Lookout Landing’s 2025 Prospect Rankings: Honorable Mentions #1

A cluster of arms that just missed our list

As we anticipate a new big-league season, there’s also a new minor-league season ahead, which means it’s time for Lookout Landing’s annual prospect rankings. This year, we’re once again working backwards up to our top prospects, starting with some groups of players who merit mention even if they aren’t some of our top-ranked prospects. We’re kicking off this year’s rankings with a batch of young pitchers, many of whom just missed our top twenty overall. All of these players are intriguing in their own right; however there’s enough concern to give us pause when it comes to ranking them any higher. Don’t be surprised if/when they’re ranked in a drastically different spot this same time next year.

Check back every Tuesday and Thursday this month and the next for the latest updates to this series.

Tyler Gough

Gough, a ninth-rounder from the 2022 draft, was a high schooler at the time and has had solid results in his time as a professional after missing considerable time last season with an injury. Gough is an interesting prospect to evaluate. On one hand, Gough doesn’t have huge strikeout numbers, can struggle with walks, and doesn’t throw much harder than the low 90’s. That said, Gough has a strong frame for a starter, fluid mechanics on the mound, and posted the highest Stuff+ metric of any pitcher his age in the minor leagues (he was tied for the second best Stuff+ in the minor leagues when normalizing by pitch type, something Baseball America has opted to do in their recent models). At just 21 years old and pitch model data indicating Gough could have much better strikeout potential than immediately meets the eye, he could ascend to new heights with some improved velocity and/or command. He was the first player off our list and is a player fans should monitor over the coming months.

Teddy McGraw

Armed with perhaps the best pure arsenal in the system, McGraw has never fallen down prospect boards for lack of talent. Seen as a potential first rounder in the 2023 draft, McGraw struggled with injury throughout his early career, resulting in the dreaded double TJ before he was draft eligible. With McGraw now needing additional time to recover from an arm injury he sustained after briefly debuting last season, McGraw’s professional future is in doubt due to his repeated health problems. If he is able to return, McGraw features an upper-90’s fastball paired with a tight slider with excellent sweep and a fading changeup that falls off the table. Without knowing the severity of his injury nor his specific prognosis, it’s irresponsible to speculate about a timetable for McGraw’s recovery—if he is able to return from this latest injury blow—but we’re all hoping he’s able to return and fulfill his big league aspirations. He’s certainly a good enough pitcher to deserve a chance.

Brock Moore

Last year’s seventh rounder out of Oregon, Moore is a large-bodied right-hander that features some high octane stuff and athleticism on the mound. The fastball has been up to 101 MPH thus far, carrying plenty of ride up out of a surprisingly low release height that sits discernibly below the league average slot (for reference, he’s 6’6, 230lbs). Additionally, he’s armed with a nasty sweeping slider and a changeup that’s shown excellent arm side fade and tumble. In his brief introduction to professional ball at Modesto last season, Moore managed to strike out 10 of the 15 batters he faced, walking three. Control was a major issue for Moore in college and will be the make-or-break development that Moore will need to find in order to be successful as a professional, but it’s not all that dissimilar of a profile to Brandyn Garcia, another late rounder that flew up prospect lists after a dominant 2024 season. I wouldn’t be shocked if they try Moore out in some multi-inning role to start the season with the ultimate hope he could start; however, the likeliest outcome for Moore is in the bullpen with leverage upside.

Walter Ford

Still one of the youngest affiliated pitching prospects in the system, Ford has had mixed results to start his professional career thus far. The lean right-hander has had to spend a considerable amount of time and energy recovering from a major illness that took him the better part of a year to fully shake. Upon building back his strength, Ford spent most of his time in the ACL last season, pitching to solid results. He never really showed excellent strikeout stuff nor walk prevention, although his ability to get guys out and limit damage was commendable. The lack of stuff/polish showed its ugly head once he was promoted to Modesto, however, unfortunately leading to a poor showing at the level. Ford needs a clearer direction towards what kind of pitcher he wants to be at the highest level. Is he a pitchability guy or strikeout monster? Does he want to live on a high groundball rate? What’s his velocity ceiling? The list of questions could go on and on, but it’s far too early to give up on Ford and his potential. Almost certain to start in Modesto for the season, here’s to hoping the Vanilla Missile can piece together a fantastic 2025 season.

Christian Little

Another arm from last summer’s draft, Little faced a tumultuous journey through college ball after entering the sport as one of the most widely touted recruits in the country. Entering Wake Forest’s lauded rotation at just seventeen years old, Little never was able to find his footing, ultimately transferring to LSU after two rocky seasons. Unfortunately for Little, he never was able to establish himself at the level many expected him to reach, ultimately falling to the 11th round and signing for far less than what he would’ve gotten out of high school. Still, the 21-year-old Little is incredibly young for a college draftee and possesses a large, physical frame with intriguing stuff. The fastball is comfortably in the mid-90’s, topping out around 99 MPH with some life to it. His curveball shows high spin rates with varying levels of command, and he’s got an inconsistent changeup that’s not a huge part of his present arsenal, though reports have indicated it’s flashed positively at times. Scott Hunter, Mariners scouting director, said post-draft that he believes Little is going to “thrive” in the Mariners’ player development system, calling him a player with “untapped potential.” With as much success as the Mariners have had with later round pitchers, Little could be the latest reclamation project to pop in the Seattle system.

Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman

Another 2024 draftee whose debut we’re eagerly waiting for next season, the Mariners drafted the 6’2 righty out of ECU in the 16th round. A 2024 Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, “the Law Firm” was the Pirates’ electric closer, striking out 79 hitters in just over 46 innings (24 games). Lunsford-Shenkman racks up his strikeouts with a funky low three-quarter slot and nasty breaking balls rather than overwhelming hitters with plus velocity, but it would be nice to see him crank up the velocity some.

Cole Phillips

Another prospect in the vein of Teddy McGraw, Cole Phillips is yet to make his professional debut as a pitcher, let alone his organizational debut after being traded to Seattle in the Jarred Kelenic deal last offseason. Phillips received a considerable bonus after being selected in the second round of the 2022 draft and has some electric stuff, but without any idea of how it looks at present, it’s impossible to effectively rank Phillips as a prospect. Recovering from his second TJ surgery, there’s hope Phillips will be able to make his debut in 2025, however the recovery plan may lean to the “overly cautious” end of the timeline to avoid any reinjury. Best wishes to Cole on his path to recovery!

Aiden Butler

The long, lanky Butler was a bit of a deep cut in last year’s draft, drafted in the ninth round out of Polk State, a junior college in Florida. Listed at 6’6”/193 lb, Scott Hunter had suggested on draft day the 21-year-old Butler might be a bit taller than his listed height, perhaps in the 6’7” - 6’8” range. Butler clearly has a considerable amount of bulking up to do, however with incredibly fluid mechanics for his size and a three pitch mix that have all shown well at various points, Butler provides the Seattle organization with excellent clay to mold into a potential starter. Butler is usually in the low 90’s with his fastball right now, however it’s easy to think he could get his velocity up with added mass. Butler is a relative unknown at this point and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him spend the year in the ACL, but if he’s able to add to his large frame and gain velocity, Butler could be something to get excited about. He’ll be one to monitor from afar this season.

That concludes the first edition of our 2025 prospect ranking series! Check back in later this week for another batch of honorable mentions.