The 2025 MLB Draft will kick off this Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern with rounds 1-3. The remaining 17 rounds will happen on Monday starting at 11:30 AM. You can watch night 1 on MLB Network or ESPN (ESPN is only showing Round 1). The Phillies have the 26th pick in the First Round, along with the 63rd and 100th picks on night 1. Then the 26th pick in each round on Monday.

Trying to predict he 26th pick in the MLB draft is like nailing Jell-o to a wall, but the 26th pick has had past success. While there are no superstars there is Hall of Famer Alan Trammell, MLB Analyst, and former Phillie, Dan Plesac, former All-Star Dave Henderson and frequently rumored platoon, trade target Taylor Ward. Oddly the 25th pick has had huge successes (Trout, Chapman, Knoblauch) and the 27th pick seems to have a higher hit rate of moderate successes, so it’s still possible to get value here.

Oddly, the Phillies have never had the 26th pick of the First Round before (they picked 26th overall once, pre-expansion, and got not the Senator Todd Cruz), however, they picked 27th the last 2 years and got their top position prospect Aiden Miller in that spot.

This draft has shaped up to be a bit more bat heavy than arm (pitching) heavy, so let’s look at some of the bats the Phillies have been linked to in mock drafts of late:

Kayson Cunningham, SS, Texas High School – He’s 5’10 and 180 lbs and gets reviewed as the best hit tool in the High School class. So, why would he be available in the bottom of the First round? Well, there’ not much power to his game and there are strong questions about his ability to stay at Short and most seem to think he’s a Second Baseman. Second base only is a tough profile no matter how good your hit tool is, as it takes away a utility player floor and if he ends up not being able to handle second he doesn’t have the speed for Center or the power for a corner. Kayson is also a little old for the class having already turned 19.

Slater de Brun, OF, Oregon High School – I’ve seen Slater listed as both 5’9” and 5’10”, so we’ll just call him 5’9 and 1/2” and about 180 lbs. Slater is another quality contact hitter with minimal power, but lots of speed and defense. He’s basically Dante Nori, the Phillies’ 2024 draft pick. The speed and defense gives him a solid floor. If he can add some muscle you may get to average power and a First Division Regular profile.

Sean Gamble, 2B/OF, Florida High School – Sean’s a 6’1” 180 pounder (seems like we’re drafting that weight no matter what) who currently plays Second Base. Projections have put him in Center and Short, so he’s not quite a 2B only prospect. He does have a Vanderbilt commitment, so could be a tougher sign.

Gavin Fien, 3B, California High School – The 6’3” 200lbs Fien has been linked to the Phillies a few times. He’s a legit big power bat, who would be a high risk/high reward type pick. He was one of the top bats on the summer circuit in 2024, but was less impressive this Spring. That’s caused him to drop from the 10-15 range down to the 20’s. His flaw is a rather complex pre bat routine, which throws his timing off. He seems to make good swing decisions, but misses quality contact due the timing issue. That’s a decently fixable issue and is better than someone who just swings wildly at everything.

Luke Stevenson, C, UNC – Luke should stick at Catcher and hit for power, provided he hits at all. He seems to have gained some helium and is mostly mocked to go earlier than mid-20’s, but had previously been mocked to the Phillies, though I haven’t seen anything that says there’s actual smoke there vs, that just being the range he’s expected to go in.

As for the Pitchers, I’ve only seen one pseudo rumor and a couple of guys who may go in that range:

Kruz Schoolcraft, RHP, Oregon High School – Kruz is 6’8”, 229 lbs with a Fastball/Slider/Change mix, He’s also a possible First Baseman, but he’s universally seen as a better Pitching prospect. He’s also one of the youngest players in this class. Before the season Kruz had been projected in the top 10 picks. It’s a little hard to figure out the drop. It seems it may be part that he’d like to stay a 2-way prospect and may be a tough sign.

Gage Wood, RHP, University of Arkansas – Gage is a 6’0” pitcher with a Fastball/Slider/Curve/Change mix, though the Slider and Change aren’t great, leading to a potential Fastball/Curve Reliever profile. In fact he pitched mostly out of the ‘pen in College. When they made him a Starter this Spring, they had to shut him down with shoulder soreness. The Phillies have had some “success” in recent years with College reliever conversions. Wood doesn’t have the control issues of McGarry or Howard, he doesn’t have the innings and whoever takes him needs to be okay with the medicals.

Riley Quick, RHP, University of Alabama – Riley is a 6’6” 245 lbs flamethrower who can definitely throw to the correct area code. Riley is kind of an enormous Griff McGarry (Quick was recruited as a Offensive Lineman), his stuff MOVES and he’ll probably do well in the lower levels where no one knows where the pitch is going (often including Quick) and players are less disciplined. Speaking of stuff he has a 70 grade Fastball, a 70 grade Slider, a Cutter he jams Lefties with and a wild Changeup with plus potential if it can get harnessed. He’s also a little over a year out from Tommy John Surgery. Quick feels like a perfect Second Round Pick, but in a draft with only 6 sure-fire First Round Pitchers, there’s a perfect setup for him to go higher than he maybe should.

The draft is a bit of a crapshoot at any pick, but late First Round, especially so. The Phillies took Aiden Miller off a down Senior season and he’s looked like one of the best picks of that draft. Gavin Fien feels very much in that mold and among the Pitchers, Riley Quick feels like a swing for the fences choice that the Phillies have had some success with in the past.