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IMG Academy
BRADENTON, Fla. (July 15, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, had six former student-athletes selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft in Cumberland, Georgia. This year’s class adds to IMG Academy’s record-setting total of 29 draft picks since 2005 directly from high school, the most by any high school in the nation, more than doubling the next closest program with 11. Leading the 2025 group was infielder Sean Gamble, selected No. 23 overall, followed by outfielder Dean Moss (No. 67), right-handed pitcher Davion Hickson (No. 165), right-handed pitcher Aidan Cremarosa (No. 237), left-handed pitcher Ethan Walker (No. 358), and right-handed pitcher Chase Bentley (No. 575).
With his first-round selection, Gamble becomes the fourth IMG Academy student-athlete to be drafted directly from the school in the first round, and the first since Elijah Green in 2022. He also ranks as the third-highest MLB Draft pick in IMG Academy history.
The 2025 MLB Draft marked the 17th time in the past 21 years that multiple IMG Academy alumni were selected in a single draft. Since 2019, 14 IMG Academy alumni have been picked in the top three rounds, including five consecutive drafts with at least two selections in the first two rounds. Over the past decade, IMG Academy has consistently seen at least two players selected in each MLB Draft class, excluding 2020, when the draft was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The MLB Draft is always a meaningful occasion for IMG Academy, as it represents the culmination of years of hard work by our student-athletes and the support systems around them,” said Dan Simonds, Director of Baseball at IMG Academy. “Having multiple alumni drafted again this year, and dozens over recent drafts, highlights the consistent impact of our coaches, teachers, trainers, and staff in helping these young men prepare for the next level and beyond.”
Since 2005, IMG Academy has had 73 alumni selected in the MLB Draft to 28 teams, 33 picks directly from high school, and 40 from collegiate baseball teams.
Sean Gamble – IMG Academy, Infielder (No. 23 | Kansas City Royals)
Class of IMG Academy 2025
Gamble is the 11th student-athlete to be selected straight from high school in the last five years. With his selection, Gamble becomes the second IMG Academy student-athlete to be drafted by the Royals, joining Stone Russell, an 18th-round pick in 2023. Once a camper at IMG Academy in the summer, Gamble attended IMG Academy for all four years of high school to help lead the National team to two national titles, including one in 2023 alongside now-Royals teammate Russell. A MaxPreps First Team All-American selection, Gamble was a key piece of the Ascenders' 2025 MaxPreps National Champion baseball team, with a .413 avg., .484 OBP, and a 1.310 OPS on the year. A Vanderbilt commit, Gamble is currently ranked 27th in MLB.com’s top 250 draft prospects rankings and is the sixth-ranked recruit in the class of 2025 by Perfect Game. Gamble’s success on the field has led to invites to elite events, including the Area Code Games and the USA 18U National Team Camp.
Dean Moss – IMG Academy, Outfielder (No. 67 (RD2-Sup) | Tampa Bay Rays)
Class of IMG Academy 2025
Moss’s selection marks the fifth consecutive year that IMG Academy has produced at least one second-round pick, and he is the tenth second-round pick in program history. Moss is the first student-athlete in program history to be selected by the Rays. Moss began attending IMG Academy in eighth grade and won two national titles with the National team. A 2025 MaxPreps Second Team All-American selection, Moss was another important part of the National team that was crowned MaxPreps National Champions as he led the team with a .471 avg., and a .611 OBP as well as a 1.282 OPS. An LSU commit, Moss is currently the 11th-ranked player in the class of 2025 by Perfect Game and the 56th-ranked player in MLB.com’s top-250 draft prospects rankings.
Davion Hickson – Rice University, Right-Handed Pitcher (No. 165 | Los Angeles Dodgers)
Class of IMG Academy 2022
Hickson is the first IMG Academy college alumnus selected in this year’s MLB Draft and the fifth alumnus to be selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hickson played his final two seasons at IMG Academy, finishing with a career record of 5-1 and an ERA of 1.89. Originally committed to Florida State University but transferred to Rice University after his freshman year. Since transferring to Rice, Hickson has put forth two solid seasons, finishing both with an ERA under four, and was named to the 2025 All-AAC second team. Hickson most recently entered the transfer portal and committed to play for Mississippi State next season.
