MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB Draft

The Washington Nationals can go in a variety of directions with the first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, with no clear-cut top prospect right now. Infielder Ethan Holiday, out of Stillwater High School offers tantalizing potential and could add an outstanding left-handed bat to the future Nationals lineup. However, we take things in a different direction. Jace LaViolette offers a faster timeline to the big leagues and he might be the best hitter in the class. He boasts 70-grade power on the 20-80 scouting scale with above-average athleticism, especially for his size (6-foor-6). Already 21 years old, LaViolette could be part of the Nationals lineup in 2027.

• Jace LaViolette stats (2024): .305/.449/.726, 1.175 OPS, 29 home runs, 81-64 K-BB ratio

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If the Los Angeles Angels wanted to make the long-term play, Ethan Holiday is absolutely worth the second overall pick. However, the franchise continues to be emphasizing moves that could help the club win as soon as possible with Mike Trout still on the team. Florida State’s ace Jamie Arnold already offers two premium pitches (fastball and slider) with a changeup that could add a third above-average pitch to his repertoire. The 6-foot-1 southpaw posted a 13.5 K/9 this past season with a 6.12 K/BB ratio, with just a .200 batting average allowed. The 21-year-old offers an accelerated timeline to the majors and could develop into a No. 1 starter in the Angels rotation when he enters his prime years.

• Jamie Arnold stats (2024): 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 90 hits allowed, 159-26 K-BB in 105.2 innings

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Jackson Holliday – No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft – has said that his younger brother is better than he was at 18 years old. While Ethan might not have as enticing of a hit tool as his brother does, the 6-foot-4 infielder offers power that perhaps only his father could rival. Unlike his brother, Ethan has much more swing-and-miss to his game and will likely be playing one of the corner infield spots long-term. With that acknowledged, an 18-year-old with this kind of raw left-handed power and his family’s track record is great value for the Seattle Mariners with the third overall pick.

UC Santa Barbara’s Tyler Bremner is the best right-handed pitcher in the 2025 MLB Draft. Standing at 6-foot-2, the 20-year-old hurler’s arsenal is led by a changeup that flummoxed hitters this past season. There are certainly legitimate questions about whether Bremner’s numbers are legit or just a reflection on facing a lesser talent pool at the collegiate level. He also carries concerns about how effective he could be over a full season since he hasn’t thrown 90-plus innings in a season entering 2025. However, the righty’s three-pitch arsenal (changeup, fastball and slider) paired with the improvements he’s made specifically with the fastball and slider bode well for his long-term development. He’d need a few years in the minors, but the Colorado Rockies need long-term pitching help and there are few things in baseball more valuable than a cost-effective quality starter.

• Tyler Bremner stats (2024): 2.54 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 104-21 K-BB, 57 hits allowed in 88.2 innings pitched

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The St. Louis Cardinals are likely headed for a bit of a rebuild under Chaim Bloom and the fifth pick in the 2025 MLB Draft is a great place to start. Seth Hernandez, a 6-foot-4 righty, already offers the frame and athleticism clubs like in a prototypical pitcher. Hernandez’s makeup has reportedly drawn very high marks, per MLB.com, a characteristic that incentivizes a club to take a chance on a projectable high school pitcher. Hernandez is also enticing because of a four-pitch mix – fastball (97-98 MPH max velocity), curveball (projects to be above-average), changeup (second-best pitch) and a slider – that would provide the Cardinals organization with plenty to work from.

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The 2025 MLB Draft offers a lot of enticing left-handed power hitters early, including Mount Vernon High School’s Xavier Neyens. He should be able to have a long career at third base, largely thanks to his arm strength and sufficient athleticism for the position. What the Pittsburgh Pirates would really be picking here is Heyens’ light-tower power, with the ceiling to hit 30-plus home runs in his prime years. He is behind some of his peers in terms of his plate discipline along with major swing-and-miss issues, but the 18-year-old offers All-Star upside.

The Miami Marlins are entering the beginning stages of a rebuild, so the best player available is really all that matters in the 2025 MLB Draft. Clemson outfielder Cam Cannarella already projects to be a very strong defender in center field, with speed that also shows up on the base paths. He likely won’t ever hit for much power, but the 21-year-old’s swing from the left side can make plenty of solid contact. Long-term, he could be a 25-steal guy who is at least in consideration for a few Gold Glove Awards for his work in the outfield and his bat won’t hurt you in the lineup.

