MLB Pipeline Top 100 Littered With Players From The Sooner State

With the calendar turning to October and soon November, the people over at MLB Pipeline released their latest Top 100 Prospect Rankings.

If you’ve been following how things have been playing out in 2025, it should come as no surprise that the state of Oklahoma is well represented in the Top 100. In fact, a total of 7 players with ties to the Sooner State are named in the Top 100.

Let’s take a look at these 7 players and where they are in the rankings.

11. Nolan McLean (Oklahoma State), New York Mets

Drafted 2023 (3rd Round)

McLean was a 2-way player at Oklahoma State and that is how the Mets drafted him.

During the 2024 season, McLean switched to a P.O. (pitcher only) and it was the right choice. After 5 appearances (all starts) in AA to start 2025, McLean was quickly promoted to (AAA) Syracuse where he continued his impressive season.

After 3 months in Syracuse, the Mets called up McLean to the Bigs on August 16 where he made his MLB debut. McLean showed why he is a big part of the Mets’ future plans as he was more than impressive in his 8 starts to end the season.

2025 (MLB): G 8/GS 8, 5-1, 2.06 ERA, 48 IP, 34 H, 16 BB, 57 K

Here is what MLB Pipeline had to say about McLean:

Now with his focus fully on the mound, McLean could be cleared for major takeoff in his second full season. He held his velocity well in Year 1, averaging 94-96 mph while topping out at 98, much as he did in college. There is some flat approach to his four-seamer out of his low release, and he gets ample armside movement on a sinker as well, leading to heavy groundball rates. The real monster is his 84-87 mph sweeper – a pitch with elite spin and horizontal movement averaging around 15-16 inches with Triple-A Syracuse. McLean can use the pitch well running away from righties or backfooting it to lefties. His 88-90 mph cutter bridges the gap between the two offerings, and he also mixes in an upper-80s changeup and a high-spin upper-70s curveball for a more complete arsenal.

McLean’s walk rates were a touch high in 2024 but were consistent level-to-level. That had held in 2025, even as he’s moved to the Major League ball in Triple-A, and then they actually improved as he gained confidence in the Majors. Mets officials point out that he’s an ultimate competitor on the bump who tries to blow by hitters as much as he can. Settling into more of a routine has only helped his case as a starter — and a standout one at the top level.

15. Eli Willts (Ft Cobb-Broxton High School), Washington Nationals

Drafted #1 Overall 2025 MLB Draft

While Willits was a consensus top 5 projected draft pick this past summer, it was still somewhat of a surprise that the Nationals drafted him with the #1 pick. Regardless, Willits is an elite prospect as evidence by the #15 ranking.

Signing with the Nationals quickly allowed Willits to get some games in at the Class A level. He impressed in his 15 games with Fredericksburg and showed in the small sample size what the scouts saw in him coming into the draft.

2025: G 15, .300/.397/.360, 5 RBI, 2B, 3B, 7 BB, 12 SO

From MLB Pipeline:

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.

19. Ethan Holliday (Stillwater High School), Colorado Rockies

Drafted 4th overall 2025 MLB Draft

While Willits was the surprised #1 overall pick, it was Holliday that was the expected #1 overall pick for the longest time before the draft. The Stillwater High School alum has everything that scouts dream of: hitting, power, speed, arm strength.

Holliday was picked #4 overall by one of the teams his father, Matt, used to play for – the Colorado Rockies and sign for a $9 million bonus (the highest ever for a high school player).

Just like Willits, Holliday was able to get some action in pro ball at Class A Fresno.

2025: G 18, .239/.357/.380, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2B, 12 BB, 33 SO

Per MLB Pipeline:

Gatorade’s Oklahoma Player of the Year, Holliday may have the most usable left-handed power from his Draft class and he generates it with little effort. Still adding to his 6-foot-4 frame, he already has plenty of strength and an easy left-handed swing with plenty of bat speed and leverage. He tried to do too much when he got pitched around on the circuit last summer, leading to some swing-and-miss concerns, but he should develop into at least an average hitter with 35-homer pop and plenty of walks.

Holliday moves well for his size and has average speed, though he’ll probably lose a step as he continues to mature physically. He has nice actions and solid arm strength at shortstop, but he won’t cover enough ground to stay there on a long-term basis. He projects better as a slugging third baseman and could be a quality defender on the hot corner.

21. Carson Benge (Yukon High School/OSU), New York Mets

Drafted 1st Round (19th overall) 2024 MLB Draft

In his first full professional season, Carson Benge had one of the most successful seasons of anyone in the Minors. Benge started the season at High A Brooklyn where he had an OPS of .897 in 60 games before being promoted to AA. At Binghamton, Benge was even better with an OPS of .978 in 32 games. On August 11, Benge was promoted to AAA Syracuse where he finished the season.

Benge was also named to the MLB All Star Weekend Futures Game roster for the National League.

2025: G 116, .281/.385/.472 (OPS .857), 15 HR, 73 RBI, 25 2B, 7 3B, 68 BB, 92 SO

Per MLB Pipeline:

Benge had some of the best bat-to-ball skills in his Draft class and was able to make contact at a decent clip against virtually every pitch type. His exit velocities were promising as well, and he was able to get that power to play to the opposite field. That’s another way of saying that, he didn’t pull and lift the ball quite as much as desired, a trait that carried into the early look in pro ball. Turning on the ball in that way will be the key to making Benge a 20-homer threat in the Majors, and he’s gotten better at elevating as he’s climbed the Mets’ ladder up to Double-A.

