Built for this. Born for this. Here we are. Or at least, ChatGPT thinks so.
Of the two LLMs (Large Language Models), I, and others, preferred ChatGPT. Gemini is great for a lot of things, but no matter how I tweaked the commands, it kept throwing me lists of players that had already been drafted or were about to become the next Shedeur Sanders of baseball.
I took the best players of the two models, mostly that of ChatGPT, and formulated what I think seems like the best fitting top 5 draft picks for the Yankees in 2025. I then gave that list to ChatGPT to see what it could make of that list and how they would fall. Further, I have Splaine, which it said goes at some point in the draft, going in the 4th round.
I should add that ChatGPT gave me the name of Jack Moroknek, an outfielder at Butler (I didn’t say it was always correct), for their 6th round pick. He seems like a power-forward pick, like the Yankees tend to lean towards. He’s also from Carmel, Indiana, not New York.
From his profile at Butler: “Led the team in hits (81), batting average (.372), total bases (153), RBIs (57), home runs (18), runs scored (57), slugging percentage (.702) and OPS (1.145)… Ranked second in the BIG EAST in total bases and home runs.” Baseball America called Moroknek the best power hitter, but he’s also aggressive with his swing decisions, which I would think may place him a little lower in the draft.
🧢 2025 New York Yankees Mock Draft
🔹 Pick #39 – Cam Leiter (RHP, UCF)
- Summary: Bloodlines, pitch data, and command upside make him an ideal comp round arm.
- Projection: No. 3 starter ceiling with high spin rate fastball/curveball.
- Comparison: Nathan Eovaldi
- Slot Value: ~$2.2 million
🔹 Pick #103 – Quentin Young (OF, NJ – HS)
- Summary: Projectable outfielder with plus speed, growing pop, and raw tools.
- Projection: Starter-caliber center fielder with 20/20 potential if hit tool develops.
- Comparison: Drew Stubbs
- Slot Value: ~$650,000
🔹 Pick #134 – John Paone (LHP, PA – HS)
- Summary: Projectable lefty from Pennsylvania with smooth delivery, low-90s velocity.
- Projection: Back-end starter or high-leverage reliever with command growth.
- Comparison: Jordan Montgomery
- Slot Value: ~$500,000
🔹 Pick #164 – Jack Moroknek (SS/3B, NY – HS)
- Summary: Underrated New York-area infielder with some pop and good actions.
- Projection: Versatile infielder with bat-first utility potential.
- Comparison: Brooks Lee (lite)
- Slot Value: ~$375,000
📝 Alternate/Backup Pick:
- Tommy Splaine (C, CA – HS)
Could slide into pick #134 or #164 if signability aligns. Solid defensive catcher with leadership traits.
This is how I have the Yankees drafting through the first 6 rounds/5 picks, with ChatGPT giving me scouting grades.
Mock 2025 MLB Draft - Top 5 picks
| Round | Pick (Approx.) | Player | Position | School/Level | Scouting Grades (20–80) | Comparison | Slot Value |
| Competitive Balance A | 39 | Cam Leiter | RHP | UCF | FB: 65 | CB: 50 | CH: 45 | CTRL: 45 | Jack Leiter-like with better pitchability | $2.2M |
| 3rd Round | 103 | Quentin Young | SS/3B/OF | HS (CA) | Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Trey Amburgey with more speed and upside | $650K |
| 4th Round | 134 | Tommy Splaine | C/1B | Arizona | Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Drew Romo-lite with a strong defensive base | $500K |
| 5th Round | 164 | John Paone | LHP | HS (MA) | FB: 50 | SL: 50 | CH: 45 | CTRL: 50 | Similar to early-career Jordan Montgomery | $500K |
| 6th Round | 194 | Jack Moroknek | OF | Butler | Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Run: 50 | Brooks Lee type, with more projection needed | $375K |
Comparing Quentin Young to Trey Amburgey is interesting. Amburgey went in the 13th round in the 2015 Draft. MLB, however, gives him a potential Jayson Werth comp, but they’re concerned about his hit tool. The Yankees never turn away a potential project, and I think there’s high upside with drafting a prep kid with his kind of tools. MLB says Young is the 33rd best available pick, but it’s possible his stock falls given his questionable hit tool. It’s also possible Leiter and Young flip spots; Leiter is ranked at 102. I may change my mind after seeing some content of the two from the Draft Combine, but I think this fits well for the time being because of the hit-and-miss concerns with Young.
I have learned that if you try to ask any of the LLMs for anything past the top 5 potential picks, they really go off the rails. Gemini gave me the name of a kid who was drafted by the A’s in the 3rd round of the 2023 MLB Draft (Cole Miller) as its 6th round pick, along with a prep “toolsy outfielder” that actually attends Saint Leo University in Florida and is a pitcher there (Kaelen Racculia).
We can speculate all we want, and sometimes it’s fun to do so, but we won’t really know what the Yankees will do until draft time comes. We may get a chance to dig deeper later this week once the Draft Combine begins on Tuesday, June 17th at noon, and we can see some video of some of the top 200 kids.
The first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft are announced on Sunday, July 13, starting at 6 PM, with the Draft continuing with Rounds 4-20 on the following Monday, starting at 11:30 AM.
Do you agree with who we think the Yankees choose for their first 5 picks? Would you like to see them go with other players?
No responses yet