As the college baseball season draws to a close, attention shifts toward the upcoming MLB draft season. Although the main event will not take place until mid-July, many of the top prospects are preparing for crucial evaluations in their respective conference tournaments. Performing well in these high-stakes environments could significantly enhance their standings on draft boards as the selection date approaches.

Recent expert mock drafts provide insight into the potential outcomes of the draft, offering a detailed look at the landscape of prospects. In a mini-mock draft conducted by analyst McDaniel, the first 14 picks feature a notable representation from the high school sector, with four of the initial seven selections being prep players. Leading this group is 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 middle infielder Jackson Holliday. McDaniel emphasized that the draft order remains fluid, stating, "this one is still wide open."

Following Holliday in the mock draft is Jamie Arnold, a left-handed pitcher from Florida State University, and Seth Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher from Corona High School in California. Two additional collegiate left-handers, Liam Doyle from the University of Tennessee and Kade Anderson from Louisiana State University, are selected next, along with shortstop Billy Carlson, Holliday's teammate, and Eli Willits, a shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma. The draft continues with collegiate position players Aiva Arquette from Oregon State University and Jace LaViolette from Texas A&M University, and concludes with Kyson Witherspoon, a right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma. The mini-mock wraps up with JoJo Parker, another prep shortstop from Purvis High School in Mississippi.

Another mock draft by Mayo extends to 27 players, featuring many collegiate pitchers and high school middle infielders at the top. Mayo's selections exhibit minimal variation from McDaniel's, as the first 11 players listed closely align, albeit in a slightly altered sequence. Holliday and Arnold again claim the top two spots, while Doyle ranks third and Arquette moves up to fourth. Mayo suggests that the Colorado Rockies might select a college pitcher with the fourth pick, but indicated that if they prefer a college hitter, "Arquette would be the choice as a shortstop with 17 homers and an OPS north of 1.100."

In Mayo's draft, Anderson is projected to slip to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 6 due to the historical hesitance of teams to select right-handed high school players. Despite this, Mayo considers Anderson to be "one of the top-ranked prep players in the country, behind only Holliday." Reuter's version of the mock draft deviates from the others by opting for Arnold in the top position, citing his unique combination of potential, stability, and readiness for the major leagues, making him a strong candidate for a swift journey through the minor leagues.

In this mock, Holliday is not placed in the second or third spots either, with Arquette and Hernandez occupying those positions instead. Reuter acknowledges Arquette's rise attributed to his impressive start to the junior season, along with improved walk and strikeout rates after transitioning from second base to shortstop. Similarly, Reuter perceives Hernandez as a promising prospect, stating he meets all criteria to become an elite pitcher in the game.

Holliday finds himself selected at No. 4 by the Colorado Rockies, where Reuter labels him as "a potential offensive superstar," suggesting his playing style is more akin to that of his power-hitting father rather than his brother, who is more contact-focused. The mock introduces a new name at No. 5: Marek Houston, a shortstop from Wake Forest, previously ranked 15th by Mayo. Reuter highlights Houston's well-rounded skills and high floor, predicting a strong likelihood of being selected within the top 10. Another new entry into the top 10 is Tyler Bremner, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara, who lands at No. 10 in Reuter's mock. Despite his stock having dipped due to an inconsistent beginning to the season, Reuter notes that Bremner is once again trending upward as a candidate the Chicago White Sox may consider as they look to pursue a best-available strategy during their rebuilding phase.