{"id":357753,"date":"2025-12-20T14:12:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T14:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/357753\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T14:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T14:12:10","slug":"re-drafting-2025-first-year-player-drafts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/357753\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-Drafting 2025 First Year Player Drafts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The 2024 MLB Draft could turn out to be one of the most loaded classes in recent memory. Two of the top four picks have already established their places as potential franchise cornerstones, and the other two aren\u2019t far behind. The #1 prospect in baseball was also taken in the first round, as were 17 other top-100 prospects.<\/p>\n<p>All of that talent doesn\u2019t even take into account the player who was the consensus #1 player to pick in First Year Player Drafts.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s impossible to perfectly predict how each of those picks will turn out as big league players before selecting them. Perceived flaws can be improved upon in the minors, and overlooked traits could result in unforeseen breakouts. That said, \u201chindsight is 20\/20\u201d. Now, after a year of production\/development, under their belt, it\u2019s time to re-rank the names that were selected by fantasy managers last offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Trying to redraft an entire new class of players is impossible, and even selected a top 25 was a challenge. There\u2019s still time for players who missed out to prove me wrong. Players who were picked could still turn out to fall below the value I\u2019ve predicted for them too.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, here\u2019s how I have ranked the top-25 performers from last year\u2019s FYPD class.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cA\u201d Tier<\/p>\n<p>These players have either established themselves as all-league level performers in the major leagues or are on the verge of doing so in the next few years. The names in this section are names MLB teams build franchises around.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>1. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/nick-kurtz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Kurtz<\/a>, 1B \u2013 Athletics<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-251176\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5b5189707c30162bc7ca83139f4f82634f29d46e075184b3f7969aa2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\u2026Is that good?<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/nick-kurtz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Kurtz<\/a> was the runaway Rookie of the Year in the American League this season. His 36 home runs are the fourth most among rookies since 2015, alongside <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/pete-alonso\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pete Alonso<\/a>, <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cody-bellinger\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cody Bellinger<\/a>, and <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/aaron-judge\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aaron Judge<\/a>. That\u2019s pretty good company to keep for a player who was still in college less than a year before his debut. Kurtz is the prototypical modern slugger. There\u2019s some swing-and-miss in his game (14.2% SwStr), but he has the elite power to make up for it (18.3% Barrel, .525 xSLG). After his first season, Kurtz is in the top 20 in NFBC\u2019s ADP, the highest mark of anyone on this list. The 22-year-old has lived up to his hype, and then some. He likely wasn\u2019t the #1 overall pick in your FYPDs, given some other names on the board at the time, but he\u2019ll reward managers who did take him with elite production for years to come.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>2. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/konnor-griffin\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Konnor Griffin<\/a>, SS \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/pittsburgh-pirates\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When the Pirates drafted Griffin at pick nine, they had a future superstar fall into their lap. After just 122 professional appearances, Griffin is the consensus #1 prospect in baseball, and could be in line for the Pirates\u2019 starting shortstop position come Opening Day. Griffin has little else to prove on the farm. He can hit (49% Hard-Hit rate in Single-A) and hit for power (91.2 AVG EV, 7.3% Barrel), while avoiding strikeouts. There are minor knocks on his game, like a low fly-ball rate (26.2%) and a higher whiff rate in AA (12.6% SwStr), but those could be addressed as he matures and sees more professional reps. Griffin has the power and speed to threaten the 30\/30 club, while providing solid on-base\/extra-base hit production as well. He\u2019s going to be the franchise cornerstone of the Pirates organization whenever they decide to call him up.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>3. