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This guide is a comprehensive look at the 2026 MLB Draft with a focus on the Boston Red Sox. You’ll find a list of key dates for the draft cycle, including the release of bonus pools and pick values, the MLB Draft combine, and a breakdown of the draft itself. Additionally, you’ll find an overview of the draft combine and MLB draft weekend, in addition to links to other important draft resources like the consensus board. Red Sox 2025 MLB Draft Recap The Red Sox leaned into arms early in the 2025 draft. They selected Oklahoma righty Kyson Witherspoon at 15th overall, followed by Tennessee flamethrower Marcus Phillips in Comp Round A. Boston also tabbed LSU right-hander Anthony Eyanson in the third round, one of the most impressive prospect arms in spring training after appearing to undergo a major velocity breakout. The Red Sox did select some bats, drafting hit-first infielder Henry Godbout out of Virginia with the 75th overall pick, before taking free-swinging, power-hitting shortstop Mason White out of Arizona with the 118th overall pick. When Is The 2026 MLB Draft? April 1st 2026 - MLB announced draft bonus pools and pick values June 2026 - MLB Draft Combine (Chase Field, Arizona) July 11th - 12th: 2026 MLB Draft (Philadelphia, PA) July 11th - Rounds 1-4 (time TBA) July 12th - Round 5 through Round 20 (time TBA) 2026 MLB Draft Combine The draft combine is a newer event that started in the 2021 draft cycle. Held over a five-day period around a month before the draft itself, it serves as an opportunity for prospects to showcase their talents and boost their draft stock, while giving organizations better access to potential picks. In addition to medical examinations and educational programming, players have an opportunity to meet with teams in advance of the draft. Additionally, there are a number of televised workouts, featuring infield and outfield drills, batting practice for hitters, and bullpens for pitchers, all of which are tracked and underpinned by Statcast data. There is an incentive for players to attend and complete medicals, as prospects are guaranteed 75 percent of their draft slot bonus if they participate and complete medicals. How Many Rounds Are There In The MLB Draft? There is yet another design shift ahead of the 2026 draft cycle. It was shortened from a three-day event to a two-day event. Previously, day one included rounds 1 through the supplemental second round, day two included rounds 3 through 10, and day three included rounds 10 through 20. For the 2026 cycle, day one will be adjusted to include rounds one through four (~135 picks). The draft will conclude on day two with rounds five through twenty. MLB Draft Day One Explained The first day of the draft can be chaotic, as additional rounds and picks are in play beyond rounds one and two. The top of the draft (top 6 picks) is now determined by the draft lottery. Every non-playoff team is entered into the lottery, giving them the opportunity to move up in the draft order. Non-lottery-eligible teams are picked in the order they are eliminated from the postseason, with regular-season record ties broken. After the first round, prospect promotion incentive picks take place. If an eligible player wins Rookie of the Year, they earn their organization an extra pick immediately after the completion of the first round. Next come compensation picks, where teams who extend the qualifying offer to a player (who rejects it) earn an additional draft pick. Compensation pick positions depend on the contract size signed by the player rejecting the qualifying offer, as well as the payroll of the organization receiving them (there are additional compensation picks after competitive balance round B and the fourth round). After any compensation picks, comes the competitive balance round A. Teams that have one of the ten smallest markets or ten smallest revenue pools receive an additional pick in round A or round B, on an annually rotating basis. The first day of the draft is capped by the second round, competitive balance round B, and the third and fourth rounds, which typically takes us through approximately 135 picks. MLB Draft Bonus Pool Allocations & Pick Values Prior to the draft, in April, MLB announces each team's bonus pool for the forthcoming draft cycle and the value of every pick in the top 10 rounds. Each pick in the first ten rounds of the draft is assigned a value, with the total of the slots for the picks each organization has in the top ten rounds comprising their total ‘bonus pool’. Organizations can sign a player to a deal greater than a slot or less than a slot, depending on their negotiations with the player, so it’s useful to think of the slots as ‘guidelines’ and little more. Organizations are allowed to spend up to 5% more than their total pool without incurring a penalty, a choice many teams take advantage of. The Twins and the Rockies are the only teams that have never spent any overage on their bonus pool. Any amount up to 5% over the pool is met with a 75% tax on the overage. If a team spends between 5-10% more than their pool, the penalty is 75% tax on the overage and loss of a future first-rounder. Any team that exceeds its bonus pool by more than 10% up to 15% pays 100% tax on the overage and will lose a first and second-round future pick. Any team that exceeds its bonus pool by more than 15% loses two future first-round picks in addition to paying 100% tax on the overage. Rounds 11-20 work differently from the first half of the draft. These picks do not come with an assigned slot value. Teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without that spending coming out of their bonus pool. If they spend over that amount, any overage will be deducted from their bonus pool. For example, an 11th round pick signing for $250,000 will result in $100,000 being subtracted from that team’s bonus pool. This is where some financial strategy comes into play. Often, teams will look to accrue some ‘savings’ from their bonus pool so they can spend over the maximum of $150,000 for a prospect in the second half of the draft. NOTE: Slot values increased by 2.5% from 2025 to 2026. View Red Sox Mock Draft Board Red Sox 2026 MLB Draft Bonus Pool Round Pick Slot Value Round 1 20th $4,373,900 Comp B (Durbin Trade) 67th $1,317,300 Round 3 96th $815,700 Round 5 156th $454,100 Round 6 185th $352,900 Round 7 214th $278,700 Round 8 244th $227,200 Round 9 274th $205,400 Round 10 304th $194,000 Total Bonus Pool Allocation $8,219,200 (23rd in MLB)
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MLB Mock Draft: Red Sox Nab Elite Hit Tool With No. 20 Overall Pick
Jamie Cameron posted an article in MLB Draft
Welcome to the 2026 MLB Consensus Draft Board. This is the fifth version of the board, which started in 2022 as a top thirty. Since then, it’s expanded to around 150 players on an annual basis, featuring at eight different team sites. So what is the Consensus Board? How is it made? How should it be used? The concept is loosely based on Arif Hasan’s NFL Consensus Board. It’s meant to be a tool for folks getting interested in the MLB Draft. As I was learning about the draft, I struggled to navigate wildly varied rankings and evaluations of players. The Consensus Board takes every major publicly available board and combines them into a consensus ranking, eliminating some of the noise and variance of an extremely challenging evaluation process. We’ve found this process to be useful in ranking players in appropriate ranges through around the first five rounds of the draft. On the board, you’ll find player names, handedness, listed height and weight, age, and a write-up, walking through their strengths and opportunities as a prospect. As we go through the cycle, these will be updated with tweaks, final college stats, etc. Every time a major outlet (Baseball America, ESPN, The Athletic, etc.) releases an updated list, the consensus ranking shifts. As such, the board is a lagging reflection of what the industry thinks of the class and its key players. The final Consensus Board will incorporate at least 10 other boards as inputs. New MLB Mock Draft Board Features There are a few important features to point out to help you navigate the board. There’s a search bar to help you find players of interest. If you click ‘expand’ the board will focus on the writeup you are engaged with, in addition to one immediately above it and one immediately below it. Additionally, you’ll find the logo of your team next to their draft slots to help understand where they are picking. There will be a player slotted there, based on their consensus ranking. Rather than using that ranking as an indicator of who they