The 2025 MLB Draft is underway in Atlanta with Mississippi players set to hear their names called through Monday.
This article will be updated, in chronological order, throughout the 20-round draft as players from Mississippi, currently playing for Mississippi colleges and universities, or committed to Mississippi schools come off the board.
JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis High School – Rd. 1, No. 8 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
For a second consecutive year, a Mississippi high school shortstop has been picked within the top 10 of the MLB Draft. Jackson Prep product Konnor Griffin did it in 2024 as the ninth overall pick to the Pittsburgh Pirates with Parker following one pick higher in 2025.
The all-everything Purvis slugger was this year’s Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and led the Tornadoes to another state championship appearance. MLB.com ranked Parker as the No. 9 overall prospect on the board and is considered one of the most polished high school players in the entire draft. The pick’s slot value is projected to be $6.81 million.
JoJo and his twin brother Jacob, who is also expected to be a high draft pick, are both committed to play collegiately at Mississippi State.
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss – Rd. 2, No. 45 overall (Colorado Rockies)
Middleton, the 2025 Ferriss Trophy winner and multi-outlet First Team All-American, was one of the top pitchers in the country for the length of his junior season.
The Benton Academy product compiled a 10-1 record with a 2.31 ERA, ranking second nationally in WHIP (0.85), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.55), seventh in strikeouts (122), ninth in ERA, and 11th in total wins. Middleton jumped up draft boards as his dominance continued, considered the No. 41 prospect in the draft.
The 45th pick holds a slot value of $2.17 million.
Landon Harmon, RHP, East Union Attendance Center – Rd. 3, No. 80 overall (Washington Nationals)
Harmon is the highest prep pitcher taken in the MLB Draft since J.T. Ginn was a first round pick in 2018.
The New Albany product boasts big league potential with an eye-popping fastball that brushed 99 mph his senior season. The 6-5 flamethrower projects as a starter long term but is raw, which is likely why he dropped down a bit from his ranking as the No. 48 prospect in the draft.
Like Ginn was, Harmon is a Mississippi State commit at the time of his selection. The 80th pick slot value is just over $1 million, meaning the Bulldogs will likely have to pay the high school hurler a significant sum to entice him to the college ranks.
Jake Cook, OF, Southern Miss – Rd. 3, No. 81 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
Cook burst onto MLB scout radars after hitting for a nearly .450 batting average through the first half of the 2025 season.
The Madison Central product was originally thought of as a southpaw pitching prospect, but after leading Southern Miss with a .350 batting average, along with 13 doubles, three home runs, and a team-high 83 hits, Cook turned heads as a hitter and outfielder. He also made quite the impression at the recent MLB combine, notching a combine-best 3.51 30-yard dash.
Cook is considered a raw talent having only one college season as a position player under his belt, and now he’s been rewarded with a $993,900 pick slot value.
Mason Morris, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 3, No. 83 overall (Cincinnati Reds)
Morris, a Tupelo product, made a massive leap from his sophomore to junior seasons.
After posting a 6.99 ERA in 2024, the righty became one of the most dependable middle relievers in the Southeastern Conference, earning Second Team All-SEC honors at season’s end. His plus plus cutter is what put him on front office wish lists, with a workable power fastball and quality slider.
Like Middleton and Cook, Morris is a junior and will more than likely move on to the professional ranks with a slot pick value of $964,800.
Nick Monistere, 2B, Southern Miss – Rd. 4, No. 126 overall (Houston Astros)
Monistere played nearly every position in the field defensively in his three years at Southern Miss. While he settled into an every day second baseman role, a lack of an obvious position at the next level may have dropped him down the board.
But a banner junior season earned him a higher pick than expected. The 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year hit for a .323 average, including 12 doubles, 21 home runs (15th nationally), and 72 RBI — leading both his team and the league in the two latter categories. Monistere also earned multiple All-America honors, including a first team nod by the NCBWA.
