2025 NAIA BALL DRAFT CLASS

Gabel Pentecost – Taylor (IN) 6th Round, Pick 186, Houston Astros – Gabe Pentecost became the first NAIA player to be taken in the 2025 MLB Draft, going to the Houston Astros. Pentecost finished his 2025 campaign with a 3.04 ERA, 12-2 record, 27 ER, 116 strikeouts, 21 BB, 13.05 K/9, and a 1.05 WHIP. Pentecost ended his college career with a 3.38 ERA, 26-9 record, four saves, 276 strikeouts, 70 BB, 10.97 K/9, and a 1.22 WHIP. A highlight game of Pentecost’s 2025 campaign would happen on February 28 against Grace College (IN). Pentecost would toss 6.1 innings of one-hit ball. He would rack up 11 strikeouts while only allowing only one walk. A notable stat from Pentecost’s season is that he had 5 games with 10 plus strikeouts.  Pentecost’s strong command and ability to miss bats makes him a promising addition to the Astros’ pitching pipeline. 

Kailen Hamson – Cumberland (KY) 8th Round, 244 Pick, Baltimore Orioles – The southpaw from Cumberlands would be taken as the second NAIA player and pitcher taken in the 2025 MLB Draft, going to the Baltimore Orioles. Hamson wrapped up his 2025 campaign with a 2.72 ERA, 11-1 record, 25 ER, 30 BB, 127 strikeouts, 13.83 K/9, and a 1.05 WHIP. Hamson would end his college career with a 4.00 ERA, 16-2 record, 63 ER, 65 BB, 206 strikeouts, 13.31 K/9, and a 1.33 WHIP. One of Hamson’s signature performances came on April 4 against Carolina (N.C.), when he tossed 6 innings of near-flawless baseball, surrendering just one hit and two walks while striking out 13 and allowing no earned runs. Hamson led the Mid-South Conference in both wins (11) and strikeouts (127), solidifying his reputation as one of the most dominant arms in the NAIA ranks and a great pick up for the Orioles. 

Jadon Williamson – LC State (ID) 11th Round, 318th Pick, Miami Marlins – Jadon Williamson becomes the third NAIA player and pitcher taken in the 2025 MLB Draft, going to the Miami Marlins. Williamson completed his 2025 campaign with a 2.47 ERA, 5-0 record, 16 ER, 13 BB, 86 strikeouts, 13.27 K/9, and a .98 WHIP. Over his collegiate career Williamson posted a 3.11 ERA, 6-0 record, 26 ER, 23 BB, 107 strikeouts, 12.73 K/9, and a 1.16 WHIP. Williamson displayed his dominance when he threw 7 shutout innings against Eastern Oregon. Williamson ended his day with 6 hits, zero earned runs, zero walks, and 15 strikeouts. Williamson would also finish his season leading the Cascade Collegiate Conference in strikeouts with 86 total strikeouts. Williamson’s mix of strikeout ability and command has now earned him the opportunity to take the next step in his career with the Miami Marlins organization.

Brady Parker – Houston-Victoria (TX) 12th Round, 347th Pick, Colorado Rockies – Houston-Victoria’s Brady Parker is the fourth NAIA player and pitcher selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, heading to the Miami Marlins. Parker finished his 2025 campaign with a 3.84 ERA, 15-8 record, 34 ER, 50 BB, 111 strikeouts, 12.54 K/9, and a 1.36 WHIP. Parker’s 2025 campaign would be highlighted by his first game of the season when he tossed a no-hitter against Wiley (TX). Parker went 7 innings with only allowing one walk and collecting 11 strikeouts. Over the course of his collegiate career, Parker compiled a 23-11 record with a 4.71 ERA, 252 strikeouts, 150 walks, and a 10.05 K/9 across multiple seasons. His powerful strikeout numbers and ability to work deep into games made him a key asset for Houston-Victoria and caught the attention of MLB scouts. 

Noah Palmese – Webber International (FL) 14th Round, 412th Pick, Toronto Blue Jays – Webber International’s Noah Palmese, the 2025 NAIA Reliever of the Year, became the fifth NAIA player and pitcher selected in the 2025 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Palmese would end his dominant 2025 campaign with a 2.78 ERA, 3-0 record, 13 saves, 14 ER, 10 BB, 65 strikeouts, 12.90 K/9, and a .88 WHIP. Palmese’s dominant season would be highlighted by his pitching performance against Florida Memorial where he went 3 innings while only surrendering one hit and two walks. He would finish his day with seven strikeouts and pick up his first win of the season. His lights-out performance throughout the year earned him national recognition as the NAIA Reliever of the Year. With his explosive stuff and command under pressure, Palmese looks to bring his relief abilities to the Blue Jays organization. 

Trey Seeley – Hope International (CA) 14th Round, 416 Pick, San Francisco Giants – Hope International’s Trey Seeley became the sixth NAIA player and pitcher selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, being taken by the San Francisco Giants. Seeley completed his lights out season with a 1.72 ERA, 12-1 record, 19 ER, 27 BB, 127 strikeouts, 11.51 K/9, and a .88 WHIP. A highlight from Seeley’s 2025 campaign would be his no-hitter against Ottawa University (AZ). Seeley hurled 9 innings of no hit ball racking up 9 strikeouts and surrendering four walks. Seeley finished his dominant college career with a 2.72 ERA, 23-4 record, 60 ER, 61 BB, 262 strikeouts, 11.89 K/9, and a 1.05 WHIP. Seeley now prepares to bring his talents to the professional level with the San Francisco Giants organization.

Ryan Heppner – British Columbia, 19th Round, 577th Pick, Atlanta Braves – The seventh NAIA player and pitcher selected in the 2025 MLB Draft is British Columbia’s Ryan Heppner. Heppner wrapped up his 2025 season with a 4.38 ERA, 7-2 record, 36 ER, 24 BB, 198 strikeouts, 9.65 K/9, and a 1.18 WHIP. A notable game from Heppner’s 2025 campaign would be his 12 strikeout performance against Warner Pacific (OR). Heppner would finish his day with 7 innings pitched while allowing three hits, one walk, and zero earned runs. Across his college career Heppner put up a 3.85 ERA, 19-6 record, 79 ER, 52 BB, 198 strikeouts, 9.65 K/9, and a 1.18 WHIP. Heppner now takes the next step in his baseball journey with the Atlanta Braves organization.

Robert Phelps – Reinhardt (GA) 19th Round, 581st Pick, Philadelphia Phillies – The final NAIA player selected in the 2025 MLB Draft would be Robert Phelps, infielder from Reinhardt University. Phelps was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 19th round of the draft. Phelps finished his 2025 campaign with a .350 batting average, 75 hits, 30 XBH, 11 home runs, .460 OBP, and .603 SLG. One of his standout performances came against Lindsey Wilson (KY), where he went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two extra-base hits in a dominant offensive showing. Known for his power, plate discipline, and ability to deliver in clutch moments, Phelps solidified his role as one of the NAIA’s top offensive threats in 2025. He now begins the next phase of his baseball career in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Cooper Carter – Staff Writer