Introduction to the 2025 MLB Draft: Top prep hitters available
Looking at the top prep hitters in the 2025 MLB Draft
After wrapping up the college side of things, our introduction to the 2025 MLB Draft shifts to the top prep players available, starting with the best hitters.
Heading into the year, a familiar last name controls the top of the prep-hitting class, as the Holliday family has the chance to be the home of two first-overall picks.
When it comes to just the prep players in this draft, it leans heavily towards the hitting side of things, but there are a couple here that have the potential to swing things in the other direction as two-way players.
Ethan Holliday, SS
The top prep player in the class to begin the season, Ethan Holliday, is looking to join his brother Jackson as first-overall picks this year. This Holliday seems more of a power-hitting version than his brother, and Baseball America and MLB Pipeline believe he is more likely to kick over to third base long-term.
Holliday’s biggest competition could come from the college side in Jace LaViolette out of Texas A&M, but at least entering the draft process, he’s the undisputed top guy from the prep ranks.
Xavier Neyens, 3B
Another left-handed hitting slugger that should land at third base, Xavier Neyens, has some of the best raw power in the entire draft class.
MLB Pipeline likens him to a left-handed version of Austin Riley, while there are competing thoughts on whether he can play third base long-term. He’s a patient hitter who will take walks but does have some swing-and-miss issues against non-fastballs.
Kruz Schoolcraft, 1B
Despite being a prep player, Kruz Schoolcraft is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the draft. At 6’8”, Schoolcraft easily draws comparisons to Bryce Eldridge due to his size and two-way ability.
At the plate, he’s another physically gifted, left-handed sluggers at the top of the draft. There’s some talk of him potentially being able to play the outfield, but he could be a plus defender at first, where the hitting profile fits perfectly.
It will be interesting to see which way he falls, as there is talk that he could legitimately settle in as a hitter or pitcher.
Billy Carlson, SS
Another two-way player at the top of the draft, Billy Carlson, is part of that loaded Corona HS team that could feature three first-round picks.
Thanks to his talent on the mound, Carlson has a double-plus arm and is athletic enough that he should be able to stick at shortstop long-term. He has a patient approach at the plate and has the chance for an above-average hit tool with his bat-to-ball skills.
As one of the best defensive shortstops in the class, there is a good chance his future is there, as opposed to on the mound.
Kayson Cunningham
A left-handed, undersized shortstop from Texas, Kayson Cunningham is one of the best pure hitters in the entire draft class. MLB Pipeline has him ranked as their second-best prep hitter in the class and third-best overall (Holliday and Seth Hernandez).
Due to his size, he received a ‘left-handed’ version of Jett Williams comparison, but he is considered a better hitter at this point in the draft process. Defensively, he has the tools to play shortstop but may end up at second long-term.
He would be a draft-eligible sophomore, so that does give him some leverage, but there are teams out there that don’t necessarily mind taking the ‘older’ prep kids in the draft at this point.
Other names to watch
Eli Willits
Brady Ebel
Sean Gamble
Coy James
Lucas Franco
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I heard Holliday struggled last year and was only batting something like .244. I think his stock is inflated due to the name and ceiling.
And as much as I'd love the power guys (Holliday, Neyens, Schoolcraft), Billy Carlson might be the best of the bunch. He's looks really complete and looks smooth on the field and in the box
Ro has already been DFA’d by the O’s……