Draft - Baseball Wiretap

White Sox Debating Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson At No. 1 In MLB Draft

May 14, 2026 11:28 AM

The 2026 MLB Draft is two months away, and the race for the top pick has tightened considerably. ESPN projects UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky going first overall to the Chicago White Sox, though the selection is essentially a coin flip between Cholowsky and Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson, with industry buzz suggesting a genuine 50-50 split internally for Chicago.

The pro-Cholowsky argument centers on readiness. Supporters believe he can reach the big leagues within 12 months and carries less projection risk than Emerson, who is seen by rival clubs as having slightly higher upside but also more variance. Emerson would also come with some slot savings that Chicago could redirect to later picks.

The San Francisco Giants, who recently acquired the 29th pick in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians, are rumored to be aggressively pursuing either Cholowsky or Emerson at fourth overall via an overslot bonus offer. The strategy mirrors how the Giants landed Buster Posey in the 2008 draft, though most industry observers view the gambit as unlikely to succeed.

Should Cholowsky go first, the Rays are projected to take Emerson at second. Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey is the consensus third-best prospect in the class and is expected to land with the Minnesota Twins at third overall. The Giants, pivoting to high school talent if their aggressive pursuit fails, are projected to select Florida prep shortstop Jacob Lombard fourth.

The draft takes place July 11 in Philadelphia.

1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
4. San Francisco Giants: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (Fla.)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
6. Kansas City Royals: Eric Booth Jr., CF, Oak Grove HS (Miss.)
7. Baltimore Orioles: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
8. Athletics: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
9. Atlanta Braves: Drew Burress, CF, Georgia Tech
10. Colorado Rockies: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
11. Washington Nationals: Jared Grindlinger, RF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS (Calif.)
12. Los Angeles Angels: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
13. St. Louis Cardinals: Derek Curiel, CF, LSU
14. Miami Marlins: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: Trevor Condon, CF, Etowah HS (Ga.)
16. Texas Rangers: Sawyer Strosnider, CF, TCU
17. Houston Astros: Aiden Robbins, CF, Texas
18. Cincinnati Reds: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State
19. Cleveland Guardians: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC
20. Boston Red Sox: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (S.C.)
21. San Diego Padres: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)
22. Detroit Tigers: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
23. Chicago Cubs: A.J. Gracia, RF, Virginia
24. Seattle Mariners: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
25. Milwaukee Brewers: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS (CA)
26. Atlanta Braves: Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS (Fla.)
27. New York Mets: Cade Townsend, RHP, Ole Miss
28. Houston Astros: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
29. San Francisco Giants: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS (S.C.)
30. Kansas City Royals: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Chase Brunson, CF, TCU
32. St. Louis Cardinals: Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights HS (Miss.)
33. Tampa Bay Rays: Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan HS (Mass.)
34. Pittsburgh Pirates: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
35. New York Yankees: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
36. Philadelphia Phillies: Aiden Ruiz, SS, Stony Brook HS (N.Y.)
37. Colorado Rockies: James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco HS (Calif.)
38. Colorado Rockies: Archer Horn, SS, St. Ignatius Prep HS (Calif.)
39. Toronto Blue Jays: Connor Comeau, 3B, Anderson HS (Texas)
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: Zion Rose, CF, Louisville

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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White Sox Win No. 1 Pick In 2026 MLB Draft Lottery

Dec 9, 2025 10:01 PM

The Chicago White Sox secured the top pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Tuesday night, winning the first overall selection for only the third time in franchise history and first since 1977. The White Sox entered the lottery with a 27.73 percent chance after finishing 60-102 last season.

Hall of Famer Harold Baines, whom Chicago selected first overall in 1977, represented the organization on stage at the lottery event. The draft will be held July 11-12, 2026. The White Sox previously held the No. 1 pick in 1971 when they selected Danny Goodwin.

The Tampa Bay Rays emerged as major winners, jumping five spots from seventh-best odds to claim the No. 2 pick. The Minnesota Twins, who had the second-best lottery odds at 22.18 percent, received the third selection.

The San Francisco Giants made the biggest leap, moving up 11 spots from 15th to fourth overall. The Kansas City Royals also gained significant ground, advancing 10 spots to the sixth pick from 16th-best odds.

"Without question this is an exciting time for the White Sox organization and our great fans," White Sox general manager Chris Getz said in a press release. "We've created momentum and excitement over the past year, and this certainly is another positive development as we continue toward our ultimate goal."

