2025 MLB Draft Room ~ Thread, Mocks, Discussion, Draft Boards

[Shady]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

It just seems the Cardinals are overloaded with middle infielders. I hope they go for a potential top of the rotation pitcher.

[redbirdfan51]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

Cards should and will pick the best player available regardless of position at number 5.

[Monsieur De Treville]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

Cards should and will pick the best player available regardless of position at number 5.

Absolutely! Theoretically, do you pass on Cal Ripken Jr and draft Jon Jay because you need outfielders?

You grab the best (bleep) player in your board. Period.

[Monsieur De Treville]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

It just seems the Cardinals are overloaded with middle infielders. I hope they go for a potential top of the rotation pitcher.

So you pass on Derek Jeter to pick Zack Thompson?
You pass on Jose Altuve to draft Dakota Hudson?

Yeah...seems like a solid strategy to me!

You draft the best player. Period.

[tcos]

MLB performing draft now. https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/mlb-pipel ... t-coverage

5. Cardinals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
The Cardinals would like Holliday or one of the college southpaws, all of whom are off the board in this scenario. They could pivot to a high school shortstop in Willits or Carlson or the last remaining top-tier college arm in Witherspoon.

Interesting comment about Cards:

9. Reds: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 2)
This would be a great get for the Reds because Hernandez belongs much higher than this but has to deal with an industry skittish about spending early selections on high school righties. He could land with any of the clubs ahead of here except for the Cardinals and Blue Jays. If he's gone, Cincinnati could turn to Witherspoon or a prep shortstop. This is the ceiling for Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette, who entered the season as the consensus top college bat but hit just .258 with a 25 percent strikeout rate.

[82birds]

MLB performing draft now. https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/mlb-pipel ... t-coverage

5. Cardinals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
The Cardinals would like Holliday or one of the college southpaws, all of whom are off the board in this scenario. They could pivot to a high school shortstop in Willits or Carlson or the last remaining top-tier college arm in Witherspoon.

Interesting comment about Cards:

9. Reds: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 2)
This would be a great get for the Reds because Hernandez belongs much higher than this but has to deal with an industry skittish about spending early selections on high school righties. He could land with any of the clubs ahead of here except for the Cardinals and Blue Jays. If he's gone, Cincinnati could turn to Witherspoon or a prep shortstop. This is the ceiling for Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette, who entered the season as the consensus top college bat but hit just .258 with a 25 percent strikeout rate.

thx for the link

[82birds]

is there a site that lists what college/university these HS kids made commitments to?

[ramfandan]

Callis has Willits to Cardinals at No. 5

Jim Callis, MLB, has released May 29th mock draft .

5. Cardinals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
The Cardinals would like Holliday or one of the college southpaws, all of whom are off the board in this scenario. They could pivot to a high school shortstop in Willits or Carlson or the last remaining top-tier college arm in Witherspoon.

WIllits will turn 18 on Dec. 9th .. He is the son of major leaguer Reggie Willits , who later coached for the NYY and then became associate head coach at his alma mater Oklahoma .
He draws some comparisons to Anthony Volpe with better physical skills at the same age. Willits should be the youngest kid in the 2025 draft at 17 yrs. 7 months.
Scouts love his nonstop motor and instincts to get the most out of his physical tools. Projected to be either a SS or could play CF too.

Here is workout video with both fielding drills and hitting (Note: Willits is a switch hitter and vid shows him from both sides of the plate )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JmE7lqrg8Q

[82birds]

Callis has Willits to Cardinals at No. 5

Jim Callis, MLB, has released May 29th mock draft .

5. Cardinals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
The Cardinals would like Holliday or one of the college southpaws, all of whom are off the board in this scenario. They could pivot to a high school shortstop in Willits or Carlson or the last remaining top-tier college arm in Witherspoon.

