On the whole, the 2025 college middle infielder class will rival the five-star class of 2024 when Travis Bazzana, JJ Wetherholt, Christian Moore, Seaver King, Kaelen Culpepper, Griff O’Ferrall and Kyle DeBarge were all selected within the top 32 overall picks. However, it likely won’t match 2024 with four selections in the top ten overall (Bazzana, Wetherholt, Moore, King). Beyond the first round, the class has quality depth with over 15 prospects that could be drafted in the top three rounds.

The college middle infielder’s draft class of 2025 – Tale of the Tape:

Aiva Arquette (Oregon State)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Projectable bodied athlete with now skills, well-rounded present tools and intriguing upside.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 112.9 mph (65-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 108.1 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 15.2 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 85.4% (57th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 18.2% (65th)
 BB Rate: 14.7% (76th)
 SO Rate: 16.3% (74th)

Top Tool(s): Plus raw power. Above average arm strength. Polished actions on defense.

Comparison: Troy Glaus

Summary: Arquette’s statistical analytics are far from elite, especially a 57th percentile in-zone contact rate, but with strong present tools and projection to dream, his potential to impact the game drives his draft value. A potential future all-star, he’s likely to be selected within the top five overall picks.

Gavin Kilen (Tennessee)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot, 185 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: Versatile defender with well-rounded present tools and a chance to impact the game with his on-base abilities.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 110.3 mph (50-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 105.1 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 14.4 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 88.6% (69th)
 Chase Rate: 18.1% (65th)
 BB Rate: 12.0% (60th)
 SO Rate: 11.1% (93rd)

Top Tool(s): Ability to hit for average and get on base.

Comparison: Todd Walker

Summary: Kilen rarely takes a bad swing and made major improvements to his ISO (.260 to .335) and BB rate (3% to 12%) from his sophomore to junior seasons. He’s a future big leaguer with a high floor and defensive versatility. We are a bit more bullish than the industry and would consider within the top dozen overall picks whereas the industry currently sees him around pick No. 20. 

Marek Houston (Wake Forest)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Defense first shortstop with a chance to hit for average and some projection to his power as he continues to mature into his frame.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 107.2 mph (40-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 102.4 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 9.5 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 88.4% (68th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 20.1% (56th)
 BB Rate: 15.8% (89th)
 SO Rate: 15.0% (79th)

Top Tool(s): Plus defender with above average to plus arm strength.

Summary: Defense-first shortstop with smooth actions and range in all directions. Flat swing, should hit for average and get on base at an above average clip, but has the least present power of any prospect in this Tale of the Tape. Regardless, Houston is a top half of the first round pick who recently enhanced his value with a huge performance during regionals.

Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Exciting, pay to see type of talent who is a much improved defender and has plus power at the plate.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 113.9 mph (60-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 108.5 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 8.5 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 77.5% (27th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 26.6% (27th)
 BB Rate: 10.0% (34th)
 SO Rate: 20.4% (45th)

Top Tool: Plus power. Plus arm strength.

Comparison: Javy Baez

Summary: The Cal Ripken of college baseball, Aloy hasn’t missed a game in his college career that started with 56 games played as a true freshman at Sac State and continued with 119 straight, and counting, for the Razorbacks. Evaluators are highly intrigued with how his flat swing (8.5 degree avg Launch Angle & 38.8% ground ball rate) has produced 20 home runs and 18 doubles this spring. It’s a swing that could produce even more power with adjustment. His toolset of strong defense at shortstop with plus power equates to a potential all-star at the Major League level, but there is some swing/miss and chase risk to his game. Regardless, Aloy is likely to be selected in the top half of the first round.

Alex Lodise (Florida State)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Aggressive hitter with power potential who is likely to stay in place on defense at the pro level.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 113 mph (55-grade)
 90th Exit Velo: 107.5 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 12.8 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 83.2% (48th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 30.5% (14th)
 BB Rate: 9.0% (15th)
 SO Rate: 18.8% (56th)

Top Tool(s): Above average power and arm strength.

Comparison: Travis Fryman

Summary: Entering the season, Lodise was not on the radar as day one prospect, let alone one who may slip into the tail end of the first round. The ACC Player of the Year has loud numbers with a .405 batting average, 18 doubles and 17 home runs, but his analytics (high chase rate, fair in-zone contact rate) may slightly deflate his draft value by the many clubs who, for good reason, place high value in this area.

