2024 saw some familiar names continue to excel at a high level and some new names break onto the scene. While we recap some of the names that drew the biggest buzz in 2024, we’ll give an outlook on who is in prime position to step on to the big stage in 2025.
Few players have received as much buzz as Aidan Miller. Miller, a 2023 first-round selection of the Phillies, is exceeding already high expectations. He ended the season in Double-A after performing at exceptionally high levels in Low-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore. Miller was invited to represent the Phillies at the prestigious MLB All-Star Futures Game in Arlington, TX. Baseball America named Miller its Phillies Minor League Player of the Year.
Aidan Miller raked this past season for the Phillies organization. He was named SAL Player of the Month in August and was selected to participate in the Futures Game. The infielder earned two promotions during the year to High-A and then Double-A where he ended the year playing 5… pic.twitter.com/OJY8gnJCIF
— Milb Central (@milb_central) January 2, 2025
Bobby Seymour has long been a name to know, but 2024 was an instrumental year for the left-handed slugger. Seymour, a 2017 high school grad, had a successful career at Wake Forest, earning the ACC Player of the Year honor in 2019. Since then, he’s progressed through Tampa Bay’s system and finished the 2024 season in Triple-A Durham.
Blake Wright, Clemson grad and Rockies draftee, had one of the better seasons in college baseball. Wright hit 22 homers and hit for a .340 average for the Tigers, who finished a pair of wins away from an NCAA College World Series berth. Wright was selected to the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, signed, and was then assigned to the Fresno Grizzlies
Ryan Sloan was a prep star who is now in the Seattle Mariners organization. Sloan was one of the country’s top high school arms who was selected in the second round, 55th overall. The 6-foot-4, right-handed pitcher is a prospect the Mariners are extremely excited about and will invest a lot into in the coming years.
Brendan Summerhill’s breakout season was 2024 at the University of Arizona. He had continued to trend upwards, then, a season ago, he was inarguably one of Arizona’s sparkplugs and contributed to some of its top moments of the season. Summerhill is receiving mock predictions in the first round, anywhere from the late top-10 to mid-20s. Until the 2025 MLB Draft, Summerhill will have to perform well again in Arizona’s first year in the Big 12.
The 2025 Top 100 Draft Prospects list is out and with it comes a host of intriguing talent, including an exciting blend among the top 10: https://t.co/nBc7PV2fdD pic.twitter.com/3CJmcUDWDF
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 7, 2024
Paul DeJong finished his eighth season in the MLB, now becoming a journeyman of sorts. Over the past two seasons, DeJong has played for a total of five organizations. In 2024, he played for the White Sox before being dealt to the Royals, who were playoff bound at the time. DeJong played 37 games with Kansas City but did not make the playoff roster. He is currently a free agent.
Another breakout star of 2024 was Jackson Kent of Arizona. Kent was the Friday night starter for the Wildcats who was eventually drafted by the Washington Nationals. He was selected in the fourth round, 108th overall.
Now that we’ve flipped the page to 2025, what names will be the breakout stars of tomorrow? We’ll give some insight into some names you’ll be hearing a lot of this year.
The aforementioned prospects like Miller, Seymour and Sloan are names you’ll hear a lot about. Seymour was a step away from the big leagues a season ago, and if all goes well, he’ll make it to The Show in 2025.
As for Miller and Sloan, there’s a lot of work to be done but since the Phillies and Mariners are excited about these prospects, look for them to be promoted to new affiliates at least once this season.
Some more names that will be talked about a lot are prep stars like Conor Essenburg and Jack Bauer. Essenburg is a recent Kentucky commit who is one of the country’s top two-way players. Set to attend the Super 60, Essenburg will continue to attract pro scout attention ahead of his senior season at Lincoln-Way West.
Bauer, the LHP and Virginia commit, will enter his senior season at Lincoln-Way East. Bauer is one of the top arms in the class and was a participant in USA Baseball’s National Team Development program this past summer. Bauer is another name you could hear called in July during the MLB Draft.
Noah Edders is listed at No. 70 in D1 Baseball’s Top-85 Impact Transfer Pitcher rankings. He will begin his first season at Troy University and looks to make an immediate impact now as an upperclassman.
Wrapping up my fall travels with an intrasquad at @TroyTrojansBSB, where I got a good look at 2 key transfer arms. Adam Falinski (left) is back strong from TJ, 93-96 today, flashed very good change and slider. Noah Edders showed feel for 4 pitches, ran sinker up to 94. pic.twitter.com/oX7pPWz8mt
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) November 10, 2024
Tomas Valincius, though a freshman, has the potential to get time at one of college baseball’s perennial contenders, Virginia. Valincius enters his first season collegiately but is no stranger to big games and strong competition, having attended The Baylor School in Tennessee.
Liam Peterson stepped onto the scene last year for Florida and had a solid year as a freshman. Now, as a sophomore, Peterson is expected to make a leap and be heavily relied on for the Gators. Peterson was part of USA Baseball’s College National Team program in the summer of 2024.
FALL REPORT: Florida
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) November 22, 2024
With Liam Peterson back in tow on the mound and a loaded offensive lineup, @GatorsBB looks to make yet another trip to Omaha in 2025. @JoeHealyD1 on the #Gators Fall Workouts.
READ MORE: https://t.co/TUoDsYSG2D pic.twitter.com/Nd4hkZIEec
We look forward to these names continuing to solidify themselves as some of the top players at their level. We also look forward to more players popping up as so many do.