The MLB Draft is upon us.
Some things are beginning to crystalize. Short lists are being carved out. War room meetings are behind us. Things will start to become clear as Sunday approaches. For now, this is what we’re hearing.
With comprehensive, data-driven scouting reports
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.
1. Washington Nationals
Kade Anderson, LHP — LSU
HOMETOWN: Madisonville, Louisiana
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 188
BAT/THROW: L-L
While Ethan Holliday has long been the frontrunner in this spot, the industry seems to think Washington will go pitching. The Nationals cut their list from five perspective players down to three on Thursday morning with the hopes of landing on a favorite by Sunday morning. This pick will likely come down to negotiating a signing bonus figure as the Draft nears.
General manager Mike Rizzo being let go a week ago does throw a wrench into things. Does the team go the safer route with Anderson or aim for sky-high ceiling with Holliday? Both Holliday and Anderson are Boras clients, so it’s unlikely either will take an enormous cut to become the obvious pick.
As stated, there’s a third player in play here and it’s unlikely it’s Arquette (a third Boras client).
2. Los Angeles Angels
Liam Doyle, LHP — Tennessee
HOMETOWN: Derby, New Hampshire
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: L-L
It sounds as though this pick is down to two players. Anderson and Doyle. Anderson will be the more expensive option if selected. Doyle probably affords the Angels the ability to save a bit more money for later picks. He’s also probably quicker to the majors than Anderson.
3. Seattle Mariners
Aiva Arquette, SS — Oregon State
HOMETOWN: Honolulu, Hawaii
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 220
BAT/THROW: R-R
There’s still so much uncertainty at pick three. According to sources close to the situation, Anderson will not get past this pick. The organization also loves Hernandez, but would Jerry Dipoto welcome the addition of another high school pitcher in the throes of an obvious competitive window? Ultimately, Dipoto has the final say and may hold the cards on whether the appetite for risk is warranted. If the scouting department had their way, Hernandez or Arquette will be the selection.
Purvis (Ms.) shortstop JoJo Parker remains in play as a cost-savings option if the team is determined to drag a second high-profile prepster down to pick 35. Keep a very close eye on Auburn catcher Ike Irish in this spot. He seems to be picking up steam as an option at this spot, however that would be incumbent on Seattle having a pre-arranged deal with a high profile amateur at pick 35.
The Mariners have a ton of money to spend in this Draft. That factor helps facilitate one final rumor — If Seattle doesn’t believe there will be a high school prospect of their liking available at pick 35, could they buy Anderson down to this spot if Holliday goes first overall? It’s been kicked around.
4. Colorado Rockies
Ethan Holliday, 3B — Stillwater HS
HOMETOWN: Stillwater, Oklahoma
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 210
BAT/THROW: L-R
Holliday will almost assuredly go to the Nationals or to the Rockies. Colorado might even be willing to over-slot Holliday to get him down to Denver. If not Holliday, the Rockies do like Florida State left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold and believe his accoutrement of weapons and traits will work at Coors Field.
5. St. Louis Cardinals
Eli Willits, SS — Fort Cobb-Broxton HS
HOMETOWN: Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 175
BAT/THROW: B-R
Willits is a pretty good bet to go inside of the top seven picks in the Draft. The Cardinals are said to be circling the high school bats in this class and purportedly are seeking to cut a deal with someone. Willits is very well-liked inside of the organization.
Two names to watch in this spot are Parker and Great Oak shortstop Gavin Fien. While the latter is unlikely, if he’s willing to take 75 percent of the slot bonus at this spot, he’ll garner traction in the room. Parker is also said to be a favorite here for the right price.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
Seth Hernandez, RHP — Corona HS
HOMETOWN: Chino, California
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Pirates have done very well of late drafting and developing pitching. That hasn’t helped the team score runs, but it’s never a bad idea to lean into what you’re good at. Pittsburgh has Hernandez graded out very highly internally and ranked above many of the high school shortstops in play.
