastian Norman, 3B, Glendale HS, Springfield, Mo.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 225
Age At Draft: 18.4
Committed: Oklahoma St
Report: A gold medalist with USA Baseball at the U-15 World Cup in Mexico in September 2022, Norman has a jarring mix of power and speed. He looks the part of a physical slugger, built like a defensive end at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds with an extremely strong lower half. The ball can fly off his bat with some of the best raw power in the class. It’s potential plus to plus-plus power, with a chance to unlock more game power if he’s able to add more loft to his swing. Norman has startling speed for his size, with plus-plus run times underway. He has a strong arm at third base and has touched 92 mph on the mound.

27. Dylan Dubovik, OF/3B/RHP, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, Fla.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 200
Age At Draft: 18.2
Committed: Miami
Report: Dubovik offers promise both as a position player and a pitcher. He has more strength projection remaining to fill out his high-waist frame and a good track record of hitting in games with a lot of doubles that should turn into home runs as he gets stronger, with signs of that power already trending up. Dubovik has a big arm for his age that’s an asset in the outfield, from the left side of the infield and on the mound, where he has reached 91 mph and mixes in a low-70s curveball.

28. Angel Cervantes, RHP, Warren HS, Downey, Calif.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 190
Age At Draft: 17.9
Committed: UCLA
Report: Cervantes is young for the class and will still be 17 on draft day. He already has excellent arm speed to produce one of the better fastballs in the class, reaching 93 mph with the projection to be throwing in the mid 90s in the near future. He has tight rotation and sharp action on his curveball, giving him multiple high-end pitches for his age.

29. Cooper Fulbright, RHP, Strake Jesuit HS, Houston, Tex.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 160
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Texas A&M
Report: Fulbright has promising projection indicators. He’s an athletic pitcher who has been up to 91 mph with the room to fill out and grow into mid-90s velocity. What separates Fulbright is his innate feel to spin his breaking stuff. His low-70s curveball is one of the best breaking balls in the country, with excellent rotation, shape and depth to help him miss plenty of bats, and it should only get better with more power behind it as he gets stronger. That feel to spin is also evident on his upper-70s slider and he mixes in a changeup more than most his age as well.

30. Samuel Cozart, RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-7 Wt.: 235
Age At Draft: 19.0
Committed: Mississippi St
Report: Cozart has towered over his peers from a young age at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds. His strength has helped him reach 93 mph already, he attacks hitters up in the zone with his fastball and it plays up because of the deception in his delivery. While Cozart’s size and velocity have stood out early on, he also has an impressive track record of throwing strikes. Cozart’s fastball is his best pitch, but he will mix in his offspeed stuff liberally, with a low-70s curveball, a mid-to-upper-70s slider and a tailing changeup that could end up becoming his best secondary weapon.

31. Justice De Jong, RHP/3B, Poly Prep Country Day HS, Brooklyn, N.Y.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 210
Age At Draft: 18.0
Committed: Duke
Report: One of the younger players in the 2025 class, De Jong has two-way talent as a pitcher and third baseman. He throws strikes at a high clip with a fastball that’s up to 90 mph and should have more on the way. His pitchability and three-pitch mix that includes feel for both a low-70s curveball with good depth and his changeup make for promising building blocks for a young starter. At the plate, De Jong has good bat speed and strength from a short swing to drive the ball with impact for his age.

32. Josh Gibbs, SS, Forsyth Central HS, Cumming, Ga.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 170
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Georgia
Report: Gibbs has been an up-arrow player in 2023 and seems to hit wherever he goes. In the midst of a strong summer, Gibbs has shown a high-contact bat and drives the ball with surprising power from his lean 5-foot-11 frame, piling up extra-base hits with the bat speed to drive the ball out of the park to his pull side. He’s a tick above-average runner with a strong arm from shortstop.

33. Jack McKernan, LHP, Ridge Point HS, Missouri City, Tex.
B-T: L-L | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 185
Age At Draft: 18.4
Committed: Texas
Report: McKernan won a gold medal in 2022 with USA Baseball’s 15U National Team at the U-15 World Cup, where he started against Cuba and pitched three scoreless innings in the semifinal game. His stuff has ticked up since then, with McKernan pitching off a fastball up to 93 mph with heavy life from his three-quarter slot. He kills spin on a changeup that has developed into an excellent pitch for his age with plus potential. It mirrors his fastball out of his hand, then has good separation off his heater at 78-81 mph before diving at the plate to miss bats. McKernan’s slider isn’t an especially high-spin pitch, but it’s a solid offering with good action to miss bats when it’s at its best.

