As the college baseball season approaches its conclusion, the focus now shifts to the upcoming MLB draft, which is set to take place in mid-July. In preparation for this event, many of the top prospects are poised to showcase their skills in the forthcoming conference tournaments. Excelling during these critical moments could significantly enhance their positions on the draft boards, potentially leading to late-rising selections. Prior to the inevitability of these shifts, it is prudent to examine the landscape of player rankings and expert mock drafts currently circulating.

Among these insights, McDaniel has provided a more compact mock draft projecting the first 14 selections. The initial segment of the draft is heavily populated with high school talent, situating four prep players among the first seven picks. Leading off is Ethan Holliday, a third baseman from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, alongside his brother Jackson Holliday, who is a middle infielder for the Baltimore Orioles. However, McDaniel notes that this draft positioning remains fluid. Following Holliday in the mock is Jamie Arnold, a southpaw from Florida State, and Seth Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher from Corona High School in California. College lefties Liam Doyle from Tennessee and Kade Anderson from LSU follow suit. Rounding out the top selections are shortstop Billy Carlson, also from Hernandez's school, and Eli Willits, a shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma. This mock draft concludes with collegiate players Aiva Arquette, a shortstop from Oregon State, and Jace LaViolette, a centerfielder from Texas A&M, before another prep shortstop, JoJo Parker from Purvis High School in Mississippi, enters the discussion.

Another mock draft by Mayo extends a deeper analysis with a total of 27 players, emphasizing the presence of college pitchers and high school middle infielders at the top. Notably, there are few divergences from McDaniel's predictions, as the first 11 players listed appear in both mocks, albeit reordered. Mayo commences with the same choices of Holliday and Arnold. However, he places Doyle at No. 3, while Arquette rises to No. 4. The possibility arises that the Colorado Rockies might seek a college pitcher with their fourth pick, though Mayo suggests that if the team opts for a college hitter, Arquette could be the optimal choice, given his impressive 17 home runs and an OPS exceeding 1.100. Notably, Mayo observes that Anderson has slipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 6, reflecting on historical reservations that teams have regarding right-handed high school players. Still, Mayo regards Anderson as one of the top-ranked prep athletes in the nation, trailing only Holliday among his peers.

Reuter's mock draft departs from the others by not placing Holliday first; instead, he highlights Arnold in the top position, praising his exceptional combination of potential, floor, and readiness for the majors, categorizing him as a surefire MLB starter who could rapidly progress through the minor leagues. Consequently, Holliday does not land in either the No. 2 or No. 3 spots; those positions are occupied by Arquette and Hernandez. Reuter lends credit to Arquette's rise due to his significant improvements early in his junior season, particularly in walk and strikeout ratios, as well as his transition from second base to shortstop. Regarding Hernandez, Reuter asserts that he possesses all the attributes required to emerge as the next elite pitching prospect in the game. Holliday eventually secures the No. 4 selection by the Colorado Rockies, with Reuter acknowledging the youth's potential to become an offensive powerhouse while comparing him more closely to his power-hitting father than his brother, known for contact hitting. A novel contender appears at No. 5 with Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston, previously ranked No. 15 by Mayo. Reuter describes Houston as possessing a well-rounded skill set and high floor, making him a safe bet to be drafted within the top 10. The top 10 is further bolstered by UC Santa Barbara righty Tyler Bremner at No. 10, who was initially rated as No. 17 by Mayo. Reuter mentions that while Bremner's stock slipped during an inconsistent start to the season, recent performances indicate a positive trend, potentially making him a candidate for the Chicago White Sox, who are expected to pursue the best available talent during the early stages of their rebuilding process.