When BYU ruled the world and what the 1984 title says about the 2024 season
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Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff Writer
PROVO, UTAH, IS a city of about 115,000, nestled into the rocks on the back side of the Rocky Mountains. It is the fourth-largest city in Utah, and it’s made up primarily of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And because of a miraculous run of football prowess and perfect breaks 40 years ago, Provo will forever be known as a national title town.
In 1984, LaVell Edwards’ BYU Cougars rolled to a perfect record, watched as everyone around them fell at just the right time, and celebrated maybe the least likely title in the sport’s history. And 40 years later, they’re positioning themselves for a spot in an expanded playoff that, in a roundabout way, their own success helped to eventually deliver. Kalani Sitake’s unbeaten squad is up to 13th in the AP poll and hosts Oklahoma State Cowboys on ESPN on Friday night (10:15 p.m. ET). Let’s look back at the 1984 title and toward the promise of 2024.
“You play football, and you win”
“OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE, we were going to win every game,” said ESPN’s Trevor Matich, BYU’s starting center in 1984. “I played in ’79 and ’80 and then ’83 and ’84 — I went on a mission to Mexico in between — and in those years [he played] we lost three games.”
If any mid-major program was going to break through in 1984, it was going to be LaVell Edwards’ Cougars. Edwards was BYU’s defensive coordinator before taking over in 1972 and pulling off one of the most unexpected turnarounds in college football history. BYU had never been ranked before Edwards’ hire and had won more than six games in a season just once between 1933-71. He attempted to deploy an innovative, pass-heavy offense, not because he was a devout believer in the forward pass but because, as he wrote in the American Football Coaches Association’s Football Coaching Bible, “In a situation like that, you have to think outside of the box a little and be more creative than usual. My concern was not whether I would be fired, but when. That had been the pattern for many years. I figured that because I probably wasn’t going to make it anyway, I might as well try something radically different. I decided to throw the football, not just the normal 10 or 15 times a game, but 35 to 45 times per game, on any down, from our own end zone to the opponent’s end zone.”
BYU went 25-19-1 in his first four seasons — definitive progress — then took things to a different level. Gifford Nielsen threw for 3,192 yards in 1976, and by 1979 Marc Wilson was throwing for 3,720 yards. In 1980, future NFL star Jim McMahon topped Wilson with 4,571 yards and 47 TDs. He was succeeded by future NFL hall-of-famer Steve Young. All the while, the win totals kept improving. BYU won nine games each year from 1976-78, then went a combined 34-4 with three consecutive top-15 finishes from 1979-81. After an 8-4 glitch in 1982, they surged again, beating UCLA and Missouri on the way to an 11-1 record and No. 7 finish in the AP poll.
“You play football, and you win,” Matich said. “That was it. Losing was a tremendous shock.”
Still, the Cougars were expected to take a step backwards in 1984. They began the season unranked after losing Young, star receiver Gordon Hudson and first-round linebacker Todd Shell, among others. Robbie Bosco was slipping on Young’s enormous shoes at QB, but the offensive line and defense still had depth and experience. “From a defensive standpoint, we thought, ‘We really gotta hold up our end of the bargain,'” said Jim Herrmann, defensive end and co-captain. “But we had [linebacker] Leon White, who went to the NFL. We had Kurt Gouveia, who had an all-pro career and was one of the great linebackers in BYU history. We had Kyle Morrell, an All-American safety. We had some really quality players, and we felt like we were gonna be instrumental to our success.”
“The staple was really our offensive line,” Bosco said of a veteran unit led by four seniors, including Matich, all-WAC guard Craig Garrick and current NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae. “We returned four of the five offensive linemen, and that was a huge comfort for me. I saw what those guys could do, and now they have another year under their belt, so we could be pretty good.
“We knew we were gonna be good, but my question was, how good was I gonna be?” Bosco laughed. “I just wanted to win the WAC championship. That’s what I really cared about because the previous quarterbacks all did that, and I didn’t want to be the quarterback that broke that string. I was crazy nervous in that first game.” It showed. Against No. 3 Pitt in the first game of the season, Bosco threw three bad incompletions on BYU’s first drive and said he thought about benching himself.
Bosco threw a 78-yard pick six to Pitt’s Bill Callahan as the Panthers charged ahead 14-3 in the third quarter, but BYU climbed back to within 14-12 late, and Bosco threw a picture-perfect post route to Adam Haysbert, who scored from 50 yards out with 1:37 left.
“Robbie was asleep on the bus for the first quarter, but he made it out for the second quarter, and everything turned out okay,” Matich said. “We were like, ‘We’re gonna be fine. We got your back, and you got ours.'”
A late stop gave the Cougars an upset win. They immediately jumped back to 13th in the AP poll, and some BYU players immediately began to envision even greater things.
“The night before we played Pitt,” running back and return man Vai Sikahema, a future eight-year pro, said, “we always had a team meeting without the coaches, and Craig Garrick, he’s passed now, but he was our senior team captain, and he got up in the hotel at Pitt and said, ‘Man, we win tomorrow, and we will have a straight path to the national championship.’ That’s the first time I had ever heard ‘national championship’ at BYU, and it was my fourth year. I thought, ‘Is he nuts?'”
Foge Fazio’s Panthers would suffer a run of injuries and collapse to 3-7-1, but beating the preseason No. 3 team on national television still made a huge impact. This was ESPN’s first season with a full lineup of live college football coverage following the Supreme Court’s ruling that the NCAA could not control and limit television exposure, and BYU-Pitt was the opening game. “I don’t discount the timing of that,” Sikahema said. “We opened the season with a nationally televised game, so the East Coast got to see BYU and our brand of football. I think there’s so many variables, so many factors in that season, and I think that’s one of them.”
Also instrumental: the quarterback. But it took another game before he believed he was up for the job.
“Even after that first game, I’m like, ‘Oh boy, I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’m able to do it,'” Bosco said. “It wasn’t until the following week where I felt super comfortable.”
