2025 MLB Draft: A closer look at the top 20 high school prospects entering the spring

Yahoo

25-02-2025

There is no question who the top-rated high school baseball player in the class of 2025 is.
Ethan Holliday, like his older brother Jackson, who is now playing with the Baltimore Orioles, has a solid chance of being the top overall pick in this summer's MLB Draft. In fact, along with a couple of college players, Ethan Holliday's name is nearly always mentioned among the top Angels when they kickoff that draft with the top pick.
After Holliday, though, things get murky at the high school level fast.
It's not that there is a lack of talent – most experts agree that this draft contains a lot more potential superstars out of the high school crop than last year. Those players are just hard to separate.
Luckily, we have mlb.com to do that for us. It recently came out with its 2025 MLB Draft prospects list – Ethan Holliday is listed No. 1. Here's a look at some of the top high school players on that list.
With father Matt finishing a Hall of Fame consideration worthy career in 2018 and brother Jackson currently in the pros, Ethan has the pedigree. More importantly, he has a super-smooth left-handed swing. He drives the ball well and is considered to have 30 plus home-run potential. He's fundamentally strong at shortstop, but could end up at third base or in the outfield as a pro.
Stillwater (Ok.) 3B Ethan Holliday hit two homers today in a preseason scrimmage v. Ponca City. This opposite field rocket was followed by a grand slam to centerfield.They'll officially get going March 1. pic.twitter.com/SNr9fhfvuT
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) February 23, 2025
Hernandez touts a long, 6-foot-4 inch frame that helps him get up to 98 mph on the radar gun. He also touts a heavy change-up that is advanced for his age. He's likely to be the first pitcher taken.
Seth Hernandez (25 CA) ended the day after 3-scoreless innings. Struck out 7 opposing batters and got 7 whiffs in the short outing. Here is an extended look. #PGHS #SoCalShowdownPG #Vandy commit @PGAllAmerican https://t.co/uDftJkSAmw pic.twitter.com/PbySso2xvg
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 23, 2025
Some scouts rate Cunningham as the best pure hitter in the draft, despite his small size. He makes consistent contact from the left side of the plate and rarely strikes out. He might not develop more than gap power, but he's also a good runner who should stick in the middle infield.
Kayson Cunningham (@KaysonCunningha) lays out, snags the line drive and throws to 2nd from his backside for the inning ending double play. #FiveToolDefense #FiveToolTopPlay @CTJbaseball (TX) 2025 • @TexasBaseball signeeProfile: https://t.co/MASNo3YRl1 pic.twitter.com/no0EWZsyGq
— Five Tool South Texas (@FiveToolSTX) February 25, 2025
Neyens is a hefty 6-foo-4 with raw power from the left side of the plate. He drives the ball to all fields and has arguably the most long-term home run potential in the class. He's listed as a third baseman and projects at one of the corner infield or outfield spots long term.
'25 3B Xavier Neyens (CA) lifts it to deep CF here (99 EV). Huge bat speed & the juice to match. #GoBeavs commit #PGNational @California_PG pic.twitter.com/xfYlau9CzY
— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 5, 2024
Schoolcraft could challenge Hernandez as the first pitcher selected, if you consider him a pitcher. A recent trend has been for MLB teams to select good two-way players and then give them some time in the minors to make an impact one way of the other – ala Bryce Eldridge. Schoolcraft could fit this mold as a power left-handed pitcher and power-hitting first baseman. Betting odds have him ending up as a hitter – but it's close.
Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP/1B, Sunset HS (Ore.) - Commit: Tennessee@KruzSchoolcraft- 6'8' Starting LHP- Fastball Reaches 97 MPH- Fastball, Slider, Change-up 📽️- Not a max effort thrower- Solid overall athlete, can play 1B at a high level- Bat is behind the other tools, but… pic.twitter.com/t6EcIUY975
— Baseball Unstitched Podcast (@BaseUnstitched) February 12, 2025
The son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, Eli was a top-10 prospect in the 2026 class before reclassifying last spring. He's a polished switch hitter with good bat control. He projects to stick in the middle infield. The big question is if he go pro or join his father at Oklahoma, where he is associate head coach.
Eli Willits (@EliWillits). #ExtraSwings@StixBaseballTX / #MattinglyWS / @FiveToolOK pic.twitter.com/kCr848mKa5
— Jeffrey Kahn (@jkahn_5) July 11, 2024
Another two-way player, he's been up to 97 mph on the mound with a very good changeup and curveball to compliment. And he's a very good hitter, with a great contact rate. But he really turns heads in the field as arguably the best defensive shortstop in the draft.
Billy Carlson (25 CA) goes the other way for a hard single. Fluid stroke with a very accurate bat. #PGHS #Vols commit @PGAllAmerican https://t.co/chgNA6fnKQ pic.twitter.com/cFyKsSJV7t
— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) February 23, 2025
Gamble showed a lot of power, that came with some swing and miss, as an underclassman but has tightened things up in his final two years. He's got a great arm and could end up nearly anywhere in the infield or outfield.
'25 2B/OF Sean Gamble (FL, @VandyBoys)It was a quality 1st look of the spring at one of the nicest swings in the class including some triple-digit exits/eye-opening defensive playsTight connection w/ hit+pwr profile. Swing decisions will dictate Day 1 ceiling 👍👍#MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/XLP1QC3Vu7
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 10, 2025
Appenzeller hails from the same high school as Reid Detmers, and displays good command and good movement. At 6-foot-5, 180 pounds he could add strength in the coming years and add speed to his 92 mph fastball.
