EDITOR’S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
With the underclass showcase summer behind us, tournament play in the rearview mirror, and fall/winter gains around the corner, it’s time to unveil the Future Stars Series PLUS Top 100 high school prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft. This board is built on three pillars. Live looks, data evaluation, and intel/conversations provided from within the industry. These players have a ton of time and projection ahead of them, so expect this list to change considerably as we approach the 2025 Draft.Â
HOMETOWN: Stillwater, Oklahoma
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 195
BAT/THROW: L-R
COMMIT: Oklahoma State
While Jackson Holliday was the prize in the 2022 MLB Draft, scouts got a first-hand look at his brother in their trips to Stillwater. The youngest of Matt Holliday’s children, Ethan is far more physical than his older brother with huge raw power and a similarly beautiful left-handed stroke. Still extremely young, Holliday already tops the scales at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with broad shoulders and plenty of projection to go. There’s no question the bat carries heavy value here. Holliday, already a third baseman, is athletic enough to stay on the dirt of potentially shift to a corner outfield role with his solid average run times. His solid-to-above average arm strength is plenty strong enough to stay on the left side. Considering his age, this is already a impressive, polished offensive prospect with a sky-high ceiling.
The thing that immediately stands out about Hernandez at this stage is his mature pitchability and his natural talent to pound the strikezone. He’ll work in the low-90s, grabbing 96 in showcase settings with solid spin and carry through the zone. His best weapon currently is a low-80s slider with solid depth and some sweep, as well as an upper 70s changeup, killing spin well. Hernandez has a track record against older bats and he’s shredded them up. When you consider the resume, the frame, the projection and the present feel for the mound, there’s upside here for an impact righty at the next level. Hernandez will be 19 years old on draft day.
Neyens is one of the more physical bats to come out of the Pacific Northwest, maybe the best since the Padres selected Joshua Mears out of Federal Way in 2019. The bat speed here is pretty enormous, especially considering his age. Neyens still has plenty of room to fill out his 6-foot-4-inch frame too. The raw power trumps the hit tool at this stage, but it’s close. Neyens has played up against older competition for the better part of two years now and consistently looks like the best bat on the field, hit tool included. It’s a sweet left-handed swing with a tight turn and scouts think it’ll play against premium stuff as he continues to get tested up the ladder. Neyens has a shot to pitch too. He’s already touching 93 on the mound and throws a short, deceptive slider that’s been good when he can command it. The physical tools at the plate might ultimately end the conversation though. Neyens is a primary 3B now, but could end up at first base or in left field at the next level. Still, there’s a case to be made that Neyens is the best prep bat in the 2025 class, and it’s a strong class of hitters at the top.
Coy James might not have a plus carrying tool, but the hit tool is close. He’s a polished offensive player who takes his walks and sprays the ball line to line and hardly ever strikes out. On the dirt, he’s got terrific hands and a good internal clock; traits that point toward a potential future stick at shortstop if he doesn’t outgrow the spot. James doesn’t yet hit for much slug, but in time it could become at least as threatening part of his game.The profile continues to improve year over year.
Moss does a ton of damage at the plate with tight turns and legitimate pull-side power. His opposite field stroke also produces ringing doubles seared to the fence. Despite his unassuming frame, Moss’ profile is certainly carried by a heavy stick. The raw bat speed here is obvious. As a defender, he’s an average runner with an average arm, likely destined for a corner moving forward. So long as Moss hits and continues to show the thump he’s been hailed for, he’s got a shot to go early in 2025. Of note, Moss will be 19 years old on draft day, something model teams will surely consider in their evaluation process.
Franco is an athletic infielder with a loose left-handed swing and should grow into very real pull-side power thanks to his long, lean frame. He’s a shortstop now, but could shift to third base as his body pushes his profile left. Franco has a short, compact swing and makes tight turns on the baseball. He’s revered for his bat-to-ball skills and patient approach at the plate. He hardly ever chases or expands the zone. Scouts would like to see the quality of contact take a jump between now and the draft, but he puts the game in motion and allows his above average run tool to come into play. To date, he’s fallen victim to BABIP a bit more than his peers, though that should improve as he gets stronger and stings the ball with more consistency. On the dirt, the throwing arm comfortably projects plus.
Paz has long been on the radar of scouts going back to his freshman year in high school. A talented right-handed with an ultra-quick arm, Paz has been up to 95 with an easy operation and a reputation punch batters out. He’ll get a little squirrely at times as his control and command will waver, but he’s been pretty tough to square up when he’s on his game. Paz’s slider is a good one registering north of 2800 rpm at times, and he’ll sprinkle in a mid-80s changeup to righties with some late life running away. Paz has a longer arm action, but everything he does is buttery smooth, if not a bit ineffeficient for the time being. As he works to engage his lower half and become more physical with his delivery, he could throw very, very hard.
Cunningham isn’t the biggest guy on the field, but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in box scores and on the base paths. Cunningham is a pure hitter with the ability to cover every quadrant of the zone with a willingness to shoot the ball to all-fields. He has a quiet, calm demeanor in the box and his left-handed swing really projects to hit moving forward. Cunningham is a plus runner and is a threat on the bases. He also has quiet actions on the dirt and the arm strength necessary to stay on the left side of the dirt. Cunningham will be 19 on draft day.
Gibbs is a slender right-handed hitter with strength in his lower-half and lean muscle in his upperbody. He has sloping shoulders and long levers. Given his frame, Gibbs is likely to put on solid strength in his core as he matures. Gibbs is a steady, if not flashy defender on the dirt with enormous arm strength that should challenge the best infielders in the class for the crown in that category. While some of that arm strength plays better in showcase settings than in games, there’s little doubt it projects to the left side of the infield going forward. Gibbs is an above average runner with more straight line speed than quickness in his game. There’s another gear on the base paths. Gibbs has some bounce and calm to his actions on the dirt. As he ages, the profile might play better at third base with the anticipated strength gains. Offensively, it’s pound for pound some of the most explosive actions you’ll find in the class. Gibbs has flashed above average raw power with fast hands, quick wrists and twitchy coil. He has exemplary hands that are adjustable and can get to every quadrant with the fat part of the bat. It’s a noisy, handsy swing with a lot of moving parts that won’t be for everyone, but to this point all he’s done is barrel baseballs. Gibbs has shown a patient approach at the plate drawing plenty of walks and using the opposite field in tournament showcases. There’s a high ceiling here.
MORE 2024 COVERAGE: Mock Draft 1.0
- 2024 MLB Draft: Mock Draft 4.0 - April 17, 2024
- 2024 MLB Draft: Top 400 Prospects - April 15, 2024
- Is the first round college pitching prospect dying? - April 2, 2024