Against Baylor in Week 2, Bosco threw for 311 yards and six scores as the Cougars romped, 47-13. And after a 38-15 win over Tulsa in week 3, BYU had already jumped to No. 6 in the AP poll.
“I think it was after either the Baylor or Tulsa game, I finally started thinking, ‘Hey, we could make a run,'” Leon White said. “Coach Edwards was definitely against that — he was the person that kept us in line and didn’t let our heads get too big.”
“Oh, this is getting interesting”
JUST THREE WEEKS into the season, the national college football landscape was growing messy. Preseason No. 1 Auburn had fallen to Miami in the Kick-Off Classic, and after the Hurricanes jumped to No. 1, they immediately fell to Michigan in Week 2. Add in BYU’s win over Pitt and two Week 3 upsets (No. 16 Washington over No. 3 Michigan and No. 12 Penn State over No. 5 Iowa), and five top-five teams had already lost. Two more would fall in Week 4, and BYU nearly added to the chaos, needing two late stops — one aided by an incredible leap from Kyle Morrell — to fend off Hawaii, 18-13, after offensive struggles and special teams disasters.
“The play of the game, or year, or century was when Kyle Morrell jumped over the center,” Norm Chow, BYU’s QBs coach and offensive play-caller in 1984, said. “That was not planned.”
Just as the defense had bailed out the offense in Hawaii, it was the offense’s turn a couple of weeks later. Wyoming gained 478 yards and led 38-33 after three quarters in Provo, but BYU matched the Cowboys score for score and got a 14-yard game-winner from Bosco to tight end David Mills with 4:16 left. Bosco threw for 484 yards and four touchdowns as the Cougars outlasted a rising Air Force team, 30-25, the next week.
From there, they shifted into fifth gear. The Cougars won their next three games — including a 48-0 romp over New Mexico — by a combined 124-12. All the while, teams around them in the polls kept losing. No. 1 Nebraska had fallen to unranked Syracuse in Week 5, followed by No. 2 Ohio State doing the same to unranked Purdue the next week. Kansas shocked No. 2 Oklahoma in Week 9, as well, then Houston did the same to No. 3 Texas in Week 11. Heading into their Holy War game at Utah on November 17, BYU was up to No. 3.
“Every time we won a game, it seemed like the teams that were just above us lost,” Bosco said. “The first time I felt like, ‘Oh, this is getting interesting,’ was probably when we went into the Utah game …”
“… We played quite well, especially defensively,” Hermann said. “Offense had some fits and starts, but it’s the Holy War, it’s the Michigan-Ohio State of the intermountain west. It was our big game, and we won.”
Bosco threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns, but three interceptions and a fumble threatened to keep Utah in the game. Leading by only three points late, Bosco found Kelly Smith for a four yard score and a 24-14 win. And then things got really interesting.
“I remember getting on the bus, and someone said, ‘Hey, South Carolina lost to Navy,'” Herrmann said.
Indeed, South Carolina, which was 9-0 and ranked a program-best No. 2 following a win over Florida State, had completely melted down, falling 38-21 to a 3-5-1 Navy team. No. 6 Oklahoma had taken down No. 1 Nebraska as well, 17-7. That meant that an LDS school from the WAC would move up to No. 1 — and in late-November, no less.
“We got named No. 1 before our final regular season game against Utah State,” Sikahema said. “That was a freakish feeling to host a game at Cougar Stadium as the No. 1 team in the country. I remember all the signs in the stands.” (Among other things, the signs included lots of Bo Diddley Tech references. “How can you rank BYU No. 1?” Today Show host Bryant Gumbel had recently said. “Who’d they play, Bo Diddley Tech?”) “Nobody expected all these other teams were gonna lose. And they had to ’cause I don’t think anybody was just gonna place us there. And it always when they had to lose, too. If some of these teams had lost earlier in the year, maybe they would’ve recovered, but they lost late in the season just at the right moment. And all of a sudden, here we were.”
After a 38-13 stroll past Utah State in the finale, BYU headed into the postseason in the top spot. While plenty of highly ranked teams were approached about a spot opposite the Cougars in the Holiday Bowl — the WAC champion was obligated to play in the December 21 game — no one signed up. BYU would play Michigan, and it was sort of the worst of both worlds: Michigan was 6-5 and unranked and would offer BYU no strength-of-schedule benefit, but Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines were also talented enough to have beaten Miami early in the year and were only 6-5 because of injuries. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh would miss the Holiday Bowl, but just about everyone else would return.
“The dominoes all fell”
CAMPAIGNING SEASON QUICKLY began. Nick Crane, the chairman of the Orange Bowl’s selection committee, told the Miami Herald that while pollsters had placed BYU in the top spot “out of desperation,” the winner of an Orange Bowl between No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Washington would almost have to be No. 1. Not surprisingly, Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer agreed. “Even in the Holiday Bowl, they’re not playing a top-20 team,” he told the Herald. “I don’t know how you can say they would be No. 1 with that kind of schedule, compared to the one we’ve played.” Never mind, of course, that OU had lost to a 5-6 Kansas team. (Washington head coach Don James tried not to take the bait. “I have to be real guarded,” he joked, “because we play BYU next year in our second game.” BYU would still win that game, 31-3.)
Switzer proved to be a relentless campaigner. It didn’t earn the Sooners the No. 1 ranking, but it did earn him a unique honor: The city of Midvale, Utah, 35 miles from Provo, ended up naming a sewage treatment plant after him.
“Things were getting pretty wild out there, and people were just tearing us apart,” Bosco said. “I think it made us a better football team. It was super fun to be the team that everybody wanted to talk about, even though it was mostly in the negative way. It was like, ‘Let’s go, let’s bring it on.’ We had more media at our practices than ever before, and I did interviews with people I didn’t even know did interviews. It was a lot of fun to be a part of.”
For three quarters, the Holiday Bowl, played in front of a packed house of 61,243, was not fun at all. Bosco suffered knee ligament damage and a cracked rib after a late hit from tackle Mike Hammerstein in the first quarter. He would somehow return to the game in the second quarter, but he threw three interceptions, his receivers were suffering uncharacteristic drops, and BYU lost three fumbles as well.