Despite finishing 43-119, the Colorado Rockies were ineligible for a top-nine pick due to anti-tanking rules established before the 2023 draft. The Rockies will pick 10th next July after holding the No. 3 and No. 4 selections in the past two drafts.

The St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers all dropped five spots from their projected positions. The Cincinnati Reds moved into lottery range at No. 18 after the New York Mets received a 10-spot penalty for exceeding the second luxury tax threshold.

UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is currently the projected top overall pick by ESPN. Shortstop Grady Emerson out of Fort Worth Christian is slotted at No. 2 ahead of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. 

2026 MLB Draft Lottery Results:

1. Chicago White Sox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Minnesota Twins
4. San Francisco Giants
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Kansas City Royals
7. Baltimore Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Atlanta Braves
10. Colorado Rockies
11. Washington Nationals
12. Los Angeles Angels
13. St. Louis Cardinals
14. Miami Marlins
15. Arizona Diamondbacks
16. Texas Rangers
17. Houston Astros
18. Cincinnati Reds

Dan Hayes/The Athletic

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Ethan Holliday Signs Record $9M Bonus With Rockies As 4th Overall Pick

Jul 22, 2025 10:07 PM

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ethan Holliday signed a record $9 million bonus Tuesday, surpassing all previous high school draft bonuses according to ESPN reports.

The fourth overall selection broke his brother Jackson's previous high school record of $8.19 million set in 2022. Ethan Holliday was ranked as the top high school player and second overall prospect in the draft by ESPN.

The signing makes Holliday the latest member of his baseball family to reach professional ranks. His father Matt Holliday starred for the Rockies during his MLB career, while brother Jackson plays infield for the Baltimore Orioles after being selected first overall three years ago.

Three Oklahoma high school shortstops now hold the top signing bonus records in draft history. Washington Nationals first overall pick Eli Willits previously set the mark at $8.2 million earlier this year before Holliday's deal topped it.

Holliday's $9 million bonus ties for the fourth-highest signing bonus of all time across all draft classes. The record reflects the Rockies' commitment to securing the premier high school talent available in the fourth slot.

MLB's bonus pool system allows teams flexibility in distributing their allocated funds among draft picks. Teams can offer above-slot bonuses to preferred prospects while saving money on other selections to stay within their total pool limits.

The Holliday signing continues a trend of teams investing heavily in top high school prospects. Premium bonuses for prep players have increased significantly as organizations prioritize long-term development over immediate impact.

Colorado's investment in Holliday represents confidence in his potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone. The shortstop position and family pedigree add additional value to the organization's long-term planning.

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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Nationals Sign No. 1 Pick Eli Willits For Record $8.2M Bonus

Jul 21, 2025 12:13 PM

The Washington Nationals have officially signed first overall draft pick Eli Willits for $8.2 million, setting a new record for a high school draftee while staying under his assigned slot value of $11,075,900, according to MLB Pipeline.

The 17-year-old shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma becomes the youngest No. 1 pick in MLB Draft history as of June 30. Willits is the son of former major league outfielder Reggie Willits and won't turn 18 until December.

Young Prospect with Premium Tools

Willits drew praise from scouts for his defensive abilities and contact skills. The switch-hitter projects as a plus defender at shortstop with room for improvement.

"He's a darling of analytical models because of his age, position and propensity for making contact," wrote The Athletic's Keith Law. "He's a plus defender at short already and might end up better than that, while his swing is short and compact, aimed at putting the ball in play."

"His contact skills and overall feel for the game are separating tools," Law added, noting the wide range of opinions among scouts regarding Willits' ultimate power potential.

Nationals Make Third No. 1 Selection

The signing comes despite recent organizational upheaval, with the Nationals firing president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez days before the draft. Interim GM Mike DeBartolo confirmed the team had long targeted Willits for the top selection.

Willits becomes the franchise's third No. 1 pick since relocating to Washington in 2005, joining Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010). The team used bonus pool savings from Willits' below-slot signing to secure fourth-round pick Miguel Sime Jr. for $2 million, well above his $687,800 slot value.

The announcement came with a unique Washington twist, as Willits revealed his signing plans to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, a longtime Nationals fan, during a Friday interview.

