2025 MLB Draft Profile: Liam Doyle

Tennessee's Liam Doyle has been college baseball's best pitcher this season, leading the nation in strikeouts with an elite fastball. Could he be on the board when the Marlins make their first-round selection? 

Overview

Position: LHP

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 220 pounds

School: LSU

FOF Big Board Rank: 17th

Liam Doyle is a 6’2”, 220-pound left-handed pitcher who plays for the LSU Tigers. Doyle has been one of the biggest risers in this draft class. The former Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss transfer has been one of the best pitchers in the NCAA this season and arguably has the best fastball in the 2025 draft class.

Coming out of high school, Doyle wasn’t a highly-touted prospect. On Perfect Game, Doyle was the 427th-ranked prospect and the 56th-ranked left-handed pitcher in the country. He was highly regarded in New Hampshire, though, ranking as the #2 prospect in the state. Doyle went undrafted out of high school and signed to play at Coastal Carolina.

In his freshman season, Doyle made an immediate impact for the Chanticleers. Doyle made 23 appearances and seven starts. He posted a 3-1 record with a 4.15 ERA, one save, 1.12 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts in 56 ⅓ innings pitched (11.0 K/9). After the season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Ole Miss.

In 2024, Doyle was in the Rebels’ weekend rotation, but he struggled in his first season in the SEC. He posted a 3-4 record with a 5.73 ERA across sixteen appearances and eleven starts. Doyle was still striking out batters at a high rate (34.7 K%). He transferred again, this time joining the defending national champions, the Tennessee Volunteers.

In his junior season, Doyle has had a major breakout, serving as Tennessee’s Friday night starter since Opening Day. He has posted an 8-2 record with a 2.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, .147 batting average against, 23 walks, and 115 strikeouts in 67 ⅔ innings pitched. Doyle also has a 43.9 K% and 2.28 FIP.

Doyle possesses a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, cutter, and splitter. Doyle’s fastball is probably the best pitch in all of college baseball. It sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked at 100 mph. It has a ton of run and has been unhittable at the top of the zone. While his fastball gets a ton of hype, his slider is another quality pitch and has generated more swing-and-miss than in the past. His splitter has improved a ton this season, but he struggles with leaving his cutter over the plate at times.

Strengths

• Elite fastball
• Plus slider
• Strikeout artist
• Above-average control
• Leads the nation in strikeouts, WHIP, and batting average against

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent command of cutter
• Reliever risk due to high fastball usage and unorthodox delivery

Pro Comparison: Robbie Ray

Projection: Top 15 pick

Bottom Line

Liam Doyle has had an outstanding season and could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Not only does the southpaw flamethrower have the highest fastball whiff% in the country, but he can also throw strikes and has a quality slider and splitter. Doyle has the potential to be a frontline starter at the next level.