ATLANTA — With every passing year, the Cape Cod Baseball League proves a top breeding ground for the nation’s best collegiate baseball players. Many of the league’s best see their dreams realized every summer during the MLB Draft. On Sunday, 17 of our alumni saw years of hard work and dedication pay off when they were selected in the first round of the 2025 Draft, live from the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta.
Liam Doyle (Bourne ‘23) led the way as the first Cape League alumni selected. Coming off a dominant year with Tennessee, the left-handed pitcher was selected fifth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals. Two picks later, the Miami Marlins took the top position player off the board and drafted shortstop Aiva Arquette (Chatham ‘24), an Oregon State standout and one of the toolsiest players available, with the seventh pick. He posted one of the best slash lines in the NCAA in 2025, a year removed from being named to the 2024 Cape League All-Star Game.
One of the preseason favorites to be selected first overall, Jamie Arnold (Hyannis ‘23) landed with the Athletics with the 11th pick. Arnold posted a 2.94 ERA over 19 1/3 innings with Hyannis. The second Tennessee Volunteer was taken with the 13th pick, when the San Francisco Giants drafted second baseman Gavin Kilen (Falmouth ‘23-24). Between both summers in Falmouth, Kilen drove in 25 runs and anchored the Commodores' lineup.
The Boston Red Sox were thrilled to have Kyson Witherspoon (Chatham ‘24), a right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma, fall into their lap with the 15th pick. Witherspoon had been projected inside the top 10 as the best right-handed pitcher available. He threw two terrific outings for the Anglers last summer to kick off the 2024 season.
With the next two picks at Nos. 16 and 17, the Minnesota Twins drafted Marek Houston (Bourne ‘24) and the Chicago Cubs drafted outfielder Ethan Conrad (Bourne ‘24). Teammates at both Wake Forest and on the Cape, they were both named to the 2024 Cape League All-Star Game, with Conrad taking home the MVP honors.
The Baltimore Orioles ended Ike Irish’s (Brewster ‘23/Chatham ‘24) wait to hear his name called, selecting him 19th overall. A versatile Auburn prospect, Irish proved his ability to play both the outfielder and catcher during his time in the Cape League.
A consensus First-Team All-American at first base, Andrew Fischer (Brewster ‘24) was selected No. 20 overall to the Milwaukee Brewers. His signature tool is light-tower power to all fields with a quick lefty swing. Last summer on the Cape, Fischer posted an .827 OPS in 19 games.
Right-hander Gage Wood (Falmouth ‘24) cemented his legend when on June 16 he fired the third no-hitter in Men’s College World Series history and first since 1950. The right-hander struck out a record 19 batters in the game, and the Philadelphia Phillies picked up Wood with the 26th pick. The Cleveland Guardians took outfielder Jace LaViolette (Falmouth ‘23) with the next pick. With a 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame, his plus power and speed combination gives LaViolette a high ceiling in professional ball.
Two picks later, righty Patrick Forbes (Brewster ‘23-24) was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Forbes pitched to a 3.29 ERA over four starts with Brewster last summer. Catcher Caden Bodine (Bourne ‘23-24) was next at pick 30 to the Baltimore Orioles. He hit .367 as a freshman in 2023 and posted a .384 average in the Cape League for Bourne that summer.
Wehiwa Aloy (Y-D ‘24) was arguably the best player in college baseball in 2025, winning the Golden Spikes Award and SEC Player of the Year. Last summer with Y-D, Aloy hit eight homers in just 21 games. Three of those bombs came in one game on the Fourth of July. The Orioles had back-to-back picks and took Aloy to pair alongside Bodine.
The New York Mets selected two-way player Mitch Voit (Y-D ‘23) No. 38 overall. He was one of the best hitters in the Big Ten this spring, posting a .346 average and 1.140 OPS. Outfielder Charles Davalan (Cotuit ‘24) went three picks later to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The former Arkansas Razorback profiles as a left-handed leadoff hitter with good speed and a good approach at the plate that produces contact from gap to gap.
The final Cape League alumnus selected in the first round was Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill (Wareham ‘24) at No. 42 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Year after year, the Cape League proves that it is the premier summer collegiate baseball league, where future first-rounders come to play.
