May 15, 2025
By Prep Baseball Draft HQ
As the spring season winds down and the scouting heat turns up, Prep Baseball’s Draft Board 3.0 arrives with more clarity, conviction, and a few key shakeups.
The class continues to evolve as players rise, fall, and solidify their cases with every pitch thrown and barrel found. With data flowing in and live looks stacking up, it’s becoming increasingly clear who’s trending toward the top – and who still has something to prove. This is not just a ranking – this is a roadmap of projection, present tools, and future big league impact. From the elite prep arms to the on-the-rise bats that keep performing against high-level competition, this board reflects what decision-makers are watching closely. With July looming, draft boards are getting tighter, and 3.0 brings the sharpest version yet.
Before we get going here’s some more big boards to be aware of that dive deeper into this class as a whole:
DRAFT HQ HEADLINES
+ SHORTSTOPS!
Of the players ranked inside the top-20, 11 are listed as shortstops, and both No. 10-ranked Xavier Neyens (Mt. Vernon HS, WA; Oregon State commit) and No. 13 Gavin Kilen (Tennessee; Milton HS, WI, 2022) are potentially set to be sent off at that position professionally. More specifically, the prep group boasts the potential for 10 shortstops to go in the first round with even more going in the first 50 picks. Even beyond those who opt to sign professional contracts after this year’s draft, the group of premium positioned prospects extends much further, and the culminating balance of first-rounders from this bunch (between the 2025-2028 drafts) is likely to approach 20 from this star-studded group of 2025 high school graduates.
🏖️SoCal shortstops are my favorite.🏖️
Hands down.
‘25 Billy Carlson (CA) is as good as I’ve seen since Brice Turang.
Fluid actions w/ easy +arm. A wizard w/ the glove. Makes it look easy & COMPETES
Pregame look doesn’t do the in-game performance justice…Special talent.… pic.twitter.com/IPvEgy3ahp
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) March 27, 2025
+ Injury Value
Each draft year brings with it a host of injuries to pitchers that disrupt the natural scouting cycle and presents much less time for the mitigation of risk. Prep RHP Marcos Paz (Hebron HS, TX; LSU) still ranks No. 9 among right-handed pitchers in the prep class, even without having thrown an inning this spring. Surgery after a dominant junior campaign disrupted his case in challenging top-ranked RHP Seth Hernandez (Corona HS, CA; Vanderbilt) as the No. 1 prep arm in the class, but his track record and return to bullpens (post-spring) more than warrants Day One consideration with intrinsic value.
Marcos Paz (2/14/24)
+ DAY ONE INTRIGUE
If you are looking for which teams to watch closely on the first day of the MLB Draft, narrow your focus to the number of picks these teams are holstering on day one: Orioles (6), Rays (6), Brewers (5), and Guardians (5). Each has a significant number of picks, and even more notably, these are teams that have exhibited the propensity to stretch their dollars to acquire quality talent via quantity. With money to spend for these strong scouting departments, the possibility of prospects with first-round grades signing for over slot later on in the draft becomes more likely.
KEY RISERS
+ No. 79 ➡️ 36: Josh Owens (TN)
A breakout, must-follow name from the summer circuit, SS Josh Owens’ (Providence Academy HS, TN; Georgia Southern) dynamic ability as a left-handed stick, low-slit/loose-armed right-handed arm, and all-around versatile defender propelled his stock into the top-100 in the class last fall. However, his athletic play at shortstop with soft, confident hands and a strong arm, this spring, along with a projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that has received a boost of strength and power outputs, has elevated his stock. Similar to the hushed excitement that fellow Volunteer State native, Evan Carter, received in the atypical 2020 MLB Draft, Owens has almost hid in the shadows of regional risers like JoJo Parker, Steele Hall, and Daniel Pierce. His bat-to-ball ability from the left side stands out, along with the impressive athleticism, and the frame should see significant advancements in coming years in helping to envision a hit/power profile that might stick at shortstop long term. While the aforementioned trio are likely to go ahead, the club who ultimately picks Owens is sure to be giddy about his future impact.
