For many young athletes, the dream of one day becoming a Major League Baseball player begins the first time they pick up a baseball. This week, that dream becomes reality for more than 600 players across the country as the MLB Draft takes place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Among those selected on Day One were former Raiders and twin brothers Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon, who saw their lifelong dream come true after being drafted in the first two rounds. Kyson, the older of the two by minutes, was selected 15th overall by the Boston Red Sox. Just 47 picks later, Malachi was taken with the 62nd overall pick by the Detroit Tigers.
Kyson’s selection marks the highest draft pick in Northwest Florida State College program history, while Malachi now holds the distinction of being the program’s third-highest pick.
Their journey to the big leagues has been anything but easy. Raised by their mother, Meg Witherspoon—a single parent who often worked 75 hours a week to support the family—the brothers found strength in each other through every challenge.
“Our mom is the steppingstone for everything we’ve been able to do and accomplish. It’s all thanks to her,” Malachi said. “We didn’t have much growing up, but she made it all possible. She always found a way for us.”
From their early days in youth baseball, through high school, junior college, and Division I baseball, the brothers have remained inseparable. “He’s meant everything to me,” Kyson said of Malachi. “He’s been my whole life. I’ve always had my built-in throwing partner, my motivator, my second coach.”
Malachi was originally drafted out of high school by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but turned down the offer after his signing bonus was reduced. “It was money our family had never seen,” he said. “But when that promise was taken away, I couldn’t go through with it. It was about principle.”
Instead, Malachi joined Kyson at Northwest Florida State. In their one season with the Raiders, Kyson made a strong impression with a 6-2 record, 3.10 ERA, and 72 strikeouts across 17 appearances, earning First Team All-Panhandle Conference honors. Malachi, while less consistent statistically (9.87 ERA in 13 appearances), impressed scouts with his electric fastball, sharp breaking ball, and an eye-catching 12.46 strikeouts per nine innings.
The following season, the Witherspoon’s—along with their mother—moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to play for the University of Oklahoma. Kyson thrived as a key part of the Sooners’ rotation, recording a 3.16 ERA and 210 strikeouts over two seasons. He earned Consensus First Team All-American honors from D1Baseball, Perfect Game, and the NCBWA, and was named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist in 2025.
Malachi also showed growth in Norman, finishing with a 5.23 ERA and 119 strikeouts. His velocity and breaking stuff continued to improve, keeping his name high on MLB Draft boards alongside his brother’s.
Last night marked the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. Both brothers were selected within the top 70 picks of the draft—an unforgettable moment in a storybook journey that’s far from over.
Although their names have been called, the Witherspoon’s now face a new challenge: climbing through the ranks of the minor leagues with their sights set on the ultimate goal—making it to The Show.
