2025 MLB Draft: Rays select high school SS Daniel Pierce at No. 14 overall

$5.31 million slot value

The Tampa Bay Rays have selected shortstop Daniel Pierce from Mill Creek (Ga.) High School with the No. 14 pick in the first round of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Team press release:

As a senior this past season, Pierce, 18, hit .451/.605/.939 (37-for-82) with 10 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 18 stolen bases and 33 walks against nine strikeouts. As a junior, the four-year letterman batted .345 with two home runs, 12 doubles, 25 RBI, 35 runs scored and 13 stolen bases en route to being named 2024 Region-8-6A Position Player of the Year.

During Pierce’s sophomore season in 2023, he batted .434 with four home runs, 16 doubles, 25 RBI and 53 runs scored, earning first team all-county and all-region honors.

Pierce was ranked as the No. 13 player in this year’s draft by MLB.com, No. 24 by Baseball America and No. 44 by FanGraphs. Baseball America also rated him as the No. 10 high school player in the draft, and MLB.com ranked him No. 7.

The University of Georgia commit is the fifth player to be drafted out of Mill Creek High School, joining Davis Sharpe (Cleveland, 2018), Beau Brundage (Phillies, 2015), Bryan Hudson (Red Sox, 2013) and Matthew Grimes (White Sox, 2010). He is the highest-drafted player in school history.

Pierce is the sixth shortstop selected by the Rays in the first round and third in the last five years, joining B.J. Upton (2002), Tim Beckham (2008), Greg Jones (2019), Carson Williams (2021) and Brayden Taylor (2023).

MLB Pipeline:

Mill Creek HS (Hoschton, Ga.) has promoted Paul Pierce from assistant to head coach, and his son will be his best player in his first season. Daniel fits the classic coach’s son profile as a scrappy grinder who provides constant energy and gets the most out of his tools. He’s not short on physical ability, either, and could fit in the first rounds.

Pierce has a mature approach at the plate and focuses on making contact to all fields with his quick right-handed stroke. He has a history of producing against quality pitching in high school and on the showcase circuit, controlling the strike zone and not trying to swing for the fences. He has average raw power and should develop into a 12-15 homer threat as he continues to add muscle.

Pierce has plus speed and the instincts to make the most of his quickness on the bases and in the field. The Georgia recruit has nice actions at shortstop, range to both sides and solid arm strength. Scouts love his makeup and note that he keeps getting stronger, faster and rising up Draft boards.

Baseball America:

BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Pierce established himself as one of the more exciting athletes and defenders in the 2025 draft class at a young age. A 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter, Pierce was one of the most impressive hitters at the 2024 East Coast Pro showcase. His game is built on tremendous defensive actions at shortstop.

Pierce is a gifted defender who has all the tools to stick at the position and become a plus fielder. He moves well laterally and glides around the dirt with great range and the sort of fluidity and easy actions seen in major league middle infielders. His hands are deft and reliable and he has a plus arm that has drawn a few 70-grade reviews from scouts.

In addition to a plus glove and arm, Pierce is a plus runner who has turned in 70-grade times in workout settings, including a 6.58-second 60-yard dash at East Coast Pro last summer. What pushed Pierce into first-round range in 2025 was the development of his bat. He came into his senior season with more strength and some mechanical improvements built around a more balanced and repeatable lower half move.

Pierce has a solid batting eye and should have at least average raw power to go with solid contact ability. His swing features some moving parts with his hands that could cap his pure hit tool. Pierce is committed to Georgia but has played in front of huge scouting crowds this spring and fits as a first-round talent.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run:60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 60.