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.