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

[ramfandan]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

[kyace]

busy week for mocks. Thank you all for linking the newest mocks!!!!

a few more dropped this morning

https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com ... draft-4-0/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2025 ... nto-top-5/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

CBS has the M's taking Irish @ #3 .... I can see that happening. Wide open draft

--------------

Be prepared for the possibility of a very wonky draft... see 2021....all those highly rated HS SS started falling on draft day, College players and catchers leapt to the top of the draft.

Duce, if you've seen much of Willits, do you have a current comp?

Pete Kozma

Based on what? More than one draft analyst have said Willits has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. While a lot of is projection, nobody ever said Pete Kozma had that kind of ceiling.

That is what I have seen too as to his ceiling. The only knock on him is his power but he is only 17 and at 6’1 is going to grow more and get stronger. His bat to ball skill is great. Think of him as a possible bigger and stronger version of Wetherholt.

I see it the opposite, I view him as a poor version of Wetherholt. He has less power than Wetherholt and always will.

Wetherholt is lucky if he is 5’9””. I saw him in Spring training next to Stubby Clap and he wasn’t that much taller. He is a 10 to 15 homer player most likely. Willits is 17 years old and already 6’1”. I saw a picture of him with his family. They aren’t skinny, his older brother looked like he has a solid build and so does his dad. What teenage boy isn’t skinny at 17? No one can definitely state he won’t hit for power at this point.

[Adam2]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

Hard to say. I like the competitive fire like Chris Carpenter had, but if you go overboard you turn into Trevor Bauer and cause distractions for the whole clubhouse

[Futuregm2]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

Hard to say. I like the competitive fire like Chris Carpenter had, but if you go overboard you turn into Trevor Bauer and cause distractions for the whole clubhouse

Agreed, it’s one thing to have a competitive fire, it’s another if it causes distractions or causes the player to not be as good as they could be. Like start unraveling after an error or something.

[82birds]

I just got done watching some videos of Doyle and Arnold.
IMO Doyle has a much higher ceiling, which is what I want.
His stuff looks nasty.

doubtful he'll be there at 5

[craviduce]

I just got done watching some videos of Doyle and Arnold.
IMO Doyle has a much higher ceiling, which is what I want.
His stuff looks nasty.

doubtful he'll be there at 5

his floor is much lower, too. The gamble is much larger with Doyle. Keep in mind, he threw his fastball 80% of the time this season.... 80% His secondary pitches are in dire need of some TLC. Major room for improvement. Kudos to the team that can make him a solid starter for 10-15 years.

[HorseTrader]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

Probably not to fiery for Tony L and Walt but Mo and Oli............ Imagine Chris Carpenter on todays team, Would Oli send the batboy to take Carpenter out of the game?

[Cranny]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

Probably not to fiery for Tony L and Walt but Mo and Oli............ Imagine Chris Carpenter on todays team, Would Oli send the batboy to take Carpenter out of the game?

How would Oli have approached the mound to take Gibson out of a game?

[82birds]

I just got done watching some videos of Doyle and Arnold.
IMO Doyle has a much higher ceiling, which is what I want.
His stuff looks nasty.

doubtful he'll be there at 5

his floor is much lower, too. The gamble is much larger with Doyle. Keep in mind, he threw his fastball 80% of the time this season.... 80% His secondary pitches are in dire need of some TLC. Major room for improvement. Kudos to the team that can make him a solid starter for 10-15 years.

yeah, I've read that about his secondary pitches

[ramfandan]

busy week for mocks. Thank you all for linking the newest mocks!!!!

a few more dropped this morning

https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com ... draft-4-0/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2025 ... nto-top-5/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

CBS has the M's taking Irish @ #3 .... I can see that happening. Wide open draft

--------------

Be prepared for the possibility of a very wonky draft... see 2021....all those highly rated HS SS started falling on draft day, College players and catchers leapt to the top of the draft.

Duce, if you've seen much of Willits, do you have a current comp?

Pete Kozma

Based on what? More than one draft analyst have said Willits has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. While a lot of is projection, nobody ever said Pete Kozma had that kind of ceiling.

That is what I have seen too as to his ceiling. The only knock on him is his power but he is only 17 and at 6’1 is going to grow more and get stronger. His bat to ball skill is great. Think of him as a possible bigger and stronger version of Wetherholt.

