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Draft  | Story | 12/22/2025

2025 Year in Review: Draft

Tyler Henninger
Isaiah Burrows
Tyler Kotila
2025 Year in Review: Draft

We’ve reached the end of the 2025 calendar year, and while we’ve already jumped in on the 2026 cycle with some of the fall events and post-draft content we’ve had here at Perfect Game, there’s still one more piece on the docket, and that’s the 2025 Year-In-Review piece here from the PG Draft staff. 



The 2025 MLB Draft took place in July, when many highly talented players heard their names called and continued their journey through the game to the next level. There’s already been some of those names making noise in the minors and guys who are moving up prospect lists and becoming names to know for MLB fans digging deep into the future of their organizations. While we are going to “close the book” on 2025 with this article, these players still have many years ahead of them, and many blank pages to continue writing their stories.

This cycle was interesting; it was not like some recent years, where it was a clear-cut 1:1 name for months leading up to the draft. Some players made some late pushes in performance, and organizations made some jumps that deviated from some folks' expectations, and come draft night, there was still some uncertainty on who would hear their name called first. Ultimately, Eli Willits was the first to hear his name called, as the Washington Nationals selected him with the first overall pick. Ethan Holliday, who was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies, was our number one prospect on the draft board. Tyler Bremner and Kade Anderson, who were both in the first round bucket, moved up the board and heard their names called early on, shocking some.

Of the 615 players drafted, 460 were from four-year schools, 124 were from the prep/high school level, and 31 were from the JuCo level. Of all 615 players selected, 576 of those players have signed contracts with MLB organizations. 276 Right-handed pitchers were selected, 81 left-handed pitchers were selected, and three listed two-way players were a part of that group. The remaining 258-261(depending on how you count the TWP) were position players. 

It was a surprising draft that featured unique storylines we’ll delve into below as we put a bow on the 2025 MLB Draft cycle and flip the calendar to 2026. 

Willits and Bremner jump to the top of the board on draft day 

The draft class this past year did not have a consensus top prospect from start to finish. Depending on who you talked to or a certain team’s philosophy, a lot of boards had different guys at the top. That was true all the way until the end. Come draft day, there was buzz that Eli Willits would jump up to 1:1. While very few had expected this throughout the cycle, we made the change to our board and put him at No. 1 on the final board because the buzz seemed real. It was. Willits was the first to hear his name called, something that was not expected most of the cycle. With the second pick, the Angels continued the trend of surprises by selecting Tyler Bremner. While Bremner started out at the No. 2 player on the board, he had slipped a little throughout the spring. The selection of Bremner was not one that we, or many people in the industry, expected. Taking underslot deals was obviously a big driving force in the two players jumping to the top of the board on draft day, but this year just goes to show that anything can happen all the way up until the end. 

Prep shortstops shine as the strength of the class

 The 2025 prep class was touted for its depth and talent on the dirt, and boy did this year’s shortstop crop live up to the hype. Led by Willits with the first pick, 11 high school shortstops led the way of the first 28 picks. Holliday, JoJo Parker, Billy Carlson, Steele Hall, Daniel Pierce and Kayson Cunningham were just some of the names that were selected in bunches. Brady Ebel, Cooper Flemming and Nicky Becker littered more of the Top 50 as prep shortstops were selected all over different rounds of the draft. This year’s crop in particular had a rare blend of offensive upside from both sides of the plate, crisp defense and high end athleticism that really shined. Looking back on this year’s class years down the road, don’t be surprised to see so many former prep shortstops locking down the six-hole for their respective organizations.  

College arms consistently rise throughout the cycle 

It was a really unique cycle in terms of the trends of the pitchers in this class. Every year, players pitch themselves up the board, some arms move down, and injuries are bound to happen, but it sure felt like this year there were some big changes. The biggest perhaps was LSU standout Kade Anderson. The southpaw was in the second-round bucket early on, and some thought we may have been high, but things ultimately changed as the spring unfolded. Anderson moved up boards, and his incredible finish to the 2026 season saw him move into the Top 10 and Top 5 on several industry boards. On draft night, he was the third player selected, taken by the Seattle Mariners. On top of that, Tyler Bremner was deemed a first-rounder early on, sputtered a bit out of the gate, but ultimately got back in the saddle and ended up being the second overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Tennessee southpaw Liam Doyle moved into the Top 5, being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals, and Kyson Witherspoon was selected 15th overall by the Boston Red Sox. While Jamie Arnold was one of the top names on the board all spring, he was another top-half first-round pick. Overall, it was a class full of movement, and the collegiate arms tended to be moving up the board with this group, and a lot of them heard their names called early on draft night.

Looking ahead to 2026

The draft class this coming year looks a little different than the 2025 class. The talent at the top is deeper and stronger. The prep class is one of the stronger classes we have seen in a long time, led by Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard. The college class features an impressive group of bats at the top, a trio of potential top of the rotation arms, and maybe the best amateur prospect in two decades in Roch Cholowsky. Cholowsky has garnered rave reviews from the industry and has even been called the best amateur player they have seen by some scouts. While there is sure to be some changes to the board throughout the cycle, the 2026 class is gearing up to be an extremely fun group to watch and evaluate.