“I tell you what, they were really good,” Matich said. “We never had doubt, but we knew that the challenge was huge because of the opponent and because our quarterback was hurt.” Matich also had to rein in his emotions after the illegal hit on Bosco. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry — and I’m still mad, I’m still furious at that guy, I thought it was a cheap shot, and maybe it wasn’t, but that’s how I felt.
“I made it my mission to try to return the favor to that guy. … But I was livid. It was intense, let’s put it that way. But we knew we had the players. We knew we had the mentality to pull it off.”
They also had the defense. Despite the countless miscues, the Cougars made stop after stop — for the game, they gained 483 yards to Michigan’s 202 — and trailed just 17-10 early in the fourth quarter.
“We played together the whole year,” White said. “We knew what we could do on defense, and we knew what the offense was capable of doing. They came out slow, and the turnovers definitely hurt us, but we knew at any time Robbie and the offense could explode. So we just knew that if we could keep it close, we’d have a chance.”
As with the opener in Pittsburgh, the offense eventually rewarded the faith. Glenn Kozlowski made an acrobatic touchdown catch to tie the game with 10:51 left, and after throwing one last interception midway through the quarter, Bosco drove the Cougars 83 yards and connected with Kelly Smith for a 13-yard score with 1:23 remaining. Marv Allen picked off a pass with 44 seconds left, and that was that.
Well, sort of. It was only December 21, after all. School was out, the season was over, and everyone dispersed for Christmas and waited for the Orange Bowl. And Switzer and Co. kept campaigning.
“There was just so much time for people to talk about why they shouldn’t pick us No.1,” Bosco said. “It was super hard for our players, and then you’re watching all the games, and we’re not even together to hear what happened. Everybody’s at home.”
“I had confidence because of how revered LaVell was among his peers,” Sikahema said. “With all due respect to Barry, Barry probably had a lot of enemies, and I think there may have been some folks who would have said, ‘You know, we’re gonna stick it to Barry Switzer.'”
The Cougars got a late Christmas gift, however, in the form of one last upset: Washington thumped OU 28-17 in Miami. It was enough to eliminate the Sooners from consideration but wasn’t quite dominant enough to boost Washington No. 4 to No. 1.
“I’m sleeping in a bit, and my dad comes in, he’s already read the paper and goes, ‘Robbie, you guys are No. 1.’ That’s how I found out. And then 20 minutes later our phone started ringing, and I was doing interviews, and it was super crazy.”
“Things fell into place,” Chow added. “The dominoes all fell, the [right] teams all lost.”
How good were they, really?
BYU WON A national title, and Ty Detmer won a Heisman in 1990 (his QB coach at the time: Robbie Bosco), so there was an obvious, tangible benefit to the pass-happy style Edwards adopted. But his BYU offenses — or, more specifically, the offenses of the incredible coaches he hired and gave free rein — were spectacularly influential when it comes to the evolution of football offenses as a whole. Edwards and Bill Walsh had an interactive relationship. Just look at Edwards’ coaching tree. Future Super Bowl winning head coaches Mike Holmgren (BYU QBs coach from 1982-85), Andy Reid (BYU offensive lineman and 1982 graduate assistant) and Brian Billick (BYU tight end from 1974-77, graduate assistant in 1978) all either played or coached for Edwards (or both), as did Chow, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, among many, many others. And two of Edwards’ biggest admirers changed the sport in their own right.
“Hal [Mumme] and Mike Leach used to sit in our office just wanting to be a part of football,” Chow said. “I think Mike was a law student or something. But Hal and Mike, the things that were presented to them … all of a sudden it’s the Air Raid offense!” he laughed. “I’m looking at them and saying, ‘What the heck are you guys talking about? That’s the same crossing routes and all that business! But Hal and Mike did a great job in influencing other coaches. And that’s what life’s about. Mike was special. Every time he wrote a book, he’d send me a copy. We thought he was a different guy, but he was bright as all get out.”
The 1984 BYU team, however, also eventually impacted the sport in a different way.
By the mid-1980s, the din and debate regarding a college football playoff was already pretty loud, but those in charge of the most powerful bowls always managed to fend off the cries and hold onto their power. That became more difficult when somehow a usurper managed to storm the gates. BYU being allowed to take the national title despite winning merely a minor bowl planted seeds of discontent. The Cougars’ national title has long been cited as one of the reasons why the Bowl Alliance came together beginning in 1992. It was an attempt to assure that the season ended with a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, and while it wasn’t very good at assuring that, its successor, the Bowl Coalition, was a little better, and finally, in 1998, the Bowl Championship Series indeed gave us a year-end 1-vs-2.
Considering the discontent that emerged from the BCS, considering it was replaced by the four-team College Football Playoff in 2014, and considering said playoff was expanded to 12 teams this season — with a spot reserved for the best team from the Group of Five (the mid-major batch from which BYU emerged) — you could say that BYU’s legacy extends far beyond Provo.
“Whether you agree or don’t agree with what happened in ’84,” Herrmann said, “we have our place in history as being the catalyst, the thorn in someone’s side. And the concept behind the original Bowl Alliance and the BCS was to kind of figure out a way at the end of the year where one always had to play two. It would’ve been great to play whoever two was — either Washington or Oklahoma, depending on the poll.”
By the way, BYU would have had an excellent shot at success in a playoff, too.
“Oh gosh, I wish,” said White. “I’m so excited now for the lower-ranked teams. Now they have an opportunity to actually show how good they are. And I would have loved to have played in a playoff back then.”
Based on the originally conceived rules for the 12-team playoff — automatic bids for the top six conference champions, plus six at-large teams, with the top four seeds reserved for champs — we would have gotten the following CFP in 1984. (Note: The No. 3 team in the AP poll, Florida, was banned from the postseason.)