I see it the opposite, I view him as a poor version of Wetherholt. He has less power than Wetherholt and always will.

Wetherholt is lucky if he is 5’9””. I saw him in Spring training next to Stubby Clap and he wasn’t that much taller. He is a 10 to 15 homer player most likely. Willits is 17 years old and already 6’1”. I saw a picture of him with his family. They aren’t skinny, his older brother looked like he has a solid build and so does his dad. What teenage boy isn’t skinny at 17? No one can definitely state he won’t hit for power at this point.

Had to respond to your ‘what teenage boy isn’t skinny at 17 ? Statement…. My 17 year old grandson is jr. In HS. He is 6-2 , 210 and a lifeguard at aquatic center in Wis. Far from skinny

[Othawhitemeat]

Not really a fan of Doyle, but many UTenn players are coached by a coach that is a [redacted]. Dude is angry and flamboyant so many of his players follow suit. JMO

[82birds]

46 HOURS

[82birds]

One. More. Day.

get ready

I've been ready for many weeks now.

[ramfandan]

Would Tenn. P Liam Doyle be too volatile for Cardinals or not ?

I live about 75 miles from Knoxville and have seen TV reports plus sports talk radio discussing Doyle's temperament on the mound. Here are some comments on Doyle :

Liam Doyle, a pitcher for the Tennessee Volunteers, is known to have a fiery and intense temperament on the field. His competitive nature is evident in several incidents and comments about his behavior:
He was suspended for two games following an altercation at home plate during a game against Auburn where he exchanged words with an opposing player after tagging him out.
Doyle confirmed he used expletives towards a Wake Forest hitter during a game, a moment that went viral and prompted a conversation with his grandmother about his language.
His coach, Tony Vitello, has described Doyle's on-field demeanor as being "like a guy in a bar fight," showcasing a level of intensity and assertiveness.
Some observers, like Rob Friedman, have even described his pitching persona as having a "psychopath" quality, highlighting his intense focus and aggression.
While his passion is evident, Doyle's behavior can be seen as either a fiery competitive spirit or an issue with controlling his temper, depending on individual perspective.

So as the comments suggest .. Would Cardinals view Doyle as fiery spirit OR a kid with temper /anger management issues ?

Probably not to fiery for Tony L and Walt but Mo and Oli............ Imagine Chris Carpenter on todays team, Would Oli send the batboy to take Carpenter out of the game?

How would Oli have approached the mound to take Gibson out of a game?

Probably walking backwards ?

[rage-STL]

busy week for mocks. Thank you all for linking the newest mocks!!!!

a few more dropped this morning

https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com ... draft-4-0/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2025 ... nto-top-5/ Willits, SS, Ft.Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla

CBS has the M's taking Irish @ #3 .... I can see that happening. Wide open draft

--------------

Be prepared for the possibility of a very wonky draft... see 2021....all those highly rated HS SS started falling on draft day, College players and catchers leapt to the top of the draft.

Duce, if you've seen much of Willits, do you have a current comp?

Pete Kozma

Based on what? More than one draft analyst have said Willits has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. While a lot of is projection, nobody ever said Pete Kozma had that kind of ceiling.

That is what I have seen too as to his ceiling. The only knock on him is his power but he is only 17 and at 6’1 is going to grow more and get stronger. His bat to ball skill is great. Think of him as a possible bigger and stronger version of Wetherholt.

I see it the opposite, I view him as a poor version of Wetherholt. He has less power than Wetherholt and always will.

Both are valid viewpoints. The draft rarely offers "slam dunks" so I'm really interested to see how this goes down tomorrow. Just for some added context when comparing JJ and Willits; below are their Perfect Game prospect profiles from their draft year. It's not saying 1 player is better/has a higher ceiling than the other, I just find it interesting. Also, it's pretty crazy how young Willits is, playing up and being considered a sure fire top 10 pick.

JJ Wetherholt 2021 PG Player Profile

Eli Willits 2025 PG Player Profile

[cardini99]

My hope isn’t the Cardinals pick Mark Appel jk Am excited we are a day away from the draft, and if we do pick Willits, does anyone think we would go more college player the following picks, and or a highschool pick or two if we select say Doyle or Arnold?