The 2025 Draft has early promising returns with several players making great first impressions in the months after signing.
First overall pick Eli Willits, just 17 at the time, slashed .300/.397/.360 at Single-A. SEC standouts Andrew Fischer and Wehiwa Aloy posted an .848 and .856 OPS respectively. The Rockies’ first two hitting selections, Ethan Holliday and Max Belyeu, combined for six homers.
But many of the top selections did not play after signing, so 2026 will be their first taste of pro ball. They have exciting tools to show off and big questions to answer.
In fact, there are eight Top 100 prospects who have yet to debut. Here’s a look at them and 12 more interesting names as well as what we’re most looking forward to seeing in the season to come.
Kade Anderson, LHP, Mariners (SEA No. 2/MLB No. 23)
The latest potential ace out of LSU, Anderson was a favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall before the Mariners snapped him up with the third pick in July’s Draft. The southpaw has four above-average-or-better pitchers, and his rare polish makes him a candidate to swiftly move through the Minors. He appears plenty durable too after averaging well over six innings per start last year with the Tigers.
Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pirates (PIT No. 3/MLB No. 27)
Hernandez has as much potential as any pitcher in the 2025 Draft — and is perhaps one of the best prep pitching prospects in years. At 6-foot-4, he’s already touching triple digits and has a plus changeup and two promising breaking balls. The Pirates were not afraid to challenge their previous first-rounder — another high-upside high schooler in Konnor Griffin (MLB’s No. 1 overall prospect) — so it will be interesting to see how they handle Hernandez.
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Athletics (ATH No. 2/MLB No. 38)
Arnold was one of the nation’s best pitchers as a sophomore at Florida State, with a dominant fastball/slider combination out of a low slot that drew comparisons to Chris Sale. His command took a small step back in 2025 as he issued more walks and got fewer whiffs, although he still remained dominant. It’s worth closely watching how his command plays in pro ball, along with how his little-used changeup develops as a third pitch.
JoJo Parker, SS, Blue Jays (TOR No. 2/MLB No. 43)
A left-handed-swinging infielder, Parker was one of the best hitters in the 2025 Draft and may grow into plus power with time too. While scouts are sold on his bat, there is some question as to whether he’ll need to move off shortstop to second or third base (or even the outfield), so it will be key to see how his defense develops in the lower Minors.
Billy Carlson, SS, White Sox (CWS No. 3/MLB No. 71)
Carlson is considered the best defender in his Draft class with 70 grades for his arm and glove, something only two other ranked prospects (Carson Williams and Jeferson Quero) can boast. There’s little doubt that his defense is ready for a more advanced assignment, but his bat’s development will likely dictate his starting point. The Southern California native has burgeoning bat-to-ball skills but could take a leap and unlock his natural power with some tweaks to his approach.
Steele Hall, SS, Reds (CIN No. 4/MLB No. 79)
The ninth overall pick in 2025 has plus-plus speed and uses that athleticism well on defense at shortstop. He’s hit over power from the right side and can get overly aggressive at times, so it will be interesting to see how his transition from the Alabama prep ranks to pro ball goes. Notably, he’s one of the youngest players in his class.
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Red Sox (BOS No. 3/MLB No. 89)
Witherspoon stood out for his deep repertoire of plus stuff, and he really took a leap as a junior at Oklahoma when his control and command improved, enabling him to cut his walk rate nearly in half (11.2 to 5.9 percent). The top college righty from the 2025 Draft, Witherspoon has a chance to move quickly and be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Tyler Bremner, RHP, Angels (LAA No. 1/MLB No. 91)
Bremner is a high-probability starter thanks to his impressive control and devastating changeup. The second overall pick in 2025 pairs the cambio well with a fastball up to 98 mph with life, although he often relied less on his slider over time as it got hit hard his junior year at Santa Barbara. That and his durability will be the biggest things to watch, especially with how quickly the Angels like to push their college Draft picks.