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/jj-wetherholt\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">JJ Wetherholt<\/a>, SS \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/st-louis-cardinals\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">St. Louis Cardinals<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kurtz and Griffin make up the \u201cA1\u201d tier, while the #7 pick in the Draft will have to settle for the \u201cA2\u201d tier. Wetherholt, like the three other names in this section, doesn\u2019t quite have the franchise-altering ceiling that the first two names have, but will still be an All-Star-level player for the foreseeable future. Wetherholt\u2019s first full professional season ended with Cardinals fans clamoring for their top prospect to join the big league team, and it\u2019s easy to see why. Wetherholt mashed 17 home runs, stole 23 bases, and posted a 154 wRC+ over three levels, ending with a .428 wOBA in AAA. He has the power (91.4 AVG EV, 48.1% Hard Hit) to stick in the middle of the order, and doesn\u2019t have the swing-and-miss issues that plague other sluggers (83.3% Z-Con, 8.0% SwStr). Given the Cardinals\u2019 current roster situation (and the Arenado\/Donovan trade sagas), Wetherholt could slot into an infield role and mid-lineup spot early in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>4. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/roki-sasaki\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Roki Sasaki<\/a>, RHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/los-angeles-dodgers\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The World Series Champion lived up to the hype thrust upon him, establishing himself as a high-leverage weapon on the game\u2019s biggest stage. The rookie picked up three saves in nine appearances, holding his opponents to just one earned run in 10.1 innings. Saying that his postseason performance (which resulted in the game\u2019s biggest prize) could serve as a confidence boost seems strange, but the Dodgers will view it as that. Sasaki has already been tapped for a rotation spot next year, a role he struggled in to begin his career. He posted some ugly numbers as a starter (4.72 ERA, 22 BB in 34.1 IP), and didn\u2019t improve much in the minors (6.10 ERA, 5.66 BB\/9). A full offseason without the pressures that come with being a rookie could allow him to develop back into a starting role. Sasaki undoubtedly has the stuff to succeed there, and he\u2019ll have plenty of protection around him in one of the best rotations in the sport.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>5. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/chase-burns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chase Burns<\/a>, RHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/cincinnati-reds\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cincinnati Reds<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Reds fans were hoping that they\u2019d have a future ace on their hands when Burns was selected 2nd in 2024, but I doubt they thought he\u2019d make his debut less than a year later. Since his first appearance, Burns\u2019 35.6% strikeout rate topped the charts among big league starters. Even with a slightly high 8.5% walk rate, his 27.1% K-BB rate was in the top six among MLB arms, ahead of <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/tarik-skubal\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tarik Skubal<\/a> and <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/bryan-woo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryan Woo<\/a>. If that\u2019s not elite production, I don\u2019t know what is. He had two bad outings, which inflated his ERA to over 4.00, but he allowed three or fewer runs in every other start.\u00a0 His fastball sits comfortably in the upper 90s with some natural cut, which makes it hard to barrel up. Burns\u2019 best strikeout pitch was his 90-mile-an-hour slider, though, which generated a 43.7% whiff rate. His next step will be developing a true third weapon outside of those two elite offerings, but he hasn\u2019t needed one yet.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-251214\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chase-Burns.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"294\" height=\"300\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>6. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/trey-yesavage\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trey Yesavage<\/a>, RHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/toronto-blue-jays\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Toronto Blue Jays<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The legend of <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/trey-yesavage\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trey Yesavage<\/a> started with an 11-strikeout performance in 5.1 scoreless innings against the rival Yankees. Three weeks later, it ended with him allowing just two runs in 9.2 World Series innings, striking out 12 in the process. Now, Yesavage projects to be a key member of the Blue Jay rotation that has serious aspirations about returning to the postseason. Yesavage\u2019s extreme over-the-top arm angle, with a dominant fastball\/splitter tunnel, makes him incredibly challenging to barrel up. Whether that changes with more exposure to big-league hitters remains to be seen, but a 35.4% whiff rate, 36.3% chase rate, and 56.4% ground-ball rate give Yesavage a solid foundation to build upon.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-251215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Trey-Yesavage.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cB\u201d Tier<\/p>\n<p>These players either are or will be MLB regulars for most of their careers and will be in All-Star conversations every year. They hold plenty of fantasy value, but may not reach the heights of those in the \u201cA\u201d Tier.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>7. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/travis-bazzana\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Travis Bazzana<\/a>, 2B \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/cleveland-guardians\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cleveland Guardians<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When starting the stash list last year, I predicted that (outside of <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cam-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cam Smith<\/a>, who was already on the MLB roster) Bazzana would be the first member of the 2024 draft to make his debut. While I was proven wrong on that, my faith in Bazzana\u2019s abilities hasn\u2019t diminished. His last season at Oregon State was ludicrous (.407 AVG, 28 HR, 229 wRC+), and he carried that hot streak into his professional debut (126 wRC+ in first 27 games). When Bazzana makes contact, it\u2019s often productive. In 2025, 41% of Bazzana\u2019s hits went for extra bases. His 27% line-drive rate and 48% pull rate indicate he\u2019s able to make meaningful contact, even if he doesn\u2019t have the same power tool that elite sluggers have (39.7% Hard Hit, 89.3 AVG EV). Still, at a position where power is at a premium (6 players hit 20+ HR in \u201925), Bazzana makes enough meaningful contact to be a power factor at second base.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>8. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cam-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cam Smith<\/a>, 3B\/OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/houston-astros\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston Astros<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To say <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cam-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cam Smith<\/a> hit the ground running after being drafted out of Florida State would be an understatement. The 21-year-old put together a 181 wRC+ in 32 games after signing with seven homers and a 1.004 OPS. That was enough for the Astros to make him an Opening Day starter, and he remained on the roster all season. While a .671 OPS and 27.8% strikeout rate aren\u2019t good, he has the tools to bounce back. His 74.5 mile an hour bat speed is 84th percentile in the league. If he can tap into his power to pair up with his average-but-developing swing decisions (29.6% Chase) and bat-to-ball ability (82.6% Z-Con), he could take a massive leap in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-250979\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cam-Smith-Process.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>9. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carson-benge\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carson Benge<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/new-york-mets\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Mets<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>David Stearns made headlines at the Winter Meetings for several reasons, but one of them was stating that <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carson-benge\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carson Benge<\/a> could win a spot on the Opening Day roster with a strong spring. For fantasy managers who have tracked baseball\u2019s #21 prospect, that\u2019s not a surprise. The larger surprise was the Mets not giving Benge a shot in 2025 after he dominated the minor leagues. Benge was one of 12 players 22 or younger with a 150 wRC+, and one of three players in that group to reach AAA. Benge has above-average power (92.1 AVG EV, 52.8% HardHit) with impressive contact skills (88.7% Z-Con), which make up for average plate discipline (27.6% Chase). That mix of skills, plus the ability to play center field, make him a viable candidate for a Mets team that\u2019s already lost <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cedric-mullins\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cedric Mullins<\/a> and <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/brandon-nimmo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Nimmo<\/a> this offseason.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>10. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/jac-caglianone\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jac Caglianone<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/kansas-city-royals\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Royals<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Caglianone was thought of as a good consolation prize if fantasy managers missed out on Sasaki\/Kurtz\/Bazzana. He still has the tools and talent to serve as that going forward, even if his first foray into the major leagues didn\u2019t go to plan. His 46 wRC+ and .157 AVG jump off the page as catastrophic, but the underlying numbers paint a different picture. His .157 BABIP doesn\u2019t line up with his 42.4% hard-hit rate and 12% barrel rate. Much of that drop in production between AAA (186 wRC+) and the majors was down to an increase in ground balls (50% GB in MLB) and a 9% drop in line drives. There\u2019s still some swing-and-miss to be wary of (12.9% SwStr), but Caglianone\u2019s production should bounce back in 2026, provided his luck changes.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>11. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/gage-jump\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gage Jump<\/a>, LHP \u2013 Athletics<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jump started his first professional season in High-A, which proved to be detrimental to the hitters he faced there. Jump struck out 37% of the batters he faced (and only walked 4%) in his six appearances with Lansing before heading to AA. He wasn\u2019t quite as dominant, but still posted a 3.64 ERA, striking out 86 in 81.1 innings with Midland. The fastball will be his calling card, sitting in the upper 90s and touching triple digits. He also has a mid-80s curveball that, while loopy at times, forces hitters to decide on the vertical plane, which causes them trouble. He limited fly balls effectively in 2025 (33.3%), with only 7.4% of balls in the air leaving the yard. Jump has historically shown good command, too, a downfall of several other pitchers on this list. The former LSU Tiger has the build and tools to join <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/luis-morales\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luis Morales<\/a> as the young guns in an Athletics\u2019 pitching staff that could use some additional upside.