2025 MLB Draft grades roundup: Experts loved Red Sox’ first-round pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox made a strong effort to target pitching throughout the 2025 MLB Draft, and that process started early with their first-round pick.

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The Red Sox selected Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon with the No. 15 overall pick.

Witherspoon was the No. 7 rated player on Baseball America’s 2025 draft rankings, so for Boston to get him outside the top 10 is pretty good value.

He posted a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 124 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 16 starts (95 innings) for the Sooners last season.

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Before the draft, only one of the Red Sox’ top seven prospects (per MLB.com’s rankings) was a pitcher. So it wasn’t too surprising that Boston took a pitcher with eight of its first 10 picks in the draft.

What do the experts think of the Red Sox taking Witherspoon at No. 15? Here’s a roundup of grades.

“The Red Sox were tied to the second tier of college pitching and likely did not expect Witherspoon to still be on the board at this point, so terrific value for a team that has had a bit more success developing pitching in recent years.”

“I had Witherspoon as the top-ranked righty in the class — blame it on Bremner’s uneven year and Gage Wood’s shoulder injury. He has a deceptively short arm stroke that he uses to chuck a full arsenal, including mid-to-upper-90s fastballs and three breaking pitches (slider, curve, and cutter). This is good value at pick 15.”

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“Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, projected to go No. 9 by USA TODAY Sports, falls to No. 15 for the Boston Red Sox. He is MLB Pipeline’s No. 10-ranked draft prospect.

“The Red Sox get good value in Witherspoon, who boasts a big fastball that peaks at 99 mph. His fastball has a 65 grade, according to MLB Pipeline. Witherspoon also has three plus secondary offers in his slider, cutter and curveball, which are all 60-grade pitches.

“Witherspoon spun a 2.65 ERA with the Sooners in 2025 and was one of the top pitchers in college baseball.”