Josh Owens (5/1/25)
+ No. 159 ➡️ 50: Frank Cairone (NJ)
In what has become a packed lineup of southpaws in the prep class, LHP Frank Cairone (Delsea HS, NJ; Coastal Carolina) has steadily elevated his stock since announcing himself with a clean showing at the Super 60 in February. Climbing up to 96 mph this spring, his 3000+ rpm breaking ball has shined along with a silky smooth arm stroke to help deliver 72K-13BB in 33 innings pitched thus far. Beyond the stellar postings from the Coastal Carolina recruit, the idea that he may have even more untapped potential is what is sure to drive Day 1 suitors to the table, and that notion is more than warranted when compared to the rest of the class.
Frank Cairone (Super 60; 2/2/25)
+ No. 26 ➡️ 11: SS JoJo Parker (Purvis HS, MS)
+ No. 45 ➡️ 12: SS Steele Hall (Hewitt Trussville HS, AL)
+ No. 61 ➡️ 23: SS Daniel Pierce (Mill Creek HS, GA)
+ No. 67 ➡️ 41: RHP Dean Livingston (Hebron Christian Academy, GA)
+ No. 93 ➡️ 70: LHP Talon Haley (Lewisburg HS, MS)
NEW PREP FACES
+ No. 78: Jayden Stroman (NY)
RHP/SS Jayden Stroman’s (Patchogue-Medford HS, NY; Duke) explosive arm talent and dynamic athleticism have driven his stock higher and higher throughout the spring. Routinely working into the upper 90s with the fastball, his swing-and-miss arsenal includes a firm, wipeout slider, and the advanced movement patterns provide ample reason to believe that he can continue as a starter.
(Northeast ProCase; 2/8/25)
+ No. 142: Michael Oliveto (NY)
C Michael Oliveto (Hauppauge HS, NY; Yale) presents one of the more intriguing draft profiles in the class as an inbound Ivy Leaguer, but his quality left-handed stroke has had the scouting community, and decision-makers, heading east on the Long Island Expressway for multiple looks. Wiry-athletic at 6-foot-3, with room to add significant strength, his firm outputs and bat-to-ball ability is ultra intriguing.
(Northeast ProCase; 2/8/25)
+ No. 149: Matt McKnight (NC)
A presumptive “future push” coming away from the Super 60 in February, 3B Matt McKnight’s (Charlotte Catholic HS, NC; North Carolina) strong spring has driven more intrigue as to the immediacy of his professional potential. At 6-foot-3, 192-pounds with a fluid, controlled right-handed stroke, the power outputs have ticked up, some, and the upward trajectory of his hit/power profile could ultimately provide an avenue to buy out his Chapel Hill residency in blossoming as the next Tar Heel talent who excels on campus.
(Super 60; 2/2/25)
+ No. 150: Timothy Piasentin (AB, Canada)
As Canadian prospects continue to make loud statements at all levels, the combing for draft value continues in ‘25, and 3B Timothy Piasentin (Foothills Composite, AB; Miami) is a physical left-handed stick that could hear his name called on Day Two. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder carries a power profile with the ability to lift, and has trended up with some big performances this spring.
1
Ethan Holliday
SS
Stillwater HS (OK)
2
Seth Hernandez
RHP
Corona HS (CA)
3
Jamie Arnold
LHP
Florida State
4
Kade Anderson*
LHP
LSU
5
Cameron Appenzeller
LHP
Glenwood HS (IL)
6
Kayson Cunningham
SS
S.A. Johnson HS (TX)
7
Billy Carlson
SS
Corona HS (CA)
8
Josh Hammond
SS
Wesleyan Christian HS (NC)
9
Eli Willits
SS
Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)
10
Xavier Neyens
3B
