The Major League Baseball (MLB) draft is where future stars step into the spotlight. Lately, prospects seem to reach the majors faster than ever.
Last year’s draft saw six players earn call-ups in a hurry. Teams are clearly leaning into cost-effective development instead of splurging on trades.
This year’s draft? Even more exciting, honestly. There’s a deep pool of high-upside pitchers who might shake up big-league rosters sooner than anyone expects.
Let’s dig into some of the key players from this year’s class who could speed through the system.
The 2025 MLB Draft: Pitching Talent Takes Center Stage
Pitchers have really become the main attraction in recent MLB drafts. This year, there’s a whole crop of arms who might help at the top level in just a year—especially if teams use them out of the bullpen.
Clubs seem bolder with their prospects, often prioritizing immediate needs instead of letting guys marinate in the minors for ages.
Doyle’s Ascension on the Back of an Elite Fastball
Doyle’s fastball has scouts talking. With a wild 40 percent whiff rate, it’s the kind of pitch that can launch a guy straight to the majors.
He could show up as a reliever as soon as this fall, or maybe develop as a starter by next June. Teams have to decide: use him now in the bullpen, or let him work as a starter in Triple A a bit longer?
Anderson’s Impressive Collegiate Résumé
Anderson led Division I in strikeouts and made noise in the College World Series. That’s a big résumé, no question.
Still, he threw a ton of innings, and some folks worry about his durability. He’s likely set for a Double A debut, maybe even a shot at the majors in a year, but teams might just shut him down for the rest of 2025 to make sure he stays healthy.
Chris Sale Comparisons and Rapid Paths: Arnold, Wood, and Shores
Arnold, Wood, and Shores each have their own path, but all three could move fast. Their profiles make them legit candidates for aggressive promotions.
Arnold: Low-Effort Mechanics, High Ceiling
Arnold’s smooth delivery has people thinking about Chris Sale. It’s easy, it’s repeatable, and it’s got scouts intrigued.
He can jump between relief and starting roles, which could help him reach the bigs in a hurry—if he follows anything like Sale’s path. Teams will likely use him wherever they need him most.
Wood’s Fastball/Slider Arsenal
Wood missed time with a shoulder issue, but his fastball/slider combo is already major-league caliber. If his medicals check out, he could land in a postseason bullpen this year.
His arm brings both excitement and a bit of worry. Still, teams seem to think he could make an impact sooner rather than later.
Shores Finds His Groove in Relief
Shores lost his starting job earlier in his career, then reinvented himself as a reliever. Now he’s firing 100 mph fastballs and snapping off nasty sliders.
If a team drafts him as a bullpen arm, he could move up quickly. He’s got the stuff to handle high-leverage innings, and teams looking for immediate bullpen help probably won’t want to wait long.
A Lack of College Bats, but Irish Could Surprise
This draft is loaded with pitching, but college bats? Not so much. Still, Irish might break the mold.
He switched to the outfield after a shoulder injury, but it’s his bat that stands out. If a team values his offense more than his glove, he could rise faster than people expect. For Irish, it’s all about whether teams bet on his hitting.
The Aggressive Promotion Trend Continues
The 2025 MLB Draft tells a story of teams pushing prospects into the majors faster than ever. With a lot of premium pitching and not so many standout position players, front offices seem eager to fill roster gaps right now—even if it means speeding up development.
Relievers keep landing on the fast track. This year’s group looks ready to help bullpens almost immediately.
Names like Doyle, Anderson, Arnold, Wood, Shores, and Irish stand out. This draft really highlights how much teams value players who can make an impact fast, sometimes at the expense of patience.
It’s a bold approach, honestly. Fans might see a wave of new faces debuting before the 2025 season even wraps up.
Here is the source article for this story: Liam Doyle and 6 other 2025 MLB Draft prospects who might reach the majors fastest
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