𝕊𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕥ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥 ℙ𝕣𝕠 𝔻𝕒𝕪: 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝LHP Cameron Appenzeller (Glenwood, IL)Tennessee commit. One of the premier #MLBDraft prep prospects in the country. 📍SportsBarn East 🗓️ February 19th pic.twitter.com/HSPY58iD6F
— ScoutConnect (@ScoutConnectBB) December 27, 2024
Ebel's father is Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel. Predictably, Brady shows an advanced approach at the plate. He could end up at 3B in the pros and will still only be 17 on draft day, so his upside is immense.
'25 INF Brady Ebel of Corona HS#LSUcom / 2x @prepaseball All American gamePolished offensive profile Collects barrels & hits in BP-GameLine to line hard contact 1B to CF / 1B GB to RF 2K count / L-9 on barrel / BBVersatile def. profile w/SS pot.⬆️ overall player… pic.twitter.com/TxwRhCmOKl
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) February 3, 2025
Fine went 10-for-25 in eight games with the 18U National team and is considered one of the draft's most polished hitters. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds he might be destined for a corner infield or outfield spot and will depend heavily on his bat to advance.
Solo pump for Great Oak Inf/OF Gavin Fien (2025). Bat speed is evident even in the slo mo. Currently ranked #4 in the state, and committed to @TexasBaseball #PGHS @PG_Scouting @PG_Draft @sdshowbaseball @gohsbaseball pic.twitter.com/sVPkhDY4fm
— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) February 9, 2025
At 5-foot-9, 180 pounds is a good runner and a very good defensive center fielder, and he makes good contact at the plate, but he'll probably never show much power. He also has good arm strength and can play any outfield spot.
'25 OF Slater de Brun of Summit HS (Bend, OR)#VandyBoysCommitDynamic athlete w/top-end run speedHigh motor player / CF def. profile (range w/instincts)Showed loft w/carry in BP - feel for barrelStrong in game showing 2B LF w/carry (1 hopped wall) / 1B 2K count INF showed… pic.twitter.com/JsC1YnLRTt
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) February 3, 2025
Watson thows hard, touching 96 mph on the radar gun, and still has some room to add strength to his 6-5 frame. He has great feel for both his fastball and his breaking pitches.
E5 | TCA (Jax) 2, Westminster Christian 1• Score remains 2-1 after 5 ~ @WCS__Baseball got singles from Marin and Beckford in the inning ~ Aaron Watson worked around the singles for @TCAJaxBaseball getting a big K to end the treat pic.twitter.com/0jpUHH6Z7X
— Prep Baseball Florida (@PrepBaseballFL) May 21, 2024
Sell made good contact in the past, sometimes at the expense of power, but he started driving the ball more this past season. He has good instincts in center field, and is a good runner.
Brock Sell jumps into the top 15 prospects in the 2025 high school draft classWe have a full scouting report on the @StanfordBSB commit ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/UHUirZaAks pic.twitter.com/LipmwnlrXN
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 10, 2024
Young also reclassified into the 2025 class last spring, and is believed to have a high power ceiling, with a 6-foot-5 frame. He has a plus arm and is likely to move to third base or the outfield as he continues to get better.
Oaks Christian SS/3B Quentin Young is off to a hot start this season and impressing scouts in to see him. Top of the class bat speed. pic.twitter.com/bWbB8Nc9Ss
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) February 25, 2025
Cervantes has a repeatable delivery that should give him a good chance to stick as a starting pitcher. His fastball that touches 94 mph, and his slider and curveball are advanced for his age and give him a deep pitch selection.
'25 RHP Angel Cervantes of Warren HS#UCLAcommit#5 in CA / #13 in @prepbaseball national rankings (#2 RHP in both)Solid outing for 2x @prepbaseball AA game alumniFB: 89-92 T93 (2 seam at 89-80 - 4 seam at 91-93)CB: 76-79 vertical depthCHG: 80-81 w/tumble4 GB outs after… pic.twitter.com/v5hks9K0e6
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) February 3, 2025
Harmon is a lean 6-foot-5, with projectable power, and the ball already explodes out of his hands, reaching 98 mph at times. He can get a strikeout in nearly any showdown, but if he can remain a starter could depend on if he can develop secondary pitches, which still need some work.
Although Strickland gets up to 96 mph on the radar gun, he also does an amazing job changing speeds, especially with a slow-down curveball.
No Hitter Alert!!! Zach Strickland goes the distance striking out 17. Maranatha with the 4-0 victory. Last K at 95 @mhsbaseballfam pic.twitter.com/FFb34Bljds
— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) May 3, 2024
A left-handed hitter, Franco is selective at the plate and makes good contact, leading to great on-base percentages. He has good footwork at shortstop, but only average speed. At 6-foot-5, 170 pounds he has room to put on muscle and could move to third base.
Lucas Franco (@L_Francobsbl10) sends this ball to right for a single and takes second on the throw putting two runners in scoring position at the Upperclass @ACBaseballGames. Cinco Ranch (TX) 2025 • @TCU_Baseball commitProfile: https://t.co/WnUAWwPfff pic.twitter.com/IFwSA6EY2J
— ✭Five Tool Texas✭ (@FiveToolTexas) August 12, 2024
Moss is advanced a the plate for a high school player, with a unique ability to make contact and drive the ball at times. He rarely swings at bad pitches but shows great power from the left side of the plate. He has great instincts in the outfield, but could ultimately end up playing one of the corner spots.
Dean Moss (25 CA) smashes this 2K offering past the SS for a single. Really lags the hands here & barrel skill + plate disc. are near the best in the class. #GeauxTigers commit. #PGHS @IMGABaseball @PGAllAmerican pic.twitter.com/8P7fCVi5dh
— Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) February 17, 2025
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Top 20 high school prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft pipeline