Cincinnati Reds select Tennessee SS commit Steele Hall in 2025 MLB Draft

Tennessee shortstop commit Steele Hall was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Now, he has the chance to start his pro career.

“Hall’s decision to reclassify for the 2025 Draft last November keeps looking better and better,” the MLB Scouting Report on Hall read. “He has added 15-20 pounds of strength during his third year of high school while improving both offensively and defensively. He won’t turn 18 until 11 days after the Draft and should become the first Alabama prep middle infielder to go in the first round since Condredge Holloway went fourth overall in 1971.”

Hall originally committed to Tennessee while still in school on August 12th, 2022. He played at Hewitt-Trussville in Alabama.

Hall was also named, via AL.com, Alabama’s Mr. Baseball in 2025. His high school coach Jeff Mauldin called his star player a “generational talent.”

Steele Hall selected in 2025 MLB Draft

Hall reclassified to the Class of 2025 to graduate a year early, signaling an early pledge to Tennessee. But now, he’ll have an interesting decision to make regarding his MLB prospects.

“A twitchy athlete, Hall has at least plus-plus speed and earns top-of-the-scale 80 grades from some evaluators,” Hall’s scouting report continued. “He’s a lock to stay at shortstop with good actions, range to both sides and the ability to make throws from a variety of angles. He’s at least a solid defender with arm strength to match, with some scouts projecting him as plus in both categories.

“Hall’s quick right-handed swing looks better in batting practice — where he focuses on driving the ball from gap to gap — than it does in games, where it gets longer as he looks to lift and pull pitches for power. The Tennessee recruit is a bit of a free swinger who struggles to recognize secondary pitches. He still has room to add more strength and should become at least an average hitter with 15-homer pop, and perhaps more, if he can moderate his approach.”