Mount Vernon HS (WA)
11
Aiva Arquette
SS
Oregon State
12
Brayden Jaksa
C
Irvington HS (CA)
13
Gavin Kilen
SS
Tennessee
14
Marek Houston
SS
Wake Forest
15
Wehiwa Aloy
SS
Arkansas
16
Kyson Witherspoon
RHP
Oklahoma
17
Liam Doyle
LHP
Tennessee
18
Brady Ebel
SS
Corona HS (CA)
19
Joseph Parker
SS
Purvis HS (MS)
20
Steele Hall
SS
Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
21
Jaden Fauske
OF
Nazareth Academy HS (IL)
22
Brendan Summerhill
OF
Arizona
23
Devin Taylor
OF
Indiana
24
Ike Irish
C
Auburn
25
Tyler Bremner
RHP
UC Santa Barbara
26
Alex Lodise
SS
Florida State
27
Jace LaViolette
OF
Texas A&M
28
Jack Bauer
LHP
Lincoln-Way East HS (IL)
29
Kruz Schoolcraft
LHP
Sunset HS (OR)
30
Caleb Barnett
3B
Mountain Brook HS (AL)
31
Johnny Slawinski III
LHP
Johnson City HS (TX)
32
Briggs McKenzie
LHP
Corinth Holders HS (NC)
33
Angel Cervantes
RHP
Warren HS (CA)
34
Ty Peeples
OF
Franklin County HS (GA)
35
Nicky Becker
SS
Don Bosco Prep HS (NJ)
36
Coy James
SS
Davie HS (NC)
37
Daniel Pierce
SS
Mill Creek HS (GA)
38
Gavin Fien
3B
Great Oak HS (CA)
39
Luke Stevenson*
C
North Carolina
40
Ethan Conrad
OF
Wake Forest
41
Anthony Eyanson
RHP
LSU
42
Riley Quick
RHP
Alabama
43
Marcus Phillips
RHP
Tennessee
44
Matthew Fisher
RHP
Evansville Memorial HS (IN)
45
Quentin Young
3B
Oaks Christian HS (CA)
46
Slater de Brun
OF
Summit HS (OR)
47
Lucas Franco
3B
Cinco Ranch HS (TX)
48
Sean Gamble
UTL
IMG Academy HS (FL)
49
Jacob Parker
OF
Purvis HS (MS)
50
Caden Bodine
C
Coastal Carolina
51
Zach Root
LHP
Arkansas
52
Andrew Fischer
1B
Tennessee
53
Dean Curley*
3B
Tennessee
54
Gage Wood
RHP
Arkansas
55
Ethan Petry
OF
South Carolina
56
Aidan West
SS
Long Reach HS (MD)
57
Landon Harmon
RHP
East Union HS (MS)
58
CJ Gray
RHP
A.L. Brown HS (NC)
59
Max Belyeu
OF
Texas
60
Reid Worley
RHP
Cherokee HS (GA)
61
Boston Kellner
3B
Hamilton HS (AZ)
62
Josh Owens
SS
Providence Academy HS (TN)
63
Aaron Watson
RHP
Trinity Christian HS (FL)
64
AJ Russell
RHP
Tennessee
65
Patrick Forbes
RHP
Louisville
66
Taitn Gray
OF
Dallas Center-Grimes HS (IA)
67
Uli Fernsler
LHP
Novi HS (MI)
68
JD Thompson
LHP
Vanderbilt
69
Cam Cannarella
OF
Clemson
70
Danny Dickinson
2B
LSU
71
Kyle Lodise
SS
Georgia Tech
72
Korbyn Dickerson
OF
Indiana
73
Joseph Dzierwa
LHP
Michigan State
74
Marcos Paz
RHP
Hebron HS (TX)
75
Dean Livingston
RHP
Hebron Christian HS (GA)
76
Brandon Logan
OF
Fort Wayne Snider HS (IN)
77
Tate Southisene
SS
Basic Academy HS (NV)
78
Blaine Bullard
OF
Klein Cain HS (TX)
79
Pico Kohn
LHP
Mississippi State
80
Omar Serna
C
Lutheran South HS (TX)
81
Colby Shelton
SS
Florida
82
River Hamilton
RHP
Sam Barlow HS (OR)
83
John Stuetzer
OF
Pope HS (GA)
84
Caden Crowell
LHP
Valparaiso HS (IN)
85
Henry Godbout
2B
Virginia
86
Alec Blair
OF
De La Salle HS (CA)
87
Henry Ford*
OF
Virginia
88
Frank Cairone
LHP
Delsea HS (NJ)
89
Mitch Voit
2B
Michigan
90
Charles Davalan*
OF
Arkansas
91
JB Middleton
RHP
Southern Miss
92
James Ellwanger*
RHP
Dallas Baptist
93
Nick Dumesnil
OF
Cal Baptist
94
Gavin Turley
OF
Oregon State
95
Nic Partridge
SS
Mulberry HS (FL)
96
Dean Moss
OF
IMG Academy HS (FL)
97
Max Williams
OF
Florida State
98
Mason Neville
OF
Oregon
99
Kane Kepley
OF
North Carolina
100
Jordan Martin
RHP
Jefferson City HS (MO)
*Indicates the player is a college sophomore who’s age-eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft.
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