WIllits will turn 18 on Dec. 9th .. He is the son of major leaguer Reggie Willits , who later coached for the NYY and then became associate head coach at his alma mater Oklahoma .
He draws some comparisons to Anthony Volpe with better physical skills at the same age. Willits should be the youngest kid in the 2025 draft at 17 yrs. 7 months.
Scouts love his nonstop motor and instincts to get the most out of his physical tools. Projected to be either a SS or could play CF too.

Here is workout video with both fielding drills and hitting (Note: Willits is a switch hitter and vid shows him from both sides of the plate )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JmE7lqrg8Q

thx for the link

[billybaseball]

Would not surprise me at all if the Nationals took Willits over Holliday. Holliday has a higher ceiling with the power but Willits has a higher all around ceiling. Willits has 4 out of 5 plus tools with power the only thing lacking and him being so young gives him room to grow into more power. He'll stick at short or play CF where Holliday is probably a 3B or LF.

Also I think if Willits goes 1st OA then Holliday drops to us. I think Angels go pitching, Arquette to Seattle and the Rockies go pitching.

[An Old Friend]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

Cards should and will pick the best player available regardless of position at number 5.

Absolutely! Theoretically, do you pass on Cal Ripken Jr and draft Jon Jay because you need outfielders?

You grab the best (drat) player in your board. Period.

Players the Orioles took BEFORE Cal Ripken Jr in the 1978 draft:
Robert Boyce
Larry Sheets
Eddie Hook

Ripken was their 4th selection.

[JDW]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

It just seems the Cardinals are overloaded with middle infielders. I hope they go for a potential top of the rotation pitcher.

So you pass on Derek Jeter to pick Zack Thompson?
You pass on Jose Altuve to draft Dakota Hudson?

Yeah...seems like a solid strategy to me!

You draft the best player. Period.

Do you pass on Mike Trout to pick Shelby Miller?

[Monsieur De Treville]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

Cards should and will pick the best player available regardless of position at number 5.

Absolutely! Theoretically, do you pass on Cal Ripken Jr and draft Jon Jay because you need outfielders?

You grab the best (drat) player in your board. Period.

Players the Orioles took BEFORE Cal Ripken Jr in the 1978 draft:
Robert Boyce
Larry Sheets
Eddie Hook

Ripken was their 4th selection.

I get that...but the point remains....the worst thing any team can do is draft for need. If your scouts grade Player A at 60 and Player B at 50, you don't pass on Player A.

If you don't trust your scouts and your draft guys, why even have them?

[Monsieur De Treville]

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles ... 5_42260090

It just seems the Cardinals are overloaded with middle infielders. I hope they go for a potential top of the rotation pitcher.

So you pass on Derek Jeter to pick Zack Thompson?
You pass on Jose Altuve to draft Dakota Hudson?

Yeah...seems like a solid strategy to me!

You draft the best player. Period.

Do you pass on Mike Trout to pick Shelby Miller?

That would be a mistake.

[82birds]

Would not surprise me at all if the Nationals took Willits over Holliday. Holliday has a higher ceiling with the power but Willits has a higher all around ceiling. Willits has 4 out of 5 plus tools with power the only thing lacking and him being so young gives him room to grow into more power. He'll stick at short or play CF where Holliday is probably a 3B or LF.

Also I think if Willits goes 1st OA then Holliday drops to us. I think Angels go pitching, Arquette to Seattle and the Rockies go pitching.

one bonus with Willits. he's a switch hitter.

[Adam2]

Would not surprise me at all if the Nationals took Willits over Holliday. Holliday has a higher ceiling with the power but Willits has a higher all around ceiling. Willits has 4 out of 5 plus tools with power the only thing lacking and him being so young gives him room to grow into more power. He'll stick at short or play CF where Holliday is probably a 3B or LF.

Also I think if Willits goes 1st OA then Holliday drops to us. I think Angels go pitching, Arquette to Seattle and the Rockies go pitching.

every analyst I've read has been in agreement that there is zero percent chance the Rockies pass on Holliday if he is there at 4