FIRST ROUND
12 USC (8-3, Pac-10 champ) at 5 Washington (10-1, at large)
11 Maryland (8-3, ACC champ) at 6 Nebraska (9-2, at large)
10 SMU (9-2, at large) at 7 South Carolina (10-1, at large)
9 Oklahoma State (9-2, at large) at 8 Boston College (9-2, at large)
QUARTERFINALS
Cotton Bowl: 1 BYU (12-0, WAC champ) vs. Boston College/Oklahoma State
Sugar Bowl: 4 LSU (8-2-1, SEC champ) vs. Washington/USC
Rose Bowl: 3 Ohio State (9-2, Big Ten champ) vs. Nebraska/Maryland
Orange Bowl: 2 Oklahoma (9-1-1, Big 8 champ) vs. South Carolina/SMU
Based on my estimated SP+ ratings from 1984, BYU ranked fourth overall that season, third if you don’t include Florida. Only Nebraska (which outscored opponents by an average of 36-8 in 10 wins) and Washington (which lost only to USC) ranked higher, but not by much, and with neither of those teams earning byes, BYU would have ended up the No. 2 favorite. Based again on SP+, the title odds were Nebraska 23.4%, BYU 16.6%, Washington 16.5%, Ohio State 12.0%, Oklahoma 10.4%, LSU 5.8%, Oklahoma State 5.4%, SMU 5.3%, Boston College 2.7%, South Carolina 0.8%, Maryland 0.7%, USC 0.3%. Without a single, dominant team, this would have been an absolute free-for-all. But BYU would have been as likely as anyone to emerge victorious.
“We were really good,” Matich said. “Our defensive line — low pad level, flew off the ball. Our secondary was aggressive and flying around. Our linebackers were hitting people like they had a very un-Christian point of view. Our running back, Kelly Smith, ran like a 4.3 forty, one of the fastest college football players in America. Our receivers were just phenomenal. Our offensive line was so steady, it was boring. And we were well-coached. I mean, extraordinarily well-coached.”
“There was a chip on everyone’s shoulder,” Herrmann said, “and football’s an effort sport. We had great coaches, and we always had a culture of really tough-nosed, high-effort defense.”
I tried to get Chow to compare BYU’s title team to those he was a part of in the early-2000s at USC. He deftly demurred but raved all the same. “What was so unique about that team was the comradery,” Chow said, “the friendships that they shared, that culture. It was just so unique. A lot of returned missionaries — older, more mature guys, and you’re never worried about guys going home at night or doing things they’re not supposed to be doing.
“…Bill Walsh always said culture before scheme, and I don’t think it fit any better than with that particular football team.”
BYU in 2024 and beyond
THE 2024 SEASON itself has brought quite a bit of underdog energy to the table. Eight unranked teams have beaten top-10 opponents so far this season, highlighted of course by Northern Illinois’ upset of No. 5 Notre Dame and Vanderbilt’s classic win over No. 1 Alabama.
Granted, we haven’t hit 1984-esque notes just yet. Only one team from this year’s preseason top 10 is currently unranked, and five teams from the preseason top 10 had fallen out of the polls by this point in 1984. Still, there have been surprises and wild moments, and BYU, of all teams, is once again managing to charge up the rankings and, thanks to the expanded CFP, possibly position itself for a top-four seed. The Cougars are up to 13th in the AP poll, having handed both No. 17 Kansas State and No. 21 SMU their only respective losses of the season. Neither team scored a touchdown on a Cougar defense that currently ranks 13th in points allowed per drive and ninth in yards allowed per play. BYU is 6-0, and SP+ gives the Cougars a 28% chance of finishing 11-1 or better and a 23% chance of winning the wide open Big 12.
1:20
BYU’s Kingston turns disaster into a jaw-dropping 90-yard punt return TD
BYU’s Parker Kingston initially botches the punt return, but recovers the ball and somehow runs 90 yards to the house for a touchdown vs. Kansas State.
“It’s really hard to play in Cougar Stadium when we get our crowd going,” Bosco said of what is now LaVell Edwards Stadium. “It’s loud and crazy. To see what we did against Kansas State” — BYU forced three turnovers and returned a punt for a touchdown during a six-minute, 28-0 run in a 38-9 win — “and to see what Kansas State is doing to other teams, it’s just like, whoa. It even turned our heads, like, whoa, we might be really good.”
Not too bad for a team that went just 5-7 last season.
BYU was rewarded for its patience early in Kalani Sitake’s head coaching tenure: The Cougars went 27-25 in his first four seasons, but they exploded to 21-4 in 2020-21. Just as the school was rewarded then, it appears it’s being rewarded again for weathering last year’s disappointing Big 12 debut without forcing changes.
Sikahema thinks patience was a no-brainer.
“Kalani is giving us all of it,” he said of his fellow Tongan. “He’s giving the alums, the fans, Cougar Nation, and I think even the leadership of the church, he’s giving us all we want. We want good kids. We want them to reflect the values of our faith. And we want them to just go out and beat people and win games. We’re doing all of it.”
Sitake is only the fourth BYU head coach since Edwards’ hire 53 years ago, along with Gary Crowton (2001-04) and Bronco Mendenhall (2005-15). Only Crowton coached for fewer than nine years.
“I think Coach Sitake has a similar quality [to LaVell],” Matich said. “It is so obvious that he loves his players genuinely, it’s so obvious that he is all-in to do everything possible to win, and it’s so obvious that he’s such a fierce competitor. You put all those things together, and that’s the culture of BYU today.”
You hear “culture” a lot when talking to current and former members of the program.
“I don’t think the culture of BYU will ever change,” Chow said. “So now, all of a sudden you get a couple of decent players and a schedule that breaks for you…” his imagination ran wild for a moment.
“The Big 12 is totally up for grabs,” Matich said, “and if BYU stays healthy — so they don’t have to get too far into that depth, which is still a work in progress — then they’ve got a puncher’s chance because of that defense, and because the quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, is just a flat-out baller. They’re in a very interesting position right now.”
