2025 MLB Mock Draft 4.0 for Every 1st-round Pick

The 2025 MLB season is nearly a month old, and the annual amateur draft is fast-approaching with the high school and college seasons in full swing.

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.

Oklahoma prep shortstop Ethan Holliday and Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette began the spring as the consensus top prospects in the 2025 class, though Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold now seems to have a hold on the top spot thanks to his overall polish and MLB-readiness.

Big picture, there is no slam dunk No. 1 overall player in this year's class, and that will likely mean plenty of shuffling up and down draft boards leading up to the event.

What follows is version 4.0 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.

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1. Washington Nationals: LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State

If the Nationals prioritize upside, right-hander Seth Hernandez or shortstop Ethan Holliday could be the pick. Otherwise, Arnold offers the best combination of potential, floor and proximity to the majors of anyone in the class as a sure-fire MLB starter who could fly through the minors. The 6'1" southpaw has a 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 41.1 innings through his first eight starts this spring.

2. Los Angeles Angels: 2B/SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State

Arquette has moved to the top of the college hitter demographic thanks to a huge start to his junior campaign. The University of Washington transfer is hitting .378/.489/.755 with 10 doubles, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 39 games, and he has also made major strides in both his walk rate (7.4 to 13.2 percent) and strikeout rate (17.5 to 12.7 percent). He has also raised his defensive profile by playing a consistent shortstop after lining up primarily at second base in 2024.

3. Seattle Mariners: RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona HS (CA)

A high school right-handed pitcher has never been taken No. 1 overall in the MLB draft, but the recent success of Hunter Greene (No. 2 in 2017) and Jackson Jobe (No. 3 in 2021) could help change that narrative. With a projectable 6'4", 190-pound frame, elite present stuff, advanced command, easy mechanics and a proven track record against high-level competition, Hernandez checks all the boxes to be the game's next elite pitching prospect.

4. Colorado Rockies: SS Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS (OK)

A year after Georgia slugger Charlie Condon unexpectedly fell to them at No. 3 overall, the Rockies are in a great position to again land a potential offensive superstar. Holliday profiles more like his power-hitting father than his contact-oriented brother, and while he could eventually outgrow shortstop, he would fit nicely as a middle-of-the-order run producer at the hot corner.

5. St. Louis Cardinals: SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest

Houston won the starting shortstop job at Wake Forest as a true freshman on the strength of his glove, and his offensive game has caught up to his defense during his three years on campus. He is hitting .344/.453/.595 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 48 RBI and 16 steals in 42 games, and his well-rounded game and high floor make him a safe bet to go off the board inside the top 10.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)

Willits is part of a long list of candidates in the conversation at No. 1 overall, standing out for his advanced 60-grade hit tool and quality defense at shortstop, and he is also one of the youngest players in the draft after reclassifying from 2026. The Pirates have shown a willingness to gamble on high-ceiling prep prospects with quality hit tools, taking Termarr Johnson (No. 4 in 2022) and Konnor Griffin (No. 9 in 2024) at the top of their respective classes.

7. Miami Marlins: OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M

After whiffing 81 times in 68 games as a sophomore, LaViolette has more walks (43) than strikeouts (36) so far this season while continuing to showcase top-of-the-scale power and quality offensive production against SEC pitching. The 6'6", 230-pound slugger is hitting .315/.474/.692 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 40 games, and while swing-and-miss concerns persist, his offensive ceiling is high enough that this could be the furthest he slips.

8. Toronto Blue Jays: SS/RHP Billy Carlson, Corona HS (CA)

Carlson is one of the better two-way prospects in the 2025 prep class, though his future is almost certainly as a full-time hitter. He is part of the top-tier of prep shortstops, alongside Ethan Holliday, Eli Willits and Kayson Cunningham, and it will be interesting to see how that group stacks up on draft day. With legitimate five-tool upside and the glove to stick at shortstop, Carlson possesses the loud raw tools that the Blue Jays have prioritized atop of their recent draft hauls.

