(Cover image via mlb.com)
The 2025 MLB Draft began on Sunday evening with the first 3 of 20 rounds and the Sooner State was well represented with a total of 6 players with ties to Oklahoma hearing their name called.
Surprises were abundant on Sunday as the #1 overall pick was an Oklahoman, but it was a different than expected Oklahoman taking home the honor.
A couple of others were drafted above their expected slot in rounds 2 and 3.
Let’s take a look at each one.
Eli Willits (Ft Cobb-Broxton HS), Round 1/#1 Overall (Washington Nationals)
The first surprise of the night came as MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, read the first name of the draft. The Washington Nationals shocked almost everyone as they selected Eli Willits from Ft Cobb-Broxton High School as the #1 overall pick.
For over a year now, it was another shortstop in the Sooner State, Ethan Holliday, that was considered the #1 overall prospect in this year’s draft class. However, the Nats fired their GM and Manager last week and it seemed the pick was now up in the air. Word was that they would pick one of the top college pitchers, but when it was all said and done, they decided Willits was their guy. Interim GM, Mike DeBartalo, said that Willits was “their guy all along.”
Willits was supposed to graduate high school in 2026, but he reclassified to the 2025 class and graduated this Spring. At 17 years and 7 months, Willits is the 3rd youngest player to be drafted #1 overall and is the youngest since Ken Griffey, Jr in 1987.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Willits: Click here.
Ethan Holliday (Stillwater High School), Round 1/#4 Overall (Colorado Rockies)
As stated above, Holliday was long expected to be the #1 overall pick in the draft with some of the “experts” saying so right up until the first pick that would be so.
However, as we know now, it was someone else from Oklahoma that went #1 as Holliday was taken #4 overall by the Colorado Rockies
After Willits was taken #1, Holliday “slipped” to #4 after 2 pitchers were taken at #2 and #3. Holliday is going to the Rockies where his dad, Matt, played the first 5 years of his career and was a 3x All Star and Silver Slugger. Word is the Holliday family is still heavily involved with the Rockies so there is some familiarity there.
Holliday was drafted as a shortstop, but don’t be surprised if he transitions to 3B in the future.
While is may be “disappointing” that Holliday didn’t go #1 overall, going #4 is not a bad spot to go and thinking about his “light pole” power in the thin air of Denver ought to get Holliday excited.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Holliday: click here.
Kyson Witherspoon (University of Oklahoma), Round 1/#15 Overall (Boston Red Sox)
It took a few picks longer than expected, but Kyson Witherspoon was drafted to one of the all time great organizations in the Boston Red Sox.
Witherspoon was considered and ranked as the top collegiate RHP in this year’s draft and MLB Pipeline had him ranked as #10 overall. Witherspoon was still the first collegiate RHP taken, but there was a run on shortstops that was a little bit of surprise ahead of Witherspoon hearing his named called that saw him go at 15.
Witherspoon’s stuff and makeup make him a huge get for the Red Sox and he’ll join fellow Sooner, David Sandlin, as well as Bethany’s Payton Tolle in Boston’s organization. Think about that: in a few seasons, there could be 3 players from the Sooner State in the starting rotation in Beantown.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Witherspoon: click here.
Malachi Witherspoon (University of Oklahoma), Round 2/#62 Overall (Detroit Tigers)
The next pick from the Sooner State was Kyson’s twin brother, Malachi.
Outside of Willits going #1 overall, perhaps the biggest “surprise” was Malachi going at #62 overall. The pre draft rankings mostly had Malachi going in the late 3rd round at the earliest. Only ESPN had him possibly going in the 2nd round, but they had him ranked at #73.
However, maybe we should listen to OU head coach, Skip Johnson, more as he was heard on the radio earlier this year saying Malachi would go in the 2nd round as he had that kind of talent.
Malachi has skills similar to his brother, Kyson, but the knock on him was control. Obviously the Tigers think they can help him with that and turn him into a reliable starter.
Witherspoon joins fellow Sooners, Trevin Michael and Peyton Graham, as well as fellow player with Oklahoma ties, Jackson Jobe, Andrew Navigato, Brady Cerkownyk, Owen Hall, and Dawson Price in the Tigers organization.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Malachi Witherspoon: click here.
Easton Carmichael (University of Oklahoma), 3rd Round/#82 Overall (Pittsburgh Pirates)
The 3rd and final Sooner drafted on Sunday was C, Easton Carmichael.
Rated the 6th best catcher in the draft, Carmichael was the 5th catcher taken and a little ahead of this ranking according to MLB Pipeline (93 vs 82).
Carmichael has caught 5 (and counting) pitchers drafted in ’24 and ’25. He has experience in catching big time arms in Braden Davis and now the Witherspoon twins. He also upped his power game offensively this season and his hitting should translate to the professional game.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Carmichael: click here.
Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma State), 3rd Round/#101 Overall (Cleveland Guardians)
While the rankings were all over the place for Nolan Schubart coming into the draft, the Cleveland Guardians could have a steal in Nolan Schubart.
Long time MLB scout, Dan O’Dowd, on the MLB Network that Schubart had the most power of anyone in this year’s draft. He and the others on the panel said that Schubart suffered from teams not wanting to give Schubart anything to hit this past season (something we talked about in our preview).
Schubart can hit. Which is good because that is exactly why the Guardians drafted him. Odds are high that after working with the Guardians hitting coaches, Schubart will cut down on the whiffs and make more contact.
For a look at our pre draft preview of Schubart: click here.
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