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

[Whatashame]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

[Futuregm2]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

Yea, that would be shocking to see

[TraveledLessRoad]

"An electric 5 pitch repertoire" 6'2", 206 lbs...why aren't we hire on this lad?

9. Cincinnati Reds: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma

Witherspoon is the consensus No. 4 pitcher from this year's college class after going 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings this spring, and the pieces are there for him to emerge as the best pitcher in this draft.

The 6'2", 206-pound right-hander has an electric five-pitch repertoire and he uses his plus athleticism well to repeat his mechanics, and the Reds have had good success developing high-level college arms in recent years with Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns both moving quickly through the minors.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

[Futuregm2]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

[Futuregm2]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

[An Old Friend]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

A's slot value is $5.9m, Rays slot value is $5.3. I'm not an expert, but I think he'll expect north of $7m, and could/might settle for $6.5 to the A's, $6.25m to the Rays.

He's worth a Top 5 slot value, he won't get that...I understand this. He's a risk. He's worth much more than the 11 and 14 slot values....and the industry knows that. I think he has some leverage

[An Old Friend]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

A's slot value is $5.9m, Rays slot value is $5.3. I'm not an expert, but I think he'll expect north of $7m, and could/might settle for $6.5 to the A's, $6.25m to the Rays.

He's worth a Top 5 slot value, he won't get that...I understand this. He's a risk. He's worth much more than the 11 and 14 slot values....and the industry knows that. I think he has some leverage

He can "expect" but he won't have any leverage IMO. Vanderbilt has a team-wide NIL deal... as I understand it, all players get an equal share and then individually they can seek other NIL opportunities. I might be wrong... but I can't imagine any college baseball team paying anywhere near that amount.

Maybe if he slips farther than that, he bypasses and goes the Gerrit Cole route... of being a late first rounder and heading to college. It worked for Cole, but not many (any?) others.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

A's slot value is $5.9m, Rays slot value is $5.3. I'm not an expert, but I think he'll expect north of $7m, and could/might settle for $6.5 to the A's, $6.25m to the Rays.

He's worth a Top 5 slot value, he won't get that...I understand this. He's a risk. He's worth much more than the 11 and 14 slot values....and the industry knows that. I think he has some leverage

He can "expect" but he won't have any leverage IMO. Vanderbilt has a team-wide NIL deal... as I understand it, all players get an equal share and then individually they can seek other NIL opportunities. I might be wrong... but I can't imagine any college baseball team paying anywhere near that amount.

Maybe if he slips farther than that, he bypasses and goes the Gerrit Cole route... of being a late first rounder and heading to college. It worked for Cole, but not many (any?) others.

thanks for the Vandy info. I didn't know this.

what about the "settle" numbers....are those too high? 6.5 and 6.25?....600K and 900K north of the slot. I'm probably wrong on that....the A's do have a ton of money to spend at 16m. Rays not so much at 10m

[TraveledLessRoad]

Would it be a huge reach for us to just draft Jace LaViolette at #5? He probably has the most upside in the entire draft, he was once a consensus 1/1 pick, we know we could get him at 5, this just seems like a risk I'd maybe take in a year where no one else really knocks your socks off

[An Old Friend]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

A's slot value is $5.9m, Rays slot value is $5.3. I'm not an expert, but I think he'll expect north of $7m, and could/might settle for $6.5 to the A's, $6.25m to the Rays.

He's worth a Top 5 slot value, he won't get that...I understand this. He's a risk. He's worth much more than the 11 and 14 slot values....and the industry knows that. I think he has some leverage

He can "expect" but he won't have any leverage IMO. Vanderbilt has a team-wide NIL deal... as I understand it, all players get an equal share and then individually they can seek other NIL opportunities. I might be wrong... but I can't imagine any college baseball team paying anywhere near that amount.

Maybe if he slips farther than that, he bypasses and goes the Gerrit Cole route... of being a late first rounder and heading to college. It worked for Cole, but not many (any?) others.

thanks for the Vandy info. I didn't know this.

what about the "settle" numbers....are those too high? 6.5 and 6.25?....600K and 900K north of the slot. I'm probably wrong on that....the A's do have a ton of money to spend at 16m. Rays not so much at 10m

I don't think that if you draft him that high, that it would take an overslot number to get him signed. He'd be crazy to pass it up unless he's just hellbent on going to college. There is near zero upside and way too much risk.

If he slides to the back of the first / early second, then it'd have to be an overslot number I'd guess.

Carter Holton is a recent good example... and granted, not as highly rated as Hernandez. He likely would've gone 50-70 out of high school but he was committed to Vandy. Someone took a late flyer on him, maybe 19th round, but he went to college.

Some injuries at Vandy, so 3 years later he gets drafted maybe around the same spot in the second round he likely would have 3 years prior. And I think he's currently on the IL.

[craviduce]

Just noticed that they didn’t have Seth Hernandez going anywhere in the top 27 picks of the first round. There can’t be that much bias against a big HS arm that he would fall to 55 as the Cardinals next pick.

which mock?

The Flobaseball one that you just put out that has us taking Willits.

that's a whoopsie on their part. They usually put out quality content. Not as fast as other publications, but the content is quality. Egg on their face. I bet their Social Media replies are toxic over this one The internet isn't forgiving

Haha yea, pretty big oversight. Unless they really think he’d fall for some really odd reason.

if he's falling out of the Top 15, then that's a serious chunk of money...all because teams aren't comfortable? I get the risk, but he's the best of the crop this year despite it.

Go to college, take NIL money if Vanderbilt is willing to pay handsomely.

I can't see many teams outside of the Top 15 paying him Overslot, which he would rightfully command.

I feel like the A's or Rays wouldn't let him get past them.

A's slot value is $5.9m, Rays slot value is $5.3. I'm not an expert, but I think he'll expect north of $7m, and could/might settle for $6.5 to the A's, $6.25m to the Rays.

He's worth a Top 5 slot value, he won't get that...I understand this. He's a risk. He's worth much more than the 11 and 14 slot values....and the industry knows that. I think he has some leverage

He can "expect" but he won't have any leverage IMO. Vanderbilt has a team-wide NIL deal... as I understand it, all players get an equal share and then individually they can seek other NIL opportunities. I might be wrong... but I can't imagine any college baseball team paying anywhere near that amount.

Maybe if he slips farther than that, he bypasses and goes the Gerrit Cole route... of being a late first rounder and heading to college. It worked for Cole, but not many (any?) others.

thanks for the Vandy info. I didn't know this.

what about the "settle" numbers....are those too high? 6.5 and 6.25?....600K and 900K north of the slot. I'm probably wrong on that....the A's do have a ton of money to spend at 16m. Rays not so much at 10m

I don't think that if you draft him that high, that it would take an overslot number to get him signed. He'd be crazy to pass it up unless he's just hellbent on going to college. There is near zero upside and way too much risk.

If he slides to the back of the first / early second, then it'd have to be an overslot number I'd guess.

Carter Holton is a recent good example... and granted, not as highly rated as Hernandez. He likely would've gone 50-70 out of high school but he was committed to Vandy. Someone took a late flyer on him, maybe 19th round, but he went to college.

Some injuries at Vandy, so 3 years later he gets drafted maybe around the same spot in the second round he likely would have 3 years prior. And I think he's currently on the IL.

I'm sorry....I flipped the correct info....Rays have the 16.7m in slot value, A's have 10.5m

[Karmaloop3]

Of the pitchers at the top, I like Jamie Arnold better than Anderson or Doyle. I don't see any chance that the Cards take a swing at Hernandez at 5, it's far too risky when you're picking that high.

I'm very intrigued by JoJo Parker or Arquette at 5.

Arnold has the most helium of all the arms at the top of the draft. Arnold has consistently been one of the top arms and he didn't do anything this year to suggest he's not going to go top 6. With how the way the season ended, I'm expecting him to go first. I don't think he gets past the Angels at 2 though. I don't hate Arquette at all. Am I tripping over him? Probably not. Plus, I don't think there's going to be much in the way of savings there. JoJo seems like he's going to shift off of short as he gets older/bigger. If we're going to go in that mold, I'd rather go with the more advanced guy in Arquette.