No matter what happens over the rest of 2024, there’s no taking away 1984. Its influence, both local and national, endures. “It’s been 40 years, and a day doesn’t go by where someone doesn’t bring it up to me and talk about it,” Bosco said. “People always wanna ask about it, or they just have their comments on how amazing that was, ‘Thank you for all you did,’ stuff like that. So from that standpoint, it’s awesome, and it really did mean a lot to our school and the community.”
And just so you’ve been warned, there might be some fate involved in BYU’s 2024 run, too.
“My kids told me last night: The last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama was 1984,” Bosco said.
Can’t argue with destiny.
The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.
Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.
On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.
With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.
Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more
2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet
Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.
Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.
2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.
Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.
2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet
Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.
Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.
2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet
Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.
Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.
2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet
Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.
Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.
2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet
Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.
Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.
2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.
Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.
2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet
Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.
Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.
The 2025 MLB draft is underway on ESPN, with the Washington Nationals starting things off by taking prep shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Los Angeles Angels followed up by picking college pitcher Tyler Bremner and the Seattle Mariners nabbed another in Kade Anderson at third. The Colorado Rockies took prep shortstop Ethan Holliday, who had been in the mix to go first overall, with the fourth pick, and the St. Louis Cardinals rounded out the top five by selecting college pitcher Liam Doyle.
Who will be the biggest steals — and stretches — of Day 1?
Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen breaking down everything you need to know about who your favorite team took in the first round as the picks come off the board.
Final mock draft | Draft rankings: Top 250 | Big question for all 30 teams
1. Washington Nationals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)
Draft ranking: No. 3
Who is Willits? The son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, Eli is one of a deep group of high school shortstops in this draft. He reclassified to the 2025 class, so is one of the younger players in the draft, not turning 18 until December, a big plus in analytic draft models. He’s a clear shortstop with a good hit tool and contact ability, with his future power outcome the biggest question mark as he turns pro.
Why the Nationals took him here: There was a lot of intrigue about which direction the Nationals would go in a draft without a slam-dunk No. 1 pick — and Washington surprised everyone with this pick. Willits was one of the top players in this draft, but he was behind Ethan Holliday and Kade Anderson as options to go No. 1 overall. He’s one of the youngest prospects in this draft — and that’s a very good thing for his potential, considering Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor were also both 17-year-old shortstops on draft night.
There’s also a chance that taking Willits here could come with some bonus-money savings that sets Washington up for some splashy picks in the coming rounds. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Kevin McGonigle, with more speed and defense
2. Los Angeles Angels: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Draft ranking: No. 18
Who is Bremner? Bremner entered the season alongside Jamie Arnold as the top collegiate pitcher after a strong sophomore season and a summer pitching for USA Baseball’s collegiate national team, but he scuffled early on with inconsistent stuff and results. He finished stronger, including a string of double-digit-strikeout games, and he threw strikes, walking just 19 batters in 77⅓ innings with 111 strikeouts. He sits 94-96, touching 98, but his plus changeup might be his best offering while his slider was hit hard and backed up compared to 2024.
Why the Angels took him here: Two picks into this draft and teams are already sending a clear message, as Bremner is the second straight curveball: The talent at the top doesn’t match that of recent drafts, so Washington and L.A. are likely saving money with their picks with underslot deals. Bremner does fit the Angels’ model of drafting college prospects who can move quickly, but ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel had Bremner ranked just 18th on his most recent draft board. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Michael Wacha with more upside
Draft ranking: No. 1
Who is Anderson? Winner of the Most Outstanding Player award at the College World Series in leading LSU to the title after allowing one run in 17 innings, including a 1-0 shutout in the finals, Anderson topped Division I with 180 strikeouts, finishing 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Anderson had Tommy John surgery in high school, missing his senior season, but he’s a polished lefty with a five-pitch repertoire if you include both his fastballs. His fastball carries well in the zone, and he commands it well, so it plays up over its 92-94 mph velocity (hitting 97).
0:55
The traits that helped make Kade Anderson a Mariner
Kiley McDaniel explains the traits that helped make Kade Anderson the third overall pick by the Mariners.
Why the Mariners took him here: Seattle really couldn’t have asked for a better situation than this. After seeing two surprise picks ahead of their No. 3 selection, the Mariners landed the breakout star of this year’s College World Series and one of the surest players in this draft. Though Anderson lacks the true ace upside of recent college picks Paul Skenes and Chase Burns, the left-hander is a polished starter who should move quickly through the minors and could be part of an already-strong Seattle rotation sooner rather than later. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Max Fried
4. Colorado Rockies: Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (Okla.)
Draft ranking: No. 2
1:10
The traits that helped make Ethan Holliday a member of the Rockies
Kiley McDaniel explains the traits that helped make Ethan Holliday the fourth overall pick by the Rockies.
Who is Holliday? Yes, he’s Matt’s son and brother of Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday, the first pick in the 2022 draft. Like his brother, Ethan is a left-handed hitter, although he’s much bigger (6-foot-4 compared to 6-foot) and built more like their dad, thus projects to have similar 30-homer power. He lacks the range to stay at shortstop but should be an above-average defender at third base. There are some concerns about his performance last summer on the showcase circuit and weak competition this spring in high school, but scouts love the swing and power ceiling.
Why the Rockies took him here: There was plenty of talk about Holliday being a possibility for the No. 1 pick, so the Rockies have to be happy about getting the player who might have the best chance of developing into a true major league star. His best-case scenario is reaching the majors as a power-hitting, good-fielding third baseman who turns into the Rockies’ first franchise player since they traded away a power-hitting, good-fielding third baseman in Nolan Arenado. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Left-handed-hitting version of Matt Chapman or Eugenio Suarez
Draft ranking: No. 6
Who is Doyle? One of the three highly rated lefty collegiate pitchers, Doyle went 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA for the Vols, striking out 164 in 95⅔ innings, finishing second in Division I in strikeouts and first in K’s per nine. After sitting in the low 90s as a sophomore, Doyle sat in the mid-90s, peaking at 100 mph and often just blowing his heater by college hitters. He throws strikes, isn’t afraid to pitch inside and backs up the fastball with a splitter and slider, pitches he’ll probably have to deploy more often as a pro.
