2025 MLB Mock Draft Has Auburn Star Slated to Go in Top 5 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Despite dealing with a back injury, Ike Irish starred for the Auburn Tigers’ baseball team this season. The Athletic’s Keith Law views Irish as one of the best prospects in this year’s MLB Draft.

Irish, ranked No. 5 on Law’s big board, began the season as a backstop, but fractured his scapula after being hit in the back by a pitch. When he returned to the diamond, he lined up mostly in the outfield. That move will likely bring about questions as to where he plays as a professional.

On Monday, ESPN predicted Irish will land with the Texas Rangers via the No. 12 overall pick.

“He can really hit, though, with an old-school approach that uses the whole field,” Law wrote Tuesday. “He did start pulling the ball more as the season went on, though, which will help him with models that zero in on players who pull the ball in the air. He hits the ball extremely hard regardless of where it’s going, though.”

Irish paced the Tigers with a .364 batting average, 19 home runs and 65 runs scored. His 58 RBIs were second only to Cooper McMurray (59).

“His ability to hit … gives him a different sort of floor than the typical catching prospect — maybe he ends up at another position, but hits enough to profile as an above-average regular even if it’s an outfield corner,” Law wrote. “However, if he can stick at catcher he might be a star who hits for a high average with a ton of doubles the other way, and 12-15 homers with the current approach.”

Related: Auburn Baseball Star Receives Huge News on Sunday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.