Best Pure Hitter: Florida high school OF Sean Gamble (1) showed impressive adjustments during the 2024 showcase circuit with better swing decisions and improved contact skills. He has a chance to be a solid-average pure hitter, while Creighton OF Nolan Sailors (4) might have some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the class currently. He hit .320 over four seasons in college and last spring hit .389 with an 88% zone contact rate.
Best Power Hitter: Both SS Josh Hammond (PPI) and C Brooks Bryan (8) have a chance to be above-average power hitters. Hammond has a powerfully-built frame with great bat speed. He shows off plus raw power right now, though getting to that power consistently in games might require a bit more pure hitting polish. Bryan has multiple years of double-digit power production with Troy and finished his career with 34 home runs across three seasons.
Fastest Runner: The Royals have a number of speedy players to pick from here. Both Gamble (1) and Sailors (4) are plus runners who could move enough to stick in center field. Sailors stole 63 bags in 78 tries (80.8%) throughout his college career, then tacked on 17 in 21 tries (81.0%) in his pro debut with High-A Quad Cities. Illinois-Chicago OF Luke Nowak (17) can also run, and in his four collegiate seasons, he went 56-for-64 (87.5%) on the bases.
Best Defensive Player: Hammond (PPI) has an excellent arm that would be an asset at either shortstop or third base. He should get every chance to stick at shortstop but looks like a legitimate above-average defender as a third baseman. Baylor SS Tyriq Kemp (6) is a glove-first player with real shortstop actions to go with a plus arm.
Best Fastball: RHP Michael Lombardi (2) added three ticks of fastball velocity this spring to average 94 mph while reaching back for 97 at peak. It has tremendous carry and is a swing-and-miss pitch at the top of the zone. Georgia RHP Matthew Hoskins (12) sits in the 96-98 range out of the bullpen and will touch 100.
Best Secondary Pitch: Lombardi’s (2) curveball is an upper-70s breaking ball with 12-to-6 shape that earned plus reviews, while Arkansas RHP Aiden Jimenez (5) has a mid-80s slider that helped him generate a 34% miss rate and 40% chase rate this spring.
Best Pro Debut: Nowak (17) played 19 games with Low-A Columbia and hit .446/.554/.585 with nine doubles—tied for second most among all 2025 draft debut hitters—15 walks, 10 strikeouts and six stolen bases. Texas State RHP Bryson Dudley (7) had one of the best debuts for any pitcher in the 2025 class. He led all debut arms with 22 strikeouts and just four walks in 13.1 innings and posted a 1.35 ERA.
Best Athlete: All three of Kansas City’s first three picks in this class stand out for their athleticism. Gamble (1) is perhaps the most traditional looking athlete with bat speed, running speed, solid power and arm strength. Hammond (PPI) would have been one of the most talented pitchers in the class if he wanted to pursue that professionally, and Lombardi (2) played all four infield spots and center field while hitting .273 during his junior season with Tulane in addition to his pitching efforts.
Most Intriguing Background: While Hammond (PPI) entered his senior season viewed by most teams as a pitcher-first prospect, there was plenty of chatter from area scouts about Hammond really wanting to hit and being quite good at it. Over the course of the season, he proved he not only had what it took to be a hitting prospect at the next level but also that he belonged as a first-round talent with tremendous bat speed and impact potential as a likely infield defender. His performance at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational was an eye-opener for the entire industry.
Closest To The Majors: Texas A&M LHP Justin Lamkin (2S) improved year over year in college and had a rock-solid 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.42 ERA over 15 starts with a 28% strikeout rate and 5.4% walk rate. He has a solid three-pitch mix with above-average control.
Best 11+ Round Pick (Or UDFA): California high school RHP Grayson Boles (18) has a loud two-pitch combo presently between a fastball that touches 95 and a biting slider in the mid 80s. He’s got a broad, powerful frame at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds. Another notable 11+ round pick to keep an eye on is Chipola (Fla.) JC 1B JC Vanek, who was a tremendous performer this spring and provides a loud hit/power combo.
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