Hiya, expensive Razzball readers! Though it has been many moons since we final checked in on the faculty recreation, my crack employees has been busy analyzing and organizing experiences on numerous prospects throughout the game’s panorama. My crack employees consists of two canines with ADHD, an eight-month-old toddler, my retired neighbor named Invoice, and a cardinal who has been endlessly pecking on my window. His identify is Jean Claude.
Suffice to say, I’ve had my work minimize out for me. Invoice has spent considerably extra time woodworking and making selfmade canes in his storage than scouting this offseason. To not point out, he generally takes the “crack” in crack employees a bit too actually. As for Jean Claude, properly, he nonetheless thinks the love of his life is on the opposite facet of the glass home windows. He has been relegated to a brand new social position, Tweeting. The change has been fairly unproductive.
As for myself, the top-10 prospects for the start of the 2025 school baseball season have been accomplished. It isn’t a blinding class, nevertheless it isn’t shallow, both. Nonetheless, as I wrote these breakdowns, I couldn’t assist however really feel that it was one of many weaker top-10s since I began protecting school prospects at Razzball in 2020. Certain, Jace LaViolette, Jamie Arnold and Cam Cannarella are superior, however none of them scream slam-dunk, 1-1 general to me. And the 8-10 spots may very well be beefier. Like a Runza.
As at all times, this listing is quite a bit completely different than the trade consensus and what you’ll see elsewhere. These rankings take future fantasy contributions under consideration, particularly a participant’s means to help throughout a number of statistical classes. So, who’s at No. 1 this yr, and are there any main surprises? Right here’s the listing:
1. Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson (BA #6, #15 MLB): Twitchy athlete and true five-tool affect as a real centerfielder. Could make the spotlight reel play coming in, going straight again and into the gaps. Not imposing by any means at 6-foot and 180 lbs., however there’s room so as to add muscle the place common to plus energy already exists. Reveals extra in-game than uncooked pop as a .363/.440/.560 profession hitter with 18 homers and 24 steals in 117 collegiate video games. 14.4 Okay% and 11.7 BB% at Clemson. Fast, jerky left-handed swing stays lengthy by way of ball with a Yelich-esque end. Tasks as a high three-to-five beginning CF on the recreation’s highest degree.
2. Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (BA #1, MLB #1): Broadly considered the highest general participant within the 2025 draft class, rivaling prepster Ethan Vacation for the No. 1 spot. Plus athlete. Athletic at 6-foot-6 and 230 lbs. Linebacker construct. Major software is plus uncooked energy that confirmed early and sometimes in school and he runs properly sufficient to begin in middle for the Aggies. Possible destined to play nook OF in professional ball, probably RF attributable to above common arm. Owns a profession .297/.433/.683 batting line in school with 50 homers, 26 doubles and 25 steals in 132 video games. Had struck out at a 25.4% clip in comparison with a 18.2% stroll price. Hit software is common. Compares to Jac Caglianone with a less-advanced hit software and worse knack for locating the barrel, however higher general swing profile, particularly in regard to chase price. 40-homer potential.
3. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (MLB #3, BA #4): Distinctive, high-hand supply paired with a low-three quarters/sidearm slot from the left facet. Stuff performs up in consequence. Not imposing at 6-1. Heater sits 92-95. Will sometimes high at 96 however touches 97 with driving life. Additionally throws a plus sweeping slider and common changeup. Velo band maxes round 14 mph. Has gone 13-8 with a 3.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 12.5 Okay/9 and three.2 BB/9 in 149 2/3 school frames. Broke out with 2.98 ERA, 13.5 Okay/9 and a pair of.2 BB/9 as a sophomore in 2024.
4. Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (BA #3, MLB #4): High right-handed pitcher within the class, prep or school. Fastball averages over 95 mph and tops at 98 with driving life. Additionally instructions a 70-grade changeup with late fade (46% whiff price). Has proven enchancment with average-to-plus slider. Has labored as a reliever and starter in school. Owns a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.5 Okay/9 and a pair of.4 BB/9 in 144 profession innings (36 appearances, 17 begins). Made 19 outings in sophomore 2024 season, beginning 9 and went 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 10.6 Okay/9 and a pair of.11 B/9.
5. Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana (BA #8, MLB #20): Has hit .338/.441/.655 in two seasons at Indiana with 36 homers, 24 doubles, 4 triples and 6 steals in 114 video games. Has drawn almost as many walks as strikeouts for a 15.9 Okay% and 13.8 BB%. Slugged .510 on the Cape, launching 5 homers in 29 video games whereas hitting .296 with a .397 OBP. Possible destined for nook OF however most certainly a RF attributable to common arm. Plus hit and uncooked energy. Might want to watch chase price in professional ball however will has 30-plus dwelling runs in his bat if he can preserve his contact profile.