Melissa Lockard/The Athletic

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Nationals Surprise With SS Eli Willits At No. 1 In MLB Draft

Jul 13, 2025 10:00 PM

The Washington Nationals surprised the baseball world Sunday by selecting high school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft, bypassing widely expected choices Ethan Holliday and LSU's Kade Anderson.

Interim general manager Mike DeBartolo cited Willits' exceptional hitting and fielding abilities as the deciding factors. The 17-year-old switch-hitter from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma led his team to three consecutive state titles and had previously committed to Oklahoma.

The Los Angeles Angels selected UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner with the No. 2 pick, their first top-five selection since 1997. Anderson went third to the Seattle Mariners, while Holliday landed with the Colorado Rockies at No. 4.

Draft Highlights Shortstop Depth

At 17 years and 216 days old, Willits becomes the youngest player taken No. 1 overall since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. The 6-foot-1 prospect draws comparisons to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and projects as a potential 20-homer, 20-steal player at a premium position.

"He makes the routine plays about as easy as anybody you can see, much less a 17-year-old," Nationals vice president of amateur scouting Danny Haas said.
The selection came just one week after Washington fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez. Willits' slot value stands at a record $11,075,900 for the top pick.

Bremner's selection carries emotional significance, coming one month after his mother died of breast cancer. The right-hander posted a 3.49 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 77⅓ innings this season.

"I know she's out there watching, and in a weird way, I went to the Angels," Bremner said. "It's weird how life works. So it's special moment for sure."

Holliday Brothers Make History

Ethan Holliday becomes the first top-five pick ever drafted by the same team his father played for. Matt Holliday made three All-Star teams with Colorado in the 2000s after being drafted by the Rockies in 1998.

The draft featured unprecedented shortstop depth, with nine selected in the first 15 picks. Six of the top 10 selections were high school players, marking the first time since 2002 that trend occurred.

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

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Kade Anderson Emerges As Favorite To Go No. 1 In Latest MLB Mock Draft

Jun 18, 2025 2:05 PM

LSU left-hander Kade Anderson has positioned himself as the slight favorite to be selected first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2025 MLB draft, according to ESPN's latest mock projection.

The draft conversation remains wide open with Anderson competing against Oklahoma high school third baseman Ethan Holliday for the top selection. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported that Anderson's strong season finish has given him momentum.

College position players are rising throughout the first round, while some high school position players may slip for overslot bonuses. The Los Angeles Angels face uncertainty at the second pick, with multiple players connected to the selection.

Draft Trends Emerging

Arkansas right-hander Gage Wood has surged up draft boards after throwing a no-hitter in the Men's College World Series. Wood now projects to be selected in the mid-to-late first round after initially being considered a speculative pick.

The Seattle Mariners appear focused on pitching with the third pick, likely choosing between Anderson and Florida State's Jamie Arnold. Colorado remains strongly connected to Holliday at fourth overall.

Top Prospects Generate Interest

High school shortstop prospects dominate the middle of the first round projections. Players like JoJo Parker, Eli Willits, and Billy Carlson are expected to be selected between picks five through ten.

The draft begins Sunday, July 13, with 30 teams making first-round selections. Three teams had their picks moved down 10 slots due to exceeding competitive balance tax thresholds.

2025 MLB Draft First Round Projections (Picks 1-40)

1. Washington Nationals - Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Los Angeles Angels - Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
3. Seattle Mariners - Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
4. Colorado Rockies - Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma)
5. St. Louis Cardinals - JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Mississippi)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates - Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
7. Miami Marlins - Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Oklahoma)
8. Toronto Blue Jays - Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn
9. Cincinnati Reds - Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (California)
10. Chicago White Sox - Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (California)
11. Athletics - Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona
12. Texas Rangers - Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Alabama)
13. San Francisco Giants - Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
14. Tampa Bay Rays - Gavin Kilen, SS, Tennessee
15. Boston Red Sox - Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (California)
16. Minnesota Twins - Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
17. Chicago Cubs - Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
18. Arizona Diamondbacks - Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
19. Baltimore Orioles - Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
20. Milwaukee Brewers - Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
21. Houston Astros - Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (Washington)
22. Atlanta Braves - Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
23. Kansas City Royals - Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian HS (North Carolina)
24. Detroit Tigers - Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee
25. San Diego Padres - Slater de Brun, CF, Summit HS (Oregon)
26. Philadelphia Phillies - Sean Gamble, 2B, IMG Academy (Florida)
27. Cleveland Guardians - Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (Nevada)
28. Kansas City Royals (Prospect Promotion) - Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Georgia)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks (Compensation) - Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (Texas)
30. Baltimore Orioles (Compensation) - Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson
31. Baltimore Orioles (Compensation) - Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (Georgia)
32. Milwaukee Brewers (Compensation) - Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy HS (Illinois)
33. Boston Red Sox (Competitive Balance) - Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina
34. Detroit Tigers (Competitive Balance) - Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (Florida)
35. Seattle Mariners (Competitive Balance) - Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest
36. Minnesota Twins (Competitive Balance) - Charles Davalan, LF, Arkansas
37. Tampa Bay Rays (Competitive Balance) - Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU
38. New York Mets - Devin Taylor, LF, Indiana
39. New York Yankees - J.B. Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss
40. Los Angeles Dodgers - Quentin Young, SS, Oaks Christian HS (California)

