Now that the 2024 MLB Draft is complete, it’s time to see what the next crop of prospects can do at the professional level. But, it also means that the work towards the 2025 MLB Draft will begin in earnest. And, we’ve seen several high-end college talents work their way up the board thanks to strong performances in the summer. So, here’s our initial list of the best college baseball prospects available in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Best College Prospects in 2025 MLB Draft
- OF Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
- OF Cam Cannarella (Clemson)
- SP Jamie Arnold (Florida State)
- OF Devin Taylor (Indiana)
- C Ike Irish (Auburn)
- SP Tyler Bremner (UC Santa Barbara)
- C Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina)
- OF Ethan Petry (South Carolina)
- SS Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas)
- OF/SP Patrick Forbes (Louisville)
- SP Chase Shores (LSU)
- 1B Tanner Thach (UNC Wilmington)
- OF Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma State)
- SS Marek Houston (Wake Forest)
- SP A.J. Russell (Tennessee)
- SS Trent Caraway (Oregon State)
- 2B Daniel Dickinson (LSU)
- SP Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma)
- SP Matt Scott (Stanford)
- SS Dean Curley (Tennessee)
- INF Henry Ford (Virginia)
The hitters
Jace LaViolette could have gone pro in 2022, as the left-hander ranked #186 in the 2022 draft class per MLB.com and received rave reviews for his power. LaViolette instead followed through with his commitment to Texas A&M and he’s been a smash hit at College Station. The 6’5” slugger belted 50 home runs over his first two seasons with the Aggies, including 29 this past season.
However, LaViolette has a tenuous hold on the top spot. Clemson star outfielder Cam Cannarella is arguably the best athlete among college players and he showed that during his first two seasons. Cannarella batted .363 with a 1.000 OPS over his first two seasons with the Tigers and flashed plus defense in center. That was very much true during the NCAA Super Regionals when he made a jaw-dropping catch against the Gators.
After those two, the list gets fluid. There’s elite talent here, including several bats who’ve stood out in the Cape Cod League. Generally, doing well in the wood-bat league is vital, as it gives teams reassurances that top prospects can hit against good pitching and handle the heavier bat.
Ethan Petry, a plus power hitter with strikeout concerns, belted eight home runs and posted a 1.148 OPS as of July 31 in the Cape. That OPS is good for first in the circuit. Right behind him is Tanner Thach, who had eight home runs and a .563 SLG after 31 games. Thach finished 11th in Division I in home runs (27), tied with Braden Montgomery.
However, one notable player who struggled in the Cape is Daniel Dickinson. Dickinson batted .367/.469/.661 with 18 home runs at Utah Valley State, which earned him a transfer to LSU. However, he batted just .208 with no home runs and three extra-base hits in the Cape.
Two catchers ranked in our top 21, although more will likely be added to this list once we expand it. However, the two listed here, Ike Irish and Caden Bodine, have separated from the pack.
A notable catcher to watch aside from Bodine and Irish is Luke Stevenson, who hit 14 home runs as a freshman with UNC.
The pitchers
Arguably the best pitcher available is Jamie Arnold. Arnold finished third in the nation last season in strikeouts (159), behind two 2024 first-round picks, Hagen Smith and Chase Burns. Arnold has elite stuff, including a mid-90s fastball that can speed up on hitters, plus a dominant slider with late live.
Aside from Arnold, there will likely be a lot of volatility between now and July 2025. Kyson Witherspoon and Matt Scott were strikeout machines for their respective teams. Witherspoon showcased a popping fastball with Oklahoma, while Scott struck out 103 over 80 innings with the Cardinal. Both, though, have dealt with command problems. In Scott’s case, he walked 38 with Stanford.
LSU hurler Chase Shores has the opportunity to rise. Shores missed all of 2024 but he had significant success as a freshman, albeit in a short sample. Shores struck out 15 over 18.1 IP with the Tigers in 2023 and owned a 1.96 ERA.
Going back to Shores’ high school career, the righty flashed a mid-90s fastball along with good secondary stuff. However, he was raw.
Tyler Bremner and Patrick Forbes are more polished. Bremner posted a 2.74 ERA and struck out 104 in what was a standout sophomore campaign with UC Santa Barbara. Forbes, meanwhile, has shown flashes for Louisville over his first two seasons. However, he broke out in the Cape this season, as he struck out 22 over 13.2 frames with Brewster.
Bremner (#203) and Forbes (#185) were both in MLB.com‘s top 300 draft prospect list two years ago.
Since we’re nearly a year away from the 2025 MLB Draft, this list will evolve. We will update it between now and the end of the year, including changing the order to reflect new information and adding new names. For those who want more info, be sure to check out our explainer on how the MLB Draft works.