With their second-round pick, the Cubs chose Kane Kepley, a left-handed outfielder from North Carolina. At 5-foot-8, Kepley walked on at Liberty in 2023 and then transferred to North Carolina for the 2025 season. In between, he had an All-Star summer in the Cape Cod League in 2024.

In the second round of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, South Rowan state champion Kane Kepley was selected 56th overall by the Chicago Cubs. After two seasons as an all-conference performer at Liberty University, Kepley put together a second team All-ACC performance this past spring at the University of North Carolina.