might actually pick, it’s more useful to use it as a proxy for what caliber of talent is available at that slot. We’ll dig in deeper to team-specific mock drafts later in the cycle. The last important note is that this year the board features ‘push’ updates. It updates automatically every hour. The board is typically updated with new write-ups five days per week, so check back regularly for updates. At No. 20, the Boston Red Sox Select: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU Curiel was a highly touted prep prospect out of Southern California ahead of the 2024 draft but found his way to campus in Baton Rouge as one of the most anticipated freshmen in the country. Fast forward to 2026, and he's draft eligible as a sophomore with one of the best hit tools in the entire draft class. Curiel has a direct, smooth, left-handed swing. It's elite bat to ball skills, as Curiel ran an 88% overall contact rate (95% in zone) in 2025, while rarely chasing and taking plenty of walks. While he finds the barrel often, the questions around Curiel's profile center around his power projection. He managed 7 home runs as a freshman and his top end EVs are not the portent of significant power as a pro. Curiel is an above average runner with good range who should stick in center field as a pro, with a fringe average arm. If he can develop more power, this becomes a much more interesting profile. Right now, it's a table setting, top of the lineup type with strong on-base skills and an outstanding hit tool. -
Welcome to the 2026 MLB Consensus Draft Board. This is the fifth version of the board, which started in 2022 as a top thirty. Since then, it’s expanded to around 150 players on an annual basis, featuring at eight different team sites. So what is the Consensus Board? How is it made? How should it be used? The concept is loosely based on Arif Hasan’s NFL Consensus Board. It’s meant to be a tool for folks getting interested in the MLB Draft. As I was learning about the draft, I struggled to navigate wildly varied rankings and evaluations of players. The Consensus Board takes every major publicly available board and combines them into a consensus ranking, eliminating some of the noise and variance of an extremely challenging evaluation process. We’ve found this process to be useful in ranking players in appropriate ranges through around the first five rounds of the draft. On the board, you’ll find player names, handedness, listed height and weight, age, and a write-up, walking through their strengths and opportunities as a prospect. As we go through the cycle, these will be updated with tweaks, final college stats, etc. Every time a major outlet (Baseball America, ESPN, The Athletic, etc.) releases an updated list, the consensus ranking shifts. As such, the board is a lagging reflection of what the industry thinks of the class and its key players. The final Consensus Board will incorporate at least 10 other boards as inputs. New MLB Mock Draft Board Features There are a few important features to point out to help you navigate the board. There’s a search bar to help you find players of interest. If you click ‘expand’ the board will focus on the writeup you are engaged with, in addition to one immediately above it and one immediately below it. Additionally, you’ll find the logo of your team next to their draft slots to help understand where they are picking. There will be a player slotted there, based on their consensus ranking. Rather than using that ranking as an indicator of who they might actually pick, it’s more useful to use it as a proxy for what caliber of talent is available at that slot. We’ll dig in deeper to team-specific mock drafts later in the cycle. The last important note is that this year the board features ‘push’ updates. It updates automatically every hour. The board is typically updated with new write-ups five days per week, so check back regularly for updates. At #20, The Boston Red Sox Select: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU Curiel was a highly touted prep prospect out of Southern California ahead of the 2024 draft but found his way to campus in Baton Rouge as one of the most anticipated freshmen in the country. Fast forward to 2026, and he's draft eligible as a sophomore with one of the best hit tools in the entire draft class. Curiel has a direct, smooth, left-handed swing. It's elite bat to ball skills, as Curiel ran an 88% overall contact rate (95% in zone) in 2025, while rarely chasing and taking plenty of walks. While he finds the barrel often, the questions around Curiel's profile center around his power projection. He managed 7 home runs as a freshman and his top end EVs are not the portent of significant power as a pro. Curiel is an above average runner with good range who should stick in center field as a pro, with a fringe average arm. If he can develop more power, this becomes a much more interesting profile. Right now, it's a table setting, top of the lineup type with strong on-base skills and an outstanding hit tool. View full article
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Destination, The Show: Episode 86. 2025 MLB Draft Review
Jamie Cameron posted an article in Podcasts
In episode 86 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie do a full recap of the 2025 MLB Draft. They dig in on the primary picks for the Blue Jays, Padres, and Red Sox before spending some time on the Cubs. Is Chicago leaning into more college upside and volatility than other teams? The guys spend a good amount of time examining the Brewers draft, one of Jamie’s favorites, in which the Brewers took a typical power-hitting corner infield bat before loading up on interesting prep profiles. Finally, they review a tweaked approach from the Twins, who leaned into more volatility and upside with the college arms, digging in specifically on Riley Quick, James Ellwanger, Jason Reitz, and Matt Barr. 0:00 Intro 4:25 Housekeeping 7:50 Episode 86 coverage plan 8:30 Toronto Blue Jays 17:59 San Diego Padres 21:40 Boston Red Sox 27:53 Chicago Cubs 38:48 Milwaukee Brewers 52:11 Minnesota Twins 53:36 Marek Houston 1:00:19 Quentin Young 1:04:20 Riley Quick 1:11:00 James Ellwanger, Jason Reitz, Matt Barr 1:21:23 Closing You can support the show by downloading it from your preferred podcast platform, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review, and also share or retweet DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. -
In episode 86 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie do a full recap of the 2025 MLB Draft. They dig in on the primary picks for the Blue Jays, Padres, and Red Sox before spending some time on the Cubs. Is Chicago leaning into more college upside and volatility than other teams? The guys spend a good amount of time examining the Brewers draft, one of Jamie’s favorites, in which the Brewers took a typical power-hitting corner infield bat before loading up on interesting prep profiles. Finally, they review a tweaked approach from the Twins, who leaned into more volatility and upside with the college arms, digging in specifically on Riley Quick, James Ellwanger, Jason Reitz, and Matt Barr. 0:00 Intro 4:25 Housekeeping 7:50 Episode 86 coverage plan 8:30 Toronto Blue Jays 17:59 San Diego Padres 21:40 Boston Red Sox 27:53 Chicago Cubs 38:48 Milwaukee Brewers 52:11 Minnesota Twins 53:36 Marek Houston 1:00:19 Quentin Young 1:04:20 Riley Quick 1:11:00 James Ellwanger, Jason Reitz, Matt Barr 1:21:23 Closing You can support the show by downloading it from your preferred podcast platform, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review, and also share or retweet DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article
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In episode 85 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie live stream an episode to get ready for day one of the 2025 MLB Draft. They walk through a mock draft of the first 36 picks and alternate picking for teams based on fit, industry steam, and value. The guys pause at each team we cover in more depth to talk about options from particular demographics that make sense with their picks. Destination: The Show will be live streaming throughout day one of the 2025 MLB Draft, breaking down every pick, kicking off at 4:30 CT on Sunday, July 13th. 0:00 Intro 3:59 Mock Draft preview 5:10 Picks 1-5 14:34 Picks 6-7 18:08 Blue Jays at 8 22:35 Picks 9-14 32:35 Red Sox at 15 35:00 Twins at 16 45:40 Cubs at 17 47:00 Picks 18-19 48:55 Brewers at 20 51:33 Picks 21-24 56:04 Padres at 25 58:00 Picks 26-31 1:07:52 Brewers at 32 1:09:45 Red Sox at 33 1:10:43 Picks 34-35 1:12:18 Twins at 36 1:16:43 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow.
