The Los Angeles Dodgers are being projected to take Jack Bauer, a left-handed prep pitcher from Lincoln-Way East High School (Frankfort, IL), with the 40th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
That is according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, who notes that Bauer is renowned for his blistering fastball that touches 103 mph, bringing immediate upside to the Dodgers’ pitching pipeline.
“Los Angeles never shies away from projects, and Bauer is the draft’s most high-variance arm,” Passan said. “If Bauer can figure out how to harness his fastball and cleans up some of his control issues, the Dodgers have a true No. 1 starter in the making.”
According to Bauer’s prospect profile on MLB.com, the LHP has begun to display improvement in his secondary pitches but still needs to work on his fastball’s command.
His heater lacks command and gets barreled more than it should by prep hitters,” MLB.com says. “His high-spin slider now arrives in the low 80s with sweep and shows signs of becoming at least a solid offering. He’s displaying more feel for his mid-80s changeup with depth as well.”
This could explain why a prospect touching 103 mph after a major junior-to-senior season leap is still not a first-round pick on ESPN’s mock draft.
The Dodgers’ potential selection of Jack Bauer is a high-ceiling, forward-looking strategy: a prep lefty with elite velocity, exciting movement, and starter potential in the rotation.
Drafted at No. 40, the possible reward of taking time to develop the young starter outweighs the risk associated with the spot.
