July 13, 2025
The Atlanta Braves have selected shortstop Tate Southisene from Basic High School in Nevada with the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. While he has a smaller build at 5'11" and 180 pounds, Southisene is a quick-twitch athlete with plenty of bat speed and sprint speed to dream on. He has an aggressive approach and has good contact from the right side. There are positive bloodlines to go off as well, with his brother Ty being selected in the fourth round of last year's draft. The Southern California commit hit for a .495 batting average over this past season and earned the Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. He'll join an Atlanta farm system with multiple positive development stories.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
The Houston Astros have selected shortstop Xavier Neyens out of Mount Vernon High School in Washington with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Neyens boasts some of the most impressive raw power in the entire draft class, drawing a 65 power grade from MLB.com. The 18-year-old has already produced eye-popping exit velocities of 110 MPH against quality competition. He has the look of a future mainstay in the heart of the lineup. Standing 6'4" at 210 pounds, and projects to wind up at third base in the long term. He'll enter the Houston farm system that has developed plenty of big league stars over the years.
--Kyle McCarthySource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers have selected third baseman Andrew Fischer out of the University of Tennessee with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Fischer spent his first college season with Duke and then transferred to Mississippi before the 2024 campaign. However, he would then opt to play his final season with Tennessee. As a Volunteer, Fischer would enjoy a career season boasting a .341/.497/.760 slash line with 16 doubles and 25 round-trippers. The infielder swiped four bags and held a 63:42 K:BB. This is an excellent sign as he held a much lower .285 AVG with a .643 SLG in 2024. The 6-foot-1 slugger has elite raw power and has continued to show an improved eye at the plate each season. While his upside in the batter's box is high, he holds a modest 45 Fielding grade on MLB.com, which slightly impacted his draft stock. If he can show improvement on defense while he progresses through the Milwaukee system, he could find himself relatively high on prospect boards next summer.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have selected catcher/outfielder Ike Irish out of Auburn University with the 19th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Irish has spent all three seasons of his college career with the Tigers. Last season, the backstop posted a career-high .364/.469/.710 slash line with 13 doubles and 19 home runs across 55 contests. Irish swiped 11 bags and held a 37:33 K:BB. MLB.com noted that while Irish has hit for power in college, he does induce a lot of groundballs, which could limit his power upside on the professional level, as he only went deep twice across 62 games in the Cape Cod League. In addition to his ability to play behind the dish, Irish has also seen ample time in right field. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where he is deployed while progressing through the Baltimore system, as a permanent shift to the outfield could lead to increased offensive production. Given his collegiate experience, he could find a path to debut in the upper minor leagues early in 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected shortstop Kayson Cunningham from Lady Bird Johnson High School in Texas with the 18th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Cunningham is widely considered an elite hitter and is even credited as one of the top pure hitters in the 2025 prep class on MLB.com. Cunningham won USA Baseball Player of the Year honors in 2024 and was also named Gatorade State Player of the Year this past season. The 19-year-old infielder is known for showing an elite eye at the dish as he rarely swings and misses. He also possesses high power upside that should continue to develop as he progresses through the Arizona system. While he entered the draft as a shortstop, many scouts project him to shift to the keystone later in his career. He will join a young Arizona hitting system that features several budding stars in the lower levels, including
Slade Caldwell and
Demetrio Crisantes.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
With the 17th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs have selected outfielder Ethan Conrad out of Wake Forest. Conrad spent the 2024 college season with Marist before transferring to Wake Forest for the 2025 season. In 2025, Conrad was one of the top hitters in the nation, posting a .372/.495/.744 slash line with a remarkable 1.238 OPS. He went deep seven times and swiped four bases. He struck out just 14 times and drew 18 walks. His season was cut short due to a shoulder injury. MLB.com credits him for having upside speed with the potential for an increase in power production. He should remain in the outfield but could also shift to first base, where he also spent time in college. Conrad will join a deep Chicago hitting system that features several high-end outfielders, including
Owen Caissie and
Kevin Alcantara.