0:55
The traits that helped make Liam Doyle a member of the Cardinals
Kiley McDaniel explains the traits that helped make Liam Doyle the fifth overall pick by the Cardinals.
Why the Cardinals took him here: Doyle’s fastball could play in the majors right now, and the Cardinals have long been in need of some hard-throwing additions to their system. The question here is if the rest of Doyle’s arsenal and delivery can be strong enough to keep him in the rotation. Best case, St. Louis just added a strong part of its rotation for years to come — but a potential closer or top setup option isn’t a bad fallback plan either. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Spencer Strider, if he was left-handed but had real questions about his command/stamina/delivery
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (Calif.)
Draft ranking: No. 4
Who is Hernandez? No high school right-hander has ever gone first overall, but Hernandez put himself in that discussion as the clear top prep arm in the draft. With a projectable 6-4 frame, he followed up a strong summer in 2024 with a dominant high school season, touching triple digits but also showcasing a plus-plus changeup and an above-average 12-to-6 curveball with a high spin rate. He was athletic enough to play the field when he didn’t pitch, which might help him overcome the risky history of first-round high school pitchers.
Why the Pirates took him here: The Pirates have Paul Skenes in the majors and Bubba Chandler, perhaps the top pitching prospect in the minors, in Triple-A, and now they’ve added Hernandez, who might have the most upside of any pitcher in the draft, with a fastball up to 100 mph and plus-plus changeup. He’s a good athlete (he was a second-round prospect as a hitter), which is another plus. The only negative is the scary history of first-round pitching prospects, but Hernandez might be the best prep right-handed prospect in a decade. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Zac Gallen with more stuff or Devin Williams as a starter
7. Miami Marlins: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
Draft ranking: No. 9
Who is Arquette? The latest in the Oregon State pipeline that has produced first-round picks Nick Madrigal, Trevor Larnach, Adley Rutschman, Cooper Hjerpe and Travis Bazzana since 2018, Arquette is a Honolulu native who transferred from Washington and hit .354 with 19 home runs for the Beavers. Viewed as the best college position player, Arquette is 6-foot-5, leading many scouts to think he’ll eventually move to third base even though he’s agile enough for now to get a shot at shortstop.
Why the Marlins took him here: It’s no secret that the Marlins are in need of some offensive thump throughout their system. In Arquette, they get one of the top hitters in college baseball and a prospect who should be able to supply some power while climbing quickly to the majors. It’s hard to picture the 6-5, 220-pound Oregon State star sticking at shortstop for the long term, but he should have a home somewhere in Miami’s infield. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Somewhere on the Willy Adames to Isaac Paredes spectrum
8. Toronto Blue Jays: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Miss.)
Draft ranking: No. 7
Who is Parker? Viewed as one of the most polished prep hitters in the draft, Parker was the Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year (his twin brother, Jacob, is also a top prospect) and follows Konnor Griffin, taken ninth last year by the Pirates, as a Mississippi high schooler to go high in the draft. A left-handed batter, Parker has great hand-eye coordination and rarely swings and misses at anything in the zone. He has 20-homer potential, although he’ll be tested to stick at shortstop long term.
Why the Blue Jays took him here: One of the many prep shortstops in a deep group, Parker’s carrying tools are an outstanding bat to go with outstanding makeup. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him end up as the best hitter from this draft. With Bo Bichette potentially leaving as a free agent, the Blue Jays could use a shortstop of the future, and Parker’s bat could allow him to move quickly through the minors. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Less athletic Gunnar Henderson or Rafael Devers with less mass/power?
9. Cincinnati Reds: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Ala.)
Draft ranking: No. 13
Who is Hall? A plus-plus runner with grade 70 or 80 speed, Hall is the first Alabama prep shortstop drafted in the first round since Condredge Holloway went fourth overall in 1971 (Holloway didn’t sign and became the first Black QB in the SEC at Tennessee). Hall reclassified to the Class of 2025 and doesn’t turn 18 until later in July. He should be a lock to stay at shortstop with his range and arm and already shows average power and ability to lift the ball.
Why the Reds took him here: Great baseball name. Like Eli Willits, Hall reclassified into this draft class and is one of the youngest players who will be selected this year. Draft models love that, but that’s not the only reason to be high on Steele. He’s a strong athlete and runner who should stick at shortstop long term. The big question, though, is if his free-swinging style will work at the next level. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Trea Turner with a dash of Jett Williams and a dusting of Anthony Volpe
10. Chicago White Sox: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (Calif.)
Draft ranking: No. 8
Who is Carlson? Seth Hernandez’s high school teammate, Carlson is how you draw up a prep shortstop: above-average-to-plus bat speed and raw power, an 80-grade arm (up to 97 mph as a pitcher), range in the field and game performance. He’s still growing into his power and will have to overcome some concerns about his hit tool, but the defense should give him a high floor and there’s five-tool potential here.
Why the White Sox took him here: As expected, we’re now getting the run of prep shortstops. Carlson’s calling card is his defense, featuring a Masyn Wynn-type cannon. He also has the range to stick at shortstop and impressive raw power. If the hit tool comes around, the upside is huge, and he fits in nicely in a White Sox system that is finally showing some long-term potential solutions on offense — obviously a huge need at the big league level. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Bobby Witt Jr., but one tier lower in tools, and with questions if the ultimate offensive upside matches those tools (Jeremy Pena feels a bit closer)
11. Athletics: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Draft ranking: No. 5
Who is Arnold? Arnold ranked third in Division I in strikeouts as a sophomore in 2024, behind only top-five picks Chase Burns and Hagen Smith, but pitched fewer innings in 2025 and saw his strikeout rate and strikeout-to-walk rate drop a bit. Still, he’s viewed as a high-probability pick, with a fastball that sits in the 93 mph range from a low, easy delivery that he can pump up to 97, with a sweeping slider and feel for a plus changeup.