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In episode 85 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie live stream an episode to get ready for day one of the 2025 MLB Draft. They walk through a mock draft of the first 36 picks and alternate picking for teams based on fit, industry steam, and value. The guys pause at each team we cover in more depth to talk about options from particular demographics that make sense with their picks. Destination: The Show will be live streaming throughout day one of the 2025 MLB Draft, breaking down every pick, kicking off at 4:30 CT on Sunday, July 13th. 0:00 Intro 3:59 Mock Draft preview 5:10 Picks 1-5 14:34 Picks 6-7 18:08 Blue Jays at 8 22:35 Picks 9-14 32:35 Red Sox at 15 35:00 Twins at 16 45:40 Cubs at 17 47:00 Picks 18-19 48:55 Brewers at 20 51:33 Picks 21-24 56:04 Padres at 25 58:00 Picks 26-31 1:07:52 Brewers at 32 1:09:45 Red Sox at 33 1:10:43 Picks 34-35 1:12:18 Twins at 36 1:16:43 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article
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Talk Sox 2025 MLB Consensus Draft Board and Day One Live Stream
Jamie Cameron posted an article in MLB Draft
Draft week is finally here! We’ll have a ton of coverage for you here at Talk Sox. Here’s a few important details to get you oriented to our coverage. The Red Sox finished the 2024 season with the 13th-worst record in MLB. Normally, their draft bonus pool would be lower than other teams who receive compensation picks for being revenue receiving teams. However, the Red Sox will have the 13th-largest bonus pool overall, at $12,409,300. This is a function of receiving an additional pick (33rd overall) from the Brewers as part of the Quinn Priester trade. The Red Sox's top-100 picks and slot values are as follows: Slot value for pick 15: $5,114,200 Slot value for pick 33: $2,898,300 Slot value for pick 75: $1,093,800 (compensation for Nick Pivetta) Slot value for pick 87: $907,200 The Red Sox forfeited their second-round pick for signing a player who received the qualifying offer (Alex Bregman) . You can find our MLB Draft board here. This is a project I’ve been working on since February. The rankings are consensus rankings, taken from leveraging all of the major draft boards in the industry. The goal is to eliminate some of the noise in rankings for casual fans looking to get more interested and get to know the class better. You’ll find the logo from the team next to their pick positions in each round, to give folks an idea of the caliber of talent available in a particular portion of the draft. By Sunday (the first day of the draft), you’ll find a write up for 136 player profiles with biographical information, scouting reports, 2025 performance for college players, and potential fits. The board will be updated every day or so until Day One. Additionally, we’ll be live streaming an episode of Destination: The Show through the entirety of day one. We’ll get started at 5:30 ET/4:30 CT. We’ll bring you information on all Day One picks, live reactions, and team-specific special guests. We hope you’ll join us. -
Draft week is finally here! We’ll have a ton of coverage for you here at Talk Sox. Here’s a few important details to get you oriented to our coverage. The Red Sox finished the 2024 season with the 13th worst record in MLB. Normally, their draft bonus pool would be lower than other teams who receive compensation picks for being revenue receiving teams. The Red Sox will have the 13th largest bonus pool overall, at $12,409,300. This is a function of receiving an additional pick (33rd overall) from the Brewers as part of the Quinn Priester trade. The Red Sox top 100 picks and slot values are as follows: Slot value for pick 15: $5,114,200 Slot value for pick 33: $2,898,300 Slot value for pick 75: $1,093,800 (compensation for Nick Pivetta) Slot value for pick 87: $907,200 The Red Sox forfeited their second round pick for signing a player who received the qualifying offer. You can find our MLB Draft board here. This is a project I’ve been working on since February. The rankings are consensus rankings, taken from leveraging all of the major draft boards in the industry. The goal is to eliminate some of the noise in rankings for casual fans looking to get more interested and get to know the class better. You’ll find the logo from the team next to their pick positions in each round, to give folks an idea of the caliber of talent available in a particular portion of the draft. By Sunday, you’ll find a write up for 136 player profiles with biographical information, scouting reports, 2025 performance for college players, and potential fits. The board will be updated every day or so until day one. Additionally, we’ll be live streaming an episode of Destination: The Show through the entirety of day one. We’ll get started at 5:30 ET/4:30 CT. We’ll bring you information on all day one picks, live reactions, and team-specific special guests. We hope you’ll join us. View full article
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It’s mock draft season! Over the next two weeks in the buildup to the draft, we’ll be rolling out at least two mock drafts, covering the first round and the first batch of competitive-balance picks. For each of these, we’re doing our best to read the tea leaves and make picks based on the talent available at a particular slot, and considering each organization's drafting tendencies. Feel free to jump into the comments with disagreements and other preferred picks. 1. Nationals: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU All the buzz here seems to be between Anderson and Ethan Holliday. If the LSU southpaw doesn’t go number one, surely, he won’t get past three. 2. Angels: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee Fast-moving college players is the Angels' trend until it isn’t, and we'll project them to take such players until they don't. 3. Mariners: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State Arnold is a quality arm for a system that’s become bat-dominant. The Mariners are outstanding at developing arms. 4. Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS, OK This appears to be the floor for Holliday. The organization for which his dad became a household name won't let him slide any further. 5. Cardinals: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS, MS If the board unfolds like this, the Cardinals will get their pick of a strong cluster of prep shortstops. Parker has a chance to be the best offensive profile of the bunch. 6. Pirates: Eli Willits, SS, Fort-Cobb Broxton HS, OK Willits has been steady on boards all spring. This would be a good get at six overall. (And yes, he's the son of former big-league outfielder Reggie Willits.) 