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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Ethan Holiday Headlines ESPN's First 2025 MLB Mock Draft

May 28, 2025 2:57 PM

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel released his initial full first-round projection for the 2025 MLB Draft, placing Oklahoma high school third baseman Ethan Holliday as the top selection for the Washington Nationals.

McDaniel's projection comes as college conference tournaments and high school state tournaments conclude across the country. The draft expert noted that while the top of this class is "down a little from recent years," the unpredictability makes for interesting scenarios throughout the first round.

Draft's Top Tier Features High School Talent

The projection features several high school prospects in prominent positions, including shortstops Eli Willits (Oklahoma) and Seth Hernandez (California) among the top considerations. McDaniel emphasized that bonus demands and potential landing spots will significantly influence final selections.

"This one is still wide open and my choice here is more a reflection of 'I don't quite have enough info to change it from Holliday' than 'I'm confident it's going to be Holliday,'" McDaniel wrote regarding the top pick.

College left-handed pitchers dominate the early rounds, with Tennessee's Liam Doyle projected second to the Los Angeles Angels, LSU's Kade Anderson third to Seattle, and Florida State's Jamie Arnold sixth to Pittsburgh.

Competitive Balance Affects Late First Round

Three teams—the New York Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers—had their first-round picks moved down 10 slots after exceeding the competitive balance tax threshold. The Mets are projected to select Tennessee right-hander Marcus Phillips at 38th overall.

McDaniel noted that the middle portion of the first round becomes increasingly difficult to project as talent levels even out and bonus considerations become more significant factors in team decisions.

The 2025 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 13-14, with the combine taking place June 21-25 providing additional evaluation opportunities for prospects projected in rounds 3-5.

Complete First Round Projection:

1. Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma) - Washington Nationals
2. Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee - Los Angeles Angels
3. Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU - Seattle Mariners
4. Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State - Colorado Rockies
5. Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Oklahoma) - St. Louis Cardinals
6. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State - Pittsburgh Pirates
7. Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (California) - Miami Marlins
8. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma - Toronto Blue Jays
9. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (California) - Cincinnati Reds
10. JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Mississippi) - Chicago White Sox
11. Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona - Athletics
12. Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Alabama) - Texas Rangers
13. Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas - San Francisco Giants
14. Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian HS (North Carolina) - Tampa Bay Rays
15. Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (California) - Boston Red Sox
16. Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M - Minnesota Twins
17. Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas - Chicago Cubs
18. Slater de Brun, CF, Summit HS (Oregon) - Arizona Diamondbacks
19. Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (Washington) - Baltimore Orioles
20. Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Georgia) - Milwaukee Brewers
21. Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (Nevada) - Houston Astros
22. Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest - Atlanta Braves
23. Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn - Kansas City Royals
24. Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (Texas) - Detroit Tigers
25. Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS (Oregon) - San Diego Padres
26. Matthew Fisher, RHP, Evansville Memorial HS (Indiana) - Philadelphia Phillies
27. Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara - Cleveland Guardians
28. Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (Florida) - Kansas City Royals
29. Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest - Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Sean Gamble, 2B, IMG Academy (Florida) - Baltimore Orioles
31. Mason Neville, CF, Oregon - Baltimore Orioles
32. Gavin Kilen, SS, Tennessee - Milwaukee Brewers
33. Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (Georgia) - Boston Red Sox
34. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU - Detroit Tigers
35. Nick Becker, SS, Don Bosco HS (New Jersey) - Seattle Mariners
36. Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina - Minnesota Twins
37. Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy HS (Illinois) - Tampa Bay Rays
38. Marcus Phillips, RHP, Tennessee - New York Mets
39. Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee - New York Yankees
40. Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson - Los Angeles Dodgers

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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Ethan Holliday To Nationals At No. 1 In Latest ESPN MLB Mock Draft

May 15, 2025 3:25 PM

Ethan Holliday projects as the most probable No. 1 pick in the 2025 MLB draft, but Eli Willits and Seth Hernandez have gained some traction, while Jamie Arnold and Liam Doyle are the two most likely college players if the Washington Nationals decide to go with an older prospect.

