Devin Taylor could go in the first round of next month’s MLB Draft

Devin Taylor has a year of eligibility left for Indiana, but don’t count on him making a return to Bloomington next season.

After one of the best careers in IU baseball history, Taylor is set to become an early-round draft choice in next month’s MLB Draft.

Taylor more than made his mark in the IU record books over his three seasons.

The Cincinnati native wrapped up his collegiate career with 54 home runs (No. 1 in program history), 229 hits (No. 11 in program history), 179 RBIs (No. 7 in program history) and 191 runs scored (No. 7 in program history. He also slugged at a .672 clip over three seasons – the No. 2 mark all-time at IU.

Now 6-foot-1 and 215-pound Taylor has a chance to be chosen in the first round and challenge Kyle Schwarber’s standing as the highest draft choice in program history.

Taylor has dropped a bit in 2025 draft projections vs. where he was a year ago, but the first round is still a distinct possibility.

MLB’s website has Taylor as the No. 24 overall player on the 2025 draft board.

Perfect Game has Taylor as the No. 29 player.

Here is MLB.com’s scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Though Taylor was the best offensive prospect in Ohio’s 2022 high school class, his game wasn’t well-rounded enough to try to draft him away from an Indiana commitment. He earned All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors in each of his three seasons and set the school career home run record with 54. He made a brief appearance with the U.S. collegiate national team last summer before continuing to perform well with wood bats in the Cape Cod League.

Taylor shows the potential to become a plus hitter in terms of both average and power while controlling the strike zone. A left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He likes to swing the bat but has cut down on his chases this spring, makes consistent contact and has no problems handling breaking pitches.

The majority of Taylor’s value will come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy. Indiana may try him in center field this spring but he’s definitely a left fielder in pro ball.

The 2025 MLB Draft will take place in on July 13-14, in Atlanta, as part of MLB’s All-Star Week festivities.