--Andy SmithSource: Chicago Cubs
July 13, 2025
The Minnesota Twins selected shortstop Marek Houston out of Wake Forest with the 16th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old has a solid hit tool, but might be more known for his defense than his bat. This past season, the 6-foot-3 slugger hit .354 with 15 home runs while walking as much as a he struck out (15.4 percent). The right-handed hitter could get to mid-teens homers in professional ball with some added muscle.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon out of the University of Oklahoma with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. A "powerful athlete who can pitch," Witherspoon went 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 25.9 percent K-BB% for the Sooners this past season. The 6-foot-2 hurler brings a 70-grade fastball to the mound, but is known for a nasty slider that has two additional inches of horizontal break than the major league average, along with a cutter and a changeup. The Sox took a pitcher with a ton of upside with this pick.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays selected shortstop Daniel Pierce out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia with the 14th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Known for a quick bat that can hit to all fields, Pierce has solid all around tools that give him comps to
Dansby Swanson, but with more speed. At 18 years old, there's plenty of time to grow into more power within his 6-foot frame.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The San Francisco Giants selected shortstop Gavin Kilen out of the University of Tennessee with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The left-handed slugger has a good reputation for making contact, with a 60-grade hit tool and hit .357 this past season for the Volunteers with a low 11.0 percent strikeout rate. Although not well known for pop, the 21-year-old belted 15 home runs in 2025 and draws comparisons to
Gavin Lux.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The Texas Rangers have selected shortstop/third base prospect Gavin Fien with the 12th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Great Oak High School in California. The 18-year-old recently claimed MLB Develops MVP honors at Major League Baseball's High School All-American Game. Fien is credited for having strong bat-to-ball skills that can hit line drives. In addition, MLB.com noted that the young infielder has begun to add strength, which should help him tap into his power potential. He verbally committed to play college baseball with Texas. Fien also has the skill set to cover the hot corner, given his above-average arm strength. Given his age and raw profile, fantasy managers should expect Fien to open the 2026 minor league regular season in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Texas Rangers
July
13,
2025
The
Athletics
have
selected
left-handed
pitcher
Jamie
Arnold
with
the
11th
overall
pick
in
the
2025
MLB
Draft
out
of
Florida
State.
Arnold
made
a
name
for
himself
during
the
2024
campaign
when
he
tallied
an
impressive
159
strikeouts
across
105
read more...
July 13, 2025
The Chicago White Sox selected shortstop Billy Carlson out of Corona High School in California with the 10th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Carlson is credited with having a line-drive approach at the plate, with the potential to increase in power upside. The right-handed hitter, however, carries even more upside on the defensive side of the game, as he was given a stellar 70 Fielding grade and 65 Arm grade on MLB.com prior to the draft. The 6-foot-1 infielder also verbally committed to the University of Tennessee prior to the draft. In addition, he was once viewed as a potential two-way player as he had a strong four-seamer, but is instead expected to now focus entirely on playing shortstop. Carlson should emerge as one of the top bats in the White Sox pipeline alongside outfielder
Braden Montgomery.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds have selected infielder Steele Hall out of Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The 17-year-old is credited with having elite speed as he was given a perfect 70 grade speed rating on MLB.com. Given his defensive skills, he should expect to remain at shortstop while he progresses through the Cincinnati pipeline. While he has shown great ability to swing fast and drive the ball, he has shown significant struggles when facing secondary pitches. The 6-foot infielder verbally committed to Tennessee earlier this season. Given his young age and need for further development, fantasy managers should expect Hall to remain in the lower levels of the minor leagues for at least the next few seasons. He will join a relatively strong Cincinnati pipeline that has several emerging infielders such as
Cam Collier and
Sal Stewart.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
July 13, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop JoJo Parker out of Purvis, Mississippi with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft. The 18-year-old was the 2025 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Mississippi. While some prospects have better hit or power tools, Parker has a solid combination of both, making him one of the more appealing high school hitters in the Draft, which is why he is now a first-round draft pick.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jeff Passan
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