Aidan Cremarosa – Fresno State, Right-Handed Pitcher (No. 237 | Tampa Bay Rays)
Class of IMG Academy 2022
Cremarosa is the fourth IMG Academy selection in the 2025 MLB Draft and the second to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in program history, joining this year’s second-round pick Dean Moss. Cremarosa attended IMG Academy for his senior season, playing as a pitcher and utility player, and committed to play at Fresno State University. Cremarosa made 44 total appearances for the Bulldogs, finishing with a 4.65 ERA and an 8-7 record. In 2025, Cremarosa had a career year as he was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Year, All-Mountain West First Team, and All-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team after posting a 4.34 ERA and 122 strikeouts through 95.1 IP, an average of almost 11 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Ethan Walker – Fresno State, Left-Handed Pitcher (No. 358 | Boston Red Sox)
Class of IMG Academy 2022
Walker becomes the fifth student-athlete selected in the 2025 MLB Draft from IMG Academy and the fourth alumnus to be selected by the Red Sox. Walker spent his senior year at IMG Academy, making nine appearances, recording a 1.15 ERA, and 44 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched. Committed to play at Longwood University and was a member of the 2023 Big South All-Freshman team after making 17 appearances while finishing the season with a 4.01 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. After his sophomore year, Walker transferred to Kentucky and made 14 appearances for the Wildcats, finishing with a 4.08 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and a 2-1 record across 46.1 innings pitched.
Chase Bentley – IMG Academy, Right-Handed Pitcher (No. 575 | Milwaukee Brewers)
Class of IMG Academy 2025
Bentley’s selection marks the third IMG Academy alumnus drafted straight from high school in 2025, and the fourth to be selected by the Milwaukee Brewers. Bentley marks the 40th IMG Academy alumnus to be drafted straight from high school in program history. A Texas A&M commit, Bentley anchored IMG Academy’s dominant pitching staff during the 2025 season, finishing with a perfect 10–0 record and a 0.94 ERA. He struck out 62 batters and issued just 5 walks across 59⅔ innings, helping lead the Ascenders to a 24–1 overall record and their second MaxPreps National Championship since 2023. After transferring to IMG Academy for his senior year, Bentley earned MaxPreps First Team All-American honors. He is also a U15 Team USA gold medalist and was named to the 2023 Area Code All-Tournament Team.
From the Major Leagues to the NCAA and high school levels, IMG Academy continues to set the standard for baseball excellence in 2025. James Wood, a 2021 alumnus, is having a breakout MLB season, batting .287 with 23 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .935 OPS. His 23 home runs currently tie him for seventh in the league, and he ranks in the top three percent of all hitters in average exit velocity at 94 MPH. He also became the first player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to be intentionally walked four times in a game. Wood made his debut in the 2025 Home Run Derby and was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career.
Two additional IMG Academy alumni, Blaze Alexander and Rece Hinds, also made their mark in the Majors. Alexander, an 11th-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018, split his 2025 season between Triple-A and MLB, appearing in eight big-league games. Hinds, the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 15 prospect and a 2019 second-round selection, made history by recording five extra-base hits across his first two MLB games.
At the collegiate level, IMG Academy’s presence remained strong with 20 alumni participating in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament, and four alumni participated in the College World Series. IMG Academy’s dominance continued at the high school level as the National Baseball Team finished with a 24–1 record, capturing its second MaxPreps National Championship since 2023. The team also earned the No. 1 spot in the Perfect Game national rankings and placed three student-athletes on the 2025 MaxPreps All-America team. In total, eight of IMG Academy’s nine varsity teams finished with winning records, and three secured 20 or more victories. These accomplishments underscore IMG Academy’s unmatched impact on the game, developing top-tier talent and producing results at every level of baseball.
About IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:
- Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
- Online coaching via IMG Academy+, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
- Online college recruiting, via NCSA and SportsRecruits, providing unmatched college recruiting education and services to student-athletes and their families, club coaches, and event operators, and is the premier service for college coaches.
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
