Who are top high school prospects of MLB draft? Ethan Holliday leads talented group
The 2025 MLB Draft is loaded with high school talent — a common occurrence for the league, of course.
Five of the top 10-ranked prospects by MLB Pipeline come from the high school ranks, including its No. 1-ranked player. Ethan Holliday, a left-handed hitting infielder, is the younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday and son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday.
Unlike other major pro sports like the NFL and NBA, high schoolers can get drafted without attending college. Junior college players are also eligible to be drafted at any time, although four-year college attendees are only eligible after three years of first enrolling or turning 21 years old, whichever comes first.
High school players are typically viewed as boom-or-bust prospects, given the amount of development they usually need before reaching the big leagues. Here's a look at the top-rated high school prospects of the 2025 MLB Draft:
Top high school prospects of MLB draft
INF Ethan Holliday, Stillwater High School (Okla.)
Holliday, a 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter, is built much more like his dad, Matt Holliday, rather than older brother Jackson Holliday, who plays second base for the Baltimore Orioles.
Holliday currently plays shortstop for Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, where Jackson also attended. Holliday currently projects as more of a third baseman rather than a shortstop due to his frame, which is expected to fill out even more as he reaches professional baseball.
The Oklahoma State commit is the No. 1-rated player in MLB Pipeline's rankings, as he holds a 50-grade hit tool and 65-grade power tool, with his power profile being his main selling point as a prospect. His ceiling is quite high, and could potentially even be higher than his brother, who went No. 1 overall in 2022.
SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.)
Eli Willits, another high school product from Oklahoma, actually faced off earlier in the high school season against Holliday as perhaps the two best high school prospects in the 2025 cycle.
Willits is the son of former MLB outfielder Reggie Willits, who's also the assistant head coach at Oklahoma. Willits' older brother, Jaxon Willits, is the starting shortstop for the Sooners.
Willits has the advantage of being one of the youngest players in the draft, as he's still just 17 years old due to reclassifying from the 2026 cycle. The switch hitter projects to be a plus defender at shortstop, with the chance at developing into more power throughout his minor-league career.
The Oklahoma commit also possesses good speed, being clocked at a 6.7 60-yard dash last summer at Perfect Game National. Willits is almost assuredly a lock to go inside the top 10 picks.
RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona High School (Calif.)
Flamethrowing right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez, fresh off being named the National Gatorade Player of the Year, is one of two Corona High School products.
The Corona, California, native has a projectable frame, as he's listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds. He also already has a big fastball, which can reach 97-98 miles per hour and grades as a 70-grade pitch, according to MLB Pipeline.
Hernandez was nothing short of dominant in high school this season, striking out 178 batters in 109 1/3 innings with a 0.51 ERA. The Vanderbilt commit is expected to be one of the top arms selected in 2025, despite needing plenty of polishing early in his career.
SS Billy Carlson, Corona High School (Calif.)
Hernandez's teammate, Billy Carlson, is another high-end prospect from Corona High School.
The Tennessee commit was once seen as a potential two-way player until his tools at shortstop advanced to elite prospect status. Carlson has a 70-grade glove and 65-grade arm at a premium position, as he projects as a future gold-glove caliber defender.
Carlson also gets it done with his bat, although it's the area in his game that can develop the most. How his bat develops will likely decide his future.
SS JoJo Parker, Purvis High School (Miss.)
The Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, shortstop JoJo Parker from Purvis High School is also the twin brother of another top 150 player in 2025, Jacob Parker.
JoJo Parker is more advanced than his brother at this point, though, as he's a near lock to be drafted in the first half of the first round. The 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter makes good swing decisions and has enough power to get up to 25 home runs a season, according to MLB Pipeline. He has a 60-grade hit tool and 55-grade power.
It's unclear if the Mississippi State commit can stick at shortstop at the next level, with a 50-field grade and 55-arm grade. A move to third or second base could be in his future, likely requiring him to really hit to be an impactful big leaguer one day.
SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)
Another shortstop, Steele Hall from Hewitt Trussville High School in Alabama might just be the fastest player in the entire class.
The 6-foot Tennessee commit doesn't project to have a ton of power in the future, but possesses 70-grade speed that will help keep him on the field. He also has the tools to be an impact defender at shortstop, with 60-grade fielding and a 55-grade arm.
Hall also has the benefit of still being 17 years old, as he doesn't turn 18 until July 24. If Hall is able to find more pop as he develops in the minor leagues, he has a chance to be a high-end prospect very soon.