• Cam Cannarella stats (2024): .337/.417/.561, .978 OPS, 11 home runs, 3 triples, 16 doubles

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Marek Houston could be a potential riser in 2025, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniels among those noting the improvements he’s made with his swing mechanics. A step forward with the bat would be huge for a 21-year-old with ‘plus’ tools defensively and the ability to play just about anywhere on the infield. If Houston’s added strength and tweaked mechanics lead to a boost in power, the Toronto Blue Jays could have their shortstop of the future.

• Marek Houston stats (2024): .326/.434/.516, .949 OPS, 8 home runs, 16 doubles

Billy Carlson could have a future either as a right-handed pitcher or an everyday player, but his long-term outlook might be best suited on the infield. Turning 19 a few weeks after the 2025 MLB Draft, Carlson’s best tools are his arm strength and fielding abilities, but his hit tool and power have the ceiling of being above average, too. There might not be a sky-high ceiling with Carlson, but the Cincinnati Reds would certainly love to have a well-rounded middle infielder whose power could play even better at Great American Ballpark.

The Chicago White Sox farm system is improving with a few top prospects on track to make their MLB debuts this season or in 2026. Aligning closer to that timeline, Aiva Arquette also provides tools the organization can feel confident in getting him to the majors. The Oregon State shortstop, standing at 6-foot-5, has below-average power relative to his size, but the hit tool, arm strength and range are all ‘plus’ skills. He might he a better second baseman than a shortstop, but he could have a lengthy career at either spot, especially with his makeup.

• Aiva Arquette stats (2024): .325/.384/.574, .959 OPS, 12 home runs, 14 doubles, 6 steals

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The Athletics stay in-state with one of the youngest players in the 2025 MLB Draft. At 17 years old, Gavin Fien is just starting to tap into his power which has shown improvement in the last calendar year. He also could wind up sticking at third base, especially with the developments he’s already made at such a young age. There’s no All-Star upside here as of now, but he could be a solid regular for the Athletics in five years.

Brendan Summerhill is already showing the instincts and athleticism to stick at center field, which makes his hit tool even more impressive. You won’t see much power from him, which is a bit disappointing from his 6-foot-3 frame, but an OBP threat who can get double-digit steals with 20-plus extra-abse hits and deliver strong defense in center field would be plenty valuable to the Texas Rangers in the years to come.

• Brendan Summerhill stats (2024): .324/.399/.550, .950 OPS, 18 doubles, 8 home runs, 6 triples

At just 17 years old, Eli Willits already possesses a hit tool and approach to the plate that is beyond his peers at the same age. He also offers the work ethic and intangibles that you’d expect from someone from a baseball family. While Willits would be years away from making his MLB, the San Francisco Giants would be landing an advanced hitter with above-average defensive tools and that’s more than enough to make up for a guy who will only produce 8-12 home runs per year.

A 6-foot-5 southpaw with ‘plus’ athleticism would provide the Tampa Bay Rays player development program with plenty to work with. Cameron Appenzeller, a Tennessee commit, is already seeing velocity gains with an advanced feel for his slider and changeup. Appenzeller’s ceiling is extremely high because of his frame and athleticism, with the Rays one of the perfect teams to maximize his repertoire and size.

The Boston Red Sox will soon have three prospects graduating to the big leagues in Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony, and Marcelo Mayer, and traded two others away in Kyle Teel and 2024 first-rounder Braden Montgomery as part of the Garrett Crochet trade. To build back up their farm system, the Red Sox should take the top prep shortstop outside of Ethan Holliday in Kayson Cunningham. According to Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, Cunningham has a 60-hit and 60-speed profile while his “plus defensive tools give him the potential to be an offensive catalyst and a defensive cornerstone.”

Kruz Schoolcraft is a 6-foot-8 lefty pitcher and first baseman who is drawing comparisons to San Francisco Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge. Schoolcraft has a high-90s fastball and is known as the best prep pitcher in the draft. Despite being a two-way star in high school, his future appears to be on the mound. He could be a potential top-of-the-rotation starter for the Minnesota Twins for years to come.

The best overall catcher in the draft, Luke Stevenson from the University of North Carolina, had 14 home runs and a .955 OPS in 64 games as a freshman in 2024. Now a sophomore, Stevenson is expected to be the first backstop taken and would be a perfect fit for the Chicago Cubs at 17.

