Not long ago, Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette looked like a lock for one of the first two picks in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Future Stars Series, in its initial swing from December 2024 at predicting the top 43 picks through round one and Competitive Balance Round A, had the Washington Nationals using the No. 1 overall selection on “arguably the top college bat.”
However, recent mock drafts suggest that the 21-year-old left-handed outfielder has dropped into the middle of the first round, and the Boston Red Sox could be the beneficiary. Mike Axisa of CBS Sports forecasts the Red Sox using their pick at No. 15 overall to nab the 6-foot-6, 230-pound monster, who in March became the top home run hitter in Texas A&M history.
“(G)etting LaViolette here would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago,” Axisa wrote. “He fits Boston’s archetype as a big-time power threat.”
Rough 2025 Dropped Draft Stock of Texas A&M Slugger Jace LaViolette
It’s quite the plot twist for a player who Prospects Live ranked in the preseason as the top collegiate prospect and a potential No. 1 pick, writing:
“LaViolette is an extremely physical left-handed bat with some of the most robust power in the entire country. … It’s a controlled, violent, left-handed swing with a ton of bat speed and an optimal bat path for doing damage, as he’s a legitimate all-fields power threat.”
So what happened?
A cold start to the college season, for one thing. In an early March report for Federal Baseball, SB Nation’s Nationals-focused site, Sam Sallick highlighted the early struggles for the junior, noting LaViolette had batted just .243 with a near 30% strikeout rate against non-conference opposition.
“There are actually a lot of similarities to James Wood in his game,” Sallick wrote. “LaViolette is a big guy with power and patience, but also surprising athleticism. However, the Nationals can’t afford to draft a bust at this spot. LaViolette might have the highest ceiling in the draft, but the floor is very low.”
Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette Had Surgery on Finger, Played Next Day
While there may be some minor concerns about LaViolette’s “hit tool,” there are no doubts about his toughness.
On May 22, LaViolette broke the ring finger on his left hand when he was hit by a pitch while playing against Auburn in the SEC Tournament. He was seen in the dugout during the late innings of that game, which Texas A&M won, with his hand in a cast and the finger in a splint.
Reports initially stated that LaViolette would be out for the rest of the tournament, and he had surgery that same night to insert a pin in the finger. But LaViolette – told that continuing to play was about pain tolerance but wouldn’t further damage the finger – was the designated hitter for the Aggies the next day, and he drove in a pair of runs on a single and a sacrifice fly during A&M’s 4-3 loss to LSU.
“It’s one of the most unbelievable things I’ve ever seen,” said A&M coach Michael Earley. “For him to do what he did today, that’s one of the most, maybe the most incredible thing I’ve seen. It just shows a lot about how much that guy cares about his team.”
LaViolette first opened eyes as a freshman, finishing with 21 home runs, 63 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 64 games, but he really burst up the rankings after his sophomore season. He slashed .305/.449/.726, with a 1.175 OPS in 2024, knocking out 29 home runs and 78 RBIs with seven stolen bases in 68 games.
The numbers, and his draft stock, dipped in 2025. LaViolette finished with a .258/.427/.576 slash line and a 1.003 OPS, hitting 18 home runs with 61 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 56 games.
However, LaViolette’s profile – massive raw power, with plus speed for his size – is hard to overlook. If too many teams take a pass, Boston may take a chance on the high upside.
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