Tyler Paddor | @typaddor | December 10, 2024

The Rockies landed the 4th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, a pick that could have rippling effects on the future of the franchise. The club had the best odds at the number 1 pick so this result is certainly disappointing. With the club ineligible for a top-10 pick in 2026, there is immense pressure on the Rockies to start lifting themselves out of a multi-year depression.

Fortunately, the 2025 MLB Draft offers a ray of hope with a strong class. Basically every Rockies fan knows about Ethan Holliday–son of Rockies legend Matt–and he figures to be a top target. However, Ethan isn’t alone at the top of this draft with a handful of elite prep prospects set to be available and an assortment of high-end collegiate talent.

With the sheer quantity of elite talents, it’s all but certain a small cluster will emerge at the top for Colorado, offering the promise of a franchise-changing player.

Prep Options

The high school class is loaded with talent, headlined by two of the best prep hitters we’ve seen this decade and arguably the best prep arm since Hunter Greene in 2017.

Ethan Holliday, IF, OK

Again, we all know Ethan. Easily the most hyped up prospect in this class so far, Ethan could very well follow in his brother’s shoes as an elite hitting prospect with a quick path to the big leagues.

Between Jackson and Ethan, Ethan has a tick more raw power while Jackson is a shade more athletic and quick on his feet. Ethan likely plays third-base in the pros with a chance to play second-base.

The raw offensive tools here are uncanny. Holliday has shown impressive bat-to-ball skills, a picturesque lefty swing, and at least plus (60-grade) raw power. Ethan has roughly 40-grade speed which limits his upside but there’s still a chance for him to be a premier offensive player in MLB.

Xavier Neyens, IF, WA

A rival to Holliday’s claim as the best hitter in the 2025 prep claims, Neyens (pronounced like Bill Nye -> Nye-ens) has a chance to emerge as a runaway number 1 talent in this class. With a sweet lefty swing and potentially 70-grade pop, it’s easy to see why that’s possible.

Neyens matches the elite power potential with quality tools around the diamond. He profiles as a 50-grade runner with a 60-grade or better arm. However, it’s the potentially 60-grade hit tool that fuels the hype most here.

Holliday has the pedigree and slightly more advanced bat, but Neyens has high-end athletic tools that could allow him to stick at shortstop long-term with prolific offensive output. Between Holliday and Neyens, there is a strong case the Rockies have to come away with one of the two lefty-swinging infielders.

Seth Hernandez, RHP, CA

It’s power all the way for Hernandez. The California righty has already touched 100 in-game with good feel for the strike zone. Reportedly, his changeup is a buzzsaw in the mid-80s and Hernandez matches the changeup with an elite ability to generate spin on his breaking ball.

We’re talking about the potential for three 60-grade or better pitches and quality pitchability. Arms like that only come around every few years.

The Rockies history with prep pitchers is entirely bleak and they may take pause on Hernandez, regardless of how well he performs heading into the 2025 draft.

Kayson Cunningham, SS, TX

With a reputation as an elite pure hitter, Cunningham has a chance to play himself into top-3 consideration, especially considering his plus-athleticism and defensive potential.

The Texas commit lacks the same impact as Holliday and Neyens but he could end up the best pure hitter in the draft.

Sean Gamble, OF, IA

Gamble is here for his tools. We’re talking about arguably the fastest prospect in the class with a quality arm and legit pop. Gamble has a well-connected swing already–cooling the Benny Montgomery comparisons–and could become a tantalizing 5-tool player up the middle.

If Gamble puts on an offensive show this year, he will be in the top-3 mix.

Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, OR

Schoolcraft reclassified from the 2026 draft class and looks like he was constructed in a lab. The 6-foot-8 17-year-old already gets into the upper-90s and should be able to sit in that range once he fully matures.

Ultimately, the younger age and slightly added risk with more development needed likely takes Schoolcraft out of consideration for the Rockies, but he’s a wicked season away from a top pick.

College Options

The college ranks tend to have more fluidity; after all not many saw Charlie Condon as the Golden Spikes winner going into the 2024 season. There’s a clear top-4 with others that could eventually work their way to the top.

Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

LaViolette is a killer of baseballs. He already possesses top-end power having hit 50 homers across his first two seasons at Texas A&M. LaViolette also works an advanced approach that resulted in a .449 OBP this season.

There are some swing and miss concerns here and LaViolette may end up in a corner outfield spot, but for now, you’ve got 70-grade pop in a disciplined center fielder. There’s easy perennial All-Star upside here with a strong floor.

Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Perhaps the easy choice for best collegiate pitcher, Bremner already checks so many boxes, giving him the floor of an MLB starter with the ceiling of a true ace. The UCSB Gaucho has three plus pitches already and his 2-seam fastball is a quality offering, too.

In 2024, Bremner pitched to a 2.54 ERA with 104 strikeouts to 21 walks in 88.2 innings.

The calling card here is a lively 4-seamer that gets plenty of ride and run, sitting 93-96, touching 98. With a still developing frame, Bremner could eventually sit in the upper-90s. The San Diego native also features a devastating changeup that blends supremely well with his fastball and a slider with great two-plane break.

Bremner’s 6.1% walk rate is an elite cherry on top that makes the odds of an impact player here extremely high. If the Rockies feel obligated to take pitching, Bremner is the real deal.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

While Bremner’s hype is legit, Arnold is not far behind. The lefty possesses a pair of robust fastballs that may fit the Rockies organizational mold better than Bremner’s. Arnold sits 93-96 from a low slot, creating a really tough angle for hitters without relying on spin.

Arnold also has one of the draft’s best breaking balls in his mid-80s sweeper. He can run at bats purely with the sweeper and make hitters look goofy.

In 2024, Arnold worked a 2.98 ERA with a gaudy 159 : 26 strikeout to walk ratio. Arnold is effectively the same in terms of quality as Hagen Smith (5th overall pick in 2024) and the Rockies may have difficulty passing on two deadly lefties.

Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson

Cannarella profiles as a stud defensively with promising offensive tools. There are great bat-to-ball skills here and consistent feel for the barrel. Cannarella lacks above average power and swing decisions, however, which he’ll need to improve on to be a top-5 pick.

When you make plays like this, some wiggle room can be created for slight blemishes. While he’s on the outside looking in, Cannarella is a big offensive year away from rocketing to the top of draft boards.

Be Aware Of:

Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

Taylor is your Charlie Condon candidate for 2025, meaning he has the power and hitting tools to explode up draft boards but currently lacks elite production and the athletic tools to be considered in the top-3.

Aiva Arquette, 2B, Oregon State

Arquette just transferred in from Washington where he was a high-impact bat for the Huskies. Now in the powerhouse Oregon State development pipeline, Arquette has a chance to shine with his above-average raw power and slick defensive ability.

Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona

Summerhill is a do-it-all guy who is good at practically everything on a baseball field. His feel for contact, ability to handle all different pitch types, and control his bat around every zone quadrant stand out most and give Summerhill upside for a 60-hit tool. He’s also a good athlete that should stick in centerfield.

In Sum

As a TLDR, the top of this class is really about Ethan Holliday and Xavier Neyens. Both are as good as any prep hitter to get selected in recent years and could be all-league type of talents.

With the Rockies holding the #4 pick, they won’t control their destiny but Holliday is still not off the table; the best player in the draft does not always go first with teams frequently getting creative with how they spend their bonus pool.

In the event either or both prep stars falter somewhat this year, Tyler Bremner and Jamie Arnold are equal in quality if not better than the high-powered duo of Chase Burns and Hagen Smith that we saw go at the top of the 2024 draft.

That doesn’t even mention one of the best thumpers we’ve seen in college baseball this decade in Jace LaViolette. He could be an easy 35-homer threat with quality all-around tools.

It’s a not-so-bold take that the Rockies will 99% end up with one of these 5 players unless there’s an unexpected meteoric rise by another prospect. The quintet all should be impact MLB players and could provide the Rockies one final potential All-Star as they look to turn around their fortune in the late-2020s.