A slot pick value just south of $600,000 likely means the Brandon native will sign the dotted line for the Astros.
Luke Hill, 3B, Ole Miss – Rd. 4, No. 132 overall (Cleveland Guardians)
Hill made an immediate impact in his first and potentially only season in Oxford.
The Arizona State transfer paced the high-powered Rebels with 82 hits as well as 46 walks. Hill also had the team’s top batting average of .336, along with eight home runs and 40 RBI. The Baton Rouge product was a Ferriss Trophy finalist for his efforts and was also named to the All-SEC Second Team.
Late fourth round is where the line between obvious signing and a potential return to college begins to blur, though Hill is expected to move on to the professional ranks with a slot pick value of $561,400.
Pico Kohn, LHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 4, No. 134 overall (New York Yankees)
The big lefty took full control of the ace role in 2025 after going undrafted in 2024, earning himself plenty of attention from professional prognosticators.
Kohn sported a competitive 4.73 ERA as a starter in the SEC, along with an arm slot and arsenal that projects well at the pro level. His advancement in stuff, power, and control compared to a year ago boosted his attractiveness as further growth is likely.
After redshirting in 2023 due to injury, Kohn does have another year of eligibility. With a pick value of approximately $550,000, the Yankees will aim to use a hefty signing bonus to draw him to the minors.
Davion Hickson, LHP, Mississippi State commitment – Rd. 5, No. 165 overall (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Rice transfer was a headline portal commitment for newly minted skipper Brian O’Connor, though the staff was aware that Hickson carried some draft risk.
Hickson was a big-time ace for the Owls in 2025, striking out 90 batters over 73 innings with a 3.82 ERA. He was a Second Team All-AAC selection and was thought of as a prime suspect to be plugged into the weekend rotation for the maroon and white in 2026.
Now, with a pick value of $407,300, the question is whether MSU can lure him away from a chance to move on to the world champion Dodgers system.
Will McCausland, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 7, No. 222 overall (Cleveland Guardians)
Another first year Rebel, McCausland became a valuable bullpen arm in critical moments for Mike Bianco’s club.
The Saint Joseph’s transfer notched a 4.32 ERA in 23 relief appearances, along with 55 strikeouts and 11 walks. McCausland was picked ahead of stock as he was not listed as a top 250 draft prospect. Pick No. 222 carries an estimated value of $256,000.
Riley Maddox, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 8, No. 231 overall (Washington Nationals)
After going undrafted in 2024, Maddox earned a top 10 round selection via another competitive year as a weekend starter in the SEC.
Maddox started 16 games for the Rebels in 2025, finishing with a 5.56 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 30 walks in just under 70 innings pitched. The Jackson Prep alum likely gets right at or just under the $239,900 pick value due to a lack of leverage with no collegiate eligibility remaining.
Evan Siary, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 8, No. 235 overall (Texas Rangers)
Siary leaped from a 7.48 ERA in 2024 to a 4.00 ERA in more than twice the innings in 2025.
The chief reason the Starkville High School product, who was not listed as a top 250 prospect, scaled the board is his proven ability to compete as a starter against high quality bats. Siary earned 10 starts for the Bulldogs in 2025 and held opposing bats to a measly .220 batting average.
The pick value is $233,400.
Karson Ligon, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 9, No. 262 overall (Toronto Blue Jays)
Ligon has been a promising prospect since his freshman year at Miami, where he was named to the 2022 ACC All-Freshman Team.
He began to round into form as an SEC arm as junior in 2024, posting a 4.56 ERA in 15 appearances. MSU pitching coach Justin Parker leaned more heavily on Ligon in 2025, and the senior handled a 33-inning increase well, logging a 5.40 ERA with 73 strikeouts at season’s end.
Ligon is out of eligibility and pick No. 262 holds an estimated value of $206,900.
Mason Nichols, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 9, No. 267 overall (Tampa Bay Rays)
The second Jackson Prep alum taken in this year’s draft, Nichols is a proven piece after a successful collegiate career, though still has plenty of projected room for development.
