Main League Baseball’s novice draft obtained underway on Sunday evening, with the Washington Nationals deciding on Oklahoma prep shortstop Eli Willits with the third No. 1 choose in franchise historical past. (The Nationals had beforehand chosen ace Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper atop the 2009 and 2010 drafts.) The league as a complete then made 104 extra picks on Sunday evening earlier than pausing for the night.
In contrast to previous editions, this 12 months’s draft will final solely two days as an alternative of three. Nonetheless, we right here at CBS Sports activities are maintaining with custom by highlighting a handful of one of the best gamers remaining on the board heading into the second day. Bought it? Good. Let’s proceed.
2025 MLB Draft winners and losers: Eli Willits, surprise Angels pick, Rockies social media and more from Day 1
Mike Axisa
1. Mason Neville, OF, Oregon
Neville had an enormous season for the Geese, hitting .290/.429/.724 with 26 residence runs and 16 doubles in 57 video games. Add in that he is an above-average athlete who spent the season in middle discipline, and also you may marvel why he is nonetheless on the board. Ostensibly as a result of groups have issues about his swing-and-miss tendencies, which fueled a 33.5% strikeout fee in 2024 and a 23.6% mark this 12 months. It in all probability did not assist that Neville’s stint within the Cape Cod League, whereas transient, noticed him punch out 19 occasions in 32 at-bats. He nonetheless ought to come back off the board pretty early on Day 2.
2. Jack Bauer, LHP, Lincoln Approach East HS (IL)
Bauer is without doubt one of the web’s favourite remaining prospects on account of his identify and the very fact he was clocked as much as 102 mph in an look earlier this 12 months. He must significantly enhance his consistency, with each his location and his high quality of stuff. That established, some group is likely to be tempted to take him early on Day 2 as a result of left-handers with this sort of uncooked velocity are robust to search out.
3. Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, Glenwood HS (IL)
Appenzeller is a big lefty who appeared to take an enormous step ahead final season. Sadly, the positive aspects (particularly together with his velocity) did not stick this spring, inflicting him to lose his first-round grade within the course of. Appenzeller has a projectable body and has proven sufficient flashes {that a} group may nonetheless take him early on Day 2 and take a look at wooing him away from his Tennessee dedication.
4. Nick Dumesnil, OF, California Baptist College
Here’s what we wrote about Dumesnil when we labeled him a faller heading into the draft: “I do not assume I am breaking information right here by writing that smaller-school gamers are all the time working with tighter margins than their power-school counterparts. That features Dumesnil, who simply could not match his 2024 efforts, when he had one of the vital productive particular person seasons within the sport between the common season and Cape Cod League. Dumesnil noticed his OPS and energy output decline 12 months to 12 months, all of the whereas his strikeout fee ticked up from 12.9% to 19.8%. To be clear: these are his general numbers, and never simply these compiled throughout convention play. I am unsure if Dumesnil will slide all the way in which to the third spherical like Mike Sirota did final summer time, however I’ve a tough time imagining he’ll go within the prime 50 picks.”
5. Sam Horn, RHP, Missouri
Horn, who additionally performs quarterback for the Missouri soccer group, threw all of 15 innings for the Tigers throughout his school baseball profession. Blame that on the Tommy John surgical procedure he underwent again in 2023 that precipitated him to overlook the whole 2024 marketing campaign. Even so, he is an intriguing upside play who possesses some necessary traits — measurement, arm energy, and above-average athleticism.