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>12. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-waldschmidt\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Waldschmidt<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/arizona-diamondbacks\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The former Kentucky Wildcat showed flashes of what to expect from him immediately after signing. In 14 games in Single-A, Waldschmidt posted a 143 wRC+, walking almost 23% of the time. He wasn\u2019t able to showcase his power during that spell (.045 ISO), but it was present in 2025. Waldschmidt mashed 18 home runs (.184 ISO) with an .892 OPS, .412 wOBA, and 29 steals. Only two other minor leaguers reached those marks last season: Griffin and <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/eduardo-quintero\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eduardo Quintero<\/a>. Sharing comparisons with two other top-100 prospects is high praise, even if Waldschmidt may not have the ceiling that the pair of 19-year-olds do. Waldschmidt should start the year in AAA and could be on track to break into a Diamondbacks lineup in dire need of an outfielder early in 2026. When he does, he should be a threat for 15-20 homers and steals immediately.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>13. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/bryce-rainer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryce Rainer<\/a>, SS \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/detroit-tigers\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Tigers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Admittedly, this feels harsh. Rainer\u2019s career has barely started, as he was forced to undergo surgery in June that ended his debut season after 35 games. He was good in Single-A as a 19-year-old, posting a 134 wRC+ with an .831 OPS and .395 wOBA. The underlying data was strong too (52.% Hard Hit, 10.1% Barrel). The Tigers\u2019 track record of developing bats works in Rainer\u2019s favor. He projects to be a \u201cjack-of-all-trades\u201d type of player, with the potential to add 20+ homers and steals at the big league level.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>14. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/charlie-condon\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Charlie Condon<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/colorado-rockies\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colorado Rockies<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Condon posted a .230 ISO, 11 home runs, and a .807 OPS in his first 55 AA games. The pop in his bat is clearly his best attribute, building on his 62 long balls in college. That amount of power, being paired up with the hitter\u2019s heaven that is Coors Field, seemed like the perfect match. It still could be, but Condon hasn\u2019t experienced the same rapid ascent as some of his classmates. Condon still has to develop his bat-to-ball skills (13.5% SwStr in AA), but he has the tools to establish himself in Colorado in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>15. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/braden-montgomery\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braden Montgomery<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/chicago-white-sox\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago White Sox<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The youth movement is underway in Chicago, and <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/braden-montgomery\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braden Montgomery<\/a> could be the next exciting prospect to join the fray on the South Side. In his first professional season, Montgomery hit 12 home runs, stole 14 bases, and posted a .804 OPS. Considering he was a year removed from a serious ankle injury and made it to AA in his first year, that\u2019s impressive. The 25% strikeout rate and 14.8% swinging-strike rate are concerns, especially against better pitching, but Montgomery\u2019s power tool (107 EV90 in college) makes up for it with the damage he can do at the plate. White Sox GM <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/chris-getz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chris Getz<\/a> has already made it clear that he expects Montgomery to see big league playing time next season.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cC\u201d Tier<\/p>\n<p>Although it may sound harsh, it\u2019s not meant to be. These players are still going to be MLB contributors. Players in this section have high ceilings and have shown solid production in their professional careers, but they have more volatility in their games than those in the higher tiers.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>16. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/payton-tolle\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Payton Tolle<\/a>, LHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/boston-red-sox\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Red Sox<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 6\u20196\u2033 southpaw flew through the minor leagues with a 3.04 ERA and 36.5% strikeout rate in 18 starts. His seven appearances with the big league club were less successful. Tolle posted a 7.84 ERA in three starts with a 1.65 WHIP and 12.8% walk rate. He was marginally better in four bullpen appearances (2.83 xFIP, .417 SLG), but is far from a lock to start 2026 on the big league roster. Tolle\u2019s arsenal and build are starter-level, but he will be on the outside looking in with <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/sonny-gray\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sonny Gray<\/a> (and maybe more) joining the fray.