Billy Carlson

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #9 prospect in 2025 draft
  School: Corona (Calif.) HS Drafted/Committed: Tennessee
  Age At Draft: 19.0
  BA Grade: 60/Extreme
  
  California area scouts have spoken with anticipation about Carlson since his freshman days at Corona High, when he was just starting to show glimpses of his precocious baseball talent. At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Carlson is a lean and athletic two-way player who immediately stands out for his glovework and is regarded as one of—if not the best—defenders in the 2025 class. He has silky smooth actions in the field with clean hands, nimble footwork and a rocket of an arm that earns consistent 70-grade reviews. Carlson is more of an average runner without elite range to either side, but his advanced defensive instincts and arm strength should allow him to make all of the plays expected of a big league shortstop—and then some. He has real Gold Glove potential. Offensively, Carlson’s game centers on strong bat-to-ball skills, which give him a chance for an above-average hit tool. He has a narrow, upright stance with a high handset and a swing that can get stiff as he lunges at the ball at times, but he’s a high-level competitor in the box. He takes professional at-bats and can backspin the ball nicely to the opposite field. Carlson has a chance to develop average power potential, but scouts are split on how confident they are with that piece of his game. He would be a pro prospect on the mound as well, with a fastball up to 97 mph, a high-spin hammer curveball and a decent changeup. Carlson is a Tennessee commit and turns 19 shortly after the draft but is expected to be a top-15 pick.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Run:50. Field: 70. Arm: 70. Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
• Ranked #5 prospect in 2025 draft
  School: Corona (Calif.) HS Committed: Tennessee
  Age At Draft: 19.0
  A lean, athletic two-way player, Carlson grabs attention immediately during infield. His actions are quick, smooth and clean with soft hands and nimble footwork as one of the best defensive shortstops in the country, moving around the position with bounce and grace. An average runner, Carlson is adept on both ends of the double play turn, has a quick release and a plus-plus arm. At the plate, Carlson typically has a selective approach and one of the lower swing-and-miss rates among top 2025 prep players. There are times where he hits too many balls on the ground, but his offensive game took a step forward in the 2024 spring season, with a line-drive approach and more power showing up in games and a chance for bigger extra-base damage to come given his bat speed and strength projection. Carlson’s athleticism and arm strength make him a promising pitching prospect as well. He’s been up to 96-97 mph at peak velocity, throws strikes at a high clip and shows feel for two secondary pitches that flash above-average, including a mid-to-upper 70s curveball with tight rotation and a low-80s changeup with impressive fade.