1:05
The traits that helped make Jamie Arnold a member of the Athletics
Kiley McDaniel explains the traits that helped Jamie Arnold get drafted by the Athletics.
Why the Athletics took him here: Entering the season, Arnold was in the conversation to be the No. 1 pick, so getting him here has to make the A’s happy. The Florida State left-hander is probably the second-safest pitcher in this draft, behind Kade Anderson, because of his polish and secondary stuff. Arnold’s fastball is a class below some other recent top pitching prospects though, and that could limit him to be more of a mid-rotation starter than a future ace. — Mullen
MLB player comp: A bit of Chris Sale and a bit of Nick Lodolo, if Arnold’s command progresses
12. Texas Rangers: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (Calif.)
Draft ranking: No. 12
Who is Fien? Fien was one of the top prep hitters on the summer showcase circuit in 2024, but the 6-3 right-handed hitter struggled at times this spring during his regular high school season, not producing the same hard contact as consistently even though he was facing weaker competition. At his best, he has shown plus raw power with excellent bat speed and in-zone contact rates. He profiles well at third base with a strong arm.
Why the Rangers took him here: The Rangers have struggled to score runs the past two seasons following their World Series title in 2023, so it’s probably not a surprise they would draft a hitter with one of the best hit/power combos in the draft. Fien should be able to stick at third base with a strong arm, but his bat is what will get him to the majors. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Austin Riley with a bit of Josh Jung mixed in
Draft ranking: No. 20
Who is Kilen? After transferring from Louisville for his junior season, Kilen was one of the best players in the SEC, hitting .357 with 15 home runs. After walking just seven times as a sophomore, he toned down his aggressiveness with the Vols and showed better swing decisions, drawing 30 walks against just 27 strikeouts. He projects as contact over power although showed some high-end exit velocity results on occasion. He played both infield positions for the Vols, although his fringy arm probably pushes him to second base in the pros.
Why the Giants took him here: Not to be confused with Gavin Fien, taken one pick earlier, Gavin Kilen is one of the safest bats in this draft — and the Giants take him a year after they selected James Tibbs III, one of the safest bats in the 2024 draft, at No. 13. Kilen’s power took a big step forward at Tennessee this year after he transferred from Louisville, making him arguably the most productive hitter in one of the SEC’s best lineups. Despite that production this season, Kilen’s power is more likely to show up as average than plus in the majors, but his hit tool figures to play at any level. — Mullen
MLB player comp: In the Brice Turang area as maybe a shortstop, but probably second base with a solid lefty stick (but not huge tools)
14. Tampa Bay Rays: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Ga.)
Draft ranking: No. 19
Who is Pierce? Yet another prep infielder who looks like a lock to stick at shortstop, Pierce played for his dad’s high school team in Georgia, with plus speed and a plus arm his strongest attributes. Scouts love his makeup, and he has produced against quality pitching on the showcase circuit and could add power to his right-handed swing as he gets stronger.
Why the Rays took him here: The Rays love drafting athletic middle infielders — think of Carson Williams in the first round in 2021 and Theo Gillen in 2024 — even if that player has to eventually move to the outfield (as was the case with Gillen). Pierce is a good bet to stay at shortstop and, as a coach’s son, brings all those intangibles you would expect. He’ll need to get stronger and add more power, but the Rays don’t historically rush their prospects, so Pierce will have time to develop. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Jeremy Pena, if it all clicks
15. Boston Red Sox: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Draft ranking: No. 10
Who is Witherspoon? The hard-throwing right-hander began his college career at a Florida junior college before playing two years for the Sooners, going 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings this spring. He tops out at 99 mph and improved his walk rate from 4.5 per innings as a sophomore to 2.2. He throws both a slider and cutter and flashes a changeup and curveball as well. His twin brother, Malachi, also pitched for the Sooners and is also a prospect, although he projects as a fastball/slider reliever, whereas Kyson has the pitches and delivery to start.
Why the Red Sox took him here: While the Red Sox have been pumping out hitting prospects in recent years, pitching coming through the farm system hasn’t exactly been a strength of theirs. Witherspoon has a chance to change that if everything clicks. He has power stuff and strong athleticism with the potential to be a legit swing-and-miss starter at the big league level. He isn’t quite as safe a bet as the trio of college left-handers who went above him tonight, but some scouts believe the right-handed Witherspoon is on the verge of a breakout as the Red Sox land him here. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Delivery and arsenal are shades of Dylan Cease, but command isn’t there yet
16. Minnesota Twins: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
Draft ranking: No. 22
Who is Houston? Wake Forest continues to pump out the first-rounders, with Houston following last year’s first-round trio of Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz and Seaver King, who all went in the top 10. In 2023, it was Rhett Lowder and Brock Wilken. A gifted defender, Houston might be the best defensive shortstop in the draft. While he hit .354 with 15 home runs for the Demon Deacons, 11 of those home runs came at home in Wake Forest’s hitter-friendly park. If there is some power here, Houston can develop into a starter; otherwise, he projects as a high-floor utility player.
Why the Twins took him here: A surefire shortstop, Houston might be the best collegiate defender in this draft and is right up there with Billy Carlson as the best overall defensive shortstop. That puts Houston in line as a potential long-term replacement for Carlos Correa, who is signed through 2028 (with some potential vesting options after that). The Twins do have Brooks Lee, their first-round pick from 2022, in the majors, but the jury remains out on both his bat and his glove. Houston will have to develop some power, but his glove alone should get him to the majors as at least a utility guy. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Masyn Winn, if the offense continues to improve
17. Chicago Cubs: Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest
Draft ranking: No. 30
Who is Conrad? Yet another Wake Forest transfer, Conrad played two seasons for Marist before landing at Wake, lighting up the scoreboard early on, when he hit .372 with seven home runs in 21 games before shoulder surgery ended his season early. A 6-4 lefty swinger, Conrad has the tools for both above-average hit and above-average power, although there is some concern about his aggressive approach. Although his numbers came before Wake’s tougher ACC schedule, he did perform well in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2024.
