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

[TraveledLessRoad]

Should the Cards draft for need or the grab their highest rated player. Well, here's a warning to think about...

June 7 1966... to select Reggie Jackson or not, that is the question facing the New York Mets, who have the first pick in the free-agent draft. The Mets did not!

Instead the Mets choose Steve Chilcott, a catcher for Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. Chilcott hit .500 with 11 homers and 38 RBI in 25 games as a senior and impressed Mets manager Casey Stengel.

“It was a position pick," said Joe McDonald, who is in the Mets' front office at the time. "We did not feel that we had an adequate catching prospect in the organization."

Chilcott's career will be plagued by injuries and he will never reach the majors! Over a seven-year minor league career, he will play only 331 games before being released by the Yankees in 1972.

Jackson, a sophomore outfielder with Arizona State is picked second overall by the Kansas City Athletics. Reggie will go on to hit 563 home runs in a Hall of Fame career and become Mr October.

Food for thought....

Who is this seasons Jackson?
Holliday, if so, yes that would be a shame on the
Cardinals if they passed on him.

In my opinion, there is ZERO chance the Cards pass on Holiday if he is there. I also do not think he will be there

[Adam2]

Should the Cards draft for need or the grab their highest rated player. Well, here's a warning to think about...

June 7 1966... to select Reggie Jackson or not, that is the question facing the New York Mets, who have the first pick in the free-agent draft. The Mets did not!

Instead the Mets choose Steve Chilcott, a catcher for Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. Chilcott hit .500 with 11 homers and 38 RBI in 25 games as a senior and impressed Mets manager Casey Stengel.

“It was a position pick," said Joe McDonald, who is in the Mets' front office at the time. "We did not feel that we had an adequate catching prospect in the organization."

Chilcott's career will be plagued by injuries and he will never reach the majors! Over a seven-year minor league career, he will play only 331 games before being released by the Yankees in 1972.

Jackson, a sophomore outfielder with Arizona State is picked second overall by the Kansas City Athletics. Reggie will go on to hit 563 home runs in a Hall of Fame career and become Mr October.

Food for thought....

Who is this seasons Jackson?
Holliday, if so, yes that would be a shame on the
Cardinals if they passed on him.

In my opinion, there is ZERO chance the Cards pass on Holiday if he is there. I also do not think he will be there

There is zero chance he gets past the Rockies at 4

[TraveledLessRoad]

other draft (2024) related news.... 2nd overall pick, RHP Chase Burns gets promoted to AAA Louisville. He was 6-1, 1.29 ERA, 56 K, 4 BB with AA Chattanooga.

Reds likely 2026 opening day rotation ~ Hunter Greene, Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Chase Burns .

Barring health, obviously, that is a SICK rotation!

[craviduce]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2025 ... k-draft-10

the theory crafting made a pleasant read. He did a lot of homework, and the selections and/thoughts on each pick were well reasoned.

Mr. Ward did a good job here.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU

not my choice of picks, but I don't walk away unhappy.

[Aday96]

I kind of feel like Arnold seems like the most likely pick at 5. High floor guy who has had a nice college career, but I'm not sure I'd be all that excited for him. His arm slot worries me and I would love a higher potential guy with how rare we pick in the top 5.

[renostl]

Should the Cards draft for need or the grab their highest rated player. Well, here's a warning to think about...

June 7 1966... to select Reggie Jackson or not, that is the question facing the New York Mets, who have the first pick in the free-agent draft. The Mets did not!

Instead the Mets choose Steve Chilcott, a catcher for Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. Chilcott hit .500 with 11 homers and 38 RBI in 25 games as a senior and impressed Mets manager Casey Stengel.

“It was a position pick," said Joe McDonald, who is in the Mets' front office at the time. "We did not feel that we had an adequate catching prospect in the organization."

Chilcott's career will be plagued by injuries and he will never reach the majors! Over a seven-year minor league career, he will play only 331 games before being released by the Yankees in 1972.

Jackson, a sophomore outfielder with Arizona State is picked second overall by the Kansas City Athletics. Reggie will go on to hit 563 home runs in a Hall of Fame career and become Mr October.

Food for thought....

Who is this seasons Jackson?
Holliday, if so, yes that would be a shame on the
Cardinals if they passed on him.

I'm thinking it's Willits...but...what 'da heck do I know?!?!

Same. I picked him in a different polling thread.

I no longer devote as much time as needed to be educated on each draft,
even then it's close to impossible, just too many players and we're trying to predict
future performances, development.

I count on guys like you, Crav, others to do the filtering.

[Strummer Jones]

I could live with Arnold. I'm higher on Hernandez, but Arnold is a good pick.

[TraveledLessRoad]

Arnold just doesn't excite me at all. I feel like we could find an Arnold in like the 3rd round. I want upside as opposed to a high floor

[renostl]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2025 ... k-draft-10

the theory crafting made a pleasant read. He did a lot of homework, and the selections and/thoughts on each pick were well reasoned.

Mr. Ward did a good job here.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU

not my choice of picks, but I don't walk away unhappy.

He had Willits as a "B" choice.

Solid read that demonstrates the various directions each team can go and on
the surface not wrong in doing so.

Like many have expressed, I like the upside vs a high floor, but getting an MLB player
seems paramount here.

[RunSup]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2025 ... k-draft-10

the theory crafting made a pleasant read. He did a lot of homework, and the selections and/thoughts on each pick were well reasoned.

Mr. Ward did a good job here.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU

not my choice of picks, but I don't walk away unhappy.

He had Willits as a "B" choice.

Solid read that demonstrates the various directions each team can go and on
the surface not wrong in doing so.

Like many have expressed, I like the upside vs a high floor, but getting an MLB player
seems paramount here.

