The Nationals will exercise the first pick in the 2025 Draft in Atlanta tonight shortly after 6 p.m. ET, and they’ll probably use almost all of that time before making a decision. It likely will come down to one of three players: Louisiana State left-hander Kade Anderson or Oklahoma high school shortstops Ethan Holliday and Eli Willits.
Sources from multiple teams reported that Willits was shopping a discount deal to go at or near the top of the Draft. Players who consent to a pre-Draft physical exam at the Combine are guaranteed at least 75 percent of the assigned value for their pick, but Willits passed up the chance to do so by skipping the event. Though Anderson or Holliday also didn’t have pre-Draft physicals, they’re expected to command significantly higher signing bonuses than Willits.
Below is our final projection for the first 43 selections in the Draft, with both of us offering our predictions. Detailed scouting reports, grades and videos for all the players mentioned below are included with MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 250.
2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike
Day 1 (Rounds 1-3): Sun., July 13, 6 p.m. ET (MLBN/MLB.com/ESPN)
Day 2 (Rounds 4-20): Mon., July 14, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com)
1. Nationals
Mayo: Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (No. 2 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list)
As Jim and I said on our most recent MLB Pipeline Podcast, we think it’s largely down to Anderson and Ethan Holliday here. We both put the odds for Anderson to be taken at 50 percent, Holliday at 40. I might amend that slightly now and up Anderson to 60 percent, but that’s more gut feeling than anything. We don’t know how, if at all, the dismissal of GM Mike Rizzo will impact what the organization does here.
Callis: Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (No. 2)
It’s unclear how the firing of GM Mike Rizzo last Sunday will affect what the Nationals do at No. 1. Most clubs behind them believe they’ll take Anderson, who has a higher floor than the prep shortstops and should reach the Majors quicker. Holliday has the highest ceiling of the trio under consideration, while Willits could emerge as the best all-around player in the Draft.
2. Angels
Mayo: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (No. 8)
While the Angels might be willing to go off their first-round script of recent years (advanced college player who gets to the big leagues in a hurry) and look at one of the top high school shortstops (Eli Willits leading the way), taking one of the college lefties here makes the most sense. If the Nationals take Holliday, then Anderson could be the player. With him off the board, Doyle and Jamie Arnold are next up and perhaps the Angels could save a little more money by taking the Tennessee southpaw who could impact the big league staff by next year. Doyle did go to the Draft Combine but didn’t have his medical done there, so like Willits and oft-brought-up deal possibility Ike Irish, Doyle is not guaranteed at least 75 percent of the $10,252,700 slot value, and could then provide a deeper savings.
Callis: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (No. 8)
The best bet is that the Angels take one of the three top-tier college left-handers, in this order: Anderson, Doyle and Florida State’s Jamie Arnold. They also could cut a deal with Auburn catcher/outfielder Ike Irish or Willits. They have strong interest in high school shortstops JoJo Parker and Daniel Pierce, but probably can’t take them here or float them down to their next choice at No. 47.
3. Mariners
Mayo: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 3)
This is looking more and more like a landing spot for an arm. The Mariners would love for Anderson to land here, but that seems unlikely. If they want to go the college right-hander route, it sounds like they’d take a look at Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon and perhaps Santa Barbara’s Tyler Bremner in more of a deal-type situation. Yes, Hernandez comes from the risky prep right-handed pitcher demographic, but he also might be the best pitcher in this class. If they switch gears and start looking at hitters, they could look at the college group and consider Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette or Irish.
Callis: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 3)
As with the two clubs ahead of them, Anderson is the top choice of the Mariners. Plan B appears to be Hernandez, who just might be the most talented player available. If Seattle decides against taking a high school right-hander with a top-three selection — something that has happened just 15 times in 60 previous Drafts — other options include Oregon State shortstop Arquette, Arnold, Irish and Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon.
4. Rockies
Mayo: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (No. 1)
As we’ve stated before, this could very well be the floor for Holliday. Arquette is the other bat I’ve heard here as a possibility.
Callis: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (No. 1)
The biggest lock in the Draft remains that the Rockies will draft the son of Matt Holliday, one of the best players in franchise history, if given the opportunity. If not, and with Anderson off the table, they’d choose between Arquette, Willits and Arnold.