Why the Cubs took him here: If not for the shoulder injury he suffered in early April, there’s a chance Conrad would not have been here for Chicago to take. He was one of the best performers in the ACC after coming over from Marist with a compact swing and gap-to-gap approach that should translate well to the pros. Conrad probably won’t be a star, but he has a chance to be a player who both hits for a solid average and supplies some power for the Cubs. — Mullen
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (Texas)
Draft ranking: No. 25
Who is Cunningham? Viewed as perhaps the best pure hitter in the draft, Cunningham has elite barrel control and bat speed with his left-handed swing and rarely swings and misses. Listed at 5-10, he’s shorter than that, and there are some doubts about his ability to remain at shortstop, even though he’s a plus runner. The swing is flat at times and will need to add some loft to reach some power. He’s also 19 on draft day, a red flag under some draft models.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: No team loves short players as much as the Diamondbacks, who drafted the 5-10 Corbin Carroll in the first round in 2019 and 5-9 Slade Caldwell in the first round last summer. Carroll is a big star and Caldwell is having one of the best seasons of any of the 2024 first-rounders. Cunningham is another sub 6-footer (5-10, to be exact) with an impressive hit tool and the Diamondbacks will hope they got another steal in the middle of the first round. — Schoenfield
MLB player comp: Lefty-hitting Matt McLain, if the power comes
Draft ranking: No. 11
Who is Irish? A three-year performer for the Tigers, Irish hit .350 with 39 home runs in his Auburn career, including .364 with 19 home runs this spring, when his OPS ranked second highest in conference play. He entered the season with concerns about his defense at catcher, and he ended up playing 45 games in the outfield compared to just 12 behind the plate, although he could still project as a backup catcher who plays all over the field.
Why the Orioles took him here: Where will he play as a pro? Good question. But there’s one thing that is certain about Irish: He hit as well, or better, than just about anyone in college baseball this season. He put up huge numbers in the nation’s toughest conference this year and produced against many of the SEC pitchers you’ll see taken in the first few rounds of this draft. Until just about everything went sideways in Baltimore this year, the O’s had a reputation for crushing their early position-player picks — and Irish is exactly the kind of hitter who they have thrived at developing. — Mullen
MLB player comp: Seiya Suzuki in terms of tools/outcomes, but a notch bigger — and he might also be a passable defensive catcher
20. Milwaukee Brewers: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee
Draft ranking: No. 24
Who is Fischer? Fischer’s vagabond college career saw him go from Duke to Mississippi to Tennessee, where he was one of the sluggers in Division I this spring, hitting .341/.497/.760 with 25 home runs. He cut his strikeout rate down to 14% while ranking fourth in walks behind three small-school players. He delivers plus left-handed power to all fields with good loft. He played first base for the Vols for all but a few games, so his bat will have to be his carrying tool.
MLB player comp: Max Muncy (the Dodgers 3B/1B one)
Upcoming picks
21. Houston Astros
22. Atlanta Braves
23. Kansas City Royals
24. Detroit Tigers
25. San Diego Padres
26. Philadelphia Phillies
27. Cleveland Guardians
Prospect Promotion Incentive picks
28. Kansas City Royals
Compensation picks
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Baltimore Orioles
31. Baltimore Orioles
32. Milwaukee Brewers
Competitive balance round A
33. Boston Red Sox (Acquired from the Brewers in the trade for Quinn Priester.)
34. Detroit Tigers
35. Seattle Mariners
36. Minnesota Twins
37. Baltimore Orioles (Acquired from the Rays in trade for Bryan Baker.)
38. New York Mets
39. New York Yankees
40. Los Angeles Dodgers
41. Los Angeles Dodgers (Acquired from the Reds in the trade for Gavin Lux.)
42. Tampa Bay Rays (Acquired from the Athletics in the trade for Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez.)
43. Miami Marlins
Second round
44. Chicago White Sox
45. Colorado Rockies
46. Miami Marlins
47. Los Angeles Angels
48. Athletics
49. Washington Nationals
50. Pittsburgh Pirates
51. Cincinnati Reds
52. Texas Rangers
53. Tampa Bay Rays
54. Minnesota Twins
55. St. Louis Cardinals
56. Chicago Cubs
57. Seattle Mariners
58. Baltimore Orioles
59. Milwaukee Brewers
60. Atlanta Braves
61. Kansas City Royals
62. Detroit Tigers
63. Philadelphia Phillies
64. Cleveland Guardians
65. Los Angeles Dodgers
Competitive balance round B
66. Cleveland Guardians
67. Tampa Bay Rays (Compensation for unsigned 2024 No. 66 overall pick Tyler Bell.)
68. Milwaukee Brewers (Compensation for unsigned 2024 No. 67 overall pick Chris Levonas.)
69. Baltimore Orioles
70. Cleveland Guardians (Acquired from the D-backs in the trade for Josh Naylor.)
71. Kansas City Royals
72. St. Louis Cardinals
73. Pittsburgh Pirates
74. Colorado Rockies
Compensation picks
75. Boston Red Sox (Compensation for Nick Pivetta. The Padres forfeited their second-round pick for signing Pivetta.)
Third round
77. Colorado Rockies
78. Miami Marlins
79. Los Angeles Angels
80. Washington Nationals
81. Toronto Blue Jays
82. Pittsburgh Pirates
83. Cincinnati Reds
84. Texas Rangers
85. San Francisco Giants
86. Tampa Bay Rays
87. Boston Red Sox
88. Minnesota Twins
89. St. Louis Cardinals
90. Chicago Cubs
91. Seattle Mariners
92. Arizona Diamondbacks
93. Baltimore Orioles
94. Milwaukee Brewers
95. Houston Astros
96. Atlanta Braves
97. Kansas City Royals
98. Detroit Tigers
99. San Diego Padres
100. Philadelphia Phillies
101. Cleveland Guardians
102. New York Mets
103. New York Yankees
104. Los Angeles Dodgers
Compensation picks
105. Los Angeles Angels
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