2025 MLB Draft Rundown: Nine Former Tom Sox Selected
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– Nine former Tom Sox had their dream of becoming a professional baseball player come true during this year’s MLB Draft.
The run of Tom Sox selected started in the first round, when Zach Root (Arkansas)became the third-highest draft pick in team history. The Los Angeles Dodgers took Root with the 40th overall pick after his stellar junior season, where he recorded a 3.62 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 99.1 innings.
Zach Root Selected By Dodgers In First Round of 2025 MLB Draft
Root was the highest-drafted Valley League alum in this year’s draft, giving Charlottesville the Valley League’s top draft pick for the third year in a row and the fourth time in the last six years.
After the first round, no Tom Sox players were taken for a few rounds until Chris Arroyo (Virginia) heard his name called in the fifth round by the Miami Marlins as the 135th overall pick. Arroyo, a two-way player, had a breakout spring with the Hoos, posting a .291 average with 11 homers and 42 RBI. He also made seven appearances on the mound, finishing the year with a 4.97 ERA in 12.2 innings. In 2023, Arroyo was one of the Tom Sox best players, hitting for a .367 average and totaling a 1.070 OPS in 22 games. In five appearances as a pitcher, Arroyo fired in 12.2 innings with a 7.82 ERA.
Josh Tate (Georgia Southern)was the next Tom Sox player taken, as the Pittsburgh Pirates chose him in the eighth round with the 233rd overall pick. Tate only spent a few weeks in Charlottesville in 2023 but was productive in his 13 games. He hit for a .255 average and drove in five runs while stealing 11 bases. Over his two years at Georgia Southern, Tate was one of the best players in the Sun Belt, combining for a .365 average, 16 home runs, 76 RBI, 66 walks, and a 1.005 OPS in 118 games. He earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors in 2024 as a utility player and First Team honors in 2025 as an outfielder.
The next Tom Sox player selected was Tyler McLoughlin (Georgia) in the 10th round with the 313th overall pick by the New York Mets. McLoughlin made 16 appearances for the Bulldogs this spring, finishing the year with a 4.19 ERA in 19.1 innings. Back in 2022, he was the Tom Sox closer, and was one of the best relievers in the Valley League. Across 10 appearances, McLoughlin threw 12.1 innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out 27 batters. He finished the summer with a 1-1 record and five saves.
Justin Thomas Jr. (Arkansas)is headed to Houston after the Astros picked him 336th overall in the 11th round. Thomas Jr. was a major contributor to the Razorbacks College World Series team this spring, hitting for a .303 average and .953 OPS in 62 games. During the College World Series, he went 8-14 with a double and three RBI, which was good enough to land him a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament Team. In 2023, Thomas Jr. hit for a .156 average in his 13 games with the Tom Sox during the 2023 season.
Next up for the Tom Sox was Tayler Montiel (Tulane), who was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 12th round with the 383rd overall pick. Montiel made 10 appearances for the ‘Sox in 2022, finishing the season with a 6.16 ERA in 19 innings. At Tulane this spring, Montiel had an unbelievable year. In 26 appearances, he amassed a 5-2 record and two saves across 43.1 innings with a 3.53 ERA. Opponents only hit for a .187 average against Montiel, and he struck out 54 batters.
Charlottesville’s Opening Day starter in 2023,Logan Forsythe (Louisiana Tech), also was selected. The Atlanta Braves took Forsythe in the 13th round with the 397th overall pick. Forsythe threw 51.1 innings for Louisiana Tech this spring across 24 appearances, and finished the year with a 5.61 ERA. For the Tom Sox, he made four appearances, three of which were starts, and struck out 16 batters in eight innings.
Zack Mack (Loyola Marymount)joined McLoughlin as part of the Mets draft class in the 16th round. Mack went 493rd overall after a solid spring at Loyola Marymount where he totaled a 3-1 record with four saves in 23 appearances. He threw 49 innings and had a 3.67 ERA in his lone season with the Lions. With the ‘Sox in 2023, Mack made five appearances and struck out 13 batters in nine innings.
Rounding off the Tom Sox 2025 draft class was Liam Best (Appalachian State), who is headed to St. Louis after the Cardinals took him in the 19th round with the 570th overall pick. Best was both a starter and a reliever for the Mountaineers this spring, finishing with a 5.02 ERA in 43 innings. He only made four appearances with Charlottesville in 2023, but he gave up just one earned run in seven innings while striking out 11 batters.
The nine Tom Sox players taken in this year’s draft tie the second-highest total in team history under the current 20-round format, and there are now 57 players that have played for Charlottesville to be selected in the MLB Draft.