5. Cardinals
Mayo: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
This is a spot where Irish could definitely land in a deal, but the Cardinals also like Willits a lot, and there are evaluators who think he could end up being the best overall talent in this class. Fellow prep shortstops JoJo Parker and Billy Carlson could come into play, and if they want an arm, they could choose Arnold or Witherspoon.
Callis: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, Fort Cobb, Okla. (No. 5)
Willits is the favorite for the Cardinals, with Doyle, Parker, Irish and Arnold other considerations.
6. Pirates
Mayo: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State (No. 6)
There’s interest in the top high school shortstops here, with Carlson the leader among those available. Arnold, the top college arm still available, is still very much being discussed, and Witherspoon could come into play, but I’m putting the college bat over the arms here.
Callis: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 7)
The Pirates are in wait-and-see mode to see who goes ahead of them. If the Mariners pass on Hernandez, he probably lands in Pittsburgh. If they don’t, the Bucs could opt for his Corona (Calif.) HS teammate Carlson, the best prep defensive shortstop some scouts ever have seen. Willits, Arnold, Witherspoon and Arquette are other possibilities.
7. Marlins
Mayo: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 7)
We’ve written repeatedly how much the Marlins like Willits, but with him gone, Carlson could be the top target, though they also are looking at Parker. This could be another landing spot for Irish, and Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill’s name has been mentioned. Arnold is the main arm brought up in this spot.
Callis: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State (No. 6)
The Marlins are hunting for hitters: Arquette and Irish from the college ranks, and Willits and Parker from the high school crop. If they somehow all go in the top six, Carlson would be the fallback.
8. Blue Jays
Mayo: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (No. 4)
This still feels like a college pitching landing spot and perhaps the Blue Jays didn’t expect Arnold to still be around. If he’s not, Witherspoon would be the most likely play, though the Jays could switch gears and look at the high school shortstop group, led by Parker.
Callis: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (No. 4)
While the Blue Jays love Parker and would be tempted by the other prep shortstops who have come off the board in this scenario, their desire for pitching could make it difficult to pass on Arnold and perhaps Witherspoon.
9. Reds
Mayo: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn (No. 11)
The Reds are in “best available” mode and they don’t shy away from any demographic, so this could be a floor for Hernandez. With him gone, this becomes a very viable landing spot for Irish and his offensive upside. He and Witherspoon, from the college arm group, seem to be ahead of a prep hitter like Parker at this point.
Callis: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn (No. 11)
If the Mariners and Pirates resist the temptation to pop Hernandez, the Reds won’t. Irish and Witherspoon seem to be the next two candidates among the players with a chance to get to No. 9.
10. White Sox
Mayo: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS (No. 9)
We’ve had Parker in this spot so many times, I’m almost afraid not to put him here. In all seriousness, they do like the prep shortstop among a group of bats they seem to be considering. It’s mostly other high schoolers like Steele Hall, Gavin Fien and Kayson Cunningham, but there is some interest in college hitters like infielders Marek Houston and Wehiwa Aloy.
Callis: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS (No. 9)
Parker is the most realistic best-case scenario for the White Sox, though there’s a nagging suspicion that he might not get here. Chicago could turn to prep infielders Kayson Cunningham and Gavin Fien or Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen.
11. Athletics
Mayo: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee (No. 21)
The A’s might be hoping one of the top prep shortstops gets here, namely Willits or Carlson, but that seems unlikely. It seems like they’re continuing to lean position player and Kilen could be another quick-to-the-big-leagues college bat who joins All-Star Jacob Wilson in a hurry. To that end, they could also consider Summerhill, Aloy and Houston from that college bat crop.
Callis: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 18)
Bremner to the A’s may be the best bet in the 11-20 range. Irish, Witherspoon and Kilen could factor in here as well.
12. Rangers
Mayo: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga. (No. 13)
This continues to be a high school bat spot with Pierce getting the edge over Hall, Cunningham or Fien.
Callis: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga. (No. 13)
The Rangers are targeting bats such as Parker, Pierce, Fien and Irish.
13. Giants
Mayo: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 10)
There could be a spirited college arm vs. bat debate here. In this scenario that could come down to Witherspoon vs. Summerhill, with an infielder like Houston also in play. I’m giving them the right-hander in the end.
