Billy Carlson is MLB Pipeline’s No. 7-ranked prospect for the 2025 Draft. Here is everything you need to know about Carlson:
FAST FACTS
MLB Pipeline ranking: No. 7
Position: SS
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 lbs.
Bats/throws: R/R
Age: 18 (Born July 29, 2006)
School: Corona (Calif.) High School
MLB PIPELINE SCOUTING GRADES (20-to-80 scale)
Hit: 50
Power: 50
Run: 55
Arm: 65
Field: 70
Overall: 55
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. He has big upside at the plate, but it’s his defense that stands out the most
Some scouts have graded Carlson’s fielding ability and arm strength at 70 on a 20-80 scouting scale. His smooth movements, range and cannon for an arm make him arguably the best defensive shortstop -- and possibly even the best defensive player regardless of position -- in this year’s Draft class. The arm strength isn’t surprising given the fact that the University of Tennessee commit flashed a mid-90s fastball when he pitched in high school.
At the plate, Carlson is a line-drive hitter with good bat speed who has room to grow into an even more polished product at the plate. He hit .365 with a .517 on-base percentage in his senior year with Corona High School.
2. He’ll likely have familiar company on Draft day
Carlson is one of four players from Corona High School in Southern California who are listed among the top 250 Draft prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. The others are right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez (No. 3), third baseman Brady Ebel (No. 64) and right-handed pitcher/outfielder Ethin Bingaman (No. 150).
The school has produced four MLB Draft picks so far -- outfielder Mike Darr (2nd round, 1994), right-hander Joe Kelly (3rd round, 2009), infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor (10th round, 2016) and right-hander Tristan Beck (4th round, 2018).
3. He could become teammates with his favorite player growing up
That player is none other than Mike Trout. And with the Angels slated to make the second pick in this year’s Draft, it’s definitely possible that Carlson could someday play on the same field and hit in the same lineup as Trout.
Carlson has also mentioned Barry Bonds and Fernando Tatis Jr. as favorites.
4. Baseball is in his blood
Carlson’s mother, Mary, was born in Mexico and moved to Southern California when she was a child. Her father and grandfather each played in a municipal league in Calvillo, Mexico. Her cousin, Aldo Flores, has been an infielder in the Mexican League for the past five seasons.
5. The name of the game is baseball (but also sometimes pickleball and PlayStation)
It’s pretty much been all baseball all the time for Carlson over the past several years, but occasionally, he’ll allow himself to indulge in a game of pickleball in his backyard or some video games. He told Prospect Dugout in an interview that he’s a PlayStation guy -- PS5, to be exact.