The countdown to the 2025 AUSL Inaugural Draft is on. The draft order is locked in, with the Bandits sitting at No. 1. Over 80 athletes have declared for the draft with the most talented professional softball players in the world eager to join a team for the inaugural season.

The AUSL Inaugural Draft is unlike the approaching NFL Draft in that these teams do not have a single player on the roster. The time for filling gaps won’t come until free agency and the College Draft.

If the AU Championship Season drafts are any indicator, pitchers will be the predominant position chosen in the early rounds (and most likely a majority of the second round too). For example, in the 2024 Championship Season drafts, captains selected a pitcher with their No. 1 pick 16 out of 20 times.

That is by no means a mistake. Without solid pitching, a team sets itself to struggle. Each team will have five pitchers so I anticipate the general managers and coaches prioritizing an ace or two early on.

As the draft rapidly approaches, here are my predictions for each team’s first-round pick.

Tune in for live coverage of the AUSL Inaugural Draft on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on the ESPN App & AUSL YouTube.

1. Bandits: Megan Faraimo, Right-handed Pitcher

I have little doubt that the first pick of the draft will be a pitcher and Megan Faraimo has the personality and arm to build a team around. Faraimo has proven capable of throwing complete games at an elite level. As a rookie, Faraimo became only the second pitcher in league history to throw a no-hitter and earned Rookie of the Year honors. In 2024 she was second in the league in strikeouts and recorded a 2.88 ERA.

She’s also coming off of a year jam-packed with softball. Leading up to the AUSL season, Faraimo will have competed in the Japan Diamond Softball League and the Mexican Softball League.

With a cerebral approach to the game and hunger for development, Faraimo has high potential as she continues to evolve at the pro level.

2. Blaze: Lexi Kilfoyl, Right-handed Pitcher

Another young arm I expect to come off the board early is Lexi Kilfoyl who had a stellar year one as a pro. Kilfoyl was the 2024 Rookie of the Year and the only pitcher last season to throw a complete game shutout, a feat she accomplished twice. Kilfoyl threw the most innings of any hurler and led in ERA (2.23) and strikeouts (39).

She had to balance navigating her first year as a pro and being a captain for most of the season and I think we could see even better numbers from her as her sole focus shifts to pitching in the AUSL. I believe Kilfoyl would thrive working with Blaze General Manager Dana Sorenen, a pitching guru known for her affinity in stats and technology to aid development.

3. Talons: Carley Hoover, Right-handed Pitcher

In a way, Carley Hoover is the dark horse of the draft. She hasn’t played in a U.S. league since 2018 and instead spent six years in the Japan Diamond Softball League. She has been a cornerstone of the Denso Bright Pegasus team her entire career overseas and was named the Player of the Year in 2022. In the 2024 season, she logged a 2.08 ERA.

With only four teams in the inaugural season, hitters will face the same pitchers often so having a pitcher on staff who hasn’t already been scouted in hundreds of at-bats could prove fruitful. Hoover also played for Talons Head Coach Howard Dobson during her collegiate career at LSU.

4. Volts: Dejah Mulipola, Catcher

I see things taking a turn toward position players at the fourth pick. In my opinion, Mulipola is the best all-around catcher available in the draft who brings experience calling games, game presence, and a powerful bat. Volts General Manager Cat Osterman is familiar with Mulipola’s game from their time on the 2020 USA Olympic Team together and since then, Mulipola has only improved.

She was the 2022 AU individual Champion and posted legendary numbers at the plate slashing a .432 batting average, .569 on-base percentage, and 1.182 slugging percentage. Her numbers with Team USA and in the Japan Diamond League in 2024 — a .313 batting average and .403 on-base percentage — are a testament that Mulipola is one of the best hitters in professional softball right now.

Tune in on January 29 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on the ESPN App or the AUSL YouTube page as the four teams for the inaugural AUSL season are selected.

Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.