Once touted as a top-40 pick, Oregon slugger slides to fourth round in MLB Draft

The Oregon Ducks finally saw one of their own come off the board in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Outfielder Mason Neville was selected in the fourth round, 114th overall, by the Cincinnati Reds — a surprising drop for a player ranked No. 35 on MLB’s prospect list heading into the draft.

It’s unclear why he slipped, but Cincinnati may have landed a steal.

Neville stood out this season with a mix of athleticism and left-handed power, drawing comparisons to a young Cody Bellinger for his raw tools and offensive upside.

“Neville has long intrigued scouts with his overall athleticism and offensive potential from the left side of the plate,” the report read. “The raw power is very real, and after hitting 16 homers with a 33.5 percent strikeout rate, Neville climbed draft boards by cutting down his swing-and-miss, helping him reach 26 home runs to tie for the NCAA Division I lead.”

In 57 games for Oregon, Neville hit .290 with 26 home runs and 57 RBIs, finishing with a .429 on-base percentage and a .724 slugging percentage. He also added 16 doubles and nine stolen bases.

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While swing-and-miss issues remain — particularly against off-speed pitches — scouts are encouraged by his improved plate discipline. He’s known for punishing fastballs and showcasing solid gap-to-gap power with plenty of lift to his pull side.

“He can drive the ball gap-to-gap with plenty of pull power,” the report continued. “He punishes fastballs and still struggles against softer stuff, but scouts are much more bullish overall that the bat will play at the next level.”

Neville’s tendency to strike out may have played a role in his drop down the draft board, but the potential is still there. If he can continue to sharpen his approach at the plate, he has a real shot to move quickly through the Reds’ system and make an impact. 

For a fourth-round pick, Cincinnati may have found real value.