7. Marlins: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, CA The Marlins would be thrilled to have Hernandez here. They have consistently developed pitching talent well. 8. Blue Jays: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS, CA The Blue Jays are in an interesting spot. There are plenty of good options here. It would be hard to pass on Aiva Arquette, the consensus top college bat available. Toronto has been linked heavily to the prep shortstop group, though. Carlson is the best defensive shortstop in the draft. There’s potential for good impact with the bat, too. 9. Reds: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State Arquette is currently ranked sixth, by consensus. The Reds would be thrilled with this outcome. He’s a physical hitter who should be able to move relatively quickly, despite some refinement needed in the hit tool. 10. White Sox: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma Witherspoon is the consensus college starting pitcher number four. He shouldn’t last long outside the top 10, even if he slips past Chicago. 11. Athletics: Ike Irish, C, Auburn The Athletics have found success with college bats recently (Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz), Irish is one of the strongest college hit/power combos in a class lacking them. 12. Rangers: Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS, TX Cunningham might have the best hit tool on the prep side (along with Parker), to go with plus speed. 13. Giants: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest Houston is shortstop 1-B to Billy Carlson’s 1-A. He’s a lock to stick at that spot, with a good approach and hit tool, despite (generously) fringy power. 14. Rays: Josh Hammond, SS, Wesleyan Academy, NC Hammond is an outstanding athlete who made tremendous strides with the bat this spring. 15. Red Sox: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee Kilen ratcheted up the power with Tennessee, to go with the great hit tool. He should have plenty of suitors in the teens. There are a number of other college bats who could make sense here, including Brendan Summerhill and Wehiwa Aloy. 16. Twins: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara The Twins are well-known for successfully developing mid-to-late college arms into viable MLB options. What if the starting ball of clay was more interesting? Bremner was a consensus top-five prospect coming into this season. It’s a metrically appealing fastball, an above-average slider, and a plus changeup. There’s work to do on the command, but he finished strong. The ceiling is a playoff-caliber starter. 17. Cubs: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas Wood’s surge this postseason is reminiscent of Cade Horton’s in 2022. Wood punctuated a strong stretch run with a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series. This is around his range. The Cubs system is bat-heavy, and Wood has an outlandish fastball shape on which to build. 18. Diamondbacks: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, AL Hall has some of the best speed and athleticism in the entire class. This might be the low end of his range. 19. Orioles: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas The Orioles won’t be put off by the aggression in Aloy’s approach. This feels like the lower end of his range, but he’s a good fit in Baltimore. 20. Brewers: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oaks HS, CA Fien is one of the least talked-about first-round prep profiles, and one of my favorites. He hit everything and everyone last summer. While his early spring was a little uneven, he turned it around down the stretch. He has a chance to be one of the better hit/power combos in this draft class. There’s a good chance he’s taken in the mid-teens. (No, he's not the son of ex-pitcher Casey Fien.) 21. Astros: Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest The Astros love strong athletic traits. Conrad missed time due to injury but was mashing after transferring from Marist. 22. Braves: Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama Quick is a good fit here for the Braves, who often lean toward arms in their usual late first-round range. 23. Royals: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS, OR The Royals are a pitching organization, now. Schoolcraft has plenty of buzz here to land with them. 24. Tigers: Slater De Brun, OF, Summit HS, OR Another steam pick here. De Brun is a table-setter type with good strength, outstanding speed and an excellent hit tool. 25. Padres: Brady Ebel, SS, Corona HS, CA What’s the safest bet in the draft? That the Padres will take a prep player with their first pick. Ebel has a sweet left-handed swing with plenty of projection to grow into a solid hit/power combo. There’s a good defensive infield skill set at play here, too. 26. Phillies: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS, WA Neyens is another profile that has been less talked up this spring. It’s power to rival that of Ethan Holliday. 27. Guardians: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona Summerhill’s range likely starts in the teens. This feels low, and this is great value for the Guardians at 27. Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks 28. Royals: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, GA One of the smoothest defensive profiles at short in this class, but there’s legitimate offensive upside, too. Compensation Picks 29. Diamondbacks: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina Bodine had a tremendous postseason. It’s a plus hit tool and outstanding receiving skills as a catcher. 30. Orioles: Jace Laviolette, OF, Texas A&M The preseason consensus number-one player finds a home here. He feels like an ideal candidate for an organization with two or three picks in the top 40.f 31. Orioles: Sean Gamble, SS/OF, IMG Academy, FL A left-handed hitting power/speed threat with the type of athleticism that could lend itself to the infield or outfield long-term. 32. Brewers: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee Fischer feels a little under-ranked to me. He has a patient approach, a track record with wooden bats, and just put up a .760 SLG in the SEC. This offensive profile will play anywhere. He’s a first round-caliber talent, and this represents good value. It would be a nice counterbalance to the Fien pick earlier in the round for the Brewers. Competitive Balance Round A 33. Red Sox: Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville The Red Sox brain trust has invested in their pitching infrastructure recently. Forbes is a high-octane arm who could develop into a monster with the right development behind him. It’s ace-caliber arm talent that’s a little rough around the edges. 34. Tigers: Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas A ready-made diverse arsenal and a track record of performance in the SEC represent good value for a farm system stacked with talent. 35. Mariners: Cam Appenzeller, Glenwood HS, IL The Mariners have money to spend in this draft. Appenzeller is one of the best prep pitchability arms in this draft class. 36. Twins: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana The Twins WILL get their bats in the first few rounds, and Taylor has been a tremendous college performer. It’s not a spectacular profile in terms of speed and defense but he mashes. He had a 169 wRC+ with 18 home runs in 2025. That was buoyed by a 19.3 BB% and a measly 11.2 K%. This is a fast-moving, high-floor college outfield bat.