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>17. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-sloan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Sloan<\/a>, LHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/seattle-mariners\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Mariners<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The first of two Mariners farmhands in this section is <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-sloan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Sloan<\/a>, a second-round pick out of Chicagoland. You might be asking why he\u2019s in front of the player drafted a full round ahead of him. The stats make it clear. Sloan posted a 3.73 ERA in 21 starts last season with a 27% strikeout rate and a walk rate under 5%. Those numbers, in tandem with a high-90s fastball, nasty splitter, and wipeout slider coming from a 6\u20195\u2033 220-pound frame, make for a profile to dream on. Sloan\u2019s 5.56 ERA in High-A stands out, but his xFIP (2.90) paints a different picture. Sloan, working with Seattle\u2019s pitching development team, should make the rest of the league very scared.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>18. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/jurrangelo-cijntje\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jurrangelo Cijntje<\/a>, P \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/seattle-mariners\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Mariners<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The lone ambidextrous pitcher in the sport made a compelling case to be in the \u201cB\u201d tier in 2025, but he fell just short. He put together a solid season overall, striking out 26% of the hitters he faced and inducing a 46% ground-ball rate. His AA starts were impressive too, posting a 2.67 ERA in seven appearances. At the same time, he has a BB\/9 over four at the professional level and had an xFIP above four in AA. He dominated righty hitters (76 K, 0.78 WHIP in 66.2 IP) but struggled against lefties (39 BB, 1.98 WHIP in 40.1 IP). There\u2019s plenty to be excited about with Cijntje, but also plenty of flaws to clean up.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>19. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/hagen-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hagen Smith<\/a>, LHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/chicago-white-sox\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago White Sox<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The former Arkansas ace was overshadowed by the immediate success of Yesavage and Burns, and by the potential of <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/noah-schultz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Noah Schultz<\/a> in his own organization, but Smith is going to be a productive pitcher, too. The high 90s fastball and sweeper are already plus offerings that get results (34% strikeout rate), and provide a good base to build the rest of his arsenal around. That said, his 17.6% walk rate needs to come down. More command and another pitch could unlock Smith\u2019s true potential, but he\u2019ll make a major-league impact in 2026 if he can stay healthy.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>20. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/kaelen-culpepper\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kaelen Culpepper<\/a>, SS \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/minnesota-twins\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Culpepper was one of the breakout stars in the minor leagues last season, as one of 16 players in the 20\/20 club, and one of seven 22 years old or younger. That said, he\u2019ll be 23 next season and is yet to face AAA pitching. My concern is that his performance level drops off, and he stagnates in AAA. At the same time, he could very well prove me wrong and continue to produce once he reaches the upper levels. Given the depth the Twins have in the infield (<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/brooks-lee\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brooks Lee<\/a>, <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/luke-keaschall\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luke Keaschall<\/a>, <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/royce-lewis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Royce Lewis<\/a>), he\u2019ll have to wait for consistent MLB time either way.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>21. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/dasan-hill\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dasan Hill<\/a>, LHP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/minnesota-twins\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 6\u20195\u2033 southpaw has all the tools to be a successful starter, but there\u2019s a lot of development needed to reach that level. The plus fastball and slider stand out immediately, and his 31% strikeout rate is impressive for a 19-year-old. However, his 15% walk rate is equally as unique, and not in a good way. Hill will have to refine his command without sacrificing the pitch shapes that create the whiff rate he has. At 19, there\u2019s plenty of time for him to do that, but it\u2019s an easier task on paper than it is in practice.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>22. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/caleb-bonemer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Bonemer<\/a>, SS \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/chicago-white-sox\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago White Sox<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2o24 second-rounder exploded onto the scene in 2025, posting a 151 wRC+ in 107 games between Single-A and High-A. He doesn\u2019t have a standout tool, but he does everything well. His bat-to-ball ability is average to good (8.4% SwStr, 78.3% contact), and his 12 home runs and 29 steals are a testament to his power and athleticism. There\u2019s still plenty of work to be done, but Bonemer has a solid base to build on in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>23. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/mike-sirota\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mike Sirota<\/a>, OF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/los-angeles-dodgers\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sirota remains one of my favorite prospects to track. He undoubtedly has the talent to make an impact in the major leagues with plus power (.282 ISO), plate discipline (17.8% BB), and athleticism (60-grade speed per Fangraphs). While his immediate breakout has been impressive, he\u2019s still in High-A. He could fly up this ranking next season, but there are other players with more impressive existing resumes than Sirota.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>24. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/hyeseong-kim\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hyeseong Kim<\/a>, INF \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/los-angeles-dodgers\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kim found himself in a utility role for the Dodgers in 2025, but is projected to start 2026 as the everyday second baseman as things stand. In 71 games in the majors last season, Kim posted a 95 wRC+, hitting three home runs and stealing 13 bases. Kim\u2019s .280 AVG and .396 BABIP indicate he\u2019s able to generate base hits, although his quality of contact (28.2% Hard Hit, 2.7% Barrel) is poor. He\u2019s not a \u201cmust-have\u201d fantasy asset, but his status with the Dodgers and ability to produce base hits make him an intriguing player.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>25. <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/christian-moore\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Christian Moore<\/a>, 2B \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/los-angeles-angels\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Angels<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Widely regarded as a first-round pick in FYPD going into 2025, Moore has been underwhelming as a prospect since being drafted out of Tennessee. He was always touted as a power-over-hit prospect, but Moore\u2019s failure to make contact in the strike zone (16.6% SwStr%) or consistent hard contact (36.3% Hard Hit) is worrying. More exposure to MLB pitching will help raise his .655 OPS, and he still possesses above-average power. However, he may not be the future All-Star Angels fans were hoping for.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Honorable Mentions<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>These players have too much volatility and too many question marks to be in the top 25, but they\u2019re still intriguing names to follow from the 2025 draft. This is not an exclusive list. These are just names that have caught my eye since being drafted.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/james-tibbs-iii\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">James Tibbs III<\/a> (LAD), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/seaver-king\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seaver King<\/a> (WSN), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/bryce-meccage\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryce Meccage<\/a> (MIL), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/griffin-burkholder\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Griffin Burkholder<\/a> (PHI), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/tyson-lewis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyson Lewis<\/a> (CIN), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/braylon-payne\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braylon Payne<\/a> (MIL), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/slade-caldwell\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Slade Caldwell<\/a> (ARI), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/khal-stephen\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Khal Stephen<\/a> (TOR), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/dakota-jordan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dakota Jordan<\/a> (SFG), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/david-shields\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">David Shields<\/a> (KCR), Nate George (BAL), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/austin-overn\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Austin Overn<\/a> (BAL), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/devin-fitz-gerald\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Devin Fitz-Gerald<\/a> (TEX), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ethan-dorchies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ethan Dorchies<\/a> (MIL), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/dillon-lewis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dillon Lewis<\/a> (NYY), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-lambert\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Lambert<\/a> (NYM), <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/sam-antonacci\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sam Antonacci<\/a> (CWS).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2024 MLB Draft could turn out to be one of the most loaded classes in recent memory.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357754,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-357753","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-mlb","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}