MLB Draft Tracker 2025: Sooner State shines on first day of the draft

USA Today

a day ago

The first day of the Major League Baseball Draft was a good one for Sooners.
Sunday proved it was a special year to be a baseball player from the Sooner State.
The first day of the Major League Baseball Draft concluded Sunday night with several Oklahomans selected, including No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School. Willits is the younger brother of Sooners infielder Jaxon Willits and son of ex-MLB outfielder and ex-Sooners outfielder Reggie Willits.
Willits was the first of a number of players with ties to Oklahoma who were selected by MLB clubs. Most of those taken on Sunday will ultimately sign with their professional teams. However, any could choose to continue or, in the case of high-schoolers selected, start their collegiate careers.
Odds are long that the Witherspoon brothers will return to Norman. Kyson Witherspoon went in the top 15, and his elder brother Malachi was taken in the second round. Their catcher, Easton Carmichael, joined them as one of the OU baseball players taken on the first day.
Here's a look at all the players with Oklahoma ties who have been taken in the Draft. Note: the list will update periodically as the draft continues on Monday.
Eli Willits, shortstop - Fort Cobb-Broxton High School
Round 1, Pick 1 - Washington Nationals
Willits is the third youngest player ever taken No. 1 overall behind only Ken Griffy Jr. in 1987 and Tim Foli in 1968. Nationals general manager Mike DeBartolo said Willits ranked as both the best hitter and the best fielder in the draft by Washington's scouts. The son of former MLB outfielder Reggie Willits, Eli signed with the Sooners earlier this year, but almost certainly won't make it to Norman after his selection.
*Ethan Holliday, shortstop - Stillwater High School
Round 1, Pick 4 - Colorado Rockies
Some prognosticators had Holliday, the son of former MLB outfielder Matt Holliday, as the possible No. 1 overall selection. Instead, Holliday fell to Colorado, where Matt Holliday broke out during his time in the bigs, at pick No. 4. Holliday projects as having more power than Willits but not as consistent a bat. Though not an Oklahoma commit, Holliday's selection is a sign that America's Pasttime is alive and well in the State of Oklahoma.
Kyson Witherspoon, pitcher - University of Oklahoma
Round 1, Pick 15 - Boston Red Sox
Kyson Witherspoon was the first collegiate right-handed pitcher taken in the draft and ultimately landed about where projections had him, in the middle of the first round. Kyson Witherspoon was stellar for the Sooners in 2025, racking up 124 strikeouts against just 23 walks over 95 innings. With his selection, Kyson Witherspoon became the first picher taken by the Red Sox in the first round since Tanner Houck in 2017.
Malachi Witherspoon, pitcher - University of Oklahoma
Round 2, Pick 62 - Detroit Tigers
Malachi Witherspoon's selection in the second round came as a surprise to most projections. MLB.com rated him the 121st prospect in the draft and FanGrafs tabbed him at No. 98. The Tigers took him a whole round, or two, above expectation. Like Kyson Witherspoon, Malachi throws hard, but will need to work on command after walking 32 batters in 74 1/3 innings last year with the Sooners.
Easton Carmichael, catcher - University of Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 82 - Pittsburgh Pirates
Carmichael landed around expectations after being rated as the 93rd-ranked prospect in the draft by MLB.com. A three-year starter at catcher, Carmichael will leave OU ranked in the top 10 in several hitting categories. The native Texan was the fourth collegiate catcher taken on the day.