June is right around the corner, which means it’s time for the 2025 College World Series.
The 64 teams have been selected, and a number of prospects have their final chance to impress scouts for July’s MLB Draft. Therefore, we have constructed a list of five prospects that the Baltimore Orioles’ scouting department should keep a very close eye on throughout this year’s CWS.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Luke Stevenson: C – University of North Carolina
The Orioles have the 19th overall pick in the 2025 draft, so let’s start with the 19th overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Luke Stevenson is hands down the best catching prospect in this year’s draft.
Slashing .268/.431/.593 with a 1.124 OPS, Stevenson hit 18 home runs, leading the Tar Heels this season, while collecting 52 RBIs. Stevenson also walked 55 times and currently, in his collegiate career, has 103 walks to 117 strikeouts to his name.
Defensively, Stevenson struggled throwing out base runners, nabbing just 15 in 60 attempts between his two seasons at UNC. Yet, he is a brick wall, allowing just 19 passed balls behind the plate in those two seasons.
Dean Curley: INF – University of Tennessee
The Orioles have two compensation picks because of Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander signing elsewhere this offseason, and Dean Curley could be the perfect pick for one of those. The infielder for the Volunteers is currently ranked 54th according to MLB Pipeline.
Curley really showed out offensively, hitting .313 and posting a .944 OPS. He has 70 hits on the season, including eight doubles and 12 home runs.
Defensively, the numbers hurt his stock a little with 16 errors and a .906 fielding percentage. It’s scary to see, but something that can be fixed with development over time.
Riley Quick: RHP – University of Alabama
When it comes to pitching prospects in this draft class, it’s very left-handed heavy. Riley Quick is the 33rd ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, yet he is the fifth-ranked right-hander and 10th-ranked pitcher overall.
Quick has a 3.54 ERA in 56 innings of work thus far in 2025. He has great control of his arsenal, walking just 20 batters and striking out 64.
The one concern with Quick is how he seems to primarily pitch to contact, as he has given up 54 hits and a .255 batting average this year. The six-foot-six 21-year-old is someone who would be a nice pickup with a compensation pick or a snag in the second round.
Brendan Summerhill: OF – University of Arizona
It baffles us that Brendan Summerhill is ranked 22nd by MLB Pipeline, as he is the best outfield prospect in the draft. The Arizona Wildcat is considered a potential five-tool player, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Summerhill was considered a top 10 pick after the College World Series concludes.
Summerhill is slashing .386/.512/.621 with a 1.133 OPS this season, collecting 51 total hits, 10 doubles and three home runs while knocking in 31 RBIs. The most impressive part is that Summerhill has had 132 at-bats and has just 16 strikeouts.
In 428 collegiate at-bats, Summerhill has struck out 72 times in total. A batter that is contact-first and doesn’t strike out? Yes, please.
RJ Austin: OF – Vanderbilt University
Back in 2023, we talked heavily about Enrique Bradfield Jr. and why the Orioles had to select him with the 17th overall pick. Here we are two years later, and Vanderbilt has another player with a very similar style to EBJ, 100th-ranked prospect, outfielder RJ Austin.
Austin is a defensive speedster in the outfield for the Commodores while also being productive at the plate, posting a .271 average, 10 doubles, six triples and 22 stolen bases so far this season. Austin was also named to the 2025 SEC All-Defensive team.
The Atlanta native could be a huge steal in the third round for the Orioles if he falls that far.
Below is a list of five prospects who just barely didn’t make the cut:
- Andrew Fischer: INF – University of Tennessee
- Alex Lodise: INF – Florida State University
- Tre Phelps: OF/1B – University of Georgia
- Cam Leiter: RHP – Florida State University
- Gavin Turley: OF – Oregon State University
You can catch the 2025 College World Series this weekend on ESPN platforms starting Friday, May 30.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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