The 2025 MLB draft is creeping up and will be here before we know it. This year it will take place on July 13-14 in Atlanta, Georgia. As it gets closer, all eyes will be on the prospects, both high school and college players. This year, the Chicago Cubs own the 17th overall pick in the draft. Although teams usually select the best player available, they still have favorites in mind for when it is their turn to pick. The Cubs are known to select more college players than high schoolers. So here are the best three draft prospects that could still be available for the Cubs at 17.

Possible Options for the Cubs’ First-Round Draft Pick in 2025
Gavin Kilen

Gavin Kilen is currently a junior for the Tennessee Volunteers. He is a middle infielder who has played second base this year. He is ranked 17th overall in MLB’s draft prospect rankings. Not only does he play for one of the best teams in the country, he is also one of the best players on that team.

This year, the lefty hitter has slashed .357/.441/.671 along with 15 home runs. These numbers are incredible even for a college player. Overall, Kilen has great bat-to-ball skills. He is a player who tends to swing at pitches outside of the zone but doesn’t have a problem making contact. The Cubs’ current center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, is very similar in that sense. Kilen’s pop is about average, and there have been questions about his raw power with a wood bat. He also has roughly average speed and arm strength but great instincts, which makes him a perfect fit for second base. He is considered the best available out of these three and would make a great fit for the Cubs farm system.

Brendan Summerhill

Brendan Summerhill is an outfielder for the Arizona Wildcats in his junior season. He has spent all three years at Arizona and played right field for them this past season. He is currently 19th in MLB’s draft prospect rankings. Even though he missed the first few weeks of the season due to a broken hand and a pulled hamstring, he has been one of the best outfielders in all of college baseball this year.

Having Brendan Summerhill back in the lineup and fully healthy has completely changed this @ArizonaBaseball team. They are dangerous…pic.twitter.com/LGUOaGxY2P

— College Baseball Insiders (@ncaainsiders) June 1, 2025

Summerhill is a lefty hitter with a slash line of .343/.459/.556. He has also conjured 11 stolen bases in his short season. His numbers are up there with Kilen’s and still fantastic for any player. Summerhill has been seen as a strong and athletic outfielder who can do it all. As mentioned above, he played right field for the Wildcats this year but can play any position in the outfield pretty well. Summerhill is a good hitter with a good eye who has drawn almost as many walks as strikeouts this season. He has shown flashes of his raw power which is starting to show up more. He is a very well-rounded player when healthy and would be great for any team to have.

Wehiwa Aloy

Wehiwa Aloy, the current shortstop for Arkansas, is a junior in his second year playing for the Razorbacks. MLB has him ranked 22nd in this year’s draft prospects rankings. He has been a super reliable player, playing in every single one of the Razorbacks’ games this year. Additionally, Aloy is still currently playing for a championship in the Men’s College World Series.

Jun 17, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (9) hits a two-run home run against the UCLA Bruins during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The shortstop bats from the right side and has delivered a slash line of .349/.434/.663 this year. This includes 40 extra-base hits, and 20 of those are home runs. He has showcased his power well this year and has well above-average raw power for a middle infielder. Aloy’s high bat speed and raw strength have contributed to many high exit velocities and his home runs. One negative at the plate is his chase rate. At times he can expand the zone too much and swing at pitches in the dirt. In the field, he has about average speed, but also reliable hands and pretty good arm strength. Aloy is very smooth at short and could even play second or third base if needed. He would be a great bat and fielder for the Cubs to have.

The Best Option

Right now, Kilen is ranked the highest out of these three in the MLB draft prospects rankings. But they are all so close that it is hard to tell who the best out of the group will be. When it comes down to it, the Cubs will draft who they think the best available on the board is, and that could very well be one of these players if they’re still available at pick 17.

 

Main Photo Credit: © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images