Callis: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 10)
The Giants will wait to see who may fall into their lap — in this case, the consensus best right-hander available in Witherspoon. This could be the floor for Irish and the ceiling for other college bats such as Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill, Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston and Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette. Don’t rule out Fien.
14. Rays
Mayo: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, Trussville, Ala. (No. 12)
They could go the college arm route, with Bremner being the best available still on the board, and if Witherspoon slides one more spot, he’d be in play. But this still feels like another high school shortstop pick, with Hall getting the nod over Cunningham.
Callis: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, Trussville, Ala. (No. 12)
While the Rays might go for any of the six pitchers projected ahead of them, in this case, their best options might be whichever prep shortstops remain among Parker, Hall, Pierce and Cunningham.
15. Red Sox
Mayo: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (No. 15)
This is another team contemplating whether to go in the arm or bat direction, and they could tilt toward the mound if Witherspoon is around. If not, Houston might lead the way among the college hitters like Summerhill or Aloy, with Bremner in play should the desire for a pitcher win the day.
Callis: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas (No. 23)
The Red Sox long have been linked to Fien, but they have a greater need for pitching and may not be able to resist Wood, who spun a 19-strikeout no-hitter at the Men’s College World Series in his final start. Witherspoon and Bremner could be attractive as well, and they drafted Kilen out of high school three years ago.
16. Twins
Mayo: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 18)
The Twins have demographic options here. Bremner is the arm being seriously considered, but if they wanted to take a hitter, they could look at Aloy and Summerhill from the college crop, with Fien and Cunningham being discussed from the prep set.
Callis: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona (No. 16)
It sounds like mostly college bats with this choice, with the Twins sifting through Summerhill, the Golden Spikes Award winner (Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy), the consensus top catcher (Coastal Carolina’s Caden Bodine), Kilen and Houston.
17. Cubs
Mayo: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona (No. 16)
The Cubs appear to be focusing on college players and leaning bat, with Summerhill getting the edge over someone like Aloy. If they wanted to go arm, this could be a good landing spot for Bremner and Arkansas right-hander Gage Wood could enter the conversation.
Callis: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee (No. 21)
The Cubs have done well drafting college infielders with advanced bats in the last two first rounds (Matt Shaw, Cam Smith) and could make it three in a row with Kilen. They’d be interested in most of the pitchers and prep shortstops forecast in front of them, as well as Aloy, Summerhill and high school third baseman Josh Hammond.
18. D-backs
Mayo: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina (No. 32)
He’s the top catcher in the class, and I had the D-backs taking him with their comp pick in my last mock, but perhaps they’ll determine he wouldn’t get there and take him here to make sure they get the player they like. Aloy could be another college hitter they consider and Wood is the top college arm who comes up in conversation.
Callis: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina (No. 32)
The Diamondbacks are entertaining a mix of bats from both the college (Bodine, Houston, Kilen) and high school (Fien, Hammond) demographics. They like Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad and Tennessee first/third baseman Andrew Fischer, who both could go somewhere in the teens but would intrigue Arizona more at No. 29.
19. Orioles
Mayo: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif. (No. 22)
Callis: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif. (No. 22)
20. Brewers
Mayo: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas (No. 23)
Callis: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (No. 20)
21. Astros
Mayo: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (No. 20)
Callis: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas (No. 17)
22. Braves
Mayo: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas (No. 17)
Callis: Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville (No. 31)
23. Royals
Mayo: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS, Portland, Ore. (No. 19)
Callis: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS, Portland, Ore. (No. 19)
24. Tigers
Mayo: Slater de Brun, OF, Summit HS, Bend, Ore. (No. 24)
Callis: Kayson Cunningham, SS/2B, Johnson HS, San Antonio (No. 14)
25. Padres
Mayo: Kayson Cunningham, SS/2B, Johnson HS, San Antonio (No. 14)
Callis: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS (No. 25)
26. Phillies
Mayo: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina (No. 33)
Callis: Sean Gamble, 2B/OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (No. 27)
27. Guardians
Mayo: Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C. (No. 26)
Callis: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (No. 15)
