Story from the Bleacher Report by Joel Reuter
The 2025 MLB draft is here, and that means it’s time for Bleacher Report’s final mock draft.
The first 75 picks of the 20-round, three-day event will be made Sunday as part of MLB’s All-Star festivities, with coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN and MLB Network.
High school shortstop Ethan Holliday has long been viewed as the best prospect in this draft class, though that is no guarantee he will be the No. 1 overall pick, with LSU left-hander Kade Anderson representing an MLB-ready starter with front-line upside as a potential alternative at 1-1.
Will the Washington Nationals select one of those two with the No. 1 overall pick, or will they look to cut a below-slot deal with someone such as high school shortstop Eli Willits?
Ahead, you’ll find full analysis for each of the 30 first-round picks, as well as quick-hit selections for the Compensation Round and the Competitive Balance Round A for a total of 43 projected picks.
That gives us a chance to include all 30 teams, since the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and New York Yankees each had their first pick moved back 10 spots as a penalty for how far they exceeded the luxury-tax threshold.
Note: Scouting information and industry consensus were gathered via the latest mock drafts and reports from Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), Kiley McDaniel (ESPN) and Carlos Collazo (Baseball America).
Nos. 1-3
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Liam Doyle
1. Washington Nationals: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU
Pro Comparison: Max Fried
The Nationals’ decision to fire president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo last weekend adds further intrigue to what has been one of the more wide-open No. 1 overall pick conversations in recent years.
It still feels like Kade Anderson vs. Ethan Holliday is the decision, with prep shortstop Eli Willits as a dark horse if they decide to cut a deal. The front office upheaval could make Anderson more appealing since he is perhaps the safest pick in this draft class. The polished lefty went 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 180 strikeouts in 119 innings this spring while helping lead LSU to a College World Series title.
2. Los Angeles Angels: LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee
Pro Comparison: Robbie Ray
It’s unlikely the Angels will suddenly zag from their recent strategy of targeting MLB-ready talent, especially picking this high in the draft. With that in mind, if the Nationals go with Ethan Holliday at No. 1, they will almost certainly pounce on Kade Anderson.
Liam Doyle is a solid consolation prize after he pitched his way into the top-tier of this draft class during a breakout spring. The 6’2″ southpaw finished 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 164 strikeouts in 95.2 innings after transferring from Ole Miss to Tennessee.
3. Seattle Mariners: SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State
Pro Comparison: Troy Tulowitzki
The Mariners have not drafted a college hitter in the first round since Evan White in 2017, and their long track record of developing pitching talent could ultimately make prep right-hander Seth Hernandez’s huge upside too good to pass up.
However, there is also a likely scenario where they have their pick of bats in this draft class, and Aiva Arquette has the combination of floor, ceiling and present polish to be worth bucking trend. Despite his 6’5″, 220-pound frame, he should have no problem sticking at shortstop, and he hit .354/.461/.654 with 17 doubles, 19 home runs and 66 RBI in 65 games this spring.
Nos. 4-6
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Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Seth Hernandez
4. Colorado Rockies: SS Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS (OK)
Pro Comparison: Corey Seager
If Ethan Holliday does not hear his name called at No. 1 overall, this becomes his most likely landing spot, with a chance to join the same Rockies organization that selected his father in the seventh round of the 1998 draft.
He has a strong 6’4″, 210-pound frame and the best raw power in the entire 2025 draft class, though a presumptive shift to third base in pro ball will put more pressure on his offensive game. Swing-and-miss concerns were a talking point this spring, but he has the offensive ceiling to be a franchise cornerstone.
5. St. Louis Cardinals: SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)
Pro Comparison: peak Edgar Rentería
The Cardinals now look like the ceiling for Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold, though they have been frequently tied to the top of the prep shortstop class, which is headlined by Eli Willits, Billy Carlson and JoJo Parker.
Cardinals fans should appreciate that “peak Edgar Rentería” comparison as much as anyone, with Willits possessing a similar profile with plus tools across the board and no single carrying tool. He could hit .300 with 15 home runs and 30 steals while playing above-average defense at shortstop for a decade.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona HS (CA)
Pro Comparison: Josh Beckett
A high school right-handed pitcher has never been taken No. 1 overall, though a handful have gone with the No. 2 pick, including Josh Beckett (1999), Jameson Taillon (2010) and Hunter Greene (2017).
Seth Hernandez has the same type of sky-high potential that trio possessed entering pro ball, and while it looks unlikely he will be the first name called, there is a very real chance he ends up being the best player in this draft class. The Pirates are still at a point in their rebuild where rolling the dice on upside makes sense.
