2025 MLB Draft: 5 Prospects Mariners Fans Need to Know
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Oregon State slugger Aiva Arquette prepares to take a swing during a regular season baseball game. Credit: Aiva Arquette/Instagram [/caption]
There has been much talk about the Seattle Mariners farm system since the end of the 2024 season; some of it due to the quality of the group, and some of it because there just hasn’t been much else to talk about.
And that system is going to get better in July. Substantially better, in fact. Because the ping pong balls bounced the right way, the Mariners were able to procure the third pick in the 2025 MLB Draft despite having the second-worst odds of any team that was eligible, setting them up to land a blue chip talent.
With the college baseball campaign now underway and the high school season having started or close to beginning, now’s a good time to take a look at some prospects fans of the Mariners should be following as potential targets with that third-overall selection.
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State University
Before you scream “another pitcher? In this economy?” keep in mind that the MLB Draft doesn’t work the same way as the NFL, NBA , WNBA or NHL versions do. Most players who are drafted are not expected to contribute for at least two years — with a few notable exceptions — so drafting for “need” typically isn’t something you see. Yes, the Mariners have a lot of pitching at the highest level and the offense, well, has significant questions. But the Mariners should take the best player available regardless of position and there’s no such thing as too much quality pitching.
Arnold just might be the best player in the entire draft class this year. The 20-year old southpaw forged an impressive 159/26 K/BB ratio for the Seminoles in 2024, and he has posted a 1.13 ERA with a 24/2 K/BB ratio in his first three starts of the 2025 campaign. Arnold is able to get his fastball up to 97 mph with quality movement to the offering, and he complements that heater with a slider that gets plus grades from the scouting community. Add in the ability to throw those two pitches and a solid change for strikes while hitting his spots, and Arnold has the necessary goods to pitch at or near the top of a rotation someday. He could be someone who pitches in a rotation by the end of 2026.
Ethan Holliday, INF, Stillwater High School (Oklahoma)
Yes, Ethan is the brother of Orioles infielder and 2022 first-overall pick Jackson Holliday, and the son of former All-Star Matt Holliday. Ethan has a chance to go as high as his big brother, and is widely considered the top hitting prospect in the draft regardless of level. On the 20-80 scouting scale, Holiday has 70 grade power — or plus-plus — from the left side, the type of pop you see from hitters who routinely hit 30 homers.
The length in his swing does lead to some potential contact issues, but Holliday makes enough hard contact to potentially be one of the few batters who can hit for a respectable average even with some swing-and-miss in his profile. He’s a solid athlete, but a move to third base is just as likely as him sticking at shortstop. Holiday wouldn’t be ready to contribute until the latter half of the decade most likely, but the upside could very well be worth the wait as a cornerstone piece for an MLB lineup.
Aiva Arquette, INF, Oregon State University
Oregon State has been a baseball hotbed for quite some time, and produced the top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft in Travis Bazzana. They have a chance to do the same thing in 2025 with Arquette, and the right-handed hitting infielder has gotten off to quite the start to 2025 with a slash of .432/.542/.730 with three homers in his first 10 games.
A transfer from Washington, Arquette generates quality bat speed from his 6-5, 220-pound frame, and his smooth stroke gives him a chance to hit for both average and power at the highest level. He also has a plus arm, and that gives him a chance to stick at shortstop despite just average speed, or could help make him an outstanding defender at the hot corner. Arquette doesn’t have quite the upside of Holliday or a few other bats in the 2025 class, but he might have the highest floor with a pretty solid ceiling to go with it.
Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
If Arnold is the “safe” pitching prospect, Bremner is the one who offers more volatility — but potentially more reward. The right-hander can get his fastball up to 98 mph, and the offering has enough movement to call it a potential 70-grade pitch. His best pitch, however, is his change. It comes from the same arm-speed as his heater, and it’s late movement can make hitters swing and miss or make weak contact.
Bremner is not just a two-pitch hurler, however, as there’s the makings of an above-average slider at his disposal as well. He generally throws all three pitches for strikes, and the command isn’t far behind the control. The risk is that Bremner has durability concerns, and there are some who believe he profiles best in a relief role. There’s certainly value if he ends up being a bullpen arm, but obviously Seattle isn’t taking a pitcher with the third pick with the hopes he helps their relief corps.
Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
LaViolette was one of the top hitters in college baseball in 2024 with 29 homers and a 1.175 OPS for the Aggies while helping the team reach the College World Series, and he’s already homered three times to begin the 2025 campaign. The 21-year-old has massive power from the left side, and it’s easy to see him being among the league leaders in homers someday if everything goes to plan. He’s also a solid athlete who puts up plus run times, and a strong throwing arm makes him a candidate to play any outfield position.
Though he’s a patient hitter who is more than willing to draw his share of free passes, the concern with LaViolette is that he swings and misses a ton — 81 strikeouts last year in 334 plate appearances — and he’ll miss at pitches in the zone while also occasionally chasing. Still, a chance to be a 35-plus homer outfielder who can be well above-average in the corner outfield or solid enough in center makes LaViolette someone Seattle will be keeping a close eye on to open/end the season.
Others to watch: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson High School (Texas); Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton High School (Oklahoma); Brendan Summerhill, OF, University of Arizona; Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona High School (California)
