This year’s MLB Draft is scheduled for July 13-14 in Atlanta, coinciding with the All-Star Game celebrations organized by the Atlanta Braves. As we gear up for Round 1, there’s a pressing question for each of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball.
2025 MLB Draft : Washington Nationals
Day 1 picks: No. 1, No. 49, No. 80
Bonus pool: $16,597,800
One key consideration: As C.J. Abrams, James Wood, Brady House, and MacKenzie Gore make their presence felt in the majors, will the Nationals lean towards LSU lefty Kade Anderson instead of high school shortstop Ethan Holliday based on their projected competitive timeline?
The consensus in the industry suggests that the Nationals are primarily choosing between Holliday and Anderson for the top overall pick, with only a slim possibility of selecting another player. Anderson is expected to reach the big leagues as soon as next season, while Holliday will probably need several years to develop.
Last year’s draft marked the debut of a new scouting team. The Nats selected No. 10 overall, right at the end of the elite talent range, choosing to play it safe with an underslot pick in SS Seaver King. They redirected those savings towards a more speculative selection in prep SS Luke Dickerson, who has already proven to be a standout, climbing into the top 100 prospects.
While they hold the No. 1 pick this year, the top tier of this draft doesn’t quite measure up to last year’s selections. In terms of draft prospects, Anderson is positioned behind the leading pitchers from last year’s draft class, including second overall pick Chase Burns and, for some teams, even behind fifth overall pick Hagen Smith—making this year’s scenario quite similar to their top pick from last season.
2025 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Angels
Day 1 picks: No. 2, No. 47, No. 79, No. 105
Bonus pool: $16,656,400
One significant question looms: How much will the Angels focus on selecting fast-tracking college prospects this year? Under the leadership of GM Perry Minasian, the Angels have made it a priority to draft players with the potential for quick advancement and to promote them swiftly. Early selections like Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, Christian Moore, Sam Bachman, and Ben Joyce are now part of the major league roster.
This spring, there have been persistent rumors suggesting that Los Angeles is considering one of the collegiate left-handers (Kade Anderson from LSU, Jamie Arnold from Florida State, or Liam Doyle from Tennessee) with their No. 2 overall pick, aiming to fast-track that pitcher to L.A. Last year, speculation arose that the Angels might select prep shortstop Bryce Rainer with their first pick, but they ultimately opted for Moore from Tennessee instead. Similarly, this year, the Angels have been associated with prep shortstops Ethan Holliday and Eli Willits, yet many industry insiders remain skeptical given the team’s past draft choices.
Last year, their subsequent selections were likely dedicated to relievers Chris Cortez and Ryan Johnson. In this draft, there are several comparable college arms available for their next few picks: Chase Shores from LSU, Brian Curley from Georgia, Cade Obermueller from Iowa, A.J. Russell and Tanner Franklin from Tennessee, and Mason Morris from Ole Miss. All of these pitchers are expected to be selected in Rounds 2-4.
2025 MLB Draft: Seattle Mariners
Day 1 picks: No. 3, No. 35, No. 57, No. 91
Bonus pool: $17,074,400
One significant question: Will the M’s maintain their successful draft strategy? There are several player categories that have yielded strong results for Seattle in their recent drafts. High picks and bonuses for prep position players have been particularly fruitful—Colt Emerson, Cole Young, Jonny Farmelo, Harry Ford, Edwin Arroyo, and Aidan Smith were all selected in the 2021-2023 drafts. Additionally, Seattle has consistently excelled with college pitchers during the draft process: George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, Brody Hopkins, and Logan Evans.
At this moment, there’s industry buzz suggesting that Seattle is exploring various options for the No. 3 overall pick. They are giving considerable attention to the three college left-handed pitchers, along with prep righty Seth Hernandez, as well as some college position players like Aiva Arquette and Ike Irish.
2025 MLB Draft: Colorado Rockies
Day 1 picks: No. 4, No. 45, No. 74, No. 77
Bonus pool: $15,723,400
One major question: What are the Rockies’ plans if they miss out on Ethan Holliday? It’s no secret that the Rockies have their sights set on Ethan Holliday, and they are likely to secure him unless he is selected first overall. However, if the Nationals take him with that top pick, what path will Colorado take with the No. 4 selection?
The prevailing discussion in the industry suggests that the Rockies are likely to select a pitcher, with Jamie Arnold from Florida State and Kyson Witherspoon from Oklahoma being the two names frequently associated with them and expected to be available. There are also speculations that the Rockies may opt for Aiva Arquette, the shortstop from Oregon State.
Whoever the Colorado Rockies choose with the fourth overall pick is expected to influence the subsequent selection, as the team typically alternates between position players and pitchers with their early picks. It’s important to mention that the Rockies have not drafted a high school player in the top 10 rounds during the last three drafts, making Holliday a unique prep player that stands out to them.
2025 MLB Draft Guide: Top Players, Draft Order & How To Watch
When Is The MLB Draft?
The 2025 draft is scheduled for July 13-14 in Atlanta. The opening day will commence at 6 p.m. ET and will feature rounds 1-3. The following day will cover rounds 4-20.
Coverage for the second day will kick off on July 14 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
How Can I Watch The MLB Draft?
MLB Network is set to air the inaugural complete evening of the draft. Carlos Collazo from Baseball America will be highlighted on the first night of MLB Network’s draft coverage.
ESPN will showcase the initial 43 selections, encompassing the first round along with all supplemental picks before the second round.
Who Are The Best Players In This Year’s Draft?
The 2025 draft class showcases impressive depth yet lacks distinction and clarity at the pinnacle. While the upper echelon features a solid roster of college left-handed pitchers and high school shortstops, scouts have expressed concerns over the absence of elite, proven college hitters—particularly when juxtaposed with the robust 2024 class, which has maintained its strength even a year later.
On Baseball America’s draft board, the leading three prospects are all high school players, with Oklahoma shortstop Ethan Holliday at the forefront. Below is a list of the top 10 players featured on our draft board:
