MLB Mock Draft 2025 for Every 1st Round Pick, Version 5.0
With the College World Series just a few weeks away and high school seasons across the country winding to a close, the 2025 MLB draft is starting to swing into focus for baseball fans.
The Washington Nationals have the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in December at the annual winter meetings, and they will be on the clock when the draft gets under way on July 13.
This year's draft class lacks a slam-dunk top talent, though prep shortstop Ethan Holliday has been mentioned at the top of draft boards throughout the spring.
College pitchers Liam Doyle (Tennessee), Jamie Arnold (Florida State), Kade Anderson (LSU) and Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma) could all go inside the top 10 picks, while the biggest strength of this class appears to be high school shortstops. Eli Willits and Billy Carlson headline a long list of potential first-round picks at the position.
What follows is version 5.0 of our full first-round mock draft, including the Compensation Round and Competitive Balance Round A through pick No. 43. This is our first mock draft update since 4.0 was released on April 25.
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.
Nos. 1-3
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1. Washington Nationals: SS Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS (OK)
This is far from a foregone conclusion, but Holliday seems to be the front-runner to go No. 1 overall from a list of names that also includes prep shortstop Eli Willits, prep right-hander Seth Hernandez, Oregon State infielder Aiva Arquette and the top tier of college pitching.
With a strong 6'4", 210-pound frame and 65-grade power, Holliday has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the class, and a strong spring has cemented his status as an elite prospect. Bonus demands will be a factor here, especially since the Nationals don't pick again until No. 49 overall.
2. Los Angeles Angels: LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee
Doyle steadily climbed draft boards all spring, and there is now a good chance he will be the first pitcher taken after going 10-3 with a 2.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 158-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 92 innings.
The Angels have placed an emphasis on proximity to the majors with their recent first-round selections. Doyle is polished enough that he could be one of the first players from the 2025 class to debut if they wanted to put him on the fast track.
3. Seattle Mariners: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU
After missing his senior season of high school while recovering from Tommy John surgery and easing back into action as a weekday starter in his return to the mound last year, Anderson has taken a huge leap forward, going 9-1 with a 3.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 156 strikeouts in 96 innings this spring.
The Mariners have generally favored college arms at the top of their draft classes, but it's at least worth wondering if they might roll the dice on prep hurler Seth Hernandez given their ability to develop arms and his huge upside.
Nos. 4-6
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4. Colorado Rockies: RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona HS (CA)
The last time the Rockies held the No. 4 overall pick is also the last time they selected a high school pitcher in the first round, taking Riley Pint back in 2016. That didn't work out so well, but Hernandez is a much more polished prospect with an equally high ceiling and a much higher floor.
This is probably the floor for Ethan Holliday, given his dad's ties to the Rockies organization and an offensive ceiling that could make him a superstar in Coors Field and alongside 2024 first-round selection Charlie Condon in the middle of the lineup.
5. St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
Arnold might be the safest pick among the top tier of college pitchers, but there's a case to be made that he does not have the same ceiling as Liam Doyle or Kade Anderson. So while he was getting some buzz as a possible No. 1 overall pick, there's a chance that he's not even the first college arm taken.
The Cardinals have often gravitated toward low-risk college arms, but that has come while picking in the 20s rather than inside the top five. Arnold is the pick for now, but prep shortstop Eli Willits is also a name that gets mentioned here.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B/SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State
Arquette has proven to be the perfect replacement for Travis Bazzana, last year's No. 1 overall pick, at second base for the Beavers after transferring from Washington during the offseason.
He is hitting .352/.468/.670 with 16 doubles, 18 home runs and 65 RBI in 59 games this spring, and he has also shown a more refined approach at the plate, nearly doubling his walk rate from 7.4 to 13.5 percent.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Miami Marlins: SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)
With a 60-hit, 60-speed offensive profile and plus defense at shortstop, Willits belongs in the conversation with Ethan Holliday as the best high school position player in this class. He is still in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick if the Nationals decide they want to cut a deal.
If Willits is already off the board, expect the Marlins to prioritize offense. This might be the ceiling for Jace LaViolette, who still has obvious 30-homer potential even with some swing-and-miss concerns.
8. Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
The Blue Jays have regularly been tied to college pitching this spring. Assuming Liam Doyle, Kade Anderson and Jamie Arnold are all off the board, Witherspoon is the fourth member of a four-man group at the top of that demographic.
With a fastball that bumps 99 mph and a terrific slider highlighting a four-pitch repertoire, he has gone 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings. Improved command this spring has made him a safer bet to be a big league starter, and he has top-of-the-rotation potential if he continues to progress.
9. Cincinnati Reds: OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
Summerhill has steadily climbed to the top of a long list of college outfielders in the first-round conversation. While his long-term ceiling depends on the development of his in-game power, his hit tool and athleticism give him a very high floor.