Nos. 7-9
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David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ike Irish
7. Miami Marlins: SS JoJo Parker, Purvis HS (MS)
Pro Comparison: Ketel Marte
The consensus seems to be that best-case scenario for the Marlins would be Eli Willits falling, and assuming that doesn’t happen, they will choose between fellow prep shortstops JoJo Parker and Billy Carlson.
Given the Marlins’ ongoing need for impact bats, going with Parker’s higher offensive ceiling over Carlson’s elite glove makes sense. This could also be the ceiling for Auburn slugger Ike Irish, though the buzz has generally centered around the aforementioned high school infielders.
8. Toronto Blue Jays: LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
Pro Comparison: Chris Sale
The Blue Jays will likely let the draft board dictate their pick, taking an opportunistic approach with whoever happens to fall into their laps. In this scenario, it’s Jamie Arnold, who was getting No. 1 overall pick buzz just a few months ago.
He didn’t take the step forward some were hoping for on the heels of his dominant sophomore season, but still finished 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. The Chris Sale comparison is an absolute best-case scenario, but Arnold does have a similar upper 90s fastball and funky arm slot.
9. Cincinnati Reds: OF/C Ike Irish, Auburn
Pro Comparison: less athletic Christian Yelich
As the 2025 college season unfolded, Ike Irish steadily climbed to the top of the college hitter demographic, hitting .364/.469/.710 with 13 home runs in 28 games during SEC play.
Questions remain about his long-term defensive home, and a fractured scapula this spring led to him playing primarily right field after he opened the year as Auburn’s starting catcher. Keeping him out of the crouch would maximize his offensive upside and put him on a fast track to the majors.
Nos. 10-12
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Kyson Witherspoon
10. Chicago White Sox: SS Billy Carlson, Corona HS (CA)
Pro Comparison: Brandon Crawford
The White Sox’s decision might come down to who the Marlins decide to take at No. 7 overall, as both teams have been routinely tied to high school shortstops JoJo Parker and Billy Carlson.
Carlson is the best defensive shortstop in the 2025 draft class by a sizable margin, with quick-twitch instincts, a rocket arm that made him a viable two-way prospect entering the spring and smooth defensive actions. Even if he falls short of reaching his 50-hit, 50-power offensive ceiling, his glove gives him an extremely high floor.
11. Athletics: RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara
Pro Comparison: Michael Wacha
The A’s are a tough team to nail down, and that mostly has to do with their spot on the board. Assuming there is no surprise name that slips outside the top-10 picks, college pitchers Tyler Bremner and Kyson Witherspoon and college outfielder Brandon Summerhill look like their most likely targets.
Bremner entered the spring in the conversation for best college arm in the draft class after going 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings as a sophomore. A slow start quieted some of the buzz, but he finished on a roll, posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 43.1 innings over his final seven starts.
12. Texas Rangers: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
Pro Comparison: Dylan Cease
The Rangers could be the starting point for the second tier of high school shortstops, with Steele Hall and Daniel Pierce headlining that group, and if JoJo Parker or Billy Carlson slip, expect them to pounce.
In this scenario, Oklahoma ace Kyson Witherspoon represents the best player on the board, with a combination of floor and ceiling that might be too good to pass up for an organization perpetually in need of more pitching. The 6’2″ right-hander went 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings this spring while showcasing the potential for four plus pitches.
Nos. 13-15
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Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
Marek Houston
13. San Francisco Giants: OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
Pro Comparison: Garrett Mitchell
The Giants’ decision gets tricky if Tyler Bremner or Kyson Witherspoon is still available, but in this case both are gone, leaving a college bat as their most likely demographic target.
Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill separated himself from a crowded class of college hitters this spring by hitting .343/.459/.556 with 22 extra-base hits, 11 steals and more walks (36) than strikeouts (24). With an athletic 6’3″, 200-pound frame, there could be more power to come with some tweaks to his swing, similar to Garrett Mitchell when he was a first-round pick out of UCLA in 2020.
14. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
Pro Comparison: CJ Abrams
The Rays have the ninth-largest bonus pool and four picks inside the top-70, so they can get creative with how they spread their money around. That could mean reaching for someone in this spot with an eye on pushing some money for above-slot deals later on Day 1, but Steele Hall is someone they have been linked to throughout the predraft process.
A twitchy athlete with top-of-the-scale speed, a good glove at shortstop and the makings of a table-setting offensive profile, Hall fits the type of player the Rays have targeted over the years. He is also one of the youngest players in the class after reclassifying from 2026.
15. Boston Red Sox: SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest
Pro Comparison: Jeremy Peña
The Red Sox took the best college hitter on the board in 2023 (Kyle Teel) and 2024 (Braden Montgomery), then traded them both to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet deal, so don’t be surprised if they return to that demographic this year.