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It’s mock draft season! Over the next two weeks in the buildup to the draft, we’ll be rolling out at least two mock drafts, covering the first round and the first batch of competitive-balance picks. For each of these, we’re doing our best to read the tea leaves and make picks based on the talent available at a particular slot, and considering each organization's drafting tendencies. Feel free to jump into the comments with disagreements and other preferred picks. 1. Nationals: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU All the buzz here seems to be between Anderson and Ethan Holliday. If the LSU southpaw doesn’t go number one, surely, he won’t get past three. 2. Angels: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee Fast-moving college players is the Angels' trend until it isn’t, and we'll project them to take such players until they don't. 3. Mariners: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State Arnold is a quality arm for a system that’s become bat-dominant. The Mariners are outstanding at developing arms. 4. Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS, OK This appears to be the floor for Holliday. The organization for which his dad became a household name won't let him slide any further. 5. Cardinals: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS, MS If the board unfolds like this, the Cardinals will get their pick of a strong cluster of prep shortstops. Parker has a chance to be the best offensive profile of the bunch. 6. Pirates: Eli Willits, SS, Fort-Cobb Broxton HS, OK Willits has been steady on boards all spring. This would be a good get at six overall. (And yes, he's the son of former big-league outfielder Reggie Willits.) 7. Marlins: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS, CA The Marlins would be thrilled to have Hernandez here. They have consistently developed pitching talent well. 8. Blue Jays: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS, CA The Blue Jays are in an interesting spot. There are plenty of good options here. It would be hard to pass on Aiva Arquette, the consensus top college bat available. Toronto has been linked heavily to the prep shortstop group, though. Carlson is the best defensive shortstop in the draft. There’s potential for good impact with the bat, too. 9. Reds: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State Arquette is currently ranked sixth, by consensus. The Reds would be thrilled with this outcome. He’s a physical hitter who should be able to move relatively quickly, despite some refinement needed in the hit tool. 10. White Sox: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma Witherspoon is the consensus college starting pitcher number four. He shouldn’t last long outside the top 10, even if he slips past Chicago. 11. Athletics: Ike Irish, C, Auburn The Athletics have found success with college bats recently (Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz), Irish is one of the strongest college hit/power combos in a class lacking them. 12. Rangers: Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS, TX Cunningham might have the best hit tool on the prep side (along with Parker), to go with plus speed. 13. Giants: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest Houston is shortstop 1-B to Billy Carlson’s 1-A. He’s a lock to stick at that spot, with a good approach and hit tool, despite (generously) fringy power. 14. Rays: Josh Hammond, SS, Wesleyan Academy, NC Hammond is an outstanding athlete who made tremendous strides with the bat this spring. 15. Red Sox: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee Kilen ratcheted up the power with Tennessee, to go with the great hit tool. He should have plenty of suitors in the teens. There are a number of other college bats who could make sense here, including Brendan Summerhill and Wehiwa Aloy. 16. Twins: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara The Twins are well-known for successfully developing mid-to-late college arms into viable MLB options. What if the starting ball of clay was more interesting? Bremner was a consensus top-five prospect coming into this season. It’s a metrically appealing fastball, an above-average slider, and a plus changeup. There’s work to do on the command, but he finished strong. The ceiling is a playoff-caliber starter. 17. Cubs: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas Wood’s surge this postseason is reminiscent of Cade Horton’s in 2022. Wood punctuated a strong stretch run with a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series. This is around his range. The Cubs system is bat-heavy, and Wood has an outlandish fastball shape on which to build. 18. Diamondbacks: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, AL Hall has some of the best speed and athleticism in the entire class. This might be the low end of his range. 19. Orioles: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas The Orioles won’t be put off by the aggression in Aloy’s approach. This feels like the lower end of his range, but he’s a good fit in Baltimore. 20. Brewers: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oaks HS, CA Fien is one of the least talked-about first-round prep profiles, and one of my favorites. He hit everything and everyone last summer. While his early spring was a little uneven, he turned it around down the stretch. He has a chance to be one of the better hit/power combos in this draft class. There’s a good chance he’s taken in the mid-teens. (No, he's not the son of ex-pitcher Casey Fien.) 21. Astros: Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest The Astros love strong athletic traits. Conrad missed time due to injury but was mashing after transferring from Marist. 22. Braves: Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama Quick is a good fit here for the Braves, who often lean toward arms in their usual late first-round range. 23. Royals: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS, OR The Royals are a pitching organization, now. Schoolcraft has plenty of buzz here to land with them. 24. Tigers: Slater De Brun, OF, Summit HS, OR Another steam pick here. De Brun is a table-setter type with good strength, outstanding speed and an excellent hit tool. 25. Padres: Brady Ebel, SS, Corona HS, CA What’s the safest bet in the draft? That the Padres will take a prep player with their first pick. Ebel has a sweet left-handed swing with plenty of projection to grow into a solid hit/power combo. There’s a good defensive infield skill set at play here, too. 26. Phillies: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS, WA Neyens is another profile that has been less talked up this spring. It’s power to rival that of Ethan Holliday. 27. Guardians: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona Summerhill’s range likely starts in the teens. This feels low, and this is great value for the Guardians at 27. Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks 28. Royals: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, GA One of the smoothest defensive profiles at short in this class, but there’s legitimate offensive upside, too. Compensation Picks 29. Diamondbacks: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina Bodine had a tremendous postseason. It’s a plus hit tool and outstanding receiving skills as a catcher. 30. Orioles: Jace Laviolette, OF, Texas A&M The preseason consensus number-one player finds a home here. He feels like an ideal candidate for an organization with two or three picks in the top 40.f 31. Orioles: Sean Gamble, SS/OF, IMG Academy, FL A left-handed hitting power/speed threat with the type of athleticism that could lend itself to the infield or outfield long-term. 32. Brewers: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee Fischer feels a little under-ranked to me. He has a patient approach, a track record with wooden bats, and just put up a .760 SLG in the SEC. This offensive profile will play anywhere. He’s a first round-caliber talent, and this represents good value. It would be a nice counterbalance to the Fien pick earlier in the round for the Brewers. Competitive Balance Round A 33. Red Sox: Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville The Red Sox brain trust has invested in their pitching infrastructure recently. Forbes is a high-octane arm who could develop into a monster with the right development behind him. It’s ace-caliber arm talent that’s a little rough around the edges. 34. Tigers: Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas A ready-made diverse arsenal and a track record of performance in the SEC represent good value for a farm system stacked with talent. 35. Mariners: Cam Appenzeller, Glenwood HS, IL The Mariners have money to spend in this draft. Appenzeller is one of the best prep pitchability arms in this draft class. 36. Twins: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana The Twins WILL get their bats in the first few rounds, and Taylor has been a tremendous college performer. It’s not a spectacular profile in terms of speed and defense but he mashes. He had a 169 wRC+ with 18 home runs in 2025. That was buoyed by a 19.3 BB% and a measly 11.2 K%. This is a fast-moving, high-floor college outfield bat. View full article