The Cardinals are going to go College SP with their pick. Holliday and Hernandez will be off the board and maybe even 3 SP available at pick #5.

Though it's not Arnold or Doyle as the top choice for the Cardinals. It will be Anderson then Witherspoon at #5. They will take Witherspoon over the remaining LHP.

Don't bother with Arquette or any of the remaining HS SS at this pick. It won't matter. Pitching, Pitching, or Pitching.

[ramfandan]

Baseball America's Mock 4.0

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS (OK)
2. Angels ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb/Broxton HS (OK)
6. Pirates ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (CA)
7. Marlins ~ Jaime Arnold, LHP, Florida St.
8. Blue Jays ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
9. Reds ~ Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn A
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (CA)

If the draft goes as BA lists it above, I agree that if Cards have that choice between a Willits or Arnold that they would go for the 'hitter' over the pitcher.
What tips my thinking may be different than others. I think Bloom is looking at the Cardinals current starting 9 and envisioning what that would like two years down the road.
At end of 2027 (just 2 years ), Nado is 36 .. gone , you have WillyCon at 1st 35 years old ..end of the line , OF Noot will be 30 and 2nd baseman Donovan 30 years old and turning 31 before 2028. That's 4 of the current 9 guys who will be 30 or more on downside of career ( Nado and Contreras already in downside of 30s) . Bloom may think having position player to add to JJ and whoever else is important. In two years, the team will need some productive hitters. Of course, Willits may not be ready then but could be close .
That's why I think Cards may lean toward selecting a position player over a pitcher ! Just my guess ..what do I know ?

[renostl]

https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2025 ... k-draft-10

the theory crafting made a pleasant read. He did a lot of homework, and the selections and/thoughts on each pick were well reasoned.

Mr. Ward did a good job here.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, FSU

not my choice of picks, but I don't walk away unhappy.

He had Willits as a "B" choice.

Solid read that demonstrates the various directions each team can go and on
the surface not wrong in doing so.

Like many have expressed, I like the upside vs a high floor, but getting an MLB player
seems paramount here.

The Cardinals are going to go College SP with their pick. Holliday and Hernandez will be off the board and maybe even 3 SP available at pick #5.

Though it's not Arnold or Doyle as the top choice for the Cardinals. It will be Anderson then Witherspoon at #5. They will take Witherspoon over the remaining LHP.

Don't bother with Arquette or any of the remaining HS SS at this pick. It won't matter. Pitching, Pitching, or Pitching.

Maybe.
There is a lot of absolutes in this post. The closest absolute IMO is Holliday being gone by #5
otherwise I see far less certainty. I like Witherspoon enough, fine with the pick, but calling him the pick over the HS SS seems
a stretch when that pitching is more likely to be available than the best or #2 HS SS later in the draft.

All good, it's a guess.

[Adam2]

I kind of feel like Arnold seems like the most likely pick at 5. High floor guy who has had a nice college career, but I'm not sure I'd be all that excited for him. His arm slot worries me and I would love a higher potential guy with how rare we pick in the top 5.

I agree, Arnold is fine but i want to gamble in the top 5 for a potential super star. We aren't here often. I want Hernandez if he is there. High risk (very high), very high reward?

[Futuregm2]

I kind of feel like Arnold seems like the most likely pick at 5. High floor guy who has had a nice college career, but I'm not sure I'd be all that excited for him. His arm slot worries me and I would love a higher potential guy with how rare we pick in the top 5.

I agree, Arnold is fine but i want to gamble in the top 5 for a potential super star. We aren't here often. I want Hernandez if he is there. High risk (very high), very high reward?

Is that the pick to be gambling on more so than any other draft?

[renostl]

Baseball America's Mock 4.0

1. Nationals ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS (OK)
2. Angels ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
5. Cardinals ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb/Broxton HS (OK)
6. Pirates ~ Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (CA)
7. Marlins ~ Jaime Arnold, LHP, Florida St.
8. Blue Jays ~ Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
9. Reds ~ Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn A
10. White Sox ~ Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (CA)

If the draft goes as BA lists it above, I agree that if Cards have that choice between a Willits or Arnold that they would go for the 'hitter' over the pitcher.
What tips my thinking may be different than others. I think Bloom is looking at the Cardinals current starting 9 and envisioning what that would like two years down the road.
At end of 2027 (just 2 years ), Nado is 36 .. gone , you have WillyCon at 1st 35 years old ..end of the line , OF Noot will be 30 and 2nd baseman Donovan 30 years old and turning 31 before 2028. That's 4 of the current 9 guys who will be 30 or more on downside of career ( Nado and Contreras already in downside of 30s) . Bloom may think having position player to add to JJ and whoever else is important. In two years, the team will need some productive hitters. Of course, Willits may not be ready then but could be close .
That's why I think Cards may lean toward selecting a position player over a pitcher ! Just my guess ..what do I know ?

Go with your guess.

I think the older corner infielders can be replaced from within. Herrera 1B? JJ 3B?

Regardless, I think upside future MLB contributors is a better approach though over need drafting.

[Adam2]

I kind of feel like Arnold seems like the most likely pick at 5. High floor guy who has had a nice college career, but I'm not sure I'd be all that excited for him. His arm slot worries me and I would love a higher potential guy with how rare we pick in the top 5.

I agree, Arnold is fine but i want to gamble in the top 5 for a potential super star. We aren't here often. I want Hernandez if he is there. High risk (very high), very high reward?

Is that the pick to be gambling on more so than any other draft?

Just stating we are pretty much never in the top 5. And with some promise from the current club it doesn't look like we will be back this high soon or often. We don't generally have a shot at talent that most teams agree if it pans out might be a superstar. Specifically a pitcher.

I know a prep pitcher at this spot is risky, but for a prep pitcher to be rated as high as he is scouts think that is potential Ace material