Updated 2025 MLB Mock Draft After LSU Wins College World Series
The 2025 college baseball season officially ended Sunday with the LSU Tigers crowned national champions after they beat Coastal Carolina in the College World Series finals. With that, attention in the amateur baseball world now shifts to the upcoming MLB draft.
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 this year's draft gets underway on July 13.
Prep shortstop Ethan Holliday remains the consensus top overall talent in the 2025 draft class, but there is no slam dunk No. 1 overall pick like we've seen in years past, and bonus demands could end up being a major factor in how the top picks unfold.
College pitchers Kade Anderson (LSU), Liam Doyle (Tennessee) and Jamie Arnold (Florida State) are all expected to be taken inside the top five picks, while infielder Aiva Arquette (Oregon State) is a safe bet to be the first college hitter picked.
That said, high school shortstops Eli Willits, JoJo Parker and Billy Carlson continue to get buzz inside the top 10 picks, and they could shake things up at the top if the Nationals decide to cut a below-slot deal.
What follows is version 6.0 of our full first-round mock draft, including the Compensation Round and Competitive Balance Round A through pick No. 43.
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
1 of 10
1. Washington Nationals: SS Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS (OK)
The No. 1 overall pick is far from a foregone conclusion, though there seems to be a growing sentiment that the Nationals prefer a bat over any of the college arms. There is also a very real scenario where they cut a deal with prep right-hander Seth Hernandez or prep shortstop Eli Willits in an attempt to spread out their draft capital, but for now, Holliday is still the most likely option.
With an athletic 6'5", 210-pound frame, 65-grade raw power and baseball bloodlines, he has the highest offensive ceiling in the draft, even if a shift from shortstop to third base is almost guaranteed.
2. Los Angeles Angels: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU
Anderson capped off a brilliant season with a three-hit shutout against Coastal Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, and he finished the spring 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 180 strikeouts in 119 innings.
The Angels have placed an emphasis on MLB-readiness in recent seasons, and Anderson stands as the most polished pitcher in this draft class, capable of potentially stepping into a team's starting rotation in 2026.
3. Seattle Mariners: SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State
The Mariners have not selected a college hitter in the first round since drafting Evan White out of the University of Kentucky with the No. 17 overall pick back in 2017, and with Liam Doyle and Jamie Arnold still on the board they could go back to the college pitching well once again.
However, Arquette provides the combination of upside, present tools and overall polish to be worth serious consideration for a team with no shortage of young infield talent. He hit .354/.461/.654 with 17 doubles, 19 home runs and 66 RBI in 65 games this spring at Oregon State after transferring from Washington last offseason.
Nos. 4-6
2 of 10
4. Colorado Rockies: LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee
The Rockies selected Chase Dollander with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Tennessee and watched him quickly develop into one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, and it could be a Volunteers pitcher who headlines their draft class once again in 2025.
Doyle was not on the first-round radar entering the spring after posting a 5.73 ERA in 55 innings at Ole Miss as a sophomore, but after finishing 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 164 strikeouts in 95.2 innings, he is now part of the top-tier of college arms.
5. St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
Expect the Cardinals to pounce if any of the three top college arms slip out of the top-four picks, and in this case it's Arnold, who was a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall before a good-not-great junior season for the Seminoles.
Despite falling a bit short of expectations, the power lefty still finished 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 119-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 84.2 innings this spring. If the top three college pitchers are off the board, they could shift their focus to prep shortstops Eli Willits and JoJo Parker.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona HS (CA)
In a world where we don't have years' worth of data showing the extremely high bust rate of high school right-handers, Hernandez might be the slam dunk No. 1 overall pick based on his present stuff, projectability and clear ace-caliber upside.
There is still a chance he becomes the first prep righty ever taken with the top pick, and the Mariners could also be a landing spot at No. 3 overall, but the Pirates also make sense a year after they swung for the fences on Konnor Griffin's upside at No. 9 overall.
Nos. 7-9
3 of 10
7. Miami Marlins: SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)
Willits is still in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick, but if he's not taken at the top of the draft his most likely landing spot is somewhere in the No. 5-8 range, once the college pitchers are off the board.
With a 60-grade hit tool, plus speed and solid defensive tools, Willits is viewed as the best all-around prospect from a deep class of high school shortstops that also includes Billy Carlson, JoJo Parker, Kayson Cunningham, Steele Hall and Daniel Pierce as potential first-round picks.
8. Toronto Blue Jays: OF/C Ike Irish, Auburn
Irish entered the spring as the top catching prospect in the 2025 class, but he ended up playing primarily right field after suffering a fractured scapula. A full-time move out of the crouch would put more pressure on his bat, but he profiles as one of the best college hitters in this draft regardless of position.
A three-year starter at Auburn, he hit .364/.469/.710 with 19 home runs, 58 RBI and 11 steals in 55 games this spring. He also swung a wood bat well in the Cape Cod League last summer with a .325 average and an .871 OPS over 144 plate appearances.