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Red Sox Mock Draft Update: Boston Loads Up on College Bats
Jamie Cameron posted an article in MLB Draft
This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article here listing out who the Sox would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted and I’ll post another update. This is not a pure mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class. Here would be the Sox first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of June 22, 2025. First Round (15th Overall): Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona In a draft class that lacks well-rounded college bats, Brendan Summerhill might be a sweet spot where skill, track record, and draft spot meet. Summerhill is a left-handed hitting outfielder who was productive in 2024. He posted a .950 OPS to go with eight home runs (32 extra-base hits) in addition to 31 walks and 36 strikeouts in 58 games. He backed this up with a strong summer on the Cape (.798 OPS). Summerhill has a polished offensive skill set. His EV90 (104 mph) and Max EV (110 mph) were both around 75th percentile in D1 baseball, and he's already maximizing pulled batted ball events. Summerhill backs up solid impact with strong bat-to-ball skills. A 86% contact rate and 83rd percentile in-zone whiff percentage are further buoyed by excellent out of zone contact, and the fact that he doesn't chase too much (64th percentile). The remaining questions in 2025 are the efficacy of Summerhill as a defensive center fielder as a pro and how much power he can get to in game, as there seems to be more in the tank than he produced in 2024. He's one of only a few college bats where hit and power might be above average in tandem, and firmly a first-round prospect for me. Comp A (33rd Overall/Quinn Priester Trade): Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State Alex Lodise, along with Mason Neville, have cases for the best breakouts in college baseball in 2025. He was on an incandescent heater for most of the 2025 season for Florida State, which resulted in being named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes award. It’s a hyper aggressive approach in a profile that’s carried by his power. Lodise excels doing damage on contact, with a EV90 of around 108 mph and a 95th percentile hard hit rate. There are some warts here, though. Lodise swings at everything. He chases too much and there’s some swing and miss in his game. The latter can be ameliorated by a drafting organization that can help him reign in his approach just a tick. There’s good bat speed, present pull-side power and emerging defensive skill that gives him at least a solid shot of sticking at shortstop long-term. Lodise finished 2025 with a .394/.462/.705 (1.167 OPS) line with 17 home runs (38 extra-base hits) and a 153 wRC+, all while walking 9.3% of the time and striking out at a 20% clip. He’s vaulted himself somewhere in the top 35 or so picks in July. Compensation Pick (75th Overall/Nick Pivetta): Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy Moss will be 19 on draft day, and keeps showing up on boards a little lower than I expect to find him based on the strength of his offensive profile. The LSU commit is currently at IMG Academy in Florida. He's an outfielder with a strong, athletic frame that may be close to maxed out. There's plenty to like about the offensive tools, though. I really like the swing here. It's a combination of a good hit tool, strong strike zone awareness and an ability to drive the ball exceptionally well, with some of the best bat speed in the class for a prep hitter. The supplementary tools are solid too. Moss has average speed, a solid arm and a good glove. My bet is he will at least start his pro career in center field if a team can keep him away from Baton Rouge. The age might scare some teams away, but they'll be missing out on a really strong prep profile.-
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This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article here listing out who the Sox would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted and I’ll post another update. This is not a pure mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class. Here would be the Sox first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of June 22, 2025. First Round (15th Overall): Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona In a draft class that lacks well-rounded college bats, Brendan Summerhill might be a sweet spot where skill, track record, and draft spot meet. Summerhill is a left-handed hitting outfielder who was productive in 2024. He posted a .950 OPS to go with eight home runs (32 extra-base hits) in addition to 31 walks and 36 strikeouts in 58 games. He backed this up with a strong summer on the Cape (.798 OPS). Summerhill has a polished offensive skill set. His EV90 (104 mph) and Max EV (110 mph) were both around 75th percentile in D1 baseball, and he's already maximizing pulled batted ball events. Summerhill backs up solid impact with strong bat-to-ball skills. A 86% contact rate and 83rd percentile in-zone whiff percentage are further buoyed by excellent out of zone contact, and the fact that he doesn't chase too much (64th percentile). The remaining questions in 2025 are the efficacy of Summerhill as a defensive center fielder as a pro and how much power he can get to in game, as there seems to be more in the tank than he produced in 2024. He's one of only a few college bats where hit and power might be above average in tandem, and firmly a first-round prospect for me. Comp A (33rd Overall/Quinn Priester Trade): Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State Alex Lodise, along with Mason Neville, have cases for the best breakouts in college baseball in 2025. He was on an incandescent heater for most of the 2025 season for Florida State, which resulted in being named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes award. It’s a hyper aggressive approach in a profile that’s carried by his power. Lodise excels doing damage on contact, with a EV90 of around 108 mph and a 95th percentile hard hit rate. There are some warts here, though. Lodise swings at everything. He chases too much and there’s some swing and miss in his game. The latter can be ameliorated by a drafting organization that can help him reign in his approach just a tick. There’s good bat speed, present pull-side power and emerging defensive skill that gives him at least a solid shot of sticking at shortstop long-term. Lodise finished 2025 with a .394/.462/.705 (1.167 OPS) line with 17 home runs (38 extra-base hits) and a 153 wRC+, all while walking 9.3% of the time and striking out at a 20% clip. He’s vaulted himself somewhere in the top 35 or so picks in July. Compensation Pick (75th Overall/Nick Pivetta): Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy Moss will be 19 on draft day, and keeps showing up on boards a little lower than I expect to find him based on the strength of his offensive profile. The LSU commit is currently at IMG Academy in Florida. He's an outfielder with a strong, athletic frame that may be close to maxed out. There's plenty to like about the offensive tools, though. I really like the swing here. It's a combination of a good hit tool, strong strike zone awareness and an ability to drive the ball exceptionally well, with some of the best bat speed in the class for a prep hitter. The supplementary tools are solid too. Moss has average speed, a solid arm and a good glove. My bet is he will at least start his pro career in center field if a team can keep him away from Baton Rouge. The age might scare some teams away, but they'll be missing out on a really strong prep profile. View full article