All Ethan Peltry does is rake. In his first two seasons with South Carolina, Peltry hit 44 home runs, with 128 RBI and a 1.157 OPS in 124 games. He also showed out in the Cape Cod League, as he was named MVP after posting 11 home runs and an outstanding 1.240 OPS in 31 games. He might be limited defensively, but you’re taking him for his bat, and he could be a quick riser in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.

Kyson Witherspoon, the 20-year-old junior college transfer, had an impressive 2024 season for Oklahoma. Over 17 games (11 starts), Witherspoon had 90 strikeouts in 80 innings, averaging 10.1 whiffs per nine innings. However, he did give up 40 walks, so he needs to work on his control. He has an above-average fastball and slider which play well. The O’s have an overabundance of position player prospects, but not on the pitching side. Witherspoon could change that.

Max Belyeu broke out onto the scene with Texas in 2024, winning the Big 12 Player of the Year award after hitting 18 home runs with a 1.090 OPS in 59 games. Despite the impressive collegiate season, his production took a dip in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a paltry .658 OPS and struck out 21 times in 63 plate appearances, with just two home runs. Belyeu is still a first-round talent but needs to have a good showing in 2025. He could be a steal for the Milwaukee Brewers at 20.

In his freshman season at Georgia, Tre Phelps hit 12 home runs and 11 doubles with a 1.140 OPS across 42 games. In 161 plate appearances, he only struck out 15 times but just walked 10 times. Phelps is known much more for his bat than his glove, so he would most likely end up in a corner outfielder spot. The Houston Astros need some thump in their minor league system, and Phelps would easily provide that.

The Atlanta Braves know how to develop pitchers, and LSU’s Kade Anderson would be a classic fit. In 18 games (nine starts) his freshman season in 2024, Anderson struck out 59 across 38 1/3 innings, whiffing 13.9 batters per nine innings to go along with a 3.99 ERA. However, he did walk 20 and had a 1.513 WHIP. He has really good stuff with a mid-90s fastball but needs to work on his control. The Braves could help him do that.

If Brady Ebel is taken in the first round, it would be the first time that a high school has developed three first-rounders in the same draft. MLB.com gave Ebel a 55-hit tool with 50 power and 60 arm. MLB prospect guru Jim Callis says Ebel has “enviable bat-to-ball skills and an incredibly accurate arm.” The Royals would love to have Ebel in the same infield with Bobby Witt Jr. for the next decade.

Ethan Conrad, who transferred to Wake Forest for the 2025 season, had an outstanding year at Marist in 2024, hitting nine home runs, 18 doubles, and 13 triples, with a 1.171 OPS in 55 games. He also left an impression participating in the Cape Cod League and the Perfect Game Collegiate League, with a .920 OPS and 1.388 OPS+, respectively. MLB.com gives Conrad a hit tool of 55 with power at 50. The Detroit Tigers have boasted a strong pipeline recently, and Conrad could give that a boost.

Trent Caraway only played in 18 games his freshman season with Oregon State due to a broken finger. However, during his limited time, he posted a .947 OPS across 72 plate appearances. He also played well in the Cape Cod League last year, hitting four home runs, with 21 RBI and an .811 OPS in 28 games. He has really good bat speed and raw power and is a hitter that could turn heads for the San Diego Padres.

This would be the perfect fit for the Philadelphia Phillies — they need catching depth, and if Ike Irish from Auburn is still available, they should snag him. Known for his bat more than his glove, he hit 14 home runs and knocked in 59 across 47 games with a 1.030 OPS. He also had a good showing in the Cape Cod League, posting an .871 OPS in 34 games. The Phillies will need an heir apparent one day to J.T. Realmuto (if he signs an extension), and drafting Ike Irish would be a good step in the right direction.

Devin Taylor of Indiana has one of the best bats in the Big Ten. Last season with the Hoosiers, the left-handed-hitting Taylor crushed 20 home runs with 54 RBI to go along with a 1.109 OPS. He also raked in the Cape Cod League, posting a .907 OPS with five home runs and 16 RBI in 29 games. Taylor, who is from Ohio, stays in-state as the Cleveland Guardians nab him with the 27th pick.

The Kansas City Royals earn an extra first-round pick thanks to MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick. Since Bobby Witt Jr. finished second in the 2024 AL MVP voting prior to qualifying for arbitration, the Royals were awarded the 28th pick. And with that selection, they should take Sean Gamble, shortstop and outfielder from IMG Academy in Florida. He’s an above-average runner with raw power, as MLB.com gave him a 55 hit tool.

• * = Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick