3/103. OF Casey Cook, North Carolina, 6′ 0″, 195, age 21
Rankings: Baseball America #164, MLB.com #171, Fangraphs not ranked but mentioned
A contact-oriented hitter with a polished approach. Not especially known for power but did homer twice off #2-overall pick Chase Burns. Also not especially known for his defense but made this circus catch.
4/133. RHP David Hagaman, West Virginia, 6′ 4″, 215, age 21
Rankings: Baseball America #183, Fangraphs #44, outside MLB.com’s top 250
Rankings vary widely on the redshirt sophomore. The fastball has touched 98, the slider runs around 86, and he owns a changeup that could prove useful if the Rangers want to test him as a starter as opposed to his relief role for the Mountaineers. Hagaman had brace surgery on his elbow in May. Recovery time is typically shorter than for Tommy John, so the impact on his 2025 could be minimal.
5/165. SS Devin Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), 5′ 10″, 185, age 18
Rankings: Baseball America #470, MLB.com #218, Fangraphs (outside top 100 but mentioned)
One of only three high-schoolers selected, Fitz-Gerald doesn’t appear to be toolsy in the traditional sense but is a baseball lifer who has the instincts and skills to succeed. The switch-hitter is committed to NC State.
6/195. LHP Garrett Horn, Liberty University, 6′ 2″, 190, age 21
Rankings: Baseball America #304
Horn underwent Tommy John surgery after only four starts for the Flames, so we’re probably waiting until next June to see his name in a box. Horn’s control backslid in 2023 both at Liberty and the Cape after an impressive freshman debut, but he seemed to have at least partly righted the ship before his injury and had struck out a third of his opponents. He sports a low-90s fastball, slider, curve, and change. Here’s a quick slo-mo video from Friend of the Report Chris Wimmer.
7/225. 3B Rafe Perich, Lehigh (PA), 6′ 3″, 225, age 22
Rankings: Baseball America #293
Perich is Texas’s largest position pick by height and weight but is another contact-first bat. He struck out only 23 times versus 34 walks in the Patriot League and batted .382. He also slugged .572 but with only six homers; he certainly seems like he could grow into more power (for example, this), but we’ll see.
8/255. RHP Anthony Susac, Arizona, 6′ 3″, 216, age 21
Nickname: “Tonko.” In some respects, Susac had a trying season, as he dipped from weekend starter to midweek starter to relief. He improved greatly in a one-and-done role, walking four and fanning 23 in 14.2 innings. As a starter, he used a low-90s fastball, slider and change. Video.
9/285. OF Keith Jones II, New Mexico State, 6′ 2″, 220, age 22
Jones returned to Las Cruces after not being selected last year and led the Aggies in pretty much every offensive stat including 17 homers. Based on use in college, he’ll man a corner, mostly likely left.
10/315. RHP Jake Jekielek, Northwood University (MI), 6′ 0″, 195, age 21
The side-armer struck out 56 against just five walks in 42 innings as Northwood’s closer. Per Carlos Collazo of Baseball America, Jekielek has already signed for $20,000, far below slot. Jekielek is still just 21 but a senior, and they take what they can. Clubs often use some of rounds 6-10 on inexpensive players to spend the savings elsewhere. The Angels have signed their picks in rounds 8-10 for $1,000 each.
11/345. LHP Dalton Pence, North Carolina, 6′ 2″, 215, age 21
Rankings: Baseball America #340
Casey Cook’s teammate, UNC’s relief ace. Pence leans heavily on a low-90s high-movement fastball assisted by a slider and change.
12/375. C Josh Springer, Corona Senior HS (CA), 6′ 3″, 205, age 18
Rankings: Baseball America #416
He’s an Oregon commit, a young 18, and the third-best prep catcher in California according to Perfect Game. Here’s video of his wiggly setup.
13/405. LHP Aidan Deakins, Wabash Valley College (IL), 6′ 3″, 185, age 20
If Deakins doesn’t sign, he’ll head to Troy. He offers a 90-92 fastball, upper 70 slider and a change.
14/435. C Ben Hartl, Kansas, 5′ 11″, 210, age 21
Hartl joined the Jayhawks after two seasons at Heartland Community College (IL). Here’s video of him homering in the 9th against my alma mater. (My alma mater would prevail.)
15/465. RHP Brooks Fowler, Oral Roberts, 6′ 3″, 205, age 21
A weekend starter. Fowler has a 90-93 fastball and 80-82 slider; here’s video.
16/495. RHP Eric Loomis, Missouri State, 6′ 0″, 195, age 22
Per MSU’s director of analytics, Loomis offers an average of 94 on the fastball (with ample horizontal break), 80 slider, and 84 change. Loomis pitched mostly in relief. Control is an issue, as he walked or hit 29 in 26.2 innings.
17/525. RHP Joey Danielson, North Dakota St, 6′ 3″, 235, age 23
The Bison’s closer. 7% walk rate, 20% K rate. Video.
18/555. RHP Kadyn Leon, Lake Travis HS (TX), 6′ 0″, 175, age 18
Also the football team’s QB, but his future is baseball. He’s committed to McLennan Community College. Fastball 89-92, curve 76-80, slider 86. Video.
19/585. LHP Cade Obermueller, Iowa , 5′ 11″, 160, age 20
Rankings: Baseball America #176, MLB Pipeline #214
Iowa’s Friday starter delivers a low-slot low-90s fastball, sweeper, and occasional change. He’s ranked well ahead of where picked and is a draft-eligible sophomore, so if Texas has any savings from earlier rounds, some of that might be employed here. Video.
20/615. C Mac Rose, McLennan CC (TX), 6′ 0″, 200, age 20
He batted .354/.420/.540 in 55 games for McLennan. Rose also pitched in high school and made one appearance in the Cal Collegiate League on the mound.
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