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This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article here listing out who the Red Sox would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted, and I’ll post another update. This is not a mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class. Here would be the Sox's first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of 05.22.25. First Round (15th Overall): JoJo Parker, Purvis HS, MS Joseph 'JoJo' Parker is a left-handed hitting prep infielder out of Mississippi who lit up the summer showcase circuit and has steadily moved up boards this spring. It's a big league type frame at 6'2, 200 lbs. and an unusual setup at the plate for Parker, with a very narrow, open stance and an extreme barrel tip behind his head and shoulders. Parker has a good eye and approach at the plate, with an above average hit tool and developing power. His other tools are mostly average. He'll have a chance to stick at shortstop in the short to medium term, but might end up moving to another position on the dirt. This profile has a chance to be a strong hit/power combo if everything clicks. Joseph's twin brother Jacob will also likely be a top 100 profile in this class. Comp A (33rd Overall/Quinn Priester Trade): Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville Forbes has been one of the biggest surprises (pleasant) as the 2025 college season begins to wind down. His stuff has taken a jump forward and he's one of a number of up arrow college arms in this class. It's a great frame at 6'3", 220 lbs. It's big time arm talent too. It's a fastball that sits 94-96 mph from a low release and has been as high as 98 mph. Forbes has a sweeper he throws in the high 70s to low 80s. There's plenty of horizontal break on that pitch, he'll need to firm it up some when he turns pro. He throws a changeup too, which has looked promising, although it could use a little more velocity separation from his fastball. Forbes' 2025 has been impressive. It's also noteworthy that he was previously a two-way player and as such, hasn't focused solely on pitching for that long. The frame and stuff is there for a pitching savvy organization to have success with. The second half of the season has been more of a struggle, but it’s still a 3.22 FIP and 35 K% through ~50 innings, even if there have been too many walks this season (10.3%). Compensation Pick (75th Overall/Nick Pivetta): Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State Six-foot-eight left-handed starters don’t grow on trees. There’s an intriguing crop of lefties on both the college and prep sides in 2025. Joseph Dzierwa is a lesser known name who has done himself a world of good in the first third of the season. He’s mostly a two-pitch guy currently. His fastball has seen an uptick in velocity and his changeup is an absolute weapon. His slider is barely usable and needs a makeover if he’s to remain a starter in pro ball. Dzierwa has almost doubled his K-BB% from 2024 to 2025 while pounding the strike zone. He’s maintained a 2.38 FIP through 91.2 innings with a 28 K% and a measly 5.9 BB%. He’s a fascinating ball of clay for a pitching-savvy organization. View full article
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Red Sox Mock Draft Update: Boston Goes Pitching Heavy On Day One
Jamie Cameron posted an article in MLB Draft
This draft cycle, we’re going to try something new. Every few weeks, I’ll be posting an article here listing out who the Red Sox would select based on their position on the consensus draft board. As the consensus board is updated, the players in those spots will be adjusted, and I’ll post another update. This is not a mock draft. Rather, I’m hoping it’ll give readers an idea of the caliber of talent in each of the team’s first few picks. Additionally, it should help readers who want to dig into draft coverage a bit more get familiar with the class. Here would be the Sox's first three picks by consensus draft ranking as of 05.22.25. First Round (15th Overall): JoJo Parker, Purvis HS, MS Joseph 'JoJo' Parker is a left-handed hitting prep infielder out of Mississippi who lit up the summer showcase circuit and has steadily moved up boards this spring. It's a big league type frame at 6'2, 200 lbs. and an unusual setup at the plate for Parker, with a very narrow, open stance and an extreme barrel tip behind his head and shoulders. Parker has a good eye and approach at the plate, with an above average hit tool and developing power. His other tools are mostly average. He'll have a chance to stick at shortstop in the short to medium term, but might end up moving to another position on the dirt. This profile has a chance to be a strong hit/power combo if everything clicks. Joseph's twin brother Jacob will also likely be a top 100 profile in this class. Comp A (33rd Overall/Quinn Priester Trade): Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville Forbes has been one of the biggest surprises (pleasant) as the 2025 college season begins to wind down. His stuff has taken a jump forward and he's one of a number of up arrow college arms in this class. It's a great frame at 6'3", 220 lbs. It's big time arm talent too. It's a fastball that sits 94-96 mph from a low release and has been as high as 98 mph. Forbes has a sweeper he throws in the high 70s to low 80s. There's plenty of horizontal break on that pitch, he'll need to firm it up some when he turns pro. He throws a changeup too, which has looked promising, although it could use a little more velocity separation from his fastball. Forbes' 2025 has been impressive. It's also noteworthy that he was previously a two-way player and as such, hasn't focused solely on pitching for that long. The frame and stuff is there for a pitching savvy organization to have success with. The second half of the season has been more of a struggle, but it’s still a 3.22 FIP and 35 K% through ~50 innings, even if there have been too many walks this season (10.3%). Compensation Pick (75th Overall/Nick Pivetta): Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State Six-foot-eight left-handed starters don’t grow on trees. There’s an intriguing crop of lefties on both the college and prep sides in 2025. Joseph Dzierwa is a lesser known name who has done himself a world of good in the first third of the season. He’s mostly a two-pitch guy currently. His fastball has seen an uptick in velocity and his changeup is an absolute weapon. His slider is barely usable and needs a makeover if he’s to remain a starter in pro ball. Dzierwa has almost doubled his K-BB% from 2024 to 2025 while pounding the strike zone. He’s maintained a 2.38 FIP through 91.2 innings with a 28 K% and a measly 5.9 BB%. He’s a fascinating ball of clay for a pitching-savvy organization. -
In episode 77 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie start with a slew of injuries to notable Twins prospects, including Luke Keaschall, Walker Jenkins, and Charlee Soto. The guys then give an overview of the bonus pool system in MLB, detailing how the different rounds of the draft work. They go on to dig into the bonus pools of the Brewers, Twins, Red Sox, Cubs, and Padres. Finally, they spend some time reacting to the most recent BA staff draft, digging into whether the picks made might make sense for the Padres, Jays, Cubs, Brewers, and Twins. 0:00 Intro 5:55 Housekeeping 6:37 Twins Prospect Injuries 14:59 Draft Bonus Pools 17:55 Brewers Bonus Pool 20:40 Twins Bonus Pool 23:31 Red Sox Bonus Pool 27:10 Cubs Bonus Pool 30:02 Padres Bonus Pool 35:58 Bouncing around the first round You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow.
