Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (NV)

This is the first post covering the 2025 MLB Draft, showing you what a sample player writeup will look like. Instead of going with one of the biggest names that you can find anywhere, I wanted a player below the first tier of names.

Tate Southisene

Position: SS

Other Positions: OF

Height: 5’11"

Weight: 180

Bats: R

Throws: R

City/School: Henderson, Nevada/ Basic HS

College Commitment: USC

Basics

Tate Southisene is the younger brother Ty Southisene, an overslot 4th round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cubs. The older Southisene is currently in Low-A in his first full year in the Cubs system. With that in mind the two are significantly different prospects with different bodies, with Tate being the larger bodied player.

He comes from Basic HS, a school which has had its share of draftees. Beyond the Southisene brothers, there is Mason Neville - who passed up on signing with the Reds in the 18th round in 2022 and is a 2025 prospect from the University of Oregon, 2013 Mets second rounder Andrew Church, and a bunch of guys from 20+ years ago. The only big leaguer so far would be outfielder Chris Latham, who played 110 games, mostly with Minnesota, before last playing at the MLB level in 2003.

Hit Tool - 50

Tate looks to have a solid hit tool. It’s not quite as good of a hit tool as his brother had last year, but he makes contact and controls the barrel. He also has a history of performing well on the showcase circuit against top competition. He does have a bit of a bigger swing, but despite that he has consistently gotten results. Tate also isn’t a guy to chase out of the zone too frequently.

Power - 50

This is the area that Tate has an edge over his brother with the bigger, more physical frame that helps him generate bat speed. Tate is a bit aggressive and while not the biggest guy, uses the natural strength in his body well to generate good exit velocity. Mixed with his feel for hitting, he projects as a guy who could hit 20 homers and plenty of extra base hits every year. Tate stood out at the combine with 12 balls registering 100+ MPH exit velocity during his round of batting practice. He also made the leaderboard at the combine for BP max projected distance, finishing fifth at 430.7 feet with three balls going over 400 feet.

Speed - 55

Tate can turn in some plus run times, but projects more as an above-average runner as he continues to develop.

Defense - 50

Tate is a kid who projects to be a potentially solid average shortstop defensively with the athleticism, actions, and arm to handle short longterm. However there are teams who prefer him in centerfield, where his above-average speed would let him cover ground and plus arm for the position would make him a weapon defensively.

Arm - 55

Tate has a strong arm. It would grade probably more as a tick better than average at short, and plus if he was moved to center field.

Overall

Southisene is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. He’s a kid who hits, gets the most out of his power, runs well, defends at a satisfactory level (or possibly better in center), and has a history of production against top competition. And he does it at two of the most important positions on the field. To me the biggest question on him is whether you want him as a bat first shortstop or a centerfielder who potentially makes an impact on both sides of the ball.

Southisene was seen as a guy who you could expect to get drafted in the comp round after the first round or early in the second round. Of course then he went out and impressed with the bat at the combine, and is now a strong candidate to be drafted in the first round - the question being how high?