This power hitter could become the steal of the draft.
Saturday marks the eve of the 2025 MLB Draft. Soon, many of dreams from the next generation of professional baseball will come true. With the league getting ready to go on All-Star break, teams are focused on finding their next stars.
The Houston Astros have the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report put out his final mock draft before the first round begins tomorrow afternoon. At the 21st pick, Reuter predicts that Houston will draft SEC power hitter Jace LaViolette out of Texas A&M.
“After Jace LaViolette entered the spring as a legitimate candidate to go No. 1 overall, no prospect fits the boom-or-bust mold better in this draft class than the Texas A&M slugger,” Reuter wrote.
With current left fielder Jake Meyers nearing the age of 30, LaViolette can serve as the perfect replacement by the time he has made his way through the Astros’ minor league system.
LaViolette showed off some impressive power during his time in College Station. He hit 29 home runs in his sophomore year and 18 in his junior season. The biggest reason for his drop in draft stock is his batting average. After hitting .305 in his second season, it dropped to .258 this past season. However, if LaViolette can correct his average, he could be an early steal in the draft.
In the story, Reuter compares LaViolette to a “more athletic” Adam Dunn, who played 14 seasons in the MLB and was a two-time All-Star.
Category: Baseball