I think in the scenario that Arquette is still on the board, he’d be a heavy favorite to get selected. Irish is also a very popular name floated to the Pirates as a cost-saving pick to pull down major high school talent to picks 50, 73 and 82. A quick-to-the-majors bat to help Paul Skenes and company score runs has to be a priority.
7. Miami Marlins
JoJo Parker, SS/3B — Purvis (MS)
HOMETOWN: Purvis, Mississippi
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 193
BAT/THROW: L-R
It seems to be Willits and Parker a whole lot in this spot. But Willits is not available. There’s been some late love for Irish in Miami, but he’s third fiddle to two of the best high school hitters in the class. There hasn’t been much movement for Miami off Willits and Parker down the stretch and it would be a surprise if they went in a different direction.
Parker may still provide some cost-savings to Miami to stretch their bonus pool to picks 43, 46 and 78.
8. Toronto Blue Jays
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP — Oklahoma
HOMETOWN: Jacksonville, Florida
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Blue Jays purportedly spent an exorbitant amount of time on/with Witherspoon at the MLB Draft Combine. They’re preparing for a pitcher or two of their liking falling into their laps at pick eight. If Doyle, Witherspoon and perhaps another name aren’t available here, the Blue Jays do like this high school shortstop class a great deal and have circled Parker, Willits, as well as Corona (Ca.) shortstop Billy Carlson as potential targets.
9. Cincinnati Reds
Jamie Arnold, LHP — Florida State
HOMETOWN: Tampa, Florida
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 195
BAT/THROW: L-L
I asked a member of the Reds scouting department his thoughts on Jamie Arnold being available at 9. His response? “(Andrew) Abbott turned into an All-Star here, didn’t he?”
There seems to be confidence, at least from that individual, on Arnold’s ability to succeed in Cincinnati.
The Reds have consistently drafted players that profile up the middle of the field early in drafts. Irish makes a lot of sense as a falling profile here, but he doesn’t fit what the Reds have ordinarily targeted up high in drafts. This is the part of the draft where things begin to muddy up a bit.
10. Chicago White Sox
Billy Carlson, SS — Corona
HOMETOWN: Corona, California
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 178
BAT/THROW: R-R
The White Sox have had private workouts and extended meetings with Carlson as they’ve worked to get to know him as a person and as a player. Chicago was at almost all of his games in some fashion all spring. The team purportedly is targeting Carlson as their shortstop of the future, a position that isn’t quite clear within the farm system right now.
I’ve heard Hewitt-Trussville shortstop Steele Hall mentioned in this spot consistently. Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. How far down the pecking order does Hall fall on the White Sox list?
The late rumors of Chicago being attached to Sunset left-handed pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft are true, however sources I’ve spoken to do not believe team will be able to drag him down to pick 44 at pick 10 may be too rich for their overall draft blueprint in 2025.
11. The Athletics
Ike Irish, C — Auburn
HOMETOWN: Hudsonville, Michigan
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 203
BAT/THROW: L-R
I don’t believe Irish will ultimately be available in this spot, but he’s got to latch on somewhere. The fall stops here.
The Athletics have been tied to UC Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner quite a bit in this spot. Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine also gets run here.
12. Texas Rangers
Kayson Cunningham, SS — Johnson (Tx.)
HOMETOWN: San Antonio, Texas
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 183
BAT/THROW: L-R
The Rangers are consistently attached to high school shortstops in this spot with the dream that one of Willits, Parker or Carlson falls into their lap. Bremner is well-liked in Texas as well, but doesn’t sound as though a pitcher is in the cards here unless one of the four names already off the board is surprisingly available.
13. San Francisco Giants
Tyler Bremner, RHP — UC Santa Barbara
HOMETOWN: San Diego, California
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 190
BAT/THROW: R-R
Bremner gets a ton of admiration and respect in the Giants front office and for good reason. He battled a lot of adversity in 2025 and still put together a big year. I’ve heard Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy in this spot and Fien gets run here as well, however it sounds as though it’s unlikely the Giants go the prep route in 2025.