Arnold ranks first on ESPN's big board as a left-handed pitcher out of Florida State with three above-average to plus pitches. Willits ranks second slightly ahead of Holliday, who are both high schoolers in Oklahoma. 

Hernandez ranks fourth even though high school right-handed pitchers are a riskier bet for most MLB teams. Hernandez's teammate, Billy Carlson, is a shortstop who compares to Bobby Witt Jr.

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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2025 MLB Draft: Four High School Prospects Emerge As Potential Stars

Apr 25, 2025 12:32 PM

In a 2025 MLB draft class lacking a consensus top pick, four high school prospects have emerged as potential franchise cornerstones. MLB draft expert Kiley McDaniel recently scouted this elite group, which includes three shortstops and one right-handed pitcher. The Washington Nationals own the first overall pick after they won the lottery in December.

Oklahoma shortstop Ethan Holliday, son of former major leaguer Matt and brother of Orioles infielder Jackson, has made mechanical adjustments to his swing this spring after struggling against elite competition last summer. Scouts project him as a third baseman with above-average defense, plus arm strength, and significant power potential despite average contact skills.

Fellow Oklahoma shortstop Eli Willits, whose father Reggie played in MLB and now coaches at Oklahoma, offers a different profile as a switch-hitting, contact-oriented player with plus speed and defensive ability. At just 17 years old until December, Willits benefits from statistical trends showing younger draft prospects often outperform expectations.

California shortstop Billy Carlson brings a tool set reminiscent of "a slightly scaled down version of Bobby Witt Jr." with plus defense, an 80-grade arm, and above-average power. Though scouts love his loose, athletic actions, Carlson's swing needs refinement and his age (turning 19 shortly after the draft) works against him.

The lone pitcher in the group, Seth Hernandez from Corona, California, regularly touches triple digits with his fastball while featuring a "devastating" plus-plus changeup. His breaking balls have improved this spring, with his curveball now considered above-average.

Despite Hernandez's impressive arsenal, historical concerns about high school right-handers may impact his draft position. McDaniel notes that prep righties have "the running backs of the baseball draft" reputation.

Working in Hernandez's favor is his athleticism - he's considered a second-round prospect as a third baseman, joining a trend of two-way talents who have succeeded as pitchers at the highest level, including Paul Skenes, Shohei Ohtani, and Jacob deGrom.

These four prospects are all projected to be selected within the top 10 picks this July, with teams now debating which has the highest ceiling.

"These are the kinds of potential All-Stars that tend to look like at this stage," McDaniel wrote about Carlson, though the sentiment applies to all four prospects in what appears to be an unusually deep high school class.

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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Jace LaViolette, Jamie Arnold Rate As Top Prospects In 2025 MLB Draft

Feb 22, 2025 10:08 PM

Jace LaViolette and Jamie Arnold are considered the top two prospects in the 2025 MLB draft with the Washington Nationals holding the first overall pick.

LaViolette is a right fielder for Texas A&M, who draws comparisons to Lance Berkman. 

"I wouldn't expect 55.9 career WAR in the majors from Laviolette -- he's likely a pro corner outfielder and has some bat-to-ball questions -- but he's the best player in the class," writes Kiley McDaniel.

Arnold is a left-handed pitcher with a variety of pitches who has increased his velocity since arriving to Florida State.

Next Best Prospects:
3. Tyler Bremner (21.2), RHP, UC Santa Barbara
4. Aiva Arquette (21.7), SS, Oregon State
5. Cam Cannarella (21.8), CF, Clemson
6. Billy Carlson (19.0), SS, Corona HS (CA), Tennessee commit
7. Marek Houston (21.2), SS, Wake Forest
8. Ethan Holliday (18.3), 3B, Stillwater HS (OK), Oklahoma State commit
9. Gavin Fien (18.2), 3B, Great Oak HS (CA), Texas commit

Kiley McDaniel/ESPN

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