Oklahoma baseball coach Skip Johnson sent even more players to the pros with eight Sooners getting selected in the 2025 MLB Draft this week. OU's eight picks were tied for the fourth-most among all schools.
Since Johnson took over the OU baseball program in 2018, 48 players have been taken in the MLB Draft. Four of those selections were first-round picks, including Kyler Murray (2018), Cade Cavalli (2020), Cade Horton (2022), and most recently, Kyson Witherspoon on Monday.
All-time, 315 Sooners have went in the MLB Draft.
Here's a look at every Sooner drafted this year, plus there was OU signee Eli Willits, who went No. 1 overall to the Washington Nationals.
8 Sooners drafted to MLB
OU ace Kyson Witherspoon was the first Sooner off the board at 15th overall to the Boston Red Sox after being one of the best pitchers in college baseball last season. He was a consensus First-Team All-American, Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and All-SEC First Team honoree this year after finishing with a 2.65 ERA and 10-4 record as a starter.
Shortly after Kyson, his twin brother, Malachi, followed as a second-round pick to the Detroit Tigers. Malachi struggled some last season with a 5.09 ERA and 4-8 record as a weekend starter, but he was an MLB prospect since high school and maintained that stock.
Kyson and Malachi could become the first set of twins to make the MLB after being drafted the same year since 1996. The last duo to do it was Ryan and Damon Minor, also from OU.
Catcher Easton Carmichael was third and final Sooner off the board on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, which was tied for the most picks in the first three rounds in program history. Carmichael had become a staple in OU's lineup and behind the plate as a two-time All-American.
It was only the fourth round, and Cade Crossland was already OU's third weekend starter headed to the pros. This past season, Crossland had a 6.02 ERA and 5-4 record during his only year in Norman.
Now headed to the San Diego Padres, James Hitt was consistent out of the bullpen for the Sooners last season with a 3.82 ERA in 28 relief appearances.
Sooner Nation didn't get to see much of Dylan Tate after an injury plagued his lone season in Norman. He was solid in the postseason, though, once he was finally healthy, giving up just one run in five innings.
Dylan Crooks was a hammer as OU's closer this past season with 16 saves and was named an All-American. He was also a finalist for NCBWA Stopper of the Year. The Rockies could have found their future closer way down in the 15th round.
Brandon Cain just got to OU in 2025 as a transfer. He was a two-way player and got time at both outfield and on the mound. The Pirates drafted him as a right-handed pitcher.
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