Daniel Pierce, SS, Rays (TB No. 5)
A great athlete, Pierce has a well-rounded profile built around speed and defense. The son of a coach, he has a mature approach and keen eye at the plate as well as a track record of success against high-level pitching that suggests he could hit the ground running in pro ball after going 14th overall.
Jace LaViolette, OF, Guardians (CLE No. 7)
LaViolette was an early favorite to go first overall in the Draft but fell in the first round when contact issues — particularly in the strike zone — flared up. Everyone will be watching how much he whiffs in pro ball, especially coming off a broken left hand, because he has as much raw power as anyone in his class and is an athletic defender at 6-foot-6.
Slater de Brun, OF, Rays (TB No. 8)
The dynamic 5-foot-10 center fielder never got to play for the Orioles, who gave him a $4 million bonus, when he was part of the trade return for Shane Baz. The Rays will have the chance to develop the top prep outfielder from the 2025 Draft, one who stands out for excellent speed and an impressive hit tool — as well as one of the game’s best nicknames.
Xavier Neyens, SS, Astros (HOU No. 2)
The 21st overall pick in July, Neyens stands out for his tremendous bat speed and raw power. The Astros will be tasked with helping him unlock it, as he’s had some swing-and-miss and passivity issues. His defense is also worth monitoring, as he’s a shortstop for now but may need to move to third due to fringy footspeed.
Sean Gamble, OF/2B, Royals (KC No. 3)
The Royals announced Gamble as an outfielder when they drafted him 23rd overall, but some like him better at second base, so it will be interesting to see how he’s deployed defensively. The former Vanderbilt commit has plenty of offensive upside as well with plus bat speed and foot speed.
Josh Hammond, SS, Royals (KC No. 4)
A two-way prospect entering his senior year of high school, Hammond emerged as a slugging infielder and could take another leap in pro ball now that he’s no longer pitching. The 28th overall pick in July, Hammond has the arm to play on the left side of the infield, and being able to stick at shortstop could be a big boon to his value.
Ethan Conrad, OF, Cubs (CHC No. 6)
The Cubs’ first-rounder is a big-time college performer who has the bat-to-ball skills to make up for his occasionally overly aggressive approach. The lefty slugger’s lone season at Wake Forest was cut short by left shoulder surgery, so how he recovers from that — along with his defensive home in the outfield — bears watching.
Riley Quick, RHP, Twins (MIN No. 10)
Quick has a lineman’s frame — befitting of a former SEC football recruit — and a power arsenal led by a fastball, a slider and a changeup with movement that has been historically tough to command. Due to his multisport background and 2024 Tommy John surgery, the 36th overall pick in July hasn’t thrown many innings for a college pitcher and could have significant untapped potential.
Zachary Root, LHP, Dodgers (LAD No. 14)
The Dodgers’ top pick in July (40th overall) mixes his four effective pitches well and has a bit of funk to his delivery. Root should move quickly, but any untapped potential may have to come from improved command since his 6-foot-2 frame is already filled out.
Aaron Watson, RHP, Reds (CIN No. 10)
Cincinnati signed Watson to a well-over-slot $2.75 million bonus because he is quite advanced for a prep pitcher. The 6-foot-5 righty currently has a three-pitch mix with no plus offerings, but it’s easy to see him taking off if the Reds’ pitching lab can help develop a true out pitch since he can already command his arsenal well.
Jordan Yost, SS, Tigers (DET No. 8)
The Tigers are loaded with shortstop prospects, and their 2025 first-rounder is another promising defender at the position with plus speed. Yost has strong contact skills from the left side but largely undeveloped power, which could come as he fills out his projectable frame.
Jaden Fauske, OF, White Sox (CWS No. 6)
Once a catching prospect, Fauske will play outfield in pro ball after the White Sox drafted the Illinois high schooler with the first pick of the 2025 second round — and he may have a chance to play center. That should speed up his path to the big leagues because his sweet left-handed swing is his carrying tool, and he may grow into plus power as well.