34. Joshua Woodworth, RHP, Ventura (Calif.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 210
Age At Draft: 18.5
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Woodworth was a gold medalist for the USA 15U National Team at the U-15 World Cup in 2022. He’s an athletic righthander with an excellent pitcher’s frame, sound mechanics and an efficient arm action to deliver a fastball that has been up to 91 mph and should eventually reach the mid 90s or better. He backs it up with a harder slider up to the low 80s that when it’s on looks like a fastball out of his hand before diving underneath barrels.

35. Evan Hankins, 1B/OF, John S. Battle HS, Bristol, Va.
B-T: L-L | Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 215
Age At Draft: 19.4
Committed: Tennessee
Report: Hankins has raw power that stacks up among the best in the 2025 class. He has impressive strength, leverage and bat speed to project for at least plus raw power. His long levers means he will have to keep his swing-and-miss in check, but he has a fluid lefthanded stroke. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, first base is his most likely landing spot, though he could play the corner outfield as well.

36. Minjae Seo, RHP, Hebron HS, Carrollton, Tex.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 165
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: Vanderbilt
Report: Seo’s older brother, M.J. Seo, is a 2023 shortstop/righthander committed to LSU. Minjae is a Vanderbilt commit who has established himself as one of the top pitchers for 2025. He has good arm speed on a fastball that has been up to 93 mph, getting into his legs well to generate velocity and get good angle on his fastball. His 78-81 mph changeup is advanced for his age with good deception and separation off his fastball, with a low-to-mid-70s curveball rounding his repertoire.

37. Zach Strickland, RHP, Marantha HS, Pasadena, Calif.
B-T: B-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: UCLA
Report: Strickland offers a starter look with his sound, low-effort delivery, ability to throw strikes and mix three pitches. He has good control of a fastball that has been up to 93 mph and shows feel for a solid curveball in the low-to-mid 70s.

38. Diego Velazquez, SS, Crespi HS, Los Angeles
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 175
Age At Draft: 17.9
Committed: USC
Report: Velazquez has started to generate more attention coming off a strong sophomore season in 2023. He’s able to generate impressive bat speed from a smooth lefthanded swing, already flashing over-the-fence power to the pull side with the combination of bat speed and physical projection remaining for more of his doubles to start turning into home runs in the next few years. He will still be 17 on draft day, so he’s one of the younger players in the class.

39. Gustavo Melendez, SS, Colegio La Merced HS, Cayey, P.R.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 5-8 Wt.: 150
Age At Draft: 17.7
Committed: Wake Forest
Report: Melendez already has played in multiple World Cups, first playing for the USA in the U-12 World Cup in 2019, then for Puerto Rico in the U-15 World Cup in 2022. Melendez is also one of the youngest players in the 2025 class. He won’t turn 17 until October after his draft year, so he fits in with 2026 players, but his feel for the game is well beyond his years. He’s not that big (5-foot-8, 150 pounds), but he takes advantage of his smaller strike zone with a patient, disciplined approach and puts the ball in play at a high clip with a line drive stroke and gap power from the left side of the plate. He moves his feet well at shortstop, where he’s a smooth defender with a strong arm that should tick up more in the coming years.

40. Landon Harmon, RHP, East Union Attendance Center HS, Blue Springs, Miss.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 180
Age At Draft: 18.9
Committed: Mississippi St
Report: Harmon has an extremely projectable frame with room to add another 40-plus pounds and grow a fastball that has been up to 91 mph from his three-quarter slot with downhill plane. More than just his potential to throw in the mid 90s or better, Harmon stands out for his smooth, controlled delivery with good balance and a sound arm action, making him a solid strike-thrower for his age. He has also shown some feel for a low-to-mid-70s slider.

41. Grant Wren, RHP, Melbourne (Ark.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 190
Age At Draft: 18.9
Committed: Arkansas
Report: With a fastball up to 93 mph, Wren already has a strong fastball for his age. Given the room he has on his 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame to fill out, there could be a lot more velocity still to come. He attacks hitters with downhill angle from his high three-quarter slot and has the life on his fastball that should help him get swing-and-miss when he elevates. Wren’s fastball is his best pitch currently, with his mid-70s curveball showing the most promise among his secondaries.

