2025 MLB Draft First Round Breakdown

2025 MLB Draft First Round

To begin, the 2025 Draft is unfortunately a bit flat at the top five picks. The Number one pick, Washington Nationals, have recently gotten rid of their GM and Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez in recent days, which could change who they take at the beginning of the Draft, with Rizzo it was almost effectively certain that the Nationals would be picking Holliday at number one, now it’s not so certain. We have a heavy HS Infielder field, with some College players (Pitchers early and Position Players later). Eli Willits (INF) (Son of former Angels OF Reggie Willits) , Ethan Holliday (INF) (Son of Matt Holliday, younger brother of Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday), Seth Hernandez (RHP) are all top prep picks that could go very early. I would not be surprised if the majority of the top five picks, heck, even all of the top five, are prep players. The one thing that could change this is trying to be “safe” or “rush” your Players, which the Angels (#2 pick) GM Perry Minasian has been doing since he got his job in Anaheim, so a College Pitcher who could make play or even make an impact this season could be a real possibility (LHP Liam Doyle is the consensus pick as someone who could put on a Major League uniform and join a teams Bullpen and make an impact tomorrow). You’ll see that the LA Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets are missing from the below list for first picks, all due to receiving a 10-pick penalty because they exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the CBA, putting them in the high thirties, towards the end of the first round. The first twenty-seven picks and the CBA Round A which has these teams picks will be covered in this piece, so don’t fret, all thirty teams first round picks will be covered, even if they have multiple picks (Marlins, Dodgers, Orioles, etc).