Marek Houston won the starting shortstop job at Wake Forest as a freshman thanks to his standout defense, and while his glove remains one of the best in the class, he now has an offensive game to match. He hit .354/.458/.597 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBI and 19 steals in 61 games this spring.
Nos. 16-18
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16. Minnesota Twins: SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas
Pro Comparison: Brandon Phillips
The Twins might be the floor for UC Santa Barbara ace Tyler Bremner, but they have had success over the years with high-performing college infielders with strong offensive profiles and the potential for defensive versatility.
It doesn’t get much more “high-performing” than winning the Golden Spikes Award, which Aloy did this spring while hitting .350/.434/.673 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 65 games. He might end up fitting best at second base, which puts more pressure on his bat, but his ceiling is a Brandon Phillips or Brian Dozier type offensive star.
17. Chicago Cubs: RHP Gage Wood, Arkansas
Pro Comparison: Cade Horton
Cade Horton finished the 2022 regular season with a 7.94 ERA, but he pitched his way into the first round with a terrific postseason run for Oklahoma, posting a 2.61 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 innings before the Cubs called his name with the No. 7 overall pick.
Sound familiar? Gage Wood had a 5.02 ERA in 28.2 innings during the regular season this spring while missing two months with a shoulder injury. His draft buzz started to heat up with a strong regional outing against Creighton (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 13 K), and then caught fire when he twirled a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Murray State at the College World Series. There is some reliever risk and the shoulder issue remains a red flag, but the upside here is huge.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
Pro Comparison: Alejandro Kirk
The D-backs have often valued a contact-over-power approach at the plate, targeting guys like Corbin Carroll and Slade Caldwell at the top of draft classes on the strength of their polished hit tool.
Caden Bodine fits the mold after hitting .318/.454/.461 with almost twice as many walks (47) as strikeouts (24) this spring while leading Coastal Carolina to the College World Series final. A 60-hit, 40-power offensive profile and solid defensive tools behind the plate give him a higher floor than North Carolina backstop Luke Stevenson, who is the other top catcher in this class.
Nos. 19-21
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Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
Jace LaViolette
19. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS (WA)
Pro Comparison: Isaac Paredes
The Orioles have often targeted upside over polish with their early picks, and after taking a step backward this year at the MLB level, that approach makes sense again with a potential retooling coming at the deadline.
Xavier Neyens has the best power in the 2025 prep class outside of Ethan Holliday, and he might be in the top-10 conversation if not for an inconsistent spring that raised some questions about his hit tool. The same things were said about James Wood before he slipped to the second round of the 2021 draft.
20. Milwaukee Brewers: 2B Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
Pro Comparison: Jeff McNeil
The Brewers have made eight first-round selections since the 2020 draft, and six of them have been college hitters. That’s no guarantee they will go that route again this year, but the board lines up nicely for them to go to that well once again.
Gavin Kilen might not have a superstar ceiling, but he is one of the safest bats in the 2025 class after hitting .357/.441/.671 with 13 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI and more walks (30) than strikeouts (27) this spring following his transfer from Louisville to Tennessee.
21. Houston Astros: OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
Pro Comparison: more athletic Adam Dunn
The Astros have not picked inside the top 20 since 2017, which has often left them targeting players with one loud carrying tool and plenty of boom-or-bust potential at the top of their draft hauls.
After Jace LaViolette entered the spring as a legitimate candidate to go No. 1 overall, no prospect fits the boom-or-bust mold better in this draft class than the Texas A&M slugger.
After hitting .305/.449/.726 with 29 home runs as a sophomore, he saw his production dip to a .258/.427/.576 line with 18 long balls and a 25.2 percent strikeout rate this spring. He walks enough to at least partially offset a high strikeout rate, and if he hits enough to get to his power, he could be a 40-homer guy.
Nos. 22-24
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Josh Harris/WCA
22. Atlanta Braves: LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset HS (OR)
Pro Comparison: Nick Lodolo
The Braves were the first team to take a high school pitcher last summer, selecting prep lefty Cam Caminiti at No. 24 overall, and they will likely have their pick of that demographic again aside from Seth Hernandez.
With a towering 6’8″, 229-pound frame that offers ample projection and three plus pitches, Schoolcraft has frontline upside. There is also a chance he could quickly take a step forward after splitting his focus between hitting and pitching throughout his prep career as a two-way slugger in the Bryce Eldridge mold.
23. Kansas City Royals: 3B Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)
Pro Comparison: Justin Turner
The Royals pick again at No. 28 overall, and they also have an extra Competitive Balance pick at No. 71 overall, so they can get creative with how they decide to utilize a $12.8 million bonus pool that is the 11th-largest in the class.
