As the college baseball season nears its conclusion, the anticipation surrounding the MLB draft intensifies. While the main event is set for mid-July, the upcoming conference tournaments present a pivotal opportunity for top prospects to showcase their abilities. Performing well in these high-stakes environments could significantly influence their positions on draft boards. Before these upcoming events take place, a review of current expert mock drafts can provide insight into the landscape of potential selections.

In a recent analysis by ESPN's McDaniel, a mini-mock draft was released featuring projections for the first 14 picks. Notably, the top selections reflect a preference for high school talent, with four of the first seven picks coming from prep players. McDaniel highlighted Ethan Holliday, a third baseman from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, who is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and the brother of Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday, as the leading choice. He also pointed out, however, that the draft landscape remains fluid. Following Holliday, Florida State pitcher Jamie Arnold was projected as the second overall selection, succeeded by Seth Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher from Corona High School in California. This early round also includes collegiate left-handers Liam Doyle from Tennessee and Kade Anderson from LSU, as well as additional prep players like shortstop Billy Carlson and Eli Willits.

Another expert, Mayo, produced a mock draft that spans 27 players deep, with a notable presence of college pitchers and high school middle infielders at the top. The first 11 selections closely resemble McDaniel's mock, albeit with minor positional changes. Mayo also began with Holliday and Arnold, though he placed Doyle at number three and saw Arquette rise to the fourth spot. Mayo raised the prospect of the Colorado Rockies potentially selecting a college pitcher with their fourth pick, suggesting Arquette as a viable option given his impressive performance, including 17 home runs and an OPS exceeding 1.100. As the draft predictions progressed, Anderson was seen slipping to the Pittsburgh Pirates at pick six, attributed to the historical hesitance teams have with high school right-handed pitchers. Despite this, Mayo emphasized Anderson’s status as one of the top prep athletes in the country, ranking him just behind Holliday among high school prospects.

In a deviation from the previous analyses, Reuter’s mock draft did not include Holliday as the number one pick; instead, he placed Arnold at the forefront, citing his strong potential and readiness for the major leagues. Holliday landed in the fourth position in Reuter’s mock while Arquette and Hernandez claimed the second and third spots, respectively. The analyst credited Arquette's rise to a successful junior season, marked by improved walk and strikeout rates, alongside his move from second base to shortstop. On Hernandez, Reuter expressed confidence in his potential to emerge as a leading pitcher in professional baseball. As the draft order unfolded, Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston and UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner made their mark, with both players likely to secure spots within the top ten. As all three mock drafts suggest shifting dynamics, one thing remains clear: the upcoming selections are poised to shape the MLB landscape for years to come.