​While the MLB Draft may not match the fanfare of the NFL or NBA drafts, the era when prospects spent years grinding in the minors to get a shot with their organization’s top team is gradually fading. Already, 16 players taken in the first three rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft have reached the big leagues, and six of them—Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Cam Smith, Payton Tolle, and Trey Yesavage—played in MLB games in 2025, just a year after they were drafted. This trend underscores how quickly some top talents can ascend, especially as organizations refine their development pipelines.
Cholowsky’s path epitomizes this shift. After three years at UCLA, he was selected with the top pick in the draft, and he could realistically be in the majors before summer 2027, assuming there is a season to propel him there. In the weeks leading up to the draft, I spoke with Jim Callis, who identified Flora as the player most likely to reach the big leagues the fastest among this draft class. Flora, an advanced pitcher from UCLA, brings a deep arsenal, and you can hear Callis elaborate on his assessment in my video with him.
Burress represents another example of an advanced college hitter who tends to move quickly through a system. He’s a well-rounded hitter without a single elite tool but possesses an excellent feel for the strike zone, posting more walks than strikeouts in college. His bat speed is exceptional, suggesting a strong power profile, and he also projects well enough defensively to stick in center field. Given the Athletics’ history of promoting advanced college hitters through their system, Burress could join their outfield in some capacity during 2027.
Hacopian stands out as one of the draft’s best pure hitters, boasting a .319 average with 11 home runs in 42 games at Texas A&M this season, despite a delayed start due to a back injury and a May leg issue that limited his running. His offensive upside is compelling: elite strike-zone awareness, superb contact feel, and plus power. The Nationals will need to determine defensively where he can fit, as there are questions there, but his bat projects as MLB-ready in the near term.
I noted in my MLB Draft takeaways article that Schaffner’s first-round selection was one of the more puzzling head-scratchers, given that he was ranked as the 75th prospect on MLB Pipeline’s board. Yet the counterpoint is that Schaffner is who he is—an excellent contact hitter who showed some power with UNC this season. He profiles as a player who could hit around 10–12 home runs at the MLB level. A strong defender with speed and good bat-to-ball skills, he could move quickly through the system and bring a valuable mix of speed, contact, and defense to the Red Sox infield, complementing Caleb Durbin and a potential burst from Marcelo Mayer, who the organization hopes will add more pop.
And yes, here comes another college hitter note that’s tailored for search optimization, highlighting the ongoing emphasis on college-developed bats in the draft. These prospects collectively illustrate how the pipeline is evolving toward quicker MLB arrivals, driven by refined scouting, advanced data, and a willingness by clubs to place faith in polished collegiate performers who can adapt rapidly to higher levels of competition. The trajectory of these players in the coming seasons will be telling as teams balance immediate impact with longer-term development.