9. Cincinnati Reds: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
Witherspoon is the consensus No. 4 pitcher from this year's college class after going 10-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 95 innings this spring, and the pieces are there for him to emerge as the best pitcher in this draft.
The 6'2", 206-pound right-hander has an electric five-pitch repertoire and he uses his plus athleticism well to repeat his mechanics, and the Reds have had good success developing high-level college arms in recent years with Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns both moving quickly through the minors.
.png?w=256)
Nos. 10-12
4 of 10
10. Chicago White Sox: SS Billy Carlson, Corona HS (CA)
The White Sox are in a position to take a high-risk, high-reward swing for the fences, so this might be the ceiling for Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette if they buy his upside enough to overlook a disappointing junior season.
The more likely move seems to be one of the high school shortstops, and while Carlson has long been viewed as the No. 2 option from that demographic behind Eli Willits, don't sleep on JoJo Parker, who seems to have some serious helium.
11. Athletics: OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
Summerhill has the potential to develop into a 20/20 hitter and plus defensive center fielder if everything clicks, and that has helped push him to the front of this year's college outfielder class.
He hit .343/.459/.556 with 22 extra-base hits, 11 steals and more walks (36) than strikeouts (24) this spring. He only hit 14 home runs in 124 games during his college career, including just four this spring, but there is untapped power potential in his 6'3", 200-pound frame that is reminiscent of Garrett Mitchell when he was a first-round pick out of UCLA.
12. Texas Rangers: SS JoJo Parker, Purvis HS (MS)
Arguably the best pure hitter from this year's high school class, Parker has been steadily climbing draft boards throughout the predraft process, and it would not be surprising to see him go inside the top-10 picks at this point.
The Rangers are not afraid to roll the dice on tools over polish, so even if Parker has already had his name called, don't be surprised if they focus their attention on the prep hitter class with guys like Steele Hall, Daniel Pierce and Josh Hammond also fitting in this range.
Nos. 13-15
5 of 10
13. San Francisco Giants: SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest
Houston unexpectedly won the starting shortstop job at Wake Forest as a true freshman thanks to his glove work, and while he has since developed into a standout at the plate, it's his defensive foundation that pushes him ahead of Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas) and some of the other top college middle infielders.
That said, after hitting .354/.458/.597 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBI and 19 steals this spring, there is also plenty of value in his bat and more than enough all-around skill for him to be a future everyday shortstop.
14. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Gage Wood, Arkansas
No player did more to boost his stock during the 2025 college baseball postseason than Wood, who threw just the third no-hitter in College World Series history when he struck out 19 batters while blanking Murray State.
He also had a strong regional start against Creighton (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 13 K), but he pitched just 19.1 innings and logged a 5.59 ERA during an injury-plagued regular season. The Rays know how to develop pitching talent, and if they buy his recent performance and ability to stay healthy, this could be a steal.
15. Boston Red Sox: SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
Originally part of the 2026 draft class, Hall reclassified in November, then added considerable strength to his frame while making major strides at the plate and in the field this spring to send his draft stock soaring.
His top-of-the-scale speed remains his best present tool, and he stands out more for his quick-twitch athleticism than his overall polish, so some patience will be required for him to develop. However, he does not turn 18 years old until after draft day, making it easier to bank on further projection.
Nos. 16-18
6 of 10
16. Minnesota Twins: 2B Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
The Twins have had success deploying offensive-minded, super-utility players in recent years, with guys like Luis Arraez, Willi Castro, Edouard Julien and rising prospect Luke Keaschall all fitting a similar profile.
Kilen hit .357/.441/.671 with 13 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI and more walks (30) than strikeouts (27) while splitting time between second base and shortstop this spring after transferring from Louisville to Tennessee. He should move quickly through the minors.
17. Chicago Cubs: SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner, Aloy hit .350/.434/.673 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 65 games this spring at Arkansas while serving as the team's starting shortstop.
His 64 strikeouts and 20.6 percent strikeout rate this spring do raise some minor red flags, but quality defensive shortstops with 20-homer power don't grow on trees, so even if he never hits for a high average he still has a high value floor.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek HS (GA)
Pierce does not have the same loud raw tools as some of the other top prep shortstops in this class, but he is a solid prospect across the board without any glaring weakness in his game.
His whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but he has also significantly improved his strength and athleticism between his junior and senior seasons of high school, and there is still more in the tank as far as his developmental upside. His 55-hit, 60-speed profile is a strong foundation for future success.
Nos. 19-21
7 of 10
19. Baltimore Orioles: OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
LaViolette was one of the leading contenders to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 draft at the start of the spring after a sophomore season where he hit .305/.449/.726 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI while helping Texas A&M reach the College World Series finals.
