The 2025 MLB Draft has included a new crop of young prospects with last names that fans might recognize. Eli Willits, the Nationals' surprise first overall pick, is the son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits. Ethan Holliday, son of Matt Holliday, was the Rockies' first pick. The Dodgers were mocked to take Quentin Young, nephew of Delmon and Dmitri Young, with the 40th pick in Competitive Balance Round A.
Young ended up going to the Twins with the 54th pick in the second round, but the Dodgers took a different player with an MLB pedigree with the 65th pick. They selected Florida State pitcher Cam Leiter, nephew of Al and Mark Leiter and cousin of current major leaguers Jack and Mark Leiter Jr. He was Baseball America's 85th-best prospect, ESPN's 106th, and MLB Pipeline's 114th.
Those lower rankings were due, in part, to the fact that he hasn't pitched since 2024, after he underwent a shoulder surgery at the end of his sophomore season. He has an impressive arsenal, including (per Baseball America) a 94-96 MPH fastball that touches 99, a "hammer breaking ball", a "power slider", and with an upper 80s changeup. He finished his 2024 season with a 4.63 ERA and an impressive 35.2% strikeout rate.
But the surgery and lack of playing time is worrisome, and just because a guy has a recognizable family name doesn't guarantee success.
With the 65th pick in the second round and 104th pick in the third round, the Los Angeles Dodgers select pitcher Cam Leiter and outfielder Landyn Vidourek. pic.twitter.com/eYySr6ltjV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 14, 2025
Dodgers take Cam Leiter, nephew of Al and Mark Leiter, in the second round of 2025 MLB Draft
In the first round (Comp Round A), the Dodgers took Zach Root and Charles Davalan, teammates from an Arkansas team that went to the College World Series semifinals, back-to-back with the 40th and 41st picks. Both were ranked more favorably by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline, though Davalan was projected to go further down, closer to the beginning of the second round.
The Dodgers wrapped up their first day with 104th overall pick Landyn Vidourek, an outfielder out of the University of Cincinnati.
The top of LA's pipeline is absolutely loaded with both outfielders and pitchers, so all of these picks make some sense, but Leiter's development will be interesting to watch going forward given the shoulder surgery and the fact that the most recent Leiter (Jack) hasn't been good. If he starts out in Single-A or High-A later this season and bounces back well, the Dodgers will at least temporarily be able to call it a win. If not, then they might've gotten bamboozled by the famous last name.