Rockies steal Reds' dream pick in latest MLB mock draft

The 2025 MLB Draft is fast approaching and teams are lining up their draft boards in hopes of landing the next face of the franchise. The Cincinnati Reds, after selecting Chase Burns No. 2 overall in last year's draft, will be picking ninth this year.

Opinions vary on who the Reds will land with pick No. 9, but most fans will tell you it'll either be a shortstop or a pitcher. MLB.com's latest mock draft — for the second time in two weeks — has Cincinnati adding Oklahoma pitcher Kyson Witherspoon to the farm system. The right-hander is highly regarded as a consensus top-10 pick and would only deepen the Reds' pitching depth in the minor leagues.

But one of the best pitching prospects in the draft, according to Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis at MLB.com, will come off the board at No. 4. This latest mock draft predicts the Colorado Rockies will pick Florida State hurler Jamie Arnold with the fourth pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, robbing Cincinnati of their dream selection.

Rockies steal Jamie Arnold (Reds' dream pick) in latest MLB mock draft

The Reds have an affinity for college pitchers at the top of the draft. In addition to their top two picks in the last two drafts — Burns and Rhett Lowder — Cincinnati has also added Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Luke Holman, and Ty Floyd in recent years. Throw in the likes of Joe Boyle and Christian Roa, and it's clear that the Reds prefer to select experienced arms during the first few rounds of the draft.

While the aforementioned Witherspoon fits that mold, Arnold is arguably the most polished hurler in this year's draft. Regarded as having the highest floor and highest ceiling — outside of Seth Hernandez — Arnold has drawn comparisons to last year's NL Cy Young Award-winner Chris Sale.

There are other college pitchers that could be available when Cincinnati makes their first-round pick. Arnold and Witherspoon will be in the mix, but so will Kade Anderson (LSU), Liam Doyle (Tennessee), and Tyler Bremner (UC Santa Barbara).

Given that Cincinnati has selected prep shortstops with their second-round picks in the past two years, going with an experienced arm over another middle infielder would seem to be a wise strategy. Jace LaViolette is arguably the top outfield prospect available this year, but he's coming off a poor showing for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2025. Arnold would be the Reds' dream selection, but he could be long gone by the time Cincinnati picks.

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