14. Tampa Bay Rays
Steele Hall, SS — Hewitt-Trussville (Al.)
HOMETOWN: Trussville, Alabama
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Rays have six selections on day one alone, more than any other team in the Draft. They’ll have likely bring home buckets of prep talent. Hall represents their first oppotunity to cash in on upside in the Draft.
Many names have been attached to the Rays in this spot. It has been made clear that high school is a priority at this pick, but just who it ends up being is a mystery. Mill Creek shortstop Daniel Pierce is mentioned here, as is IMG Academy outfielder Sean Gamble. I also wouldn’t rule out Tennessee shortstop Gavin Kilen.
15. Boston Red Sox
Gavin Fien, SS — Huntington Beach
HOMETOWN: Temecula, California
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Red Sox do like Fien and have been connected to Mount Vernon shortstop Xavier Neyens in this spot as well. This would also almost certainly be the floor for Witherspoon.
16. Minnesota Twins
Marek Houston, SS — Wake Forest
HOMETOWN: Nokomis, Florida
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: R-R
This is a popular landing spot for Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill as well as Neyens, however rumors of Marek Houston landing in the Twin Cities have sparked up of late. It’s possible he could be had in this spot for a slight under-pay in order to land more high-profile talent later in the draft.
Kilen being on the board is a bit of a surprise in this spot, though he doesn’t last much longer in this scenario.
17. Chicago Cubs
Wehiwa Aloy, SS — Arkansas
HOMETOWN: Wailuku, Hawaii
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
The Cubs are heavily tied to Aloy as a model-driven team tied to the power and defense. Kilen is another popular fit here, however the ceiling on Aloy is thought to be more significant. LaViolette is brought up in this spot as well.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
Caden Bodine, C — Coastal Carolina
HOMETOWN: Haddon Heights, New Jersey
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 197
BAT/THROW: R-R
There’s quite a bit of smoke here. The Diamondbacks without question covet Bodine and see similarities to what Daulton Varsho once was in Arizona. An under-slot deal here also positions the Snakes to land bigger high school talent with pick 29.
Playoff Teams
19. Baltimore Orioles
Jace LaViolette, OF — Texas A&M
Neyens, LaViolette, as well as Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad and other preps are linked to the Orioles quite a bit in this spot. With three picks inside of the top 31, the team is expected to get involved in the high school shorstop market at some point. Westchester Country Day shortstop Josh Hammond is a popular name in here.
20. Milwaukee Brewers
Gavin Kilen, SS — Tennessee
This seems to be the floor for Gavin Fien if he falls this far. The Brewers haven’t been directly tied to Kilen, but it’s unlikely he goes past this spot.
21. Houston Astros
Xavier Neyens, SS — Mount Vernon
Neyens gets mentioned here quite a bit, as do names like Basis (Nv.) shortstop Tate Southisene.
22. Atlanta Braves
Gage Wood, RHP — Arkansas
I haven’t specifically heard the Braves connected to Wood, but he does fit their preferred demographic in the draft over the course of the last half-decade. Tennessee right-handed pitcher Marcus Phillip is well-liked here.
23. Kansas City Royals
Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP — Sunset
The Royals are hoping to find a way to get Cunningham down to this spot, however that seems unlikely given the teams picking ahead of them. Kansas City is purportedly big-game hunting with their two picks in the first round and plan to be aggressive with their money.
24. Detroit Tigers
Daniel Pierce, SS — Mill Creek
Detroit has been scouring just about every corner of this draft, but lately they’ve seemed to focus on the high school bats. Quentin Young and Coy James are both well liked inside of the scouting department, but likely with their second pick. Pierce and Gamble are both well-positioned to end up in Detroit.
25. San Diego Padres
Sean Gamble, OF — IMG Academy
Gamble, Hammond, Pierce and others get mentioned here often. Gamble purportedly impressed in Phoenix. De La Salle outfielder Alec Blair is also kicked around in industry circles with the Padres.