Benge can get moving underway, and there’s enough speed in the tank to help him play center, though he’d be above-average if he has to make a full-time move to the corners. His plus arm strength, which helped him throw 96 mph off the bump in college, will be an asset anywhere on the grass. Getting Benge to focus exclusively as a position player has been huge for his overall skillset in the pros during a breakout 2025 season.

28. Payton Tolle (Bethany High School), Boston Red Sox

Drafted 2nd Round 2024 MLB Draft

A two way player coming out of Bethany HS in 2021, Tolle spent his first 2 seasons in college at Wichita State doing just that. Tolle transferred to TCU for his junior season and focused on pitching only winning the 2024 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award.

In his first full professional season, starting at High A, Tolle shot up the ranks in the Red Sox system in 2025 making his MLB debut on August 29. After a strong debut, Tolle cooled off a little bit prompting the Red Sox to use him out of the bullpen the rest of the season. Tolle was on the Red Sox Wild Card roster and pitched 1/3 of an inning.

He was named the Red Sox MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year by MLB Pipeline.

2025 (MiLB): G 20/GS 18, 3-5, 3.04 ERA, 91.2 IP, 68 H, 23 BB, 133 K

Per MLB Pipeline:

The 6-foot-6 Tolle gets down the mound very well, creating elite extension (an average of 7-foot-4 with the Horned Frogs) and a low release height that helps his fastball play well above its velocity. The Red Sox had him focus on improving his strength and athleticism after he signed, and the result is that his heater has gone from sitting at 91 mph and topping out at 96 at TCU to averaging 95 and peaking at 99 this year. His combination of velo and shape has proven unhittable so far, as his fastball generated an unfathomable 46 percent swing-and-miss rate in the first half of the season.

Tolle was a polarizing prospect in the Draft, with some scouts wowed by his fastball metrics and others seeing him as more of multi-inning reliever with just one weapon. To enhance his chances of making it as a starter, Boston has had him dial back his fastball usage (75 percent last spring) and work on improving his average mid-80s sweeping slider and fringy upper-80s changeup, both of which have added power as well. He’s pounding the strike zone and has a bulldog mentality, two more reasons the Red Sox think he can become a frontline starter.

67. Jaxon Wiggins (Roland High School), Chicago Cubs

Wiggins is another player that saw his stock rise this season.

The 2020 grad from Roland HS was drafted in the compensatory picks between the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft. What makes his story unique is he was drafted in 2023 even though he missed that season with Tommy John surgery.

The Cubs have used a cautious approach with Wiggins and his usage the last 2 seasons, but he has been so impressive, he has jumped up the top prospects lists and is currently the Cubs’ top pitching prospect and their #2 overall prospect.

After starting the season at High A, Wiggins spent most of the season at AA before making 3 appearances for AAA Iowa late in the year.

Wiggins was named MLB Pipeline’s MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year for the Cubs.

2025: G 19/GS 18, 3-4, 2.19 ERA, 78 IP, 44 H, 36 BB, 97 K

Per MLB Pipeline:

Wiggins can sit at 96-97 mph deep into games and reach triple digits with his fastball, which features tough carry and armside run at times but can straighten out at others. He also can make hitters look bad with a mid-80s slider with two-plane break, though it has so much depth that it can be tough to land in the zone at times. His mid-80s changeup can miss bats with tumble at its best and has been more reliable this year.

Wiggins is athletic and doesn’t have any red flags in his delivery, yet he battled the strike zone throughout his college career and in his first year as a pro. His control and command have been better than ever in 2025, though they still need more refinement. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter and has improved his chances of reaching it.

89. Kyson Witherspoon (Univ of Oklahoma), Boston Red Sox

Drafted 15th overall 2025 MLB Draft

Witherspoon spent the last 2 seasons in Norman racking up accolades. Even in his lone season pitching in the SEC, Witherspoon was so dominant that he won SEC Pitcher of the Week on more than 1 occasion and as named to the All SEC First Team.

Known for his mid to high 90’s fastball, Witherspoon can also get hitters out with his off speed stuff and that is why scouts loved him going into the draft.

He did not pitch in any games this season so there aren’t any professional stats for Witherspoon yet.

Here is what MLB Pipeline has to say:

Scouts started following the Witherspoon twins when they were Florida high schoolers, with the Diamondbacks trying to sign Malachi to an over-slot bonus as a 12th-rounder in 2022. Kyson surpassed his brother as a prospect after performing better in their three seasons together at Northwest Florida State JC and Oklahoma. After he led the Southeastern Conference in K/BB ratio (5.4) this spring, the Red Sox were delighted to find him available with the 15th overall pick and signed him for $5 million.

Witherspoon has swing-and-miss stuff, starting with a mid-90s fastball that peaks at 99 mph and stands out more for its power than its modest life. His mid-80s slider can touch 91 mph while featuring both horizontal action and depth, and he’ll turn it into an upper-80s cutter that he uses just as often. He’s showing more consistency with his low-80s downer curveball, giving him another plus offering, while his upper-80s changeup is a work in progress that gets too firm but will show interesting fade at times.

Witherspoon uses a compact arm action to generate quality stuff with little effort. His athleticism and mechanics have translated into improved control and command this spring, and better location has made it easier for him to get hitters to chase outside of the strike zone. He has all of the ingredients to become a frontline starter.

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