6. Ethan Petry, OF, South Carolina (BA #26, MLB #29): Burst onto scene as 2023 SEC Freshman of the Yr by hitting .376/.471/.733 with 23 homers, 10 doubles and 4 steals in 63 video games. He regressed to a .306/.471/.639 line as a sophomore in 2024. A part of that was attributable to his strikeout price leaping from 21.4% to 25.3%, though his walks additionally rose from 12.0% to 17.6%. Additionally excelled on the Cape in 2024, slashing .360/.480/.760 with 11 tanks in 31 video games whereas fanning at a 20.8% clip. His swing tasks properly with wooden. Plus uncooked energy. Common hit software. Beneath common vary in RF. Will play 1B as a professional. RH swing covers plate properly however has proven a bent to be extremely streaky.
7. Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State (BA #20, MLB #30): Is likely to be the steal of the draft class. Superior LH hitter with a 6-foot-5, 220-lb. body. Major place is hitter. Beneath common runner and fringy arm. Performs nook OF at OSU however shall be restricted to 1B/DH as a professional. Offensive upside is clear, as he’s batted .352/.480/.743 with 40 homers and 30 doubles in 110 video games. 30.0% strikeout price. Walks at 18.8% clip. Hit .370/.513/.838 with barely improved 27.4 Okay% as a sophomore in 2024. Performed on 2024 Cape and slashed .300/.476/.667 with three homers in 9 video games. Ball is loud off his bat. Covers complete plate properly, however struggles with the strikeout and his restricted defensive projections cap his draft capital.
8. Aiva Arquette, 2B, Oregon State (MLB #7, BA #19): The highest switch within the 2024 cycle. 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who has primarily performed the keystone. Scouts bullish he has the athleticism to play brief long run. Starred at Washington from 2023-24, hitting .311/.386/.575 with 17 homers, 14 doubles and 9 steals in 63 video games. Whiffed at a 20% clip whereas strolling at a 9.1% price. Vaulted up as a prospect after slashing .291/.357/.437 on the 2024 Cape, launching three homers in 29 video games.
9. Nick Dumesnil, OF, California Baptist (BA #15, MLB #35): One of many 2024 stars of the Cape Cod League, hitting .320/.382/.500 with 4 homers, 10 doubles and league-high 25 steals. Athletic. 5-tool participant. Might stick in CF long run however extra probably a nook OF. Has slashed .357/.434/.661 with 19 bombs, 24 doubles and 14 steals in 81 school video games. 15.6 Okay% and seven.5 BB%. Pre-swing hand and barrel location provokes photos of Paul Goldschmidt albeit with much less of a crouch. Load is straightforward and strikes ball with managed violence. Punishes fastballs and breaking errors, however has struggled on well-executed breakers.
10. Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina (MLB #13, BA #44): Eligible as a real sophomore. Plus pull-side energy with means to be a plus hitter to all fields. High defensive catcher within the 2025 class. Slashed .284/.420/.535 with 14 homers, a 20.4 Okay% and 17.8 BB% in 64 video games as a freshman in 2024. Elite real-world prospect, as he’s an elite defender and has constructive intangibles. The bat will proceed to develop however with a 45-hit/55-power combo, that is as excessive as I’ll put him for now. One other step ahead offensively this season and Stevenson may very well be a top-15 general choose.
11. BONUS – Max Belyeu, OF, Texas (MLB #14, BA #41): Burst onto the collegiate scene as a sophomore, incomes Huge 12 Participant of the Yr honors. Comparatively inexperienced school bat with simply 270 profession plate appearances, however instructions a .326/.416/.639 slash line with 18 homers and 16 doubles in 74 video games. Average 19.3 Okay% paired with 10.4 BB%. Above-average to plus hit and energy instruments. Tasks as a nook outfielder with a plus arm. Has tendency to make spotlight reel performs however takes questionable routes at occasions.
12. BONUS – Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (MLB #26, BA #38): Pitched to a 3.71 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 10.1 Okay.9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 80 innings in his first Division I season with the Sooners in 2024. Spent first two years at Northwest Florida State School, posting a 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 69 2/3 frames. Plus heater and slider, sitting mid 90s and reaching 98-99. Distinctive arm motion, going from behind proper hip to a fast, compact launch close to the ear.
Simply Missed: Chris Arroyo, 1B, Virginia; Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee; Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona; Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee; Henry Ford, 1B, Virginia; Nate Snead, RHP, Tennessee; Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest; Dean Curley, SS, Tennessee; Trent Caraway, 3B, Oregon State; Ike Irish, C, Auburn; Murf Grey, 3B, Fresno State
That’s all for this week, Razzball fam! It’s nice to be again. As at all times, I’m completely happy to take this dialog into the feedback part or on Twitter, the place you could find me @WorldOfHobbs.