Nichols’ numbers slipped from 2024 to 2025 after moving from a primarily relief role to a starting slot, pointing to the likelihood of scout’s seeing him more as a reliever at the next level, at least in the short term.
Pick No. 267 holds an approximate value of $203,900.
Hunter Hines, 1B, Mississippi State – Rd. 10, No. 291 overall (Washington Nationals)
Mississippi State’s all-time home run king will don red and white to begin his professional career.
After collecting a career program-record 70 home runs in his time in Starkville, Hines exhibited a powerful swing that obviously has the potential to play at the big league level. The question is whether the lefty slugger can cut down on the swing and miss.
Hines is picked at an estimated value of $193,800.
Jacob Johnson, RHP, Pearl River CC – Rd. 11 No. 325 overall (Texas Rangers)
In his freshman season at Pearl River, Johnson compiled a program-tying record of 12 wins across 16 starts and helped lead the Wildcats to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA World Series. Additional numbers include 71 innings of work with a 2.28 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 70 strikeouts.
The JUCO All-American is currently committed to Auburn and will more than likely stay put in the collegiate ranks, hoping for a higher draft spot in future years.
Luke Dotson, LHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 11, No. 333 overall (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Dotson can still be considered a raw talent with just 35.1 inning pitched on a college mound, but less of a risk after being developed by Justin Parker for two years in Starkville.
Although the 6-4 southpaw wasn’t a heavily used piece in 2025, he was impressive when he was, sporting a 3.09 ERA with 34 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a .214 opponent batting average. Dotson has two years of eligibility on his card, meaning the Diamondbacks will likely need to use some surplus cash to pull the rising junior into the professional game.
Talon Haley, LHP, Lewisburg High School – Rd. 12, No. 349 overall (Los Angeles Angels)
Haley is one of the most remarkable stories in the draft and thought of as one of the most talented prep left-handers in the class.
The Lewisburg product fought through two UCL tears and Tommy John’s surgeries, a battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and endless rehab to return for a banner senior season. Haley had scout’s buzzing with his mid-90s fastball with ride and life, paired with a plus hammer curve and power slider.
Haley was ranked the No. 91 draft prospect but fell significantly, likely due to health concerns. The young flamethrower is committed to Vanderbilt and more than likely takes his talents to the college level.
Connor Spencer, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 12, No. 361 overall (Chicago Cubs)
Spencer reclaimed his closer role with the Rebels in 2025 and did it in style.
The righty posted a stout 1.82 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and a .176 opponent batting average while leading the team in saves for a second straight with eight total and 14 for his career. Spencer projects as a reliever at the next level as well, with a plus fastball as the foundation of his arsenal.
The Hernando native will shed the powder blue for Chicago blue after finishing his eligibility in 2025.
Nate Williams, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 13, No. 391 overall (Chicago Cubs)
Williams will join his college rival Spencer at the next level.
After not throwing a pitch for two straight years in college, Williams became a dependable spot reliever for the maroon and white in 2025. In 27.2 innings pitched, Williams posted a 4.23 ERA with 51 strikeouts to just 11 walks.
The Georgia native’s fastball also packs a serious punch and will be used as the cornerstone of his development as a pro.
KK Clark, RHP, Pearl River CC – Rd. 15, No. 454 overall (Baltimore Orioles)
Clark is coming off an exceedingly impressive season for Pearl River.
The Brandon product helped lead the Wildcats to the Division II national title series with a 1.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 12-2 record, striking out 116 batters to just 22 walks. Clark is committed to Louisiana Tech, but could forego the remainder of his eligibility for a shot at working his way up in one of the most well-regarded farm systems in baseball.
Jacob Pruitt, RHP, Mississippi State – Rd. 15, No. 461 overall (Philadelphia Phillies)
Pruitt didn’t quite make the impact that Justin Parker was hoping for after a banner season at Indiana State in 2024.
