Reds' 2025 MLB Mock Draft will give fans Cam Collier vibes

The 2025 MLB Draft is still several months away. High school and college players haven't even taken the field yet this season, but that didn't stop MLB.com from releasing their first mock draft of the year.

To no one's surprise, the Cincinnati Reds are projected to select — wait for it — a shortstop. That's right, Jim Callis' first mock draft for 2025 features the Reds picking Eli Willits in Round 1. Willits is a prep infielder from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma.

Interestingly enough, there are some similarities between Willits and former Reds' first-round pick Cam Collier. Will Collier's success tip the scales in Willits' favor come draft day? Perhaps.

Reds' 2025 MLB Mock Draft will give fans Cam Collier vibes

Willits reclassified for the 2025 draft class and is just 17 years old. Reds fans will remember that Collier actually finished high school early and wound up at Chipola Junior College after reclassifying for the class of 2022. Collier faced tough competition that season that helped prepare him for his upcoming career in pro ball.

Willits' father also played professional baseball. Reggie Willits was a seventh-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels back in 2003 and played at the same high school his son currently attends. Willits had a six year major league career as a utility outfielder. Willits spent his entire career in Anaheim and ended his major league tenure with a .658 OPS.

Collier's dad was also a major league ballplayer. Lou Collier spent eight seasons in the big leagues and played for five different organizations. Ironically, Cam's father finished his career with an identical .658 OPS. This feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone, doesn't it?

There are many months remaining until the Reds actually make their selection, but it's always fun to speculate. This year's MLB Draft Lottery did the Reds no favors, as they're scheduled to pick ninth overall next July after owning the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB

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