D-Backs build depth in 2025 MLB Draft by adding high-upside talent

With their first-round pick, Arizona selected electrifying Texas high school shortstop Kayson Cunningham out of Lady Bell Johnson High School, then followed it up with University of Louisville right-hander Patrick Forbes, a rising arm who exploded up draft boards this spring, along with University of Georgia right-handed pitcher Brian Curley to bolster their pitching depth.

Kayson Cunningham, the 18th overall pick, brings a blend of polish and athleticism rarely seen from high school infielders. Though undersized on paper, his glove is advanced, his first-step quickness jumps, and his bat control at the plate has drawn comparisons to top-tier leadoff hitters. Cunningham plays with an edge, the kind that turns raw ability into production.

D-Backs add pitching depth:

Patrick Forbes is a righty that brings a fastball that lives in the mid-90s with late life, and a sharp slider that flashes swing-and-miss potential. Still learning the craft on the mound, Forbes is considered a developmental arm with front-line traits if things fall into place.

Arizona wasn’t done there, as with the 92nd pick in the MLB Draft, the D-Backs drafted right-handed pitcher Brian Curley from the University of Georgia. Together, the picks signal a sharp, balanced strategy. It’s a win-now organization that is planning for later quietly building a pipeline for Arizona for years to come.