He is hitting .370/.492/.610 with more walks (35) than strikeouts (19) this spring, but he has just four home runs. There is untapped power potential in his 6'3", 200-pound frame, and he is a similar prospect to Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell coming out of UCLA in that regard. If he can stick in center field, it would put significantly less pressure on his over-the-fence production.
Nos. 10-12
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10. Chicago White Sox: SS Billy Carlson, Corona HS (CA)
Carlson looked like one of the best two-way prospects in the 2025 draft class heading into his senior season, but his budding five-tool potential at a premium position has made it clear his future is at shortstop.
The fact that he turns 19 years old at the end of July could push him down the draft board for some teams, but the White Sox didn't flinch at the fact that Colson Montgomery was 19 when they took him No. 22 overall in 2021, and it's unlikely to be a factor here.
11. Athletics: SS JoJo Parker, Purvis HS (MS)
With one of the best hit tools in the 2025 prep class and an uptick in his power outlook during a terrific senior season, Parker has joined the top-tier of high school shortstops and pushed his way into the top half of the first round this spring.
The A's went with a college bat while drafting inside the top 10 in 2023 (Jacob Wilson, No. 6 overall) and 2024 (Nick Kurtz, No. 4 overall), so this could also be a fit for Brendan Summerhill if he is still on the board.
12. Texas Rangers: SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
Originally part of the 2026 draft class before reclassifying, Hall is a quick-twitch athlete with top-of-the-scale speed, and that fits the mold the Rangers have often targeted when going the position player route in the first round.
He is generally regarded as the best overall athlete among the prep shortstops expected to go in the first round, and he does not turn 18 years old until a week after the 2025 draft. He is a developmental prospect, but one with considerable upside.
Nos. 13-15
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13. San Francisco Giants: OF/C Ike Irish, Auburn
Irish entered the spring as the top catching prospect in the 2025 draft class, but after suffering a fractured scapula in March, he started seeing regular action in right field.
There seems to be a growing belief that the best way to maximize his skills will be to move him out of the crouch, and with a .362/.464/.700 line that includes 12 doubles, 18 home runs and 57 RBI in 53 games this spring, he doesn't need to stick behind the plate to be an impact bat. Shortstops Marek Houston (Wake Forest) and Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas) are also candidates in this spot.
14. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS (TX)
With a 60-grade hit tool and great bat-to-ball skills, Cunningham might be the best pure hitter from this year's high school class. An undersized 5'10" frame and average-at-best power potential limit his ceiling, but the Rays have often bet on prospects with one carrying tool.
He will be draft-eligible as a sophomore if he honors his commitment to the University of Texas, so chances are he will either go inside the top 20 picks or require a significant above-slot bonus to keep him from making it to campus.
15. Boston Red Sox: RHP Gage Wood, Arkansas
Gage has one of the best fastballs in the 2025 draft class, and his stock is trending up after a strong start against Creighton (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 13 K) in the Fayetteville Regional final on Sunday.
He could end up being this year's version of Cade Horton if the Razorbacks can advance to the College World Series and give him an opportunity to make a couple more high-profile starts.
Nos. 16-18
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16. Minnesota Twins: OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
LaViolette was on the short list to go No. 1 overall at the start of the spring after slugging 21 home runs as a freshman and then hitting .305/.449/.726 with 29 home runs as a sophomore.
Instead, his stock has slid as he hit .258 with a 25.2 percent strikeout rate, albeit with 18 home runs and a healthy .427 on-base percentage. There's a lot of boom-or-bust potential here, but if he makes enough consistent contact to utilize his power, there is 40-homer upside in his bat.
17. Chicago Cubs: RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara
Following a sophomore season where he finished 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings, Bremner was mentioned alongside Jamie Arnold as the top college pitchers in the 2025 draft class at the start of the spring.
He didn't quite dominate as hoped, posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 77.1 innings, but he finished the season strong with double-digit strikeouts in six of his final seven starts. He could end up being one of the steals of the draft if he slips to this range.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas
Aloy held his own while making a steep jump in competition while transferring from Sacramento State to Arkansas for his sophomore season, and he took another huge step forward this spring as one of the top college middle infielders in the class.
He is hitting .355/.440/.686 with 18 doubles, 20 home runs and 64 RBI in 59 games, and while he is not as good of a defender as Marek Houston (Wake Forest), he has a higher offensive ceiling.
Nos. 19-21
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19. Baltimore Orioles: 3B Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS (WA)
Neyens stands alongside Ethan Holliday as the best power-hitting prospects in this year's high school class, though there are more swing-and-miss concerns in Neyens' profile after an inconsistent spring.
James Wood had a similar trajectory leading up to the 2021 draft, with swing-and-miss concerns on the showcase circuit and during his senior season causing him to slide out of the first-round entirely, despite a loud power tool.
20. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek HS (GA)
Pierce stands out more for his overall polish and intangibles than he does for any one tool, though he showed up faster and stronger for his senior year playing for his father at Mill Creek High School.
This year's stacked high school shortstop class works against him, but he also has some late helium thanks to an uptick in his power profile. The Brewers do not have a go-to profile in the first round, so they will be in a prime position to scoop up the best available player at No. 20 overall.
21. Houston Astros: 3B Gavin Fien, Great Oaks HS (CA)
Fien hit .400 for Team USA in the U18 World Cup qualifier and put together a terrific all-around summer, but an inconsistent spring has halted his climb up draft boards and set him up to potentially be a value pick at the back half of the first round.
His strong 6'3", 200-pound frame gives him significant power upside, and while his swing might need some tinkering, the tools are there for him to be an impact offensive player at one of the corner infield spots.
Nos. 22-24
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22. Atlanta Braves: SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest
Houston won the starting shortstop job at Wake Forest as a true freshman on the strength of his glove work, and he has steadily developed into a well-rounded prospect during his three years on campus.
He hit .354/.458/.597 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBI and 19 steals in 61 games this spring, tallying the same number of walks and strikeouts (46), and he could off the board 10 picks higher if a team prefers him to the prep class. He would immediately become the shortstop of the future in Atlanta.
23. Kansas City Royals: OF Slater de Brun, Summit HS (OR)
The success of guys like Corbin Carroll, Jett Williams and Slade Caldwell has paved the way for more undersized prep position players with strong hit tools to be considered in the first round, and de Brun is this year's version of that archetype.
With a 55-grade hit tool, 60-grade speed and the tools to be a standout defender in center field, he could be the answer to what has been a revolving door in center field for the Royals since Lorenzo Cain was patrolling the position.
24. Detroit Tigers: 3B Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)
It looked like Hammond was headed for a future on the mound when he primarily pitched during his showcase run last summer, but he prefers to hit and has played his way into the first-round picture as a third baseman during his senior season.
He has plus raw power and has taken a step forward with his approach this spring, and he also has the athleticism and plus arm to be a standout defensively at third base. The Tigers have focused on the high school hitter demographic in recent drafts, taking Max Clark (No. 3 in 2023), Kevin McGonigle (No. 37 in 2023) and Bryce Rainer (No. 11 in 2024).
Nos. 25-27
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25. San Diego Padres: LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset HS (OR)
The Padres have not taken a college player in the first round since they selected Cal Quantrill with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 draft, bucking what has seemingly been a leaguewide shift away from investing early in prep talent.
That sets them up well to select whoever they consider to be the best high school pitcher in the 2025 draft class behind Seth Hernandez who is the consensus top dog and will be long gone. With a towering 6'8" frame, three plus pitches and clean mechanics, Schoolcraft could be in that No. 2 slot on their draft board.
26. Philadelphia Phillies: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
If Ike Irish ends up shifting to the outfield in pro ball, Stevenson looks like the leading candidate to be the first catcher taken in the 2025 draft, though Coastal Carolina backstop Caden Bodine is also in the mix.
The Phillies have a catcher of the future in Eduardo Tait, but there is no such thing as too much talent at a premium position. Stevenson has been one of the most productive draft-eligible sophomores in the nation this year, posting a .977 OPS with 18 home runs and 53 RBI in 58 games.
27. Cleveland Guardians: 2B Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
Kilen did a great job replacing Christian Moore at second base for the Volunteers this spring after transferring from Louisville during the offseason, hitting .363/.443/.686 with 13 doubles, 15 home runs and 46 RBI with more walks (28) than strikeouts (26) in 51 games.
The Guardians have done a nice job developing middle infield talent in recent years, and Kilen has a 60-grade hit tool and the potential to quickly emerge as one of the best bats in the Cleveland system.
Compensation/Competitive Balance A Picks
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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: 1B/OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
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: 2B Sean Gamble, IMG Academy (FL)
30. Baltimore Orioles: 1B/3B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
31. Baltimore Orioles: RHP JB Middleton, Southern Mississippi
32. Milwaukee Brewers: OF Mason Neville, Oregon
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): SS Tate Southisene, Basic Academy (NV)
34. Detroit Tigers: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
35. Seattle Mariners: OF Max Belyeu, Texas
36. Minnesota Twins: C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
37. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Zach Root, Arkansas
38. New York Mets: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
39. New York Yankees: SS Alex Lodise, Florida State
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Marcus Phillips, Tennessee
41. Los Angeles Dodgers (via CIN): LHP Briggs McKenzie, Corinth Holders HS (NC)
42. Tampa Bay Rays (via OAK): 3B/OF Quentin Young, Oaks Christian HS (CA)
43. Miami Marlins: SS Dean Curley, Tennessee
Note: Pick explanations courtesy of MLB.com