The righty was knocked around in a handful of early appearances leading to a shrunken role on the Bulldog staff. At season’s end, Pruitt finished with a 7.23 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 15 walks in 18.2 inning pitched.
If the Yorktown, Ind. native is not enticed by the Phillies’ offer, he will have the option to return to college baseball with one year of eligibility remaining.
Patrick Galle, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 17, No. 508 overall (Boston Red Sox)
While getting scant opportunity on the hill in his first two years at Ole Miss, just 11 innings pitched total in 2024 and 2025, Galle has still garnered attention from the next level.
The Biloxi native has dazzled in summer league action for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League, primarily his high level stuff. The fastball has often hovered in the upper-90s and gotten up to 99. Triple digits could be in the tank for the flamethrower and is even more effective paired with a low-90s cutter.
Landen Payne, RHP, Southern Miss – Rd. 18, No. 526 overall (Chicago White Sox)
Payne burst onto the scene in 2025, finishing with a 2.76 ERA while punching out 47 batters and walking just six.
The Ocean Springs native has dealt with injuries more than once through four years of college baseball, with the most recent being easily the best campaign of healthy baseball. MLB scouts like the power fastball that can push 98 mph, along with a power slider and sweeper that routinely bested quality hitters.
Even with another year of eligibility remaining, Payne will reportedly sign with the White Sox.
Brayden Jones, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 18, No. 537 overall (Tampa Bay Rays)
Jones is another example of an arm with high-level stuff that was good but not great.
But an upper-90s fastball and plus slider gives the Rays plenty to work with that could potentially get big league hitters out. Jones posted an average ERA of 5.11 with 85 strikeouts and 39 walks across three years of college ball.
The Madison Ridgeland Academy product has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining.
Jacob Parker, OF, Purvis High School – Rd. 19, No. 573 overall (Arizona Diamondbacks)
The twin brother of first rounder JoJo Parker was projected to follow not far behind his sibling, but tumbled more than 15 rounds lower than his overall prospect ranking of 109.
Some mock drafts had Parker as high as the second round due to his size (6-3, 215 lb.), raw power from the left side, and athleticism in the outfield. The most likely explanation is that when the Purvis star wasn’t taken in the first three rounds, he expressed intentions to play collegiately at Mississippi State and front offices veered away for fear of wasting a pick.
The Diamondbacks perhaps took a flyer on the young outfielder on the off chance he wants to play professionally immediately, like his twin brother.
Sam Tookoian, RHP, Ole Miss – Rd. 20, No. 589 overall (Los Angeles Angels)
Tookoian is an interesting selection for the Angels in late stages of the draft.
The Fresno, Calif. native made just five appearances pitched only three innings in 2025, so the pick is almost entirely based on projection. Tookoian does have an elite frame at 6-5, 240 lb. and has shown electric stuff at times. Like many on this list, Tookoian must decide between trying his hand in the low minors vs. another year of college experience.
Jay McQueen, OF, Brandon High School – Rd. 20, No. 595 overall (Texas Rangers)
McQueen boasts a bevy of two-way success at Mississippi’s highest level of prep ball, hitting for a .435 average in 2025 with an 1.197 OPS and also posting a 2.98 ERA on the mound.
The youngster showed off some power potential late in his senior season as well, giving scouts an inkling that he might develop into an athletic center or left fielder that can do damage at the dish. McQueen is committed to play for Lane Burroughs and Louisiana Tech.
Connor Gehr, RHP, Meridian CC – Rd. 20, No. 604 overall (Baltimore Orioles)
In one season at Meridian, Gehr racked up 83 strikeouts to just 25 walks for a 2.31 ERA in 12 appearances, seven of which were starts.
He averaged nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings, so clearly has stuff that plays up. Gehr is committed to play at the four year level for Delta State, or he will move on to pursue professional aspirations with the Orioles.