April update: Three players the Mariners could target with the No. 3 pick

Just a month into the college baseball season and boards are already shifting. Who has moved into Seattle territory at No. 3? Who's dropped?

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On February 15 we did a little guessing before the college and amateur baseball seasons started with an article theorizing who the Seattle Mariners could possible target with the No. 3 pick (you can find that article here: Five players the Seattle Mariners could target with pick No. 3).

That list went like this:

1. Jamie Arnold, LHP

2. Jace LaViolette, OF

3. Tyler Bremner, RHP

4. Aiva Arquette, SS

5. Billy Carlson, SS/CF

Well, boards are adjusting. Jace LaViolette is no longer a consensus top-3 pick after proving to be far too strikeout prone and seeing his production significantly dip thus far in comparison to his 2024 season.

Aiva Arquette got off to a hot start but needs to show he’s not just a fastball merchant as he struggles with patience on the breaking stuff.

Tyler Bremner has the stuff but the results haven’t been there, he’s sporting a 4.24 ERA through 34.0 innings in the big west conference (yikes).

Jamie Arnold has probably cemented himself as the best prospect and no-brainer first pick in the draft at this point. The Nationals should be salivating at the potential of drafting a guy with ace written all over him and could be pitching in the big leagues by 2027, or sooner. It would take an injury or some really boneheaded decision by Washington or the Los Angeles Angels (this wouldn’t surprise me, however) for Arnold to get to Seattle at No. 3, so for that reason he won’t be on our list. So? Who’s left?

(Oliver Boctor [@Oboctor on X] is a former scout and analyst for the Future Stars Series who has now gone solo! He is connected within the scouting community and has a keen eye for talent. He recently published a top-100 2025 MLB draft prospects big board, I am going to reference that multiple times. Here is the link to his board: Top 100 2025 MLB Draft Prospects)

1. Billy Carlson, SS — Corona High School

HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 178

BAT/THROW: R-R

Billy Carlson seems to be the best prep prospect and arguably the best prospect behind Jamie Arnold in the draft. He may go anywhere in the top-5 in the draft, including No. 1 if he continues to show out this summer. Here is what Mr. Oliver Boctor has on the Corona, CA native:

“Carlson’s the most dynamic prep prospect in this Draft, dangerous on both sides of the ball, though he’ll get paid as a shortstop. On the dirt, he’s a plus defender with an 80 arm and strong range, which gives him a pretty large margin for error when it comes to the other facets of his game. Which isn’t to say they’re lagging behind by any means. He’s got a fantastic eye, doesn’t whiff much, and added strength in the offseason that makes his power look solid average right now, potentially with more.

On the mound, Carlson’s worked primarily in one-inning relief, with a fastball up to 97 MPH with ride and run, and a legit curveball with high spin rates. I’d be surprised if he pitches much at all in pro ball, however. He looks to develop into an impact bat as he focuses on just one side of the ball. He’ll be 19 years old on Draft Day.”

Seattle is known to like the strength of this draft, which is prep bats. If none of the college bats significantly rise by the time the draft rolls around, one of the prep players may just be the best player available. Carlson figures to be in that mix.

2. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP — University of Oklahoma

Height: 6-2

Weight: 206

BAT/THROW: R/R

If Witherspoon continues pitching has he has in his first seven starts of the season, he is going to be selected in the top-5 of this draft. Especially if he makes it through the dog days of the SEC baseball schedule displaying the same ability to generate whiffs as he did in non-conference play. He has 64 (!!) strikeouts through his first 39.0 innings (!!) and holds on to a 2.31 ERA. I’ll turn it over to Oliver for some in depth analysis:

“Kyson showcased massive stuff for Oklahoma in a starting role in 2024, averaging 95 MPH on the fastball as a sophomore, but the strikes were limited in part due to a problematic arm path including a violent stab in the back that left his arm and body out of sync.

Coming into 2025, that’s something Kyson’s toned down massively, the arm path looking more fluid, leaving his body and arm more synced, and what’s followed is considerably more strikes.

Kyson now looks to be a top 10 talent in the class, showing a plus fastball sitting 95–98 MPH deep into his outings with massive ride and some cut, and a plus slider in the mid-80s with good sweep for the velocity band it occupies. He’s also added a cutter that’s worked wonders, jamming in on the hands of left-handed batters and generating plenty of whiffs, acting well as a bridge to his slider. He’s also added a curveball that looks solid and improved feel and action on his changeup, though it still projects as a fringe offering.”

A plus fastball with a plus slider sounds like the ol’ Jerry Dipoto special to me. Keep a careful eye on Witherspoon over the next few months.

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3. Eli Willits, SS — Fort Cobb Broxton HS (OK)

HEIGHT: 6-1

WEIGHT: 180

BAT/THROW: S/R

Eli Willits will likely be the youngest player drafted in the top-10. He reclassified and is now going to be just 17 come draft day. A true shortstop that shows plus contact ability. Seattle has drafted Cole Young, Tai Peete, Colt Emerson and Michael Arroyo in recent years, all of them thought to have a chance to play shortstop coming out of the draft, but none of them having panned out that way in their pro development. Willits has as good a chance to stick there full-time as any prospect in the Mariners system, and probably in this draft. Oliver?

Willits reclassified from the 2026 class, and after playing on the summer circuit and proving himself on the big stage despite being notably younger than most of his competition, Willits now looks to be a potential top-10 pick.

Willits has baseball bloodlines and is a definitive shortstop who flashes above-average defense. At the plate, he’s a switch-hitter with fantastic bat-to-ball skills from both sides and the ability to shoot the ball in the gap, a scrappy ballplayer who puts the game in motion. He’s not the biggest power threat at this stage, but he played the summer circuit as a 16 year-old, and he’s got plenty of time to let that power develop. He’ll be a model darling for his age on Draft Day, just 17 years and 7 months old.

Dreamy. We’ll do another update in a few months.

Enjoy Baseball!