The countdown to the 2025 Draft is on, and players across the Northeast are set to make their final impressions on one of the country’s premier showcase circuits.
The MLB Draft League begins its fifth season of play Wednesday, deepening its impact on the Draft process and player development at large in the process.
Last year, a record 52 alumni from the Draft League were taken in the MLB Draft, beginning with Royals fourth-rounder LP Langevin. Twenty players from the circuit’s history opened this year on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 team rankings -- including Mets right-hander Jonah Tong (NYM No. 4/MLB No. 99), who was just added to our Top 100 prospects list -- and that should only expand as word continues to get out about how much of a springboard the Draft League can be for players’ careers.
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To get fans ready for Opening Day, here’s a primer on the MLB Draft League and some of the storylines to follow in '25:
The season schedule
The Draft League is split into two halves. The first runs from June 4-July 12 and is focused on Draft-eligible players from the high school, junior college and college ranks who are trying to boost their stock ahead of the July 13 Draft, part of MLB's All-Star Week festivities in Atlanta.
The second half runs from July 16-Sept. 3, and it’s when the league is run essentially like an independent circuit, using professional players hoping to impress enough to earn an affiliated opportunity.
The teams
Six teams compete in the Draft League, all of which were former Minor League clubs: Frederick Keys, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes, West Virginia Black Bears, Williamsport Crosscutters and Trenton Thunder.
The big name in 2025
New York prep right-hander Miguel Sime, out of Brooklyn's Poly Prep Country Day School, is the most notable talent headed to this year’s iteration of the league as he headlines the Trenton roster. The 18-year-old pitcher is ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 91 Draft prospect in the '25 class.
Standing 6-foot-4, Sime’s best asset is his plus-plus fastball, an offering that has been around 97-99 mph for much of the spring. He’s shown more comfort with his 78-81 mph slider this year too, and that could give him another above-average weapon. Sime has displayed issues with his control in the past, making his time with the Thunder the perfect opportunity to put those to rest.
Sime is committed to go to LSU in the fall, but given his already lofty status, he may never make it to campus in Baton Rouge. If all goes well this summer, he could become the highest-drafted MLB Draft League alum in the circuit’s short history, supplanting 2023 93rd overall pick Sabin Ceballos from that distinction.
Sime is scheduled to make his Draft League debut in Trenton’s opener Wednesday.
Other 2025 Draft notables
Bruin Agbayani, INF, Frederick: Benny Agbayani played five seasons in the Majors (four with the Mets) two decades ago, and now his son, Bruin, is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. The younger Agbayani is considered the best prep talent out of Hawaii this year as a left-handed-hitting shortstop with good bat speed. He is committed to Michigan.
Harrison Didawick, OF, State College: The University of Virginia left fielder was ranked No. 125 in last year’s Draft class by MLB Pipeline after hitting 23 homers and posting a 1.055 OPS in 63 games but went unselected. He’s coming off a down year (.225/.327/.384, six homers) and could use his time with the Spikes to regain his stock. At his best, he packs a ton of pull-side power into his 6-foot-4 frame, but he needs to do better against non-fastballs to get to that pop.
Nick Frusco, LHP, Trenton: Sime isn’t the only hurler bringing some electricity to the Thunder. Left-hander Frusco, another New York native, brings plenty to dream on with his 6-foot-5 frame. He’s touched 94 mph in showcase events and should build on that velocity as he continues to mature, considering he only turned 18 on May 9 (one day after Sime’s birthday). His slider could be another weapon against Draft League bats.
Mario Magana, SS, West Virginia: Standing 6-foot-3, Magana is a solid-sized shortstop who also happens to be a near-top-of-the-scale runner, having recorded a 6.38-second 60-yard dash at the Perfect Game National Showcase last summer. A switch-hitter, he could show some pop but will need to work on his overall hit tool, and that should be a focus against college-level arms over the next few weeks.
Two-way players
West Virginia has two two-way players on its roster this summer, and both play part of the time behind the dish.
UNC Wilmington’s Bryan Arendt posted a .279/.378/.497 slash line with seven homers in 55 games this spring and made six appearances out of the Seahawks' bullpen, where he touched 98 mph. Michigan’s Will Rogers spent even more time on the mound with eight saves, a 4.32 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings for the Wolverines, earning All-Big Ten First Team honors along the way. He hit .264/.350/.491 over 60 plate appearances when he got the bat in his hands.
Big-time velocity
Plenty of eyes will be on Sime's heater in the weeks ahead, but there are a few other Draft Leaguers who could light up the radar gun this summer.
Mahoning Valley righty JJ Tylicki was up to 101 mph this spring pitching for Youngstown State. A transfer from Kansas, the 6-foot-2 hurler has stuff that should be awfully enticing after striking out 68 in 51 2/3 innings for the Penguins, but he has serious control issues too, with 65 walks in that span.
Williamsport right-hander Tyler Dietz should turn some heads with his fastball, having also touched 101 mph in the past. Like Tylicki, his big focus will be on finding the strike zone after fanning 21 and walking 25 in 17 2/3 innings at Florida Tech this spring.
Familiar names
Bloodlines will be another big theme of this year’s circuit beyond the aforementioned Agbayani. Carsten Sabathia (son of CC) and Jaden Sheffield (son of Gary) will join forces for Trenton, the home of the Yankees’ former Double-A affiliate, after they spent the spring at Houston and Georgetown respectively. Florida International right-hander Owen Puk -- brother of Marlins lefty A.J. -- heads to the West Virginia roster, while Princeton outfielder Caden Shapiro (son of Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro) joins State College.
Managers and coaches
One of the benefits players get from joining the Draft League is access to former big leaguers in their dugouts. Preston Wilson (Frederick), Quinton McCracken (Mahoning Valley) and Shawn Chacon (Trenton) will serve as managers this season, while Jimmy Nelson (Frederick, pitching), Lastings Milledge (State College, hitting) and Jay Jackson (West Virginia, pitching) assume coaching roles.
Canadian Junior National Team Series
The six Draft League teams won’t just face each other this summer. The Canadian Junior National Team is scheduled to play six exhibition games against Draft League clubs from June 10-15. Frederick and West Virginia will host the contests, giving local fans a glimpse at the next generation of a program that has helped produce All-Stars like Justin Morneau, Russell Martin and Josh Naylor.