26. Philadelphia Phillies
Steele Hall, SS — Hewitt-Trussville
The Phillies are purportedly going to stray away from the undersized prep demographic this year and are expected to go a bit more conventional with their pick. Summerhill has been mentioned in this spot as has Conrad. Hammond is a big consideration if he falls to pick 26, but in this scenario we have him being bought down a couple picks to a richer organization.
27. Cleveland Guardians
Slater de Brun, OF — Summit
28. Kansas City Royals (PPI, Bobby Witt Jr.)
Josh Hammond, SS — Westchester
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Mitchell, SS — Houston
The Diamondbacks are tied to high school upside here with Mitchell being high on their preferred list.
30. Baltimore Orioles (Compensation for losing Anthony Santander)
Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B — Tennessee
There’s any number of players tied to the Orioles with their three selections. Hammond is a popular name, as is Fischer, Tennessee infielder Dean Curley and LaViolette. It’s unlikely they select two college players inside of their top three picks.
31. Baltimore Orioles (Compensation for losing Corbin Burnes)
Jaden Fauske, C/OF — Nazareth
32. Milwaukee Brewers
Brendan Summerhill, OF — Arizona
COMPETITIVE BALANCE ‘A’ ROUND
33. Boston Red Sox
Marcus Phillips, RHP — Tennessee
The Red Sox found a lot of success with grabbing a unique release trait college arm with their second pick in 2024 and it wouldn’t surprise us if they went that route again. A renewed commitment to pitching development in Boston driven by Craig Breslow, Kyle Boddy and Andrew Bailey (among many, many others) would do well with the likes of Wood, Phillips, Tennessee right-hander AJ Russell or Southern Miss right-hander JB Middleton.
34. Detroit Tigers
Cam Cannarella, OF — Clemson
Cannarella is a buzzy name in this spot assuming the Tigers snag a high-profile prep with their first pick as is expected.
35. Seattle Mariners
Nicky Becker, SS — Don Bosco Prep
Becker seems well-liked in pockets of the Mariners organization. Dreams of Pierce, Hammond or Hall falling to this spot exist. It should come as no surprise if the Mariners once again elect to blow up their bonus pool and buy down one of those three names with an enormous signing bonus overture. Seattle could hunt upside and ceiling with their first few picks in the Draft just as they did in 2024 with right-hander Ryan Sloan.
36. Minnesota Twins
Devin Taylor, OF — Indiana
37. Tampa Bay Rays
Cooper Flemming, SS — Aliso Niguel
Flemming has suitors from the back of the first round through Comp Round B. The draft thins out pretty quickly so don’t be surprised if Flemming goes early.
38. New York Mets*
Tate Southisene, SS — Basic
The Mets are purportedly looking to spread their money out this year and bring in several high school talents they like.
39. New York Yankees*
Brandon Compton, OF — Arizona State
There are several names in this spot connected to the Yankees. The Lodise’s, Wood, plenty of high school shortstops too.
40. Los Angeles Dodgers
Landon Schaefer, SS — Fayetteville
Keep an eye on this spot. There are rumors the Dodgers are trying to pull down a big fish to this spot and under-pay players with their next two selections. Blair is brought up on occassion, as is Evansville Memorial right-hander Matthew Fisher.
41. Los Angeles Dodgers
Quentin Young, SS — Oaks Christian
42. Tampa Bay Rays
Mason Ligenza, OF — Tamaqua Area
Ligenza, as well as Fauske, Flemming, Clemson centerfielder Cam Cannarella and Hauppauge catcher Michael Oliveto are mentioned in this spot.
43. Miami Marlins
Aiden Stillman, LHP — Trinity Prep
Miami is mentioned with a whole bunch of high school pitching inside of the Top 100 picks.
*Pick falls 10 spots for exceeding luxury tax by $40m+
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