Prior to the start of the 2025 season, a comprehensive list of the 2025 Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects was revealed. The list, as outlined by Major League Baseball’s home of draft and prospect coverage, MLB Pipeline, projects the top players eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft. Among the prospects–a mix of both college and high school talent–are a myriad of athletes who have competed in USA Baseball and MLB development camps and training programs that work with the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) Performance Assessment, USA Baseball and MLB’s joint initiative to establish a player development pipeline leading to the MLB Draft. This comprehensive assessment features athletic-based tests including the 30-yard sprint and broad jump, combined with on-field data such as exit velocity and pitch speed.
Not only does the PDP Performance Assessment provide information and data crucial to a player’s development, but it can be a key indicator of their future performance on the diamond as well. After evaluations are completed, data collected from the assessments is disseminated to the 30 MLB Clubs in preparation for the MLB Draft and to USA Baseball for national team identification. In addition, all participants receive a personalized player report containing data and metrics from the evaluation, as well as training tools for improvement and sustained development.
Highlighted in this article are elite, amateur-level players whose PDP numbers stand out above the rest. As intended by USA Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline, this feature offers a unique glimpse into the data associated with a player’s specialized PDP report. Stay tuned to learn more about five select players who have found value in the Prospect Development Pipeline and seek to achieve the initiative's goal of funneling grassroot talent onto the national stage and into an ever-elusive big-league opportunity.
Ranked No. 79 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list is one of Vanderbilt’s standout players, RJ Austin. The junior offers a unique combination of power and speed, not to mention his versatility in the field. Originally assigned as a middle infielder for the Commodores during his first two years in Nashville, Austin has found a new home as a utility man and now sees time in both the outfield and infield, thriving in his current role as a shutdown defender with a big arm. In addition, Austin is a force to be reckoned with at the plate, showing his balance as a top prospect by consistently hitting in the leadoff spot for a tough Vanderbilt squad.
In 2024, Austin earned a spot on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, competing on the squad’s International Friendly Series roster in a five-game set against Chinese Taipei. Austin excelled in the summer circuit, batting .316 for the stars and stripes with a homer and four stolen bags. Prior to fulfilling his commitment to Vanderbilt, the Georgia native earned a roster spot on the 2021 18U National Team and also participated in USA Baseball’s development-based PDP League in 2021.
RJ Austin rounds the bases after belting a solo shot for the Collegiate National Team in a contest against Chinese Taipei on July 1, 2024
During his time in these events, Austin not only thrived on the field, but showed out on assessment day as well. He showcased his speed by running a 3.60-second 30-yard sprint while flashing his athleticism and jumping 10-foot-6 in the broad jump; the former would have landed him in the top 10 of all participants in the 2024 MLB Draft Combine with the latter placing him first among all players. Despite his more compact frame and size, Austin’s bat speed caught attention as well, turning in a max in-game exit velocity of 107.2 mph at the plate.
“RJ is a multi-tool player. First of all, his 30-yard sprint was incredibly fast, allowing him to be an excellent defender in the field with his speed,” said USA Baseball’s Assistant Director of Systems and Analytics, Manny Portugal. “Even though he’s naturally more of a contact guy with an ability to get on base, his peak power metrics shows his power potential and that he can hit the ball exceptionally hard. When you merge those attributes, it’s going to result in a lot of extra-base hits, which he did during his time with the Collegiate National Team. Combining his versatility in the field with his ability to get on base and hit the ball hard results in a unique composition of a guy that you can rely on in whatever position you put them in.”
Austin continues to up his draft stock, as he is currently posting a career-best year at Vanderbilt and batting above the .350 mark while leading the Commodores in hits (26) and triples (3) through the first 19 games of the season. His potential to improve and maintain his high level of play has landed him on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, USA Baseball’s prestigious honor awarded annually to the top amateur baseball player in the nation.
COMING SOON: No. 77 Josh Hammond
COMING SOON: No. 30 Nolan Schubart
COMING SOON: No. 12 Billy Carlson
COMING SOON: No. 6 Kayson Cunningham
Be sure to follow @USABasePipeline on Instagram and X to keep up with all the action and follow along with the Prospect Development Pipeline throughout the spring and summer! To find more information on the Prospect Development Pipeline and stay up to date on related news, click here.
