The MLB Draft is here! One of the most enigmatic times of the season as fans cheer on their players having their name heard and heading off to professional careers while also bemoaning the losses of highly ranked prep prospects. The one thing you can always count on with the MLB Draft is unpredictability. Players who have every intention of heading to campus only to have life changing money flashed in front of them to alter their stance and players who at various points had no chance of making it to Texas due to a variety of factors. The one constant is that the Longhorns will continue their trend of having a player drafted in every single MLB Draft.
How will the 2025 MLB Draft affect Texas?
Outfielder Max Belyeu, Catcher Rylan Galvan, SS Jalin Flores, LHP Jared Spencer, and RHP Aiden Moffett are just a few of the current roster players that could hear their names called. In addition, 1B Kimble Schuessler and RHP Grayson Saunier are also players that could also hear their names called. Transfer portal commits Kaleb Freeman and Jack Moroknek are other players to watch as there is a possibility that one or both could hear their name called early enough to pry them away from commitments to Texas, though neither is listed in the Top 250.
The 2025 class of signees will be an interesting one to watch in the MLB Draft, but not due to high drama about whether a top ranked prospect will sign, but rather, will any of the signees outside of the Top 250 picks decide to make the jump.
INF Kayson Cunningham and INF Gavin Fien are all but guaranteed to be drafted and both will very likely hear their name called in the first round. OF Anthony Pack Jr, RHP Brett Crossland, LHP Jack McKernan, RHP Grayson Boles, RHP Sam Cozart, and LHP Xavier Mitchell are all names to watch in the MLB Draft, though most if not all are expected to make it to campus. Only Crossland and Mitchell land in the Top 250, but Mitchell has a pretty firm commitment to Texas and Crossland has a fairly high number. All that said, the two biggest wildcards in my opinion are Anthony Pack Jr and Sam Cozart. In all, the MLB Draft this year does not appear to be one that will completely break the incoming freshman class or significantly alter the current roster, especially after the trio of RHP Max Grubbs, RHP Ruger Riojas, and LHP Luke Harrison announced today that they will be forgoing the MLB Draft and returning to school.
Texas MLB Draft prospects breakdown
#14 Kayson Cunningham (SS/2B) – He has a hefty price tag and despite falling down some mocks into the 20s, there is zero reason to believe Kayson will not sign. Kayson profiles similar to Jett Williams, though with a better hit tool. In fact, his hit tool is one of the best in the prep ranks, hence the lofty ranking. Kayson has a very mature approach and rarely misses, as evidenced by his gaudy hit v. strikeout numbers, with the ability to use the entire field. Despite his size, he has shown the ability to tap into power and drive the ball. Defensively, he has excellent speed and has a very solid arm. Numerous scouts believe that his future lies at 2B, but he certainly has the right mindset, worth ethic, and tools to stick at SS. Kayson has all the leverage in the world with his lofty ranking and being a draft eligible sophomore in 2027, he is a no doubt first rounder.
#22 Gavin Fien (3B) – A Cali kid with an older brother who was committed to UCLA that signed with Oakland after being drafted in the 7th round in 2024. There is zero reason to believe that Fien will not sign and is mocked to be taken in the supplemental round (30s). Fien showed off his elite hit tool during the summer showcases, even garnering MVP honors at the MLB High School All-American Game. His senior year was up and down offensively as he did not perform to expectations and his swing did not look the same. Not the most fluid athlete, his future likely lies at 3B or 1B, but his hit tool is what really carries his projection and he is still expected to be taken in the back half of the first round.
#34 Max Belyeu (OF) – The power hitting RF from Aledo should hear his name called in the 2nd round of the MLB Draft and will be the first Longhorn on the current roster taken. Offensively, Max is one of the best in the nation, which his ability to hit for both average and power. One of the areas that Max has really worked on after his time with the US National team and in the Cape Code League is hitting elite breaking balls. Slated as a RF due to his strong arm, but lack of natural speed, Max has come a long way defensively in the OF since arriving at Texas.
#96 Brett Crossland (RHP) – A big bodied RHP, Crossland really showed off his stuff at Area Code Games and during the Perfect Game nationals circuit last summer. Prep RHP are not valued the same in the draft as they have been historically and while he can hit 97-98 on the gun, his stuff is flatter and he has more trouble with command and repeatability at that velo. Brett dropped his velo down to 94-95 and had much more success this Spring. While his breaking pitches were not quite as good this Spring, his changeup started to flash, giving him more for a true three pitch mix. If you had asked me about Crossland last summer, I would have said not a great chance he makes it to campus, and there is still some risk there, but due to his high number and the prospect of developing further under the tutelage of Max Weiner, I think he will stick with the Horns.
