Texas Rangers Draft Profile: Kyson Witherspoon
A few days ago, I wrote an article where I mentioned seven draft prospects as potential fits for the Rangers to select with their first-round draft pick. The Rangers will draft 12th in the first round. I also wrote another article where I profiled one of those seven potential fits. That second article was about Ike Irish. Of the seven prospects who are potential fits, he is the one I would most like to see the Rangers select. There are three others, of those seven draft prospects, that I think are the three most likely to be chosen by the Rangers. In this article I will profile one of those three, RHP Kyson Witherspoon from Oklahoma.
First of all, don’t allow yourself to be confused by all of the similar names in the first half or so of the first round. There is a “Kade,” a “Kyson,” and a “Kayson” all supposed to go fairly early in this draft. To add to that confusion, there will most likely be another Witherspoon taken fairly early on Day 2 of the draft. That second Witherspoon is Kyson’s twin brother, Malachi. They both pitch for the University of Oklahoma.
A Top Pitching Prospect
Kyson Witherspoon is one of the top pitching prospects in the 2025 draft and is arguably the best RH pitcher in the draft. He is 6’2’, weighs 205lbs. and is twenty years old. Dan Zielinski of Baseball Prospect Journal says, “Witherspoon has all the tools to be a frontline starter in the major leagues.” He has been dominant in all three years of his collegiate career and is one of the most polished pitchers in the draft class.
Kyson Witherspoon throws five pitches, although he doesn’t use the changeup very often. The changeup is only graded as a 45 by MLB, but Keith Law gives it a 55. Law says he thinks Witherspoon should use the change more often. So, even the changeup, that some see as his weakest offering, is seen by others as being a good weapon already.
His fastball sits at 95-97 mph and touches 99 mph. Scouts think he will eventually be at 100 mph plus. He has shown the ability to manipulate the fastball shape in multiple directions. He also has a mid-80s slider with a sharp, late break. His cutter is thrown at 90 mph with tight spin and a late break. His low 80s curveball has become a more consistent pitch for him and is considered a plus offering.
Witherspoon started his collegiate career in the JUCO ranks with Northwest Florida State College. He then moved on to Oklahoma to pitch in his last two seasons. He had a 6-2 record with a 3.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and struck out 72 batters in 69 ⅔ innings in his freshman season.
In his first season at Oklahoma, Witherspoon made seventeen appearances and eleven starts. He had an 8-3 record with a 3.71 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and one save. Opponents only batted .228 against him while he struck out 90 in 80 innings. After that season, he was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Kyson Witherspoon continued to dominate in 2025. He made 16 starts. He put up a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP. Opponents hit .208 against him. He struck out 124 in 95 innings. He had the best K/BB ratio (5.39) and WHIP in the conference. He was named First Team All-SEC.
MLB Scouting Grades
Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Cutter: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
If the Rangers grab a pitcher with their first pick, they will most likely take Kyson Witherspoon. He would be a great pick.