Swing-and-miss issues have sent his stock tumbling, and he ended up hitting .258 with a 25.2 percent strikeout rate this spring, but that was still accompanied by a healthy .427 on-base percentage and 18 home runs. The Orioles have never been shy about power-over-contact prospects, and the upside here is huge.
20. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS (TX)
Cunningham has one of the best hit tools in the 2025 prep class, and with many scouts expecting him to shift to second base down the road, there will be more pressure on his bat than some of the other young infielders in the first-round picture.
A 60-hit, 60-speed profile still makes him a potential value pick at the back half of the first round, and he showed what he's capable of against high-level competition when he led the U18 Team USA squad with a .417 average last summer at World Cup qualifying.
21. Houston Astros: 3B Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS (WA)
Neyens is the best power bat in the 2025 high school class outside of Ethan Holliday, and while some lingering questions about his hit tool this spring have impacted his stock, there are only so many prospects with 65-grade raw power.
He looked like a candidate to go inside the top-10 picks when the spring started, and at this point in the draft it is well worth rolling the dice on him finding enough hit tool to tap into his massive power.
Nos. 22-24
8 of 10
22. Atlanta Braves: RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara
Bremner was the consensus No. 2 college pitcher in the 2025 class at the start of the spring, behind only Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold, but an inconsistent start to his junior campaign knocked him out of the top-tier of arms.
He righted the ship down the stretch, striking out at least 10 batters in six of his final seven starts to finish with a 3.49 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. The Braves have taken a pitcher with 11 of their 14 first-round picks over the past decade, and there's a good chance he will be the best arm on the board when they are on the clock.
23. Kansas City Royals: 3B Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)
A two-way prospect who most scouts preferred on the mound last summer, Hammond has solidified his status as a first-round prospect on the position-player side of things this spring.
His pure hitting ability and 55-grade power give him a chance to be an impact player at the plate, and while he has played shortstop in high school, his strong arm and good first step will fit well at third base in pro ball. The Royals need impact bats, and he has a chance to be just that if everything clicks.
24. Detroit Tigers: 1B/3B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
A strong showing in SEC play helped push Fischer up the list of college bats, and he now looks like a solid candidate to be selected somewhere at the back end of the first round on the strength of his 50-hit, 60-power offensive profile.
He hit .341/.497/.760 with 25 home runs and 65 RBI in 65 games this spring hitting in the middle of a stacked Tennessee lineup, and slugged 56 home runs in 167 games during his three years on campus.
Nos. 25-27
9 of 10
25. San Diego Padres: OF Slater de Brun, Summit HS (OR)
The last time the Padres took a college player in the first round was Cal Quantrill at No. 8 overall in 2016, so expect to see them regularly tied to high school players throughout the predraft process.
With a 55-hit, 65-speed profile from an undersized 5'10" frame, de Brun has drawn comparisons to Jett Williams and 2024 first-round pick Slade Caldwell, and he fits the type of prospect the Padres have often targeted. Prep lefties Kruz Schoolcraft and Jack Bauer are also names to monitor here.
26. Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Gavin Fien, Great Oaks HS (CA)
The Phillies have taken a high school player with their first pick in each of the past five drafts, including a prep bat three years running, so Fien fits that organizational strategy here at the back of the first round.
With a strong 6'3", 200-pound frame and average-or-better tools across the board, he is more physically mature than some of the other top high school bats. He was a star on the showcase circuit, and while he did not have the spring many were expecting, that won't negate what scouts saw last summer.
27. Cleveland Guardians: C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
The Guardians have often targeted prospects with a contact-oriented approach, and Bodine fits the mold with a 60-hit, 40-power profile and a strong track record of production at Coastal Carolina.
He hit .318/.454/.461 with 24 extra-base hits and almost twice as many walks (47) as strikeouts (24) this spring, and he also checks all the boxes to be a solid defensive catcher with strong receiving skills and a quick release. Some teams might have Luke Stevenson (North Carolina) higher on their draft board, but Bodine looks like a perfect fit in the Cleveland organization.
Compensation/Competitive Balance A Picks
10 of 10
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: LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset HS (OR)
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: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
30. Baltimore Orioles: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
31. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Anthony Eyanson, LSU
32. Milwaukee Brewers: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
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 Alex Lodise, Florida State
34. Detroit Tigers: OF Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy (IL)
35. Seattle Mariners: RHP JB Middleton, Southern Mississippi
36. Minnesota Twins: 1B/OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
37. Tampa Bay Rays: 2B Sean Gamble, IMG Academy (FL)
38. New York Mets: RHP Patrick Forbes, Louisville
39. New York Yankees: OF Max Belyeu, Texas
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: OF Charles Davalan, Arkansas
41. Los Angeles Dodgers (via CIN): 3B/OF Quentin Young, Oaks Christian HS (CA)
42. Tampa Bay Rays (via OAK): OF Mason Neville, Oregon
43. Miami Marlins: OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
Note: Pick explanations courtesy of MLB.com
.png?w=480)
