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

[craviduce]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

[Cranny]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

[craviduce]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

[Cranny]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Aren’t these truisms (facts)?

1.) College draftees have a higher chance of making it to the big leagues than high school draftees.

2.) Of the draftees who do eventually make it, the college draftees make it faster.

[Futuregm2]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Well, we’ve rarely drafted this high. Last year was the first top 10 pick we have had in almost 30 years. And we went college because it was the BPA. Our last top 10 pick that was a HS pick was Dimitri Young in 1991, took him 4th overall.

Cardinals overall have had 12 top 10 picks. 3 that were top 5 or higher. 6 of the 12 were HS picks, including Ted Simmons and Andy Van Slyke. 1 of the 3 top 5 picks were HS picks.

And in recent years (ie last 17 years or so) they haven’t necessarily shied from taking HS players in the first round. From Jordan Walker/Nolan Gorman/Dylan Carlson to Jack Flaherty/Shelby Miller/etc.

Fwiw, Gorman after being drafted went to rookie ball and then A ball the same year he was drafted. And he was a 19th overall pick. I would think a top 5 HS pick might do the same.

[craviduce]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Aren’t these truisms (facts)?

1.) College draftees have a higher chance of making it to the big leagues than high school draftees.

2.) Of the draftees who do eventually make it, the college draftees make it faster.

Willits is the 2nd best offensive talent in the draft. Some publications, just a few, rate him #1. It's not like he's the 8th best HS in the draft.

Agree to disagree. You seek Arquette, I respect that.

[craviduce]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Well, we’ve rarely drafted this high. Last year was the first top 10 pick we have had in almost 30 years. And we went college because it was the BPA. Our last top 10 pick that was a HS pick was Dimitri Young in 1991, took him 4th overall.

Cardinals overall have had 12 top 10 picks. 3 that were top 5 or higher. 6 of the 12 were HS picks, including Ted Simmons and Andy Van Slyke. 1 of the 3 top 5 picks were HS picks.

And in recent years (ie last 17 years or so) they haven’t necessarily shied from taking HS players in the first round. From Jordan Walker/Nolan Gorman/Dylan Carlson to Jack Flaherty/Shelby Miller/etc.

Fwiw, Gorman after being drafted went to rookie ball and then A ball the same year he was drafted. And he was a 19th overall pick. I would think a top 5 HS pick might do the same.

Gorman was part of the old draft schedule in June. Now by the time everyone is drafted, physicaled, signed, it's nearly August.

I'm all for a HS draft pick at #5...but unless he comes out like Max Clark in his FCL workouts, he likely won't see much in PT at Palm Beach.

[nmstar]

Gorman was part of the old draft schedule in June. Now by the time everyone is drafted, physicaled, signed, it's nearly August.

I'm all for a HS draft pick at #5...but unless he comes out like Max Clark in his FCL workouts, he likely won't see much in PT at Palm Beach.

I think any HS bat they would take at #5 would see significant time in the FCL after signing and an adjustment period to pro ball. Willits would probably need the least as he has been scrimmaging against college competition for over two years now.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Gorman was part of the old draft schedule in June. Now by the time everyone is drafted, physicaled, signed, it's nearly August.

I'm all for a HS draft pick at #5...but unless he comes out like Max Clark in his FCL workouts, he likely won't see much in PT at Palm Beach.

I think any HS bat they would take at #5 would see significant time in the FCL after signing and an adjustment period to pro ball. Willits would probably need the least as he has been scrimmaging against college competition for over two years now.

[82birds]

interesting :

The Rays are getting some bullpen help, acquiring right-handed reliever Bryan Baker from the Orioles in exchange for a 2025 Competitive Balance (Round A) draft selection, No. 37 overall. Both teams have announced the swap.

[Cranny]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Aren’t these truisms (facts)?

1.) College draftees have a higher chance of making it to the big leagues than high school draftees.

2.) Of the draftees who do eventually make it, the college draftees make it faster.

Willits is the 2nd best offensive talent in the draft. Some publications, just a few, rate him #1. It's not like he's the 8th best HS in the draft.

Agree to disagree. You seek Arquette, I respect that.

I guess I'm just gun shy regarding high school position players after Calvin Hayes, Pete Kozma, Charlie Tilson, Nick Plummer, Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman, Tre Fletcher, Jordan Walker, Joshua Baez, etc.

[Futuregm2]

interesting :

The Rays are getting some bullpen help, acquiring right-handed reliever Bryan Baker from the Orioles in exchange for a 2025 Competitive Balance (Round A) draft selection, No. 37 overall. Both teams have announced the swap.

Baker having a pretty solid year. 42 games 3.52 ERA 1.10 WHIP 49 K-9 BB in 38.1 IP.

[peterman'srealitytour]

interesting :

The Rays are getting some bullpen help, acquiring right-handed reliever Bryan Baker from the Orioles in exchange for a 2025 Competitive Balance (Round A) draft selection, No. 37 overall. Both teams have announced the swap.

This is the kind of move the Cardinals should be pursuing. That is acquiring a Comp Bal pick. Draft experts say sweet spot in this draft is late 1st round and early 2nd. Not top heavy but deep. Now I don’t know if we have comparable talent as Baker to offer. He is controllable through 2028. Maybe package a rental reliever and something else for a Comp pick.

[Futuregm2]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Aren’t these truisms (facts)?

1.) College draftees have a higher chance of making it to the big leagues than high school draftees.

2.) Of the draftees who do eventually make it, the college draftees make it faster.

Willits is the 2nd best offensive talent in the draft. Some publications, just a few, rate him #1. It's not like he's the 8th best HS in the draft.

Agree to disagree. You seek Arquette, I respect that.

I guess I'm just gun shy regarding high school position players after Calvin Hayes, Pete Kozma, Charlie Tilson, Nick Plummer, Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman, Tre Fletcher, Jordan Walker, Joshua Baez, etc.

Since 2000 the Cardinals have 7 players that were 1st round picks that have 10+ bWAR for their careers. 4 college players (3 arms, 1 position player) and 3 are high school players (2 arms, 1 position player). You have flameouts on both sides of the aisle in this conversation.

They simply have to go BPA.

[Futuregm2]

interesting :

The Rays are getting some bullpen help, acquiring right-handed reliever Bryan Baker from the Orioles in exchange for a 2025 Competitive Balance (Round A) draft selection, No. 37 overall. Both teams have announced the swap.

This is the kind of move the Cardinals should be pursuing. That is acquiring a Comp Bal pick. Draft experts say sweet spot in this draft is late 1st round and early 2nd. Not top heavy but deep. Now I don’t know if we have comparable talent as Baker to offer. He is controllable through 2028. Maybe package a rental reliever and something else for a Comp pick.

Only relievers we have with Baker’s swing and miss stuff is Helsley and Maton. And neither would have the team control that Baker has. Maybe a JoJo Romero would bring back a similar return.

[peterman'srealitytour]

let's just say, like a lot experts are saying, that it's Willits or Arnold.

who would you prefer?

I'm great with both.

gun to my head? I'll go with the guy who'll likely get their faster...Arnold...barring injury. But I want Willits alot.

you?

what do you like so much about Willits?

close to a 5 tool prospect as this draft will get. He "could" grow into the power...not known for now.

Maybe help 5 years from now?

that depends on how well he takes off in Palm Beach next year. That's assuming the Cards go with their tried and true slow progression with prospects. I don't see a chance of him starting in Peoria.

I believe he'll get workouts with FCL post draft, not sure if he'll see a lineup by the time he's ready to graduate from that. We'll see...we've never drafted a HS kid this high...or not in a long time. The precedent for this organization doesn't exist...I'm going by what other teams have done with their HS offensive players...and that's post draft workouts in the FCL, maybe a line up in the last week of the FCL (season is running out there), then on to the last month of Low A if they do well enough.

Max Clark saw AB's with Low A Lakeland a few years ago after the draft. And PJ Morlando saw 3 or 4 AB's with Low A Jupiter last season....I think, it wasn't many

Aren’t these truisms (facts)?

1.) College draftees have a higher chance of making it to the big leagues than high school draftees.

2.) Of the draftees who do eventually make it, the college draftees make it faster.

Willits is the 2nd best offensive talent in the draft. Some publications, just a few, rate him #1. It's not like he's the 8th best HS in the draft.

Agree to disagree. You seek Arquette, I respect that.

I guess I'm just gun shy regarding high school position players after Calvin Hayes, Pete Kozma, Charlie Tilson, Nick Plummer, Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman, Tre Fletcher, Jordan Walker, Joshua Baez, etc.

I would scratch Josh Baez from your list and jury is still out on Gorman & Walker (IMO).