Introduction to the 2025 MLB Draft: College Pitchers
A look at some of the top draft eligible college pitchers heading into the 2025 season
Last week, we started our 2025 MLB Draft coverage with an introductory look at the best-eligible college hitters in the class. Today, we will cover some of the top college pitchers available.
While the talent at the top seems strong, there is a drop-off on Baseball America when it comes to college pitching.
Of their top 20 college prospects for the 2025 draft, only three are pitchers, but two of those are the second and third-ranked players on the list. Looking through the top of the list, quite a few spent time in the bullpen in 2024, and one that hasn’t pitched since 2023.
This list may fluctuate constantly as players show they can or can’t handle a full workload as starters.
Tyler Bremner, RHP UC Santa Barbara
A righty out of UC Santa Barbara, Bremner pitched in 19 games last year, only nine of which were starts. He still finished with an 11-1 record and struck out 104 (to only 21 walks) in 88.2 innings pitched.
Bremner can throw three pitches for strikes, and each has the potential to be plus pitches down the road. His fastball is in the mid-90s with good life. His change-up is his best pitch, as he has good arm action on it, and it generated a 46% whiff rate.
He’s already in the conversation to be the first pitcher taken. He can lock himself into that position if he shows that his stuff can hold up late in games consistently.
Jamie Arnold, LHP Florida State
Watching him on the mound, you can’t help but see some similarities between Florida State’s Jamie Arnold and Chris Sale, the Cy Young Award winner in 2024.
Pitching for Florida State, Arnold went 11-3 in 2024, posting a 2.98 ERA and striking out 159 batters in 105.2 innings pitched.
Arnold throws from a lower, three-quarters arm slot that generates plenty of run on his fastball to go along with a sweepy slider. Both pitches got a ‘60’ grade from MLB Pipeline, and he was listed as their top pitcher in the class.
There are arguably fewer questions about Arnold than any other college pitcher in this class heading into the season.
Matt Scott, RHP Stanford
The numbers don’t scream first-round pick, but it’s about projection with Matt Scott. Standing at 6’7” and 240 pounds, Scott is one of the most physically imposing pitchers in this class.
He struck out 103 batters in 80 innings pitched last year with Stanford but also posted a 5.96 ERA.
It’s a fastball/slider/change-up arsenal for Scott. He handles the slider well, and in the few videos available, he leans on it when behind in the count or if he’s in a jam. The fastball has reportedly gotten up to 98 mph. You’ll want more on-the-field success, but Scott has everything to be a day-one pick.
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP Oklahoma
Pitching for Oklahoma, Kyson Witherspoon posted an 8-3 record with a 3.71 ERA and 90 strikeouts (40 walks) in 80 innings pitched. He pitched twice in the Cape and struck out 10 (to no walks) in nine innings.
He has a solid frame on the mound, and his fastball can reach the upper 90s. He mixes that with a slider and change-up.
Cam Leiter, RHP Florida State
The nephew of former big leaguer Al Leiter (cousin of Jack Leiter), Cam transferred to Florida State last year and started seven games for the Seminoles. He struck out 56 in 35 innings while posting a 4.63 ERA.
His electric fastball reaches the upper-90s while also throwing a plus slider. He mixes in a curveball and change-up to round out the arsenal.
Leiter has a prototypical starter frame and a name that could jump up the rankings if the results start to match what he throws.
Gabe Davis, RHP Oklahoma State
Standing at 6’9”, Gabe Davis has a power fastball and a strong slider that allowed him to strike out 55 batters in 45.1 innings. He pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Oklahoma State, and he struggled to throw strikes at times.
His current profile screams reliever, but one that has a potential triple-digit fastball in his arsenal. If he can throw more strikes and sprinkle in a third pitch, there’s some starter upside.
Chase Shores, RHP LSU
Chase Shores, another tall pitcher with a power fastball, missed the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.
He posted a 1.96 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 18.1 innings as a freshman for LSU in 2023. The fastball has been clocked up to 102 mph, and while the secondary stuff has potential, they are still raw.
Armed with one of the better fastballs in the draft, if Shores can shake off the rust quickly, he could move into day one consideration by the time it is all said and done.
Cade Fisher, LHP Auburn
After spending his first two years at Florida, Cade Fisher transferred to Auburn in the offseason. Pitching primarily out of the bullpen, Fisher struggled to a 7.13 ERA but did strike out 76 batters in 59.1 innings pitched.
Baseball America is much higher on Fisher than Pipeline, with the former placing him 66th on their original list and the latter not having him in their top 100.
It’s a fastball/slider/change-up pitch mix. The fastball stays in the low 90s but has good carry on it. He also pitched three times in the Cape, posting a 1.59 ERA and six strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Zach Root, LHP Arkansas
Another transfer, Zach Root, will head from East Carolina to Arkansas for his draft-eligible season. In 2024, he posted a 3.56 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched with East Carolina.
The fastball can reach the mid-to-upper 90s but doesn’t get much swing and miss. The change-up is his best pitch, as it had a whiff rate of 45% last year.
Anthony Eyanson, RHP LSU
With two years at UC San Diego under his belt, Anthony Eyanson transferred to LSU this offseason. He went 6-2 with a 3.07 ERA, striking out 85 batters in 82 innings pitched last year. He also struck out six batters in six innings during the Cape Cod League.
It’s a four-pitch mix for Eyanson—fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. The LSU rotation was hit pretty hard by the MLB draft, so he will have an opportunity to earn a spot right off the back.
More pitchers to watch in 2025:
JD Thompson, LHP Vanderbilt
2024 Stats: 5-2, 14/12, 4.15 ERA, 52 IP, 18 BB, 74 K
Justin Lamkin, RHP Texas A&M
2024 Stats: 3-3, 19/16, 5.21 ERA, 65.2 IP, 22 BB, 88 K
Landon Beidelschies, LHP Arkansas
2024 Stats (w/ Ohio State): 6-7, 15/15, 4.15 ERA, 84.2 IP, 31 BB, 91 K
AJ Russell, RHP Tennessee
2024 Stats: 0-1, 6/4, 5.02 ERA, 14.1 IP, 8 BB, 21 K
Kade Anderson, LHP LSU
2024 Stats: 4-2, 18/9, 3.99 ERA, 38.1 IP, 20 BB, 59 K
Baseball America Top 100 rankings
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This college pitching class is similar to '23 a couple of top 10 picks (not as good as Skenes or Lowder) then a bunch of potential without results. A few will perform and move into the top 50 picks. It might be a good year to use the '23 strategy by taking a bunch of college arms starting in the mid rounds.
I could give you a list of 50 more "pitchers to watch" but I'll save my breath