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2025 MLB Draft: Texas high school prep standout Kayson Cunningham drafted 18th overall

Arizona picks 2nd Texas prep high school SS in first round since 2021; other Texans taken in MLB 1st 3 rounds

Cody Thorn

Kayson Cunningham was taken No. 18 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the MLB Draft on July 13. Cunningham was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year this past spring.
Kayson Cunningham was taken No. 18 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the MLB Draft on July 13. Cunningham was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year this past spring. / USA Baseball

Two Texas high school baseball players were selected in the opening three rounds of the MLB Draft, held Sunday night during All-Star Week in Atlanta.

A number of college players with Texas roots also heard their names called on July 13. Rounds 4 to 20 will be held on Monday to wrap up the first-year player draft.

Kayson Cunningham extended a streak for Texas prep players by being taken No. 18 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cunningham, the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, was ranked No. 14 by MLB.com heading into the draft after a standout prep career at Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School in San Antonio.

According to Baseball Reference draft data, there has been a Texas high school baseball player taken in the first round every year since 2009.

Cunningham is pledged to play for the Texas Longhorns, but he will have a chance to play pro baseball if he can agree to a contract with the D-Backs. Cunningham hit .509 this spring 

On a sidenote, he is the third Texas native to be drafted by the Diamondbacks. In 2021, Dallas Jesuit Prep’s Jordan Lawlar was the No. 6 pick by Arizona. In 2010, Arizona drafted Barret Loux from Texas A&M at No. 6 overall — and he played at Houston Straford High School.

In the third round, the Los Angeles Angels picked Johnny Slawinski from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Johnson City. 

The left-handed hurler was taken No. 79 overall — and was taken one spot lower than where Baseball America ranked him before the draft. The Prep Baseball Report Texas player of the year went 9-1 with a 0.36 ERA and fanned 177 in 74 innings.

The draft also featured many former Texas prep players taken out of college. Here’s a rundown on them as well.

1st round

Cleveland 

No. 27 — Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (Katy Obra D. Tompkins)

2nd round

Los Angeles Angels

No. 47 — Chase Shores, RHP, LSU (Midland Legacy)

Milwaukee 

No. 59 — J.D. Thompson, LHP, Vanderbilt (Rusk)

Competitive Balance B

Kansas City

No. 71 — Justin Lamkin, LHP, Texas A&M (Corpus Christi Calallen)

Colorado 

No. 74 — Max Belyeu, OF, Texas (Aledo)

3rd round

Pittsburgh 

No. 82 — Easton Carmichael, C, Oklahoma (Prosper)

Minnesota 

No. 88 — James Ellwanger, RHP, Dallas Baptist (Magnolia West)

Chicago Cubs

No. 90 — Dominick Reid, RHP, Abilene Christian (Frisco Lone Star)

New York Yankees

No. 103 — Kaeden Kent, SS, Texas A&M (Austin Lake Travis)

Read our preview story before the draft on who might be drafted on Day 2.

Top Texas high school baseball prospects to watch in the 2025 MLB Draft

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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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