The 2025 MLB Draft is fast approaching. The draft will be 20 rounds over 3 days and starts on Sunday, July 13.
It will be a part of the MLB All Star Game festivities in Atlanta with the first 3 rounds on Sunday, July 13, starting at 5:00 p.m. (CDT) and can be seen on both the MLB Network and ESPN. Rounds 4-20 will begin on Monday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. and will be streamed on MLB.com.
Just like previous years, the Sooner State will be well represented and this year it should be represented early. A total of 3 Sooner State alums are expected to go no later than the first 15 pick with 2 of them possibly going in the top 5 with some “experts” projecting either of those 2 going number 1.
Leading up the the draft, we will take a look at a total of 10 players projected to go in the draft from the state of Oklahoma, but expect more names from the Sooner State to be called over the 2 days. (Caden Powell was not talked about by anyone last year and he was taken in the 6th round by the Astros.)
Today’s player: Eli Willits
Eli Willits has long been considered one of the best prospects for the MLB Draft. However, he was considered that for the 2026 MLB Draft before he reclassified to the 2025 high school graduating class.
By reclassifying, Willits has made him even more of a higher prospect because of his young age. At the time of the draft on Sunday, Willits will be only 17 years old.
Willits was dominant again this past year at Ft Cobb-Broxton. Among his many accolades, Willits was named to the Baseball America All American team.
Prospect Rankings
*Prospect Ranking: MLB Top 250 (MLB), ESPN Top 150 (ESPN), Keith Law Top 100 (Law)
- MLB: 5
- ESPN: 2
- Law: 8
Scouting Grades Reports
*When looking at the scouting grades, MLB uses a “20-80” system: 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average, 70-80 is well above average.
MLB Pipeline
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60
Willits comes from a baseball family, with father Reggie playing in the big leagues before coaching with the Yankees and returning to his alma mater as the associate head coach at Oklahoma — where Eli’s brother, Jaxon, is starring as a sophomore. Willits also is committed to the Sooners but is unlikely to get to Norman because he’s a slam-dunk early first-rounder after reclassifying from the 2026 class. He draws some comparisons to Anthony Volpe with better physical tools at the same stage, and he’ll likely be the youngest true prospect in the 2025 crop at 17 years, 7 months on Draft Day. In three years at Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, he won six state Class B championships (three fall, three spring).
A switch-hitter who’s more proficient from the left side, Willits is exceedingly polished at the plate for his age. He has outstanding bat-to-ball skills, making consistent line-drive contact while rarely straying from the strike zone. He may never have more than average raw power, but his hitting ability should enable him to tap into most of it and provide 15 homers per season.
Willits has the nonstop motor and instincts to get the most out of his physical tools. He plays quicker than his plus speed and earns solid grades for his arm strength and defensive play at shortstop, and scouts won’t be shocked if those both become pluses once he’s fully developed. There’s no reason he shouldn’t stay at shortstop but he’d also profile well in center field.
Keith Law
Scouting Report
Bats: B, Throws: R
Willits, the son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, is one of the leaders of the deep group of high school shortstops in this draft class, and one of the most likely to stay at the position for the long term. He reclassified into the 2025 class, and now he’s one of its youngest prospects, turning 18 five months after the draft. His swing is compact and geared toward contact, without a lot of lift or length to the ball to create more power. He does have room to fill out, especially in his lower half, and his contact quality should improve to the point that it can support higher batting averages, although I think he’ll top out at 45 (below-average) power. He’s a definite shortstop with soft, easy hands, a plus arm, and plus running speed, with the upside of 70 defense. His floor is pretty high because he can defend and make contact, which would at least make him a utility infielder, with above-average upside if he gets strong enough to get to some doubles power and hit .300 or so.
Outlook
This writer has been fortunate to see Willits play a couple of times and both times I came away thinking that is one of the best all around players out there. Watching Eli at the plate, on the bases, and in the field the word “smooth” comes to mind. Everything that he does looks effortless.
Reading up on the mock drafts and what teams are looking for, I’ve seen Willits anywhere from 8 all the way up to 1. It is safe to say that Willits will hear his named called extremely early on Sunday night and he has an outside chance to go #1.
When Willits reclassified to the 2025 class, he said he was looking forward to playing with his brother, Jaxon, at OU. Yes, you can say “never say never,” but don’t count on Willits playing in Norman in 2026.
With his dad, Reggie, playing for the Angels when he was a little kid, Willits has basically grown up on a Major League field. Look for him to spend a large part of his adult life on one as well.
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