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In episode 77 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie start with a slew of injuries to notable Twins prospects, including Luke Keaschall, Walker Jenkins, and Charlee Soto. The guys then give an overview of the bonus pool system in MLB, detailing how the different rounds of the draft work. They go on to dig into the bonus pools of the Brewers, Twins, Red Sox, Cubs, and Padres. Finally, they spend some time reacting to the most recent BA staff draft, digging into whether the picks made might make sense for the Padres, Jays, Cubs, Brewers, and Twins. 0:00 Intro 5:55 Housekeeping 6:37 Twins Prospect Injuries 14:59 Draft Bonus Pools 17:55 Brewers Bonus Pool 20:40 Twins Bonus Pool 23:31 Red Sox Bonus Pool 27:10 Cubs Bonus Pool 30:02 Padres Bonus Pool 35:58 Bouncing around the first round You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article
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This week, MLB released bonus pool allocations and pick values for the 2025 MLB Draft. Additionally, MLB released international signing bonus pools for the 2026 signing period. This week, MLB released bonus pool allocations and pick values for the 2025 MLB Draft. Additionally, MLB released international signing bonus pools for the 2026 signing period. The Red Sox finished the 2024 season with the 13th worst record in MLB. Normally, their draft bonus pool would be lower than other teams who receive compensation picks for being revenue receiving teams. The Red Sox will have the 13th largest bonus pool overall, at $12,409,300. This is a function of receiving an additional pick (33rd overall) from the Brewers as part of the Quinn Priester trade. The Red Sox top 100 picks and slot values are as follows: Slot value for pick 15: $5,114,200 Slot value for pick 33: $2,898,300 Slot value for pick 75: $1,093,800 (compensation for Nick Pivetta) Slot value for pick 87: $907,200 The Red Sox forfeited their second round pick for signing a player who received the qualifying offer. Their financial flexibility puts the Red Sox in a decent position ahead of a draft class shaping up to be uncertain in terms of top tier talent, but with plenty of depth through around 75 picks, with prep bats a demographic of strength. Reminders on Draft Financials Organizations are allowed to spend up to 5% more than their total pool without incurring a penalty, a choice many teams take advantage of. The Twins and the Rockies are the only MLB teams who have never spent any overage on their bonus pool. Any amount up to 5% over the pool is met with a 75% tax on the overage. If a team spends between 5-10% more than their pool, the penalty is 75% tax on the overage and loss of a future first rounder. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 10% up to 15% pays 100% tax on the overage and will lose a first and second round future pick. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 15% loses two future first round picks in addition to paying 100% tax on the overage. Rounds 11-20 work differently to the first half of the draft. These picks do not come with an assigned slot value. Teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without that spending coming out of their bonus pool. If they spend over that amount, any overage will be deducted from their bonus pool. For example, an 11th round pick signing for $250,000 will result in $100,000 being subtracted from that teams’ bonus pool. MLB Announces 2026 International Bonus Pools MLB announced bonus pools for the 2026 international signing period today. The 2026 signing window opens on January 15th, 2026 and runs through December 15th, 2026. The Red Sox are in a group of three teams (which also includes the Blue Jays) who have the joint second smallest bonus pools. The Red Sox can spend $5,940,000 in the 2026 international signing window. View full article
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This week, MLB released bonus pool allocations and pick values for the 2025 MLB Draft. Additionally, MLB released international signing bonus pools for the 2026 signing period. The Red Sox finished the 2024 season with the 13th worst record in MLB. Normally, their draft bonus pool would be lower than other teams who receive compensation picks for being revenue receiving teams. The Red Sox will have the 13th largest bonus pool overall, at $12,409,300. This is a function of receiving an additional pick (33rd overall) from the Brewers as part of the Quinn Priester trade. The Red Sox top 100 picks and slot values are as follows: Slot value for pick 15: $5,114,200 Slot value for pick 33: $2,898,300 Slot value for pick 75: $1,093,800 (compensation for Nick Pivetta) Slot value for pick 87: $907,200 The Red Sox forfeited their second round pick for signing a player who received the qualifying offer. Their financial flexibility puts the Red Sox in a decent position ahead of a draft class shaping up to be uncertain in terms of top tier talent, but with plenty of depth through around 75 picks, with prep bats a demographic of strength. Reminders on Draft Financials Organizations are allowed to spend up to 5% more than their total pool without incurring a penalty, a choice many teams take advantage of. The Twins and the Rockies are the only MLB teams who have never spent any overage on their bonus pool. Any amount up to 5% over the pool is met with a 75% tax on the overage. If a team spends between 5-10% more than their pool, the penalty is 75% tax on the overage and loss of a future first rounder. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 10% up to 15% pays 100% tax on the overage and will lose a first and second round future pick. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 15% loses two future first round picks in addition to paying 100% tax on the overage. Rounds 11-20 work differently to the first half of the draft. These picks do not come with an assigned slot value. Teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without that spending coming out of their bonus pool. If they spend over that amount, any overage will be deducted from their bonus pool. For example, an 11th round pick signing for $250,000 will result in $100,000 being subtracted from that teams’ bonus pool. MLB Announces 2026 International Bonus Pools MLB announced bonus pools for the 2026 international signing period today. The 2026 signing window opens on January 15th, 2026 and runs through December 15th, 2026. The Red Sox are in a group of three teams (which also includes the Blue Jays) who have the joint second smallest bonus pools. The Red Sox can spend $5,940,000 in the 2026 international signing window.
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In episode 70 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy, Jamie, and Theo dig into a slew of MLB preseason predictions. After breaking down a first look at left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill, the guys spend time predicting the winners of each MLB division, before predicting wild card winners and ultimate World Series Champions. The guys then jump into individual awards. They walk through MVP candidates, rookie of the year candidates, and Cy Young options in each league before making their picks. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow.
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Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. In episode 70 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy, Jamie, and Theo dig into a slew of MLB preseason predictions. After breaking down a first look at left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill, the guys spend time predicting the winners of each MLB division, before predicting wild card winners and ultimate World Series Champions. The guys then jump into individual awards. They walk through MVP candidates, rookie of the year candidates, and Cy Young options in each league before making their picks. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article
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In episode 61 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through an extremely active Winter Meetings. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason so far, including Juan Soto to the Mets, Max Fried to the Yankees, Willy Adames to the Giants, and the Red Sox big trade to land Garrett Crochet. The guys then review a disappointing MLB Draft Lottery in which the Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins all moved down. They dig into the top 40 picks and bonus pools for each of those teams, before talking about some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the class. Finally they end with some listener questions. 0:00 Intro 3:00 Juan Soto to Mets 6:56 Max Fried to Yankees 9:28 Guardians making moves 13:47 Red Sox, White Sox deal 26:12 Adames to the Giants 26:59 Roki Sasaki posted 31:55 Draft Lottery 40:03 Draft Pools 44:40 Draft Overview 48:52 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow.
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Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. In episode 61 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through an extremely active Winter Meetings. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason so far, including Juan Soto to the Mets, Max Fried to the Yankees, Willy Adames to the Giants, and the Red Sox big trade to land Garrett Crochet. The guys then review a disappointing MLB Draft Lottery in which the Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins all moved down. They dig into the top 40 picks and bonus pools for each of those teams, before talking about some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the class. Finally they end with some listener questions. 0:00 Intro 3:00 Juan Soto to Mets 6:56 Max Fried to Yankees 9:28 Guardians making moves 13:47 Red Sox, White Sox deal 26:12 Adames to the Giants 26:59 Roki Sasaki posted 31:55 Draft Lottery 40:03 Draft Pools 44:40 Draft Overview 48:52 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article
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The MLB Draft Lottery is in its third season at the Winter Meetings. Jamie answers all the questions on what the purpose behind it is as many baseball fans are still learning about the structure of it.

