As the college baseball season approaches its conclusion, the focus shifts to the MLB draft, which is slated for mid-July. Leading up to this event, many top prospects will participate in their respective conference tournaments, providing a critical opportunity to showcase their skills. Performances in these high-stakes environments may significantly influence their draft status as teams evaluate potential late-rising candidates for selection.

Recent expert mock drafts have shed light on the potential selections in the upcoming draft. In a recent evaluation, McDaniel presented an updated top-150 prospect ranking alongside a mini-mock draft predicting the first 14 picks. Notably, four of the first seven selections comprise high school athletes, reflecting a trend favoring prep talent in the early rounds. Stillwater High School's Ethan Holliday, who is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and brother of Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday, is projected as the leading pick. However, McDaniel advised that this prediction remains uncertain, emphasizing the fluidity of the draft landscape.

Following Holliday, Florida State left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold and Corona High School right-hander Seth Hernandez are anticipated to be selected. This is followed by college left-handers Liam Doyle from Tennessee and Kade Anderson from LSU, with Hernandez's teammate, shortstop Billy Carlson, and Fort Cobb-Broxton High School’s Eli Willits rounding out the top picks. College prospects, including Oregon State's Aiva Arquette and Texas A&M's Jace LaViolette, are also set to join the draft, along with Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon and prep shortstop JoJo Parker from Purvis High School in Mississippi. Alternate mock drafts, such as Mayo's, highlighted a similar pattern, showcasing college pitchers and high school middle infielders prominently among the top selections.