PG Draft Editor’s Note: Burrows to the Bigs’

While the 2025 calendar year comes to a close, we close the book on the 2025 cycle, look forward to 2026, but we will also see some change on the PG Draft Staff. One of our PG Draft Leads, Isaiah Burrows, has accepted a position to join the San Francisco Giants as an Area Scout. We’re absolutely pumped for Burrows, and expect great things from him in that role. In his time with Perfect Game, Burrows was one of the hardest-working guys on-staff, from running between fields at East Cobb in Georgia during a WWBA event or running around at the backfields in Arizona’s 110-degree heat, Burrows was always grinding. Between lengthy draft calls and debates over players, Burrows always was a huge piece of what we did, and I’ll certainly miss the fiery debates and board updates. We wish Burrows the best as he departs to join the Giants, at the change of the year.
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Draft | Story | 9/19/2026

2027 Draft: Prep Demographic Breakdown
Ryan Miller
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The 2027 MLB Draft cycle is still in its early stages, but the overall makeup of the class is beginning to come into focus. With the first version of our Top-100 board out, we took a closer look at positional demographics from both college and prep players within the class.  Let’s kick things off with a deep dive into the prep class.  Prep Right-Handed Pitchers  Top Ranked Players: George Ferguson, Abilene (TX) | Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA) | Ethan Gustus, Roseville (CA) | Cullen Scott, Melissa (TX) | Striker Pence, Corona (CA) | Samir Mohammed, Tampa Jesuit (FL) Potential Sleepers: Brennan Neal, Brookstone (GA) | Andrew Carlson, Trinity Classical Academy (CA) | Calum Andersen, Vauxhall Academy of Baseball (CAN) | Gavin Henderson, Boiling Springs (SC)    High speed look at the FF-CH from '27 RHP George Ferguson (TX)... #PGAAC @Texas_PG...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/24/2026

South Jupiter Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Joshua Digulio (2027, Mont Belvieu, Texas) was a breakout performer for Texas Brigade 2027 - Gafford. Went 10-18 with a pair of doubles and a home run, while plating nine runs. Also showed some serious flashes defensively behind the plate. Physical frame with plenty of bat speed. Flatter bat path with a pull-side approach, geared towards backspinning with authority. Athletic backstop with tons of offensive upside. Dylan Buck (2027, Friendswood, Texas) put on a show for Up Top Prospects. Drove in 11 runs while going 5-11 with a pair of triples and a multi home run game on Saturday. Loose actions with a strong lower half. Adjusts well and generates plenty of torque as he works uphill. Serious power upside on display this weekend with more in that physical frame. Clyde Votaw (2027, Texas City, Texas) had a quality outing on the bump for Up Top Prospects. The Angelina College commit threw a...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/23/2026

PG Softball Twin Cities Elite Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears
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2026 PG Softball Twin Cities Elite Scouting Showcase September 19th, 2026 Ashley Mears BLAINE, MN- Rain may have shortened the weekend but it didn’t shorten the competition. The tournament was STACKED with some of the top teams from South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The 16u division came down to Midwest Speed 16U Nat’l Chell taking home the trophy and shutting out a tough MN Sting National-Makela team. The 18U division came down to Midwest Speed 18u Nat’l Koltes loaded team out slugging Mission 18u National. 16U Taitum Kostecka (2028 Princeton, MN) of Midwest Speed 16U Nat’l Chell was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. Kostecka is a speedy left-handed power hitter who is one of the toughest outs around, as she did not strike out a single time throughout the weekend. Starting in an open stance, she uses a...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/21/2026

BCS Fall Battle of the Carolinas Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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William Woody (2031, Charlotte, NC) stands at 5-foot-8, 106 pounds with an athletic build and a lean, developing frame. Shows good quickness and body control with room to add strength and size as he matures. Bats and throws right-handed and plays shortstop. Shows good feel for the barrel and consistently squares up the baseball. Shows good balance and timing throughout the swing. Woody went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs for a solid day at the plate. Wade Alphin (2032, La Grange, NC) stands at 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, with a compact, athletic build. Shows good body control and coordination with a solid frame and room to add strength and size. Bats and throws right-handed and is a versatile utility player. Shows a line-drive approach with a strong base in the box and developing power. Makes consistent contact and stays disciplined at the plate. Alphin went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, putting together a great...
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General | Blog | 9/21/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 68

Ron Wolforth
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Are You Fixated on the Wrong Variable? Why Pitch Count Alone Was Never Going to Prevent Arm Injuries   You know a family this happened to. You might be one. They did everything right. They followed the pitch count. They honored the rest days. They tracked innings. They sat him when the chart said sit. They were the parents who spoke up when a coach wanted one more inning in a bracket game. And he got hurt anyway. I've been working with throwers for a long time, and that conversation is the one I have quite often… A parent sitting across from me genuinely bewildered because they followed the rules and the rules did not work. They usually assume they missed something. Most of the time they didn't. They managed exactly what they were told to manage. The problem is that what they were told to manage is one variable out of four.   The Uncomfortable Part First   Throwing...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/18/2026

Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Another day, another Gavin Greene (‘28 GA) barrel as the @AuburnBaseball commit is now hitting well over .500 on the event #NEQ<ahref="https: pg_scouting?ref_src="twsrc%5Etfw'">@PG_Scouting @PG_Georgia https://t.co/Lf6G8AExjB pic.twitter.com/LFMueYHMxB</ahref="https:> — Perfect Game Mid-Atlantic (@PGMidAtlantic) September 14, 2026 Gavin Greene (2028 Alpharetta, GA) played a major factor in AZ Diamondbacks Scout’s Championship run, finishing his weekend with a .528 AVG and 7 RBI. The 5-foot-11, 175 pound Auburn commit was simply a hit machine regardless of who was on the mound, showcasing the ability to handle velo with ease and repeat the stroke at a high level. Starting from a narrow and upright, slightly open base, Greene does a great job of working directly to the point of impact with consistent hard line drive impact to the pull side of the field. He...
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Juco | Rankings | 9/18/2026

JUCO Impact: Top 100 D1 Transfers

Troy Sutherland
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With the season upon us, let's take a minute to look at 100 of the biggest impact players who played at the JUCO level last year and have since transferred to a D1 program for the upcoming spring.  RK Name JUCO in 2025 DI in 2026 1 Ryan Bradford Johnson County TCU 2 Carson Bailey McLennan Texas Tech 3 Kameron Yearsley John A. Logan  Oklahoma 4 Holden Pantier Walters State Georgia Tech 5 Caden Davidson Gaston Florida 6 Anthony Quigley Northwest Florida Oklahoma 7 Walt Jones Weatherford Kansas 8 Colin Coonradt Johnson County West Virginia 9 Collin Smith Cochise Kansas 10 Ned Frutchey Sac City Arkansas 11 Hayden Blair Walters State Georgia 12 Parker Ishee Co-Lin Oklahoma 13 Coy Clements Pearl River Florida State 14 Griffin Rardin Shelton State Alabama 15 Jordan Martinez Gulf Coast State Florida State 16 Noah Bentley Weatherford Oklahoma 17 Kole Fenton Walters State North Carolina...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/17/2026

PG Softball Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears
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Perfect Game Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase 2026 Indianola. IA Ashley Mears What started off a perfect weather weekend, unfortunately was cut short due to thunderstorms mid-morning on Sunday. In the 18u Division, the Iowa Gold Prospects and the Midwest Speed National Kotzmacher were undefeated. In the 16U Division, 515 Fastpitch Twogood and Iowa Premier Gold- Brower. The tournament featured a ton of solid hitters and pitchers from across the state and Minnesota. Even with the poor weather on Sunday, there was still plenty to see and write about! 18u Division Lexi Adams (2028 Ankeny, IA), a catcher for Iowa Gold Prospects, had a stellar weekend at the plate. Behind the plate, Adams shows strong command of the game and does an excellent job working the zone, using her framing ability to consistently give her pitchers a chance to earn borderline calls. At the plate, Adams starts from a...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/17/2026

South Underclass Qualifier Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
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Cole Marquardt (2029, Montgomery, Texas) left no doubt this weekend as he came home with Tournament MVP honors for his work with Banditos 2028 Black. Went 7-10 with a double, a home run, a pair of triples, and the walk off single in the championship game. Projectable left-handed swing with plenty of tools to dream on. Bat to ball was on point all weekend and he had plenty of chances to show off an advanced run tool. Plenty to dream on moving forward. Callen Corley (2028, Houston, Texas) put together a stellar two-way performance for Houston Wildcatters Navy 2028. At the plate, he went 5-10 with a double, triple, and home run, driving in seven runs. Sinks into his lower half well and creates strong angles for leverage. Plenty of power upside remaining in that frame, to go along with the twitch already present. On the mound, Corley went four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Midwest Labor Day Classic Scout Notes

Brayden Powell
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Ryan Jones (2027, Tinley Park, IL) was one of the most productive hitters of the weekend, collecting six hits, including three doubles and a home run, while driving in nine runs. The left-handed hitter consistently got the barrel out front and created hard contact throughout the event. Working from an open setup with high hands, he features a compact swing that allows him to get to the ball quickly. His hand speed stood out and helped him drive the baseball to multiple parts of the field. Jones showed a strong understanding of pitches he could handle and rarely missed opportunities to do damage. The swing remains efficient through the zone and produces carry off the barrel. His combination of consistent contact and extra-base impact made him a key offensive contributor all weekend. Uncommitted  JP Elbert (2027, Dubuque, IA) put together an impressive tournament, finishing with five...
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