#113 Jared Spencer (LHP) – If it weren’t for season ending shoulder surgery, Spencer would likely be trending towards the back half of the first round after the way he started his season. Spencer improved in multiple areas under pitching coach Max Weiner, including his velo and how he shapes his pitches, but his age and the injury certainly hamper expectations. Regardless, Spencer showed enough development and still is a very intriguing LHP, so he will hear his name called.
#168 Xavier Mitchell (LHP) – Mitchell really burst onto the scene at a young age and has been scouted heavily since. After pitching well for Team USA last summer, his stock continued to rise, but he missed most of his senior season due to shoulder fatigue which clouds his draft status and likely points to him making it to campus. Xavier loves Texas and has always wanted to play at Texas, which certainly strengthens the likelihood of him making it to campus. Mitchell has a fastball that sits 90-94 and a solid curveball. When I spoke with him before the season, he was also working on developing a changeup to have a true three pitch mix. Mitchell has a very slender frame but has plenty of room to grow into and bulk up which should help his durability and add more velo.
#176 Rylan Galvan (C) – After an outstanding season behind the plate and a very solid season at the plate, Galvan emerged as a Buster Posey award finalist and will now look to hear his name called in the first 6 rounds. The biggest area that Galvan worked on was his transfer and accuracy to 2B and it certainly showed this season. Hitting wise, Galvan has good power, especially to opposite field. He will need to work on his strikeout rates and hitting elite breaking balls, but in a draft that does not have a ton of proven commodities at catcher, Galvan should be an excellent option for pro clubs, especially given his leadership qualities and ability to manage a pitching rotation.
#235 Jalin Flores (SS) – Flores flashed so much potential after his sophomore year when he hit for average and power, which had many projecting him as a top two round caliber player. Unfortunately, Flores did not have the kind of season many, including myself, expected as a Junior. His chase rates against curveball and sliders and the inability to hit elite fastballs due to his aggressive approach led him to drop 100+ points in his batting average. The power is still there when he makes contact and is able to extend, as evidenced by leading the team in RBI, but questions remain about his bat. Defensively, Flores is a very fluid mover at SS and has a strong arm, able to make nearly every play. Despite this, some scouts still project him more as a 3B due to his speed and size.
#240 Anthony Pack Jr (OF) – Pack has long been scouted after taking apart in numerous MLB Develops events. He is a athletic runner with very good speed in the OF and has solid defensive skills, getting good reads off the bat. He does not have quite the arm strength you would want from a CF but has a frame that he can certainly add mass to which should help bolster that area. At the plate, Pack does not hit for a lot of power but does make a lot of contact. He also takes a patient approach at the plate and draws a good number of walks. It remains to be seen what his signability is, but he is certainly a guy that could decide to sign regardless and get his pro career started.
NR Sam Cozart (RHP) – The big RHP has been described as a plug and play pitcher for the Horns that can come in and throw strikes. Sam has a fastball that sits 93-95, but he can reach back and hit 98. He also mixes in a really nice slider and curveball and has been working on a changeup. Cozart has the maturity, mindset, and physical ability to be a day one impact guy at Texas out of the bullpen with a long term look as a starter. One of the strongest Texas commits, he does have a high number, but he has also looked amazing this summer in the MLB Draft League, where he has been pitcher of the week twice and opened up some eyes with scouts. At this juncture I still think he makes it to campus, but I would not be shocked at all if a team opened up the wallet and took a chance on him as I think his upside is enormous.
NR Aiden Moffett (RHP) – The hard throwing righty did not get to make the impact he would have liked during his season at Texas due to a number of factors, but there is still some outstanding raw talent there. Moffett has a great fastball slider mix and is a terror for batters in the box due to the glove and arm side run that he has. When he is at his best, his 94 plus fastball plays up and with the low 3/4 arm slot with whippy action, he is nearly unhittable. It has been hard to discern where he might land round wise, but as a Junior who is in the portal, he has quite a bit of leverage and has shown scouts what he is capable of in the MLB Draft League this summer.
NR Grayson Saunier (RHP) – The Ole Miss transfer was a heralded recruit coming out of high school (ranked #144), but chose to attend college instead to play for a national title. During the 2025 season at Texas, he became a solid contributor out of the bullpen. This summer he is pitching in the Cape Cod League and has done well and with his fastball slider combo, along with a developing splitter, he has put himself in contention to sign a professional contract.
