2025 MLB Draft Profile: Kyson Witherspoon

[Hector Rodriguez]

Overview

Position: RHP

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 205 pounds

School: Oklahoma

FOF Big Board Rank: 27th

Kyson Witherspoon is a 6’2”, 205-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the Oklahoma Sooners. Witherspoon is one of the top pitching prospects in the 2025 MLB Draft and arguably the best right-handed collegiate pitching prospect in this class.

Witherspoon was not highly-touted coming out of Fletcher High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Perfect Game viewed him as a shortstop prospect instead of a pitching prospect. Witherspoon went undrafted and signed with Northwest Florida State College.

In his freshman season, Witherspoon dominated in the JUCO ranks. Witherspoon made seventeen appearances and thirteen starts. He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and struck out 72 batters in 69 ⅔ innings pitched. After his freshman season, Witherspoon signed with the Oklahoma Sooners and enrolled on campus.

In his first season at Oklahoma, Witherspoon earned a spot in their weekend rotation and had a great sophomore season. Witherspoon made seventeen appearances and eleven starts. He posted an 8-3 record with a 3.71 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, one save, a .228 opponent batting average, and 90 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched. After the season, he was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

During the 2025 season, Witherspoon continued his dominance on the mound for the Sooners. He emerged as their ace and made sixteen appearances (all as a starter). Witherspoon posted a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, a .208 opponent batting average, 31.8 K%, and struck out 124 batters in 95 innings pitched. He was named First Team All-SEC.

Witherspoon possesses a five-pitch mix—fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 99 mph. His fastball holds its plane well and jumps out of his hand. His slider and cutter both live in the upper-80s, but feature horizontal action and depth. Witherspoon’s curveball has great break, but he struggles with command. He hardly throws his changeup.

Witherspoon has a clean, repeatable delivery with an over-the-top arm slot. He uses his lower half very well and holds his velocity throughout his outings. While he is a reliable strike-thrower with a 5.9% walk rate, he does need to improve his command. However, he mixes his pitches well and is comfortable throwing most of his pitches in any count.

On Baseball America, Witherspoon is the seventh-ranked prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft. The Sunshine State native is the eighth-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and the ninth-ranked draft prospect on Just Baseball.

 

Strengths

• Power fastball
• 60-grade slider
• 60-grade cutter
• Good control
• Starter build
• Frontline starter potential
• Maintains velocity later in outings

 

Weaknesses

• Needs to develop his changeup
• Needs to improve on his command

 

Pro Comparison: Drew Rasmussen

Projection: Top 15 pick

 

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Bottom Line

Kyson Witherspoon was dominant in all three years of his collegiate career. He has lots of potential and is already one of the more polished pitchers in this draft class.

Witherspoon will likely be available for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick.

 

More 2025 Draft Profiles

• RHP Riley Quick
• 3B Gavin Fien
• RHP Tyler Bremner
• 2B Gavin Kilen
• SS Joseph "JoJo" Parker
• INF Aiva Arquette 
• SS Billy Carlson
• OF Jace LaViolette
• LHP Liam Doyle
• INF Kayson Cunningham
• SS Eli Willits
• SS Marek Houston
• RHP Seth Hernandez
• 3B Xavier Neyens
• OF Brendan Summerhill

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