Dean Curley (Tennessee)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Throwback ballplayer with a potential impact toolset led by arm strength and power.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 112.4 mph (55-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 107.2 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 6.8 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 85.4% (57th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 13.2% (83rd)
 BB Rate: 15.2% (86th)
 SO Rate: 16.6% (68th)

Top Tool(s): Plus to better arm strength. Above average raw power.

Summary: Despite his up/down season, especially on defense, Curley has persevered and looked back to full-go during the Knoxville Regional. He’s disciplined at the plate and strong metrics offensively drive his draft value. Errors at shortstop plagued him during the first several weeks of the season and a move to third base seemed to prolong the miscues. Now at second base, Curley looks more comfortable and long-term could develop as a Ben Zobrist type, able to play almost anywhere on the diamond. He’s fallen a bit from his preseason top 20 overall projection, but remains well within the top 35.

Danny Dickinson (LSU)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot, 190 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Ballplayer with a well-rounded toolset.

Analytics:

 Max Exit Velo: 110.2 (50-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 102.4 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 15.8 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 85.5% (57th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 22.0% (47th)
 BB Rate: 13.3% (71st)
 SO Rate: 12.5% (88th)

Top Tool(s): Bag of 50s – average tools across the board.

Summary: Moving from the thin air of the WAC to the greater challenges of the SEC, Dickinson had little trouble adjusting. He’s a well-rounded talent who doesn’t have a real weakness, but one who also lacks an impact tool. Over two seasons at Utah Valley he batted .371 and has continued at a similar rate (.318) for the Tigers. He’s a good athlete with an easy swing and good balance in the box. He tracks the ball well and produces consistent contact. Against the fastball this season he’s slugging .694 which rates in the 88th percentile and with his current average launch angle he’s nearly perfected his swing path to maximize his present power. Look for Dickinson to be selected within the top 50 overall picks.

Colby Shelton (Florida)

Ht/Wt: 6-foot, 200 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R

Scout Talk: 22 year old junior with power and arm strength.

Analytics: 

 Max Exit Velo: 114.2 mph (65-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 106.3 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 10.6 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 86.7% (62nd percentile)
 Chase Rate: 29.7% (16th)
 BB Rate: 10.3% (28th)
 SO Rate: 11.8% (92nd)

Top Tool(s): Near plus-plus raw power and most of any middle infielder in this Tale of the Tape. Plus arm strength.

Comparison: Daniel Murphy

Summary: Shelton has shown incredible aptitude to reduce his strikeouts by flattening his swing (2024 avg launch angle = 17.5 degrees) which has allowed him to lower his strikeout rate from a whopping 26.4% last season. However, he may have overadjusted as his home run totals and his fly ball rate have been reduced 46.2% to 35.1% this spring. With that said, he should have little trouble finding a happy medium once in pro ball. Look for Shelton’s value to continue to ascend into draft day where college shortstops fly off the board due to their low risk nature and likelihood of developing into valuable pieces on a major league roster. Despite his age, he’s a top 50 overall pick.

Kyle Lodise (Georgia Tech)

Ht/Wt: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R

Scout Talk: Quick-twitch athlete who defends at a high level and shows sneaky power at the plate. 

Analytics: 

 Max Exit Velo: 108.4 mph (45-grade raw power)
 90th Exit Velo: 103.4 mph
 Avg Launch Angle: 18.5 degrees
 In-Zone Contact Rate: 84.7% (54th percentile)
 Chase Rate: 17.0% (70th)
 BB Rate: 12.7% (67th)
 SO Rate: 17.5% (64th)

Top Tool: Above average arm strength. Above average runner.

Comparison: Greg Gagne

Summary: Lodise slugged .765 (95th percentile) against the fastball which propelled him to 20 doubles and 16 home runs this season and his WOBA of .514 was 100th percentile. He’s similar to former ACC star Tanner Schobel in his game, as well as his “out of nowhere” rise to prominence after transferring from Augusta University (Ga.) last summer. Schobel was a second rounder (68th overall) in 2022 and Lodise should be selected in that same area this July.

Potential top three round middle infielders also include Mitch Voit (Michigan), Henry Godbout (Virginia), Colin Yeaman (UC Irvine), Luke Hill (Ole Miss), Mason White (Arizona), Drew Faurot (Florida State), Jake Ogden (Miami), Nick Monistere (Southern Miss), Antonio Jimenez (Central Florida).