With some of the best raw power in the draft class, Josh Hammond could go as high as the mid-teens, and it might take an above-slot deal to get him signed if he is still on the board at this point. Sounds like the perfect target for a Royals team with a glaring need for more impact bats down on the farm.
24. Detroit Tigers: OF Slater de Brun, Summit HS (OR)
Pro Comparison: Shane Victorino
With another early pick at No. 34 overall, expect the Tigers to take at least one high school player among their first two selections, and hitters have seemingly been the focus.
With an undersized 5’10”, 187-pound frame, a polished hit tool and 65-grade speed, Slater de Brun has frequently been compared to Corbin Carroll during the predraft process. He might never have a 30-homer campaign in the tank from a power standpoint, but a career similar to former Phillies All-Star Shane Victorino would be a terrific best-case scenario.
Nos. 25-27
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Cam Cannarella
25. San Diego Padres: SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS (TX)
Pro Comparison: prep Termarr Johnson
The Padres have used their last 11 first-round picks on a high school player, going all the way back to taking Cal Quantrill at No. 8 overall in 2016, and there is no reason to think that trend will change picking at the back of the first round.
Kayson Cunningham might have the most polished hit tool in the entire prep class, with a 60-hit, 60-speed profile that gives him future leadoff hitter upside. Questions about his long-term defensive home and extra-base ability push him down the board a bit, but he could be a steal at this spot.
26. Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Gavin Fien, Great Oaks HS (CA)
Pro Comparison: Ryan Zimmerman
High school players have been the pick for the Phillies in the first round for five years running, including prep hitters in 2023 (Justin Crawford), 2024 (Aidan Miller) and 2025 (Dante Nori).
With a 50-hit, 50-power offensive profile, an athletic 6’3″, 210-pound frame and the potential for more power to come as he continues to fill out, Gavin Fien has enough upside to overlook an inconsistent spring. A stellar showing on the showcase circuit last summer helps further offset those struggles, and he hit .400 for Team USA at the U18 World Cup qualifier.
27. Cleveland Guardians: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
Pro Comparison: Steven Kwan
The Guardians have a type, frequently targeting contact-oriented middle infielders, players with power as their carrying tool and high-floor pitching talent over the years. However, this is also the lowest they are drafting 2018, so they could take more of a best-available approach.
Cam Cannarella checks the contact-oriented box with a 55-grade hit tool, and he adds secondary appeal as a sure-fire center fielder with Gold Glove potential. He hit .360/.453/.551 in 865 plate appearances during his three years at Clemson, and offers enough potential value to overlook his limited power.
Compensation/Competitive Balance A Picks
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David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Andrew Fischer
Compensation Picks
If a player was rated as a preseason Top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and/or ESPN (at least two of the three) and was on his team’s Opening Day roster and goes on to win the Rookie of the Year Award or place in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting prior to qualifying for arbitration, the club is awarded a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick after the first round. As a result, Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) earned his team a draft pick.
28. Kansas City Royals: SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek HS (GA)
If a team that loses a qualifying free agent is a revenue-sharing recipient and the free agent signs for at least $50 million, the team will be awarded a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. Christian Walker (ARI), Corbin Burnes (BAL), Anthony Santander (BAL) and Willy Adames (MIL) each earned their former team a pick.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
30. Baltimore Orioles: 1B/OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
31. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Anthony Eyanson, LSU
32. Milwaukee Brewers: 2B Sean Gamble, IMG Academy (FL)
Competitive Balance Round A Picks
All teams that have either one of the 10 smallest markets or 10 smallest revenue pools receive an additional pick at the end of the first or second round. The groups of teams alternate between the two rounds each year. These are the only picks that are eligible to be traded.
The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees also each received a 10-pick penalty on their first picks for exceeding the second luxury tax threshold, leaving their first picks as part of the Competitive Balance Round A.
33. Boston Red Sox (via MIL): C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
34. Detroit Tigers: RHP JB Middleton, Southern Mississippi
35. Seattle Mariners: LHP Zach Root, Arkansas
36. Minnesota Twins: OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
37. Baltimore Orioles (via TB): 3B/OF Quentin Young, Oaks Christian HS (CA)
38. New York Mets: RHP Patrick Forbes, Louisville
39. New York Yankees: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Tate Southisene, Basic HS (NV)
41. Los Angeles Dodgers (via CIN): RHP Marcus Phillips, Tennessee
42. Tampa Bay Rays (via OAK): OF Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy (IL)
43. Miami Marlins: OF Mason Neville, Oregon
Note: Pick explanations courtesy of MLB.com
