Top-10 Profiles of 2025: No. 6 Billy Carlson

2025 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MLK WEEKEND SCOUT NOTEBOOK:The Corona shortstop showed his elite skill set on the dirt with time at both shortstop and third base vs Oaks Christian while contributing to Corona’s offensive showing with a double to left field and a walk. The tooled up plus runner displayed excellent footwork and is a natural infielder having made a nice pick play while at third base. Carlson presents an elite arm from the infield and shows potential on the mound with his fastball up to 97 over the summer. The Tennessee commit is primed for a productive year for Corona with steady draft status heading into the season.

Prep Baseball All-American Game: A very-lean 6-foot, 159-pound frame, Carlson is a primary SS but continues to show elite-level two-way tools. Simple actions at the plate with a short, hanging leg trigger that allows him to stay balanced throughout while staying on-plane. Present feel for both the zone and barrel. Defensively is where the Vanderbilt commit shines, showing multiple above-average tools led by a present plus glove. Soft hands and quick feet work in tandem with impressive lateral range and transfers, and will make a habit of making tough plays look effortless. Carlson hops on the mound with a high-spin 89-91 that gets a ton of life through the zone and some arm-side run. Curveball is a weapon in the mid-to-high 70s that averages over 2800s RPM while holding consistent shape. Will miss bats with both pitches. It’s uncertain where Carlson has the higher upside on the mound or at short, but there’s zero question that upside is immense.

2022 FUTURE GAMES: Even without a monster statistical showing, Carlson more than left his mark on the PBR Future Games. The uber-athletic and wiry 6-foot-1, 170-pound two-way player had the highest upside of any player at the event, and looked the part of a future impact prospect in the ‘25 class. Silky smooth on the infield with advanced glove-to-hand capabilities, and a future plus-arm (91 mph across in this look), his long term potential at a premium position should drive up his next level value. At the plate, the right-handed hitter was equally as smooth utilizing a simple, fluid setup with efficient movement patterns that allowed quick hands to whip the barrel through the zone with advanced plate coverage in driving the ball to all fields. Future pull side power potential seems likely as the wiry frame continues to develop, and there is a youthful exuberance and quiet confidence that pervades in each look. Only amplifying his future potential, Carlson also showcased himself as one of the top pitching prospects, utilizing a quick arm to pump fastballs up over 90 mph with the best present and future breaking ball, a 74-77 hammer with more than 3000 rpm that he ripped off in any count with killer intention late. Still very young looking with plenty more physical development left, Carlson stamped himself as a must-follow talent coming out of California in 2025.