Arizona Diamondbacks select Texas SS commit Kayson Cunningham in 2025 MLB Draft

Texas shortstop commit Kayson Cunningham was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He now has the option to begin his pro career!

“A slightly bigger and lefty-swinging version of Jett Williams, a Texas prep shortstop who went 14th overall to the Mets in 2022, Cunningham is a better pure hitter at the same stage and perhaps the best in the 2025 prep class,” Cunningham’s MLB scouting report read. “He led Team USA with a .417 average at an 18-and-under World Cup qualifier in Panama last August, won USA Baseball’s player of the year award in 2024 and Gatorade state player of the year accolades this spring.

“Cunningham has exceptional barrel control and rarely swings and misses. He has a mature approach, covers the entire strike zone and utilizes the whole field. Though he’s not physical, his bat speed and ability to repeatedly barrel balls should enable him to get to 15-20 homers per season.”

Cunningham played his high school baseball at Johnson in Texas. He originally committed to the Longhorns in July of 2024.

Kayson Cunningham selected in 2025 MLB Draft

“By the grace of God, I’m super blessed to announce I’ll be furthering my academic and athletic commitment to the University of Texas,” Cunningham wrote at the time. “A huge thanks to my family, coaches, and most of all God for giving me this opportunity. Hook em.”

Should he attend Texas, Cunningham will be eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft. But he certainly has elite tools to be a pro now.

“Cunningham has plus speed and plays with a lot of energy on the bases and in the field. He has displayed good actions and solid-to-plus arm strength in the past but has seemed less twitchy at shortstop this spring, and many scouts believe he’ll wind up moving to second base,” his scouting report reads. “He’ll be 19 on Draft Day and eligible as a sophomore in 2027 if he attends Texas.”