2025 First Round Picks

1. Washington Nationals – Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK) First pick is high schooler Eli Willits, who will probably stick at Shortstop. Not a typical number one pick, but is a switch-hitter, possible 20-20 player, can run first to third, but not going to blow you away with power.
2. Los Angeles Angels – UC Santa Barbara (RHP) Tyler Bremner, had a great college career, 4-seamer, changeup, slider. A 21-9 record with over 400 strikeouts, and not surprisingly, expected to move through the organization quickly. He’s more of a fastball-changeup guy, hoping to see the fastball-slider punch, probably in the bullpen.
3. Seattle Mariners – LSU (LHP) Kade Anderson, a pitcher who had Tommy John in high school, has the highest floor of any first round pick. FB/SL/CH/CV, four pitch arsenal with a thin frame but good control over most of his pitches. Middle of the rotation starter if he doesn’t have a velocity jump in his Fastball. LSU is creating pitchers (Skenes, Nola, etc.)
4. Colorado Rockies – Stillwater HS (OK) (SS) Ethan Holliday fell to the Rockies, who obviously picked the name who has the ability to be a Franchise Face for the team, for a team who needs something to sell. He’s got clean hands, fielding and throwing. Not the greatest baserunner, more lumbering than twitch speed. His father, Matt Holliday, was also drafted by Colorado in the 1998 Draft back in the seventh round, however.
5. St. Louis Cardinals – Tennessee (LHP) Liam Doyle is a one pitch pitcher, was second in D1 as far as strikeouts. Although he was a starter in College, Liam threw the Fastball over 70% of the time, reaching 100MPH. The question is, will his secondary pitches develop, or will he be put into the bullpen and stick to his Fastball?
6. Pittsburgh Pirates – Corona HS (CA) RHP Seth Hernandez is probably the highest floor pitcher as far as prep pitchers, so the Pirates are stacking up on arms. Hernandez has top FB and CH, with a developing Slider. Velocity has touched 100MPH, I wouldn’t be surprised if Seth is in the Majors with Paul Skenes and company in two or three years.
7. Miami Marlins – Oregon State, Aiva Arquette a Shortstop has got range, and power. Arquette has a basketball background, and will have the ability to steal you a bag, having that twitch ability, unlike Holliday. The question here is will he stick at Shortstop, or move to Third, possibly.
8. Toronto Blue Jays – Purvis HS (MS) JoJo Parker, the third Shorstop in the last five picks. He’s got that 70 grade hit tool and 70 grade play who has the ability to develop into a great Infielder for the Jays, who arguably could overtake the Yankees for the Division this year. Parker will enjoy this winning culture down the line, especially if Toronto locks down Guerrero Jr. long-term.
9. Cincinnati Reds – Hewitt-Trussvile HS (AL) Steele Hall, our second prep Shortstop in a row, born and raised in Alabama, has tried to emulate Dansby Swansby as best as possible from the hair to the on field play. Steele is used to playing with people a year above him, re-classing and graduating a year early, is only 170 pounds. He’ll need to put on some weight to pick up some power, but has high baseball IQ, high speed grading at 70 already at only 17 years old.
10. Chicago White Sox – Corona HS (CA) We have finished the top prep Shortstop here, Billy Carlson who was a teammate of RHP Seth Hernandez. At 19, he’s an older prep pick. Has heavy power, needing to work on his hit tool, but has an amazing arm at Shortstop already, as far as defense. We’ve only had one college bat in the first ten picks, and four prep shortstops.
11. Athletics – Florida State LHP Jamie Arnold is 2-time First All ACC-Team, his last 5 starts he had 46K and 8BB. He comes with a 4FB/CH/SL mix and is definitely a high quality pitcher who could move up to the Majors quickly.
12. Texas Rangers – Great Oak HS (CA) Gavin Fien is a straight RHH 3B who pulls the ball to Left and Left Center. He can also play First if needed, although his main position in High School was Shortstop.
13. San Francisco Giants – Tennessee Gavin Kilen, is our second College SS. Has good contact with the bat, and clean hands at Short or Second as far as defense. The one big knock is his eye, he needs to take more Balls and Walks in general, even though he does make a lot of contact. He was drafted in the 13th round by the Red Sox last year, and now is a First Round pick. 
14. Tampa Bay Rays – Mill Creek HS (GA) Daniel Pierce, another prep SS, not surprising because of some recent news in the organization. But he can move full speed and get the throw off without problem, and also has some good power as well as bat speed. Keep him at Shortstop, let him do his thing there, he was built for the position.
15. Boston Red Sox – Oklahoma RHP Kyson Witherspoon is the first of twin brothers that will probably also have his name called in the first round. Kyson has a FB/CB/SL/CT mix, strike thrower with a .166BAA, definitely looking like a bullpen piece for the BoSox.
16. Minnesota Twins – Wake Forest, Marek Houston, another college shortstop off the board. Power and speed jumped in his last season at Wake Forest. 19 stolen bags, more power but not huge power. Comps to a good Nick Ahmed if he hits his ceiling. 
17. Chicago Cubs – Wake Forest, Ethan Conrad RF had only 8 games played in the 2025 season before suffering a shoulder injury. It’s thought that he has a good enough hit tool, seeing and hitting the curve, is what can get him to the Majors quick. Our first Outfielder off the board, this draft dominated by high schoolers and shortstops.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks –  Johnson (TX), Kayson Cunningham is another prep shortstop off the board. Good bat to ball skills, smaller frame but has some pop. Played for Team USA with Ethan Holliday, and actually played Shortstop over Holliday on the U-18 Team
19. Baltimore Orioles – Auburn, Ike Irish was drafted as an Outfielder, RF in specific. Against some of the top college pitchers. He has the ability to play at Catcher as well.
20. Milwaukee Brewers – Tennessee, Andrew Fischer was picked as a 3B, but can play Outfield as well. Looked at as the most consistent ACC bat, brings world class power, wait for big home runs.
21. Houston Astros – Mount Vernon HS (WA) Xavier Neyens, drafted as a 3B can play SS as well. 6’2, 210lbs, Xavier has massive power for a high schooler. Played over a hundred games over the year, some scouts saw fatigue set in. He comps as a Joey Gallo, being a LHH with big power and having the ability to play the corners in the Outfield.
22. Atlanta Braves – Basic HS (NV), Tate Southisene is another prep SS picked, who could actually stick at the position and fill a hole that the team has at the position. As a LHH, when he makes contact, he can really speed out of the box. Has early Zach Neto comps.
23. Kansas City Royals – IMG Academy (FL) Sean Gamble is an infielder, drafted as a 2B. Has plus power and plus speed, could move to Center Field in the future. Has a smooth swing from the left side and will be interesting to watch.
24. Detroit Tigers – Sickles HS (FL) Jordan Yost, another SS wasn’t being scouted until this season. He is another LHH infielder, we’re waiting for that growth spurt to hit, see if he can slide to 3B.
25. San Diego Padres – Sunset HS (OR) Kruz Schoolcraft is a two-way player, 2-time Gatorade Player. Will most likely stick to pitching, having a smooth delivery as a Lefty.
26. Philadelphia Phillies – University of Arkansas, Gage Wood was the best swing and miss pitcher in the country. He’s definitely a guy who can go straight to the bullpen for the Phillies this season, throws 95+ easily, and peppers the strikezone. The long-game for Gage is to be a Starter, of course.
27. Cleveland Guardians – Texas A&M, Jace LaViolette has been drafted as a CF by the Guardians, and has massive power, setting a school record with 68HR over his career in Texas. He literally looks like a fully grown man, but his 2025 season made him a three true outcome hitter, but if he settles down, he can help the Guardians for a long time.