42. Micah Matthews, OF, Turner Ashby HS, Bridgewater, Va.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 200
Age At Draft: 19.0
Committed: South Carolina
Report: Matthews stood out early on for his size and athleticism, committing to South Carolina for baseball when he was in eighth grade, though he has been a standout football player as well. Matthews has gotten bigger, faster and stronger. He’s now up to 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and is running better than he did even a year ago, with plus-plus speed underway now. It’s a power-over-hit offensive profile with a chance to be a power/speed threat in center field if everything clicks.

43. Richie Swain, RHP, Timberland HS, Wentzville, Mo.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 190
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Uncommitted
Report: Swain has a good mix of present stuff and physical projection. He has significant room to add weight to his 6-foot-4, 190-pound build, which should help him add to a fastball that’s already up to 92 mph. Swain’s fastball generates ample swing-and-miss from a low release height that gives hitters a difficult angle, with a head whack at the end of his delivery. He shows feel to spin a mid-70s curveball as well.

44. Everett Johnson, OF, Wayne Country Day HS, Goldsboro, N.C.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 5-9 Wt.: 165
Age At Draft: 19.3
Committed: NC State
Report: Johnson has an outstanding baseball IQ that is evident in everything he does on the field. He has a shorter frame that he uses to his advantage, with a small strike zone that he doesn’t expand much with his patient approach. He will bar his arm at times but is a high contact hitter who can get on base at a high clip with a line drive approach and gap power. He’s a plus runner with strong defensive instincts, reading the ball well off the bat with efficient routes and good range.

45. Boston Kellner, SS, Pine Creek HS, Colorado Springs, Col.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 195
Age At Draft: 19.1
Committed: Louisville
Report: Kellner has posted monster numbers in two seasons of high school. He’s a physical slugger with plenty of strength behind his swing. It’s a power-over-hit profile with the raw power and lift in his swing to drive balls deep out of the park to his pull side. Kellner moves well for his size as a tick above-average runner underway and has a strong arm. He has spent time at third base this summer, with third base or an outfield corner potential fits in pro ball.

46. Omar Serna, C/RHP, Dobie HS, Houston, Tex.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 225
Age At Draft: 18.5
Committed: LSU
Report: At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Serna has a large, strong build and two of the bigger tools in the class between his power and arm strength. His righthanded power ranks among the best in the 2025 class, with the strength to launch balls out of the park deep to his pull side. It’s a power-over-hit profile with what should be at least plus raw power. Serna also has perhaps the best arm in the country for a 2025 catcher. While it’s possible he might outgrow the position, he has a plus arm from behind the plate and has been up to 94 mph on the mound.

47. Blake Ilitch, RHP, Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 200
Age At Draft: 19.3
Committed: Duke
Report: Ilitch has a good mix of size and stuff. He has a strong frame and pitches off a fastball that has ticked up to 93 mph from his high three-quarter slot with projection for more velocity. Ilitch throws an upper-70s curveball with good depth and a hard slider at 81-84 mph. His changeup is a pitch that could become a bigger weapon for him with more experience, as it’s a pitch he has shown feel for with good fading action at times.

48. Miguel Sime Jr, RHP, Poly Prep Country Day HS, Brooklyn, N.Y.
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 220
Age At Draft: 18.2
Committed: LSU
Report: Sime Jr. is on the younger end of the 2025 class with a big, physical build and an outstanding fastball for his age. He can run it up to 94 mph with good life and carry up in the zone. His fastball is his predominant pitch, ahead of his mid-70s breaking ball, and while he will need to tighten his control, he has the look of a potential upper-90s arm.

49. Cooper Rummel, RHP, Dripping Springs (Tex.) HS
B-T: R-R | Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 210
Age At Draft: 19.2
Committed: Texas
Report: Rummel has a strong frame (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and the look of a potential power arm with a fastball that has been up to 93 mph with more coming. With a cross-body delivery, Rummel will need to sharpen his control, but he has one of the better fastballs in the class and throws a curveball with good depth.

50. Brock Sell, OF, Tokay HS, Lodi, Calif.
B-T: L-R | Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 170
Age At Draft: 18.7
Committed: Stanford
Report: Sell provides a good blend of hitting ability and athleticism. An aggressive hitter with a compact lefthanded swing, Sell is able to consistently barrel fastballs and high-end velocity for his age, with plus speed that’s an asset on both sides of the ball.

Download our app

Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone