Minnesota Twins select Alabama RHP Riley Quick in 2025 MLB Draft

In a draft full of quality pitchers from the SEC, another one is officially off the board. Alabama right-handed pitcher Riley Quick has been taken in the 2025 MLB Draft. Quick will begin his professional career with the Minnesota Twins, being the No. 36 overall pick in the second round.

Alabama used Quick as the Saturday starter throughout the 2025 season. Having him throughout most of the campaign was a surprise, though, considering Quick underwent Tommy John surgery the year prior. However, his recovery timeline got him back on the mound to put together a solid campaign.

Quick finished with 14 starts and an ERA of 3.92 over 62.0 innings pitched. A nearly 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio appears for the righty, fanning 70 opposing batters and giving out just 24 free bases. Not too bad considering the type of opponents Quick faced on a weekly basis.

Additionally, just five home runs were given up. Teams were not able to produce much of a long ball against him, keeping Alabama is on a lot of critical games.

For his efforts, Quick was named second-team All-SEC. Considering what he went through the previous season with surgery, a major accomplishment for him. Now, the hope is that he can continue to elevate his game at the next level.

Alabama has been able to put a few pitchers into the Big Leagues throughout the years. Quick has a great opportunity to be the next guy up, getting the journey started on Sunday night in Atlanta.

What MLB Draft analysts are saying about Riley Quick

Ahead of the draft, MLB.com put together a scouting report on Quick. Using the 80-grade quick, the Alabama right-hander was a 50 overall. Two pitches — the fastball and slider — came out as a 60 while his changeup is at 50. What may have dipped him lower in their rankings (the No. 38 overall prospect) was the 45-grade control.

“Though Quick’s fastball and slider grade as plus-plus at their best and he can back them up with a quality changeup, he doesn’t miss nearly as many bats as his pure stuff indicates he should,” the scouting report said. “His pitches move so much that they can be difficult to harness, leaving him with decent control but spotty command. He has logged fewer innings than most third-year college pitchers and the hope is that he’ll approach his frontline-starter ceiling as he gains more experience and polish.”