With the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft just a month away, set to kick off on July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, the St. Louis Cardinals are poised to make waves with their No. 5 overall pick. As mock drafts flood the baseball world, Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo released his fourth projection of the season, predicting the Cardinals will select high school shortstop Willits, a dynamic talent from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma.
“No. 5. Cardinals — Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS,” Collazo stated. “It sounds like the Cardinals could have a shot at anyone in the draft outside of Ethan Holliday. They might be in a situation where they are hoping someone cuts a deal in front of them and pushes more of their top targets down the board (though, to be fair, every team in the draft hopes for this). In this scenario, Willits feels like the favorite if the team wants to take a hitter, and Jamie Arnold could be the top option if the team would prefer to take a pitcher.”
MLB.com ranks Willits as the No. 5 prospect in the 2025 draft class, labeling him a “slam dunk” early first-round pick. The 17-year-old, who will be one of the youngest players in the draft at 17 years and 7 months on Draft Day, brings a compelling mix of pedigree and potential. “Willits comes from a baseball family, with father Reggie playing in the big leagues before coaching with the (New York Yankees) and returning to his alma mater as the associate head coach at Oklahoma—where Eli’s brother, Jaxon, is starring as a sophomore,” MLB.com noted. “Willits also is committed to the Sooners but is unlikely to get to Norman because he’s a slam-dunk early first-rounder after reclassifying from the 2026 class. He draws some comparisons to Anthony Volpe with better physical tools at the same stage, and he’ll likely be the youngest true prospect in the 2025 crop.”
Willits’ ties to the Yankees through his father’s coaching stint add an intriguing layer to his profile, but it’s his on-field ability that has scouts buzzing. With comparisons to a young Anthony Volpe and a skill set that includes advanced hitting and defensive tools, Willits could be a cornerstone for the Cardinals’ future. If Collazo’s prediction holds, St. Louis may land a transformative talent capable of shaking up the MLB landscape.
As the draft approaches, the Cardinals’ front office will weigh their options, with Willits emerging as a prime candidate to anchor their draft class. Whether they stick with the high-upside hitter or pivot to a pitcher like Jamie Arnold, the No. 5 pick promises to be a pivotal moment for the franchise.