By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox bolstered their pitching depth and infield future on Sunday night with four key selections in the early rounds of the 2025 MLB First-Year Player Draft, highlighted by right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon out of the University of Oklahoma with the 15th overall pick.
Witherspoon, 20, enters the organization with significant accolades, having been named a 2025 First Team All-American by multiple outlets including Baseball America, D1Baseball, Perfect Game, and the NCBWA. One of the most highly touted arms in the class, he was ranked the No. 7 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 10 by MLB.com.
In his breakout junior season for the Sooners, Witherspoon posted a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 124 strikeouts in 95 innings, and an impressive 1.01 WHIP. A semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy, he also earned First Team All-SEC honors. The Kansas City native began his college career at Northwest Florida State College before transferring to Oklahoma. He also represented the United States on the Collegiate National Team in 2024 and pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.
Notably, Kyson’s twin brother Malachi Witherspoon was also selected on draft night, going 62nd overall to the Detroit Tigers.
With their second first-round selection (No. 33 overall, Competitive Balance Round A), the Red Sox chose another right-hander, Marcus Phillips from the University of Tennessee. Phillips, 20, helped lead the Volunteers to the 2024 Men’s College World Series title and was a steady contributor in 2025, going 3.90 ERA across 83 innings with 98 strikeouts in 17 starts. He ranked second on the team in ERA, innings pitched, and WHIP (1.13).
Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Phillips played his 2023 season at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Tennessee. He is a graduate of Roosevelt High School and comes from a baseball family — his father, Steve Phillips, played five years in the Yankees organization and later coached in the Miami Marlins system.
In the second round (No. 75 overall, compensation pick), Boston added infield depth by selecting Henry Godbout, a polished bat from the University of Virginia. Known for his contact skills and plate discipline, Godbout projects as a versatile infield option with a high baseball IQ and a solid collegiate track record in the ACC.
With their third-round selection (No. 87 overall), the Red Sox returned to the mound, drafting Anthony Eyanson, a right-handed pitcher from Louisiana State University (LSU). Eyanson, another SEC-tested arm, brings power stuff and a high ceiling, offering Boston another developmental piece for its pitching pipeline.