As the college baseball season draws to a close, the anticipation surrounding the MLB draft is beginning to rise. Although the official talent selection process will not commence until mid-July, many of the top prospects are gearing up for their most significant auditions during the upcoming conference tournaments. Triumph on this prominent stage may lead to increases in their draft stock as teams evaluate potential talent.

Examining the current landscape of predictions, Moneyline has provided an updated top-150 prospect ranking along with a mini-mock draft projecting the first 14 selections. Notably, the initial portion of the draft appears to be predominantly oriented towards high school talent, with four out of the first seven picks expected to be high school athletes. Leading off this mini-mock is Ethan Holliday, a third baseman from Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, who is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and sibling to Baltimore Orioles middle infielder Jackson Holliday. However, Moneyline notes that this initial draft order remains fluid and subject to change.

Following Holliday in the predictions is Florida State southpaw Jamie Arnold, with Corona High School's right-hander Seth Hernandez shortly behind. The next selections include collegiate left-handers Liam Doyle from Tennessee and Kade Anderson from LSU, followed by Billy Carlson, a shortstop from Hernandez's school, and Eli Willits from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma. The draft continues with position players such as Oregon State's Aiva Arquette and Texas A&M's Jace LaViolette before concluding the first round with Oklahoma righty Kyson Witherspoon and prep shortstop JoJo Parker from Purvis High School in Mississippi.

Another mock draft provided by Moneyline featured 27 players, showcasing a strong concentration on college pitchers and high school infielders at the top ranks. There are minimal deviations from the previous projections. The first 11 players listed in this draft align closely with the earlier mock, albeit in a slightly rearranged order. Similar to the first mock, Holliday and Arnold occupy the top two spots, but here Doyle is slotted at No. 3 while Arquette climbs to the fourth position. Moneyline analysts suggest that the Colorado Rockies might consider selecting a college pitcher at fourth overall. However, if they lean towards a college hitter, Arquette stands out as an appealing option, boasting 17 home runs and an OPS exceeding 1.100.

The analysis continues with Anderson falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the sixth spot. Although historically, teams may exhibit hesitance towards right-handed high school players, Moneyline's prediction acknowledges Anderson as one of the top-ranked prep players nationwide, second only to Holliday. In contrast to the earlier mocks, one projection differs significantly, placing Arnold at the top instead of Holliday. This mock highlights Arnold for his impressive blend of potential, stability, and proximity to the major leagues, forecasting him as a likely MLB starter capable of advancing rapidly through the minors.

Holliday does not appear within the top three selections in this version either, with Arquette and Hernandez taking those spots instead. The swift rise of Arquette is attributed to his strong start in his junior season, improved metrics regarding walks and strikeouts, and a positional transition from second base to shortstop. Meanwhile, Hernandez is noted for possessing all the qualities expected of the next elite pitching prospect.

Holliday is projected to land at No. 4 with the Colorado Rockies, receiving praise as a potential offensive superstar and being compared favorably to his power-hitting father rather than to his contact-oriented brother. A new name enters the projected top ten at No. 5: Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston, who was previously ranked No. 15 in the Moneyline predictions. Analysts comment on Houston's well-rounded game and high floor, making him a safe choice for selection within the top ten.

Further into the predictions, UC Santa Barbara's right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner appears as the 10th overall pick, having been previously ranked No. 17. Despite experiencing some inconsistency in earlier performances that caused his stock to settle, he is now demonstrating upward momentum and is considered a candidate for the Chicago White Sox. Moneyline posits that the White Sox are likely to pursue the best available talent as they navigate the early stages of a rebuilding phase.