      Competitive Balance Round A

      33. Boston Red Sox – Tennessee, RHP Marcus Phillips is one of five D1 pitchers in 2025 who’s Fastball averaged 96MPH. But before this year, he only has two career starts in College. The upside is there, the raw tools, but he’ll certainly be a work in progress for Boston.

      34. Detroit Tigers – Hauppauge HS (NY) Michael Oliveto has been drafted as a Catcher, but not a lot of people will think he’ll stick there. Was on nobody’s radar until he went to an event, and absolutely crushed top prep pitching.

      35. Seattle Mariners – North Carolina, Luke Stevenson has got power, but his bat to ball skill is questionable. But being a lefty Catcher (second in a row) helps, and hopefully the development will help Stevenson bump up that contact.

      36. Minnesota Twins – Alabama, Riley Quick made the 2025 2nd All ACC Team. Didn’t start the season as good as he finished it. FB/SNK/CH/CT arsenal is amazing, all above average. Has already had Tommy John, could be a Starter or Reliever, to be seen.

      37. Baltimore Orioles – Summit HS (OR) Slater de Brun is a Vanderbilt commit, but being a first round pick might change that. Drafted as a CF, it’s because he’s got elite defense. Some Corbin Carroll comps due to having a smaller frame.

      38. New York Mets – Michigan, 2025 First Team All-Team Mitch Voit has got some pop, but his hit tool is what makes him pop out, and a big 2B (although announced as a two-way player). Could bring more power in a few years as possibly DH in a year or two, or at 2B/1B if you let him work on his defense.

      39. New York Yankees – Newnan HS (GA) Dax Kilby is an 18 year old 6’2 SS, but could fill out his frame. This would be a young man who could run into moving to 3B or 1B, straight bat skills and room for power, and take advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short porch in Left Field.

      40. Los Angeles Dodgers – Arkansas, Zach Root LHP is a winner here, not the Dodgers. FB/CH/CV is his arsenal, and the Dodgers will make him better than he ever was with Arkansas, and a possible middle of the rotation arm.

      41. Los Angeles Dodgers – Arkansas, Charles Davalan is a born Canadian who grew up playing hockey, switched to baseball later in life, and was successful. As a LHH, Davalan is a possible everyday player in a couple of years. Bat speed is there, showing possible power to be tapped into.

      42. Tampa Bay Rays – Arizona, Brendan Summerhill was drafted as a CF. As a LHH, he’s projected to be a Yelich type player, at best. He did struggle against lefties, but good against righties, so he could also be a situational hitter.

      43. Miami Marlins – Clemson, Cam Cannarella was drafted as a CF LHH, a 6’2 kid who has a great looking swing and has good bat to ball skill, with 80+ hits in his last 3 seasons.