9. Cincinnati Reds: LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee

In his third collegiate stop in as many years, Doyle has raised his stock as much as any college pitcher in the nation this spring, going 7-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a brilliant 104-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 58 innings. His stuff is not overpowering, but his fastball is extremely deceptive and plays up well beyond its velocity, and he backs it with a good slider and cutter.

10. Chicago White Sox: RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara

Bremner began the spring mentioned alongside Jamie Arnold as the top college arms in the 2025 class, and while his stock slipped a bit during an inconsistent start, he is once again trending up after strong starts against UC Davis (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K), UC Riverside (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 10 K) and Cal Poly (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 13 K) to begin April. The White Sox will likely go the best-available route in the early stages of a rebuild.

11. Athletics: RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma

With a fastball that touches 99 mph and a hard-biting slider, Witherspoon has racked up 174 strikeouts in 138 innings the last two years for the Sooners after spending his first collegiate season at Northwest Florida State JC. His strong performance in the Cape Cod League and for Team USA last summer put him in the first-round conversation, and his performance so far this spring has solidified his status as one of the top college arms in the draft.

12. Texas Rangers: 3B Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS (WA)

One of the best power hitters in the 2025 prep class, Neyens has some swing-and-miss to his game, but he helps offset it with his ability to work a walk and strong barrel rate. The Rangers have not drafted a high school player in the first round since Cole Winn in 2018, but Neyens offers the type of offensive ceiling worthy of zagging from that recent trend.

13. San Francisco Giants: SS Dean Curley, Tennessee

The starting shortstop for last year's College World Series winner as a freshman, Curley is now one of the best draft-eligible sophomores in the 2025 class. The 21-year-old is hitting .310/.435/.561 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 41 games, and while he plays a solid shortstop, his athletic 6'3", 218-pound frame and strong arm could also be a good fit at the hot corner.

14. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset HS (OR)

With a towering 6'8", 229-pound frame and electric stuff, Schoolcraft offers tantalizing long-term potential, though his inconsistent command does make him something of a developmental prospect. Southpaws with his power arsenal don't grow on trees, and few organizations do a better job developing pitching talent than Tampa Bay.

15. Boston Red Sox: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina

After trading away 2023 first-round pick Kyle Teel in the Garrett Crochet blockbuster, the Red Sox are once again without a clear catcher of the future. Stevenson is a draft-eligible sophomore who has built off a fantastic freshman season by posting a 1.042 OPS with 13 home runs and more walks (47) than strikeouts (41) through 40 games. Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina) and Ike Irish (Auburn) are the other catchers in the first-round conversation this year.

16. Minnesota Twins: LHP Kade Anderson, LSU

Anderson was brought along slowly in his return from Tommy John surgery as a freshman, but he has been turned loose in the weekend rotation this spring, and through his first 10 starts he is 6-1 with a 3.92 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. With a quality four-pitch mix and plus command he has a high floor, and the fact that he is a draft-eligible sophomore gives him some leverage if he does not hear his name called in the top half of the first round.

17. Chicago Cubs: SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek HS (GA)

Pierce has as much helium as any high school hitter in the nation this spring, and with terrific bat-to-ball skills, developing power, speed that flashes elite and good actions at shortstop, he should continue climbing in the coming weeks and months. The Cubs have often targeted more polished college players that are close to a finished product, but they could hunt upside early in a draft loaded with prep middle infield talent.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS (TX)

An undersized 5'9" prep middle infielder who has drawn comparisons to Mets prospect Jett Williams, Cunningham also offers a similar profile to Slade Caldwell who the D-backs selected with the No. 29 overall pick a year ago. He will be 19 years old on draft day and draft-eligible as a sophomore if he honors his commitment to the University of Texas, so he could be a tough sign.

19. Baltimore Orioles: LHP Jack Bauer, Lincoln-Way East HS (IL)

With a top-of-the-scale fastball that has clocked 102 mph this spring and a high-spin breaking ball, Bauer has some of the most electric raw stuff scouts have ever seen from a high school lefty. His mechanics are inconsistent and so is his command as a result, but someone is going to roll the dice on his eye-popping arsenal. The Orioles organization is loaded with position-player talent, so they make as much sense as anyone to roll the dice on his boom-or-bust profile.

20. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Riley Quick, Alabama

Quick spent his freshman season pitching out of the bullpen and then missed almost the entire 2024 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery, so he does not have the same track record of success of some of the other top college arms in this class. However, with an imposing 6'6", 250-pound frame and three plus offerings, it's easy to see a future workhorse starter with some time to develop.

21. Houston Astros: OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson

After a slow start to the spring, Cannarella has been swinging it much better in recent weeks, and he is now hitting .304/.461/.439 with 15 extra-base hits in 193 plate appearances. Already a contact-over-power hitter, his dip in power production this spring has caused his stock to slip a bit, but he still offers plenty of upside as a sure center fielder with a 55-grade hit tool.

22. Atlanta Braves: SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas

Aloy held his own last year while making a major competition leap after transferring from Sacramento State to Arkansas, and now he stands as one of college baseball's most productive hitters. Through 43 games, he is hitting .379/.459/.736 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 48 RBI. He could end up slipping down the defensive spectrum to second base or third base, but his bat is good enough to carry his value.

23. Kansas City Royals: SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)

Originally part of the 2026 draft class, Hall reclassified in November and he has been trending up in a big way this spring thanks to his quick-twitch athleticism, top-of-the-scale speed and solid defensive profile at shortstop. His offensive game is still rough around the edges, but his athleticism has him trending toward hearing his name called in the first round.

24. Detroit Tigers: C Ike Irish, Auburn

The Tigers need impact bats, and Irish offers just that with a strong track record of offensive production over three seasons at Auburn. He is hitting .353/.460/.692 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 35 games this spring, and has a 1.036 OPS in 651 plate appearances since stepping onto campus. He will always be a bat-first catcher, but has improved his receiving skills enough to stick behind the plate.

25. San Diego Padres: SS JoJo Parker, Purvis HS (MS)

With a 55-hit, 50-power offensive profile and some serious helium this spring, Parker is playing his way into being part of the second tier of prep shortstops and trending up as his senior year unfolds. He might end up fitting better at second base or third base once he gets rolling in pro ball, but a team drafting him in the first round is doing it on the strength of his well-rounded offensive game.

26. Philadelphia Phillies: OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona

Summerhill offers a profile similar to Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell when he was at UCLA as a strong, athletic outfielder with a smooth left-handed swing who is just scratching the surface of his power potential. He is hitting .417/.513/.698 with 15 extra-base hits and more walks (18) than strikeouts (13) in 24 games this spring, and he went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run on Wednesday in his first game back after missing a month with a fractured right hand.

27. Cleveland Guardians: 2B Gavin Kilen, Tennessee

A Louisville transfer tasked with replacing 2024 first-round pick Christian Moore at second base for the Volunteers, Kilen is hitting .412/.519/.843 with 19 extra-base hits and only nine strikeouts in 129 plate appearances this spring. He has drawn some comparisons to Gavin Lux and has played himself into the second tier of college hitters and late first-round consideration. The Guardians have made a habit of targeting contact-oriented middle infielders in recent years.

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: OF Ethan Petry, South Carolina

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: OF Brandon Compton, Arizona State
30. Baltimore Orioles: C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
31. Baltimore Orioles: LHP Cameron Appenzeller, Glenwood HS (IL)
32. Milwaukee Brewers: OF Slater de Brun, Summit HS (OR)

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): 3B Gavin Fien, Great Oaks HS (CA)
34. Detroit Tigers: 1B/OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest
35. Seattle Mariners: LHP Zach Root, Arkansas
36. Minnesota Twins: SS Alex Lodise, Florida State
37. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Briggs McKenzie, Corinth Holders HS (NC)
38. New York Mets: RHP Patrick Forbes, Louisville
39. New York Yankees: OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: 3B/OF Quentin Young, Oaks Christian HS (CA)
41. Los Angeles Dodgers (via CIN): 3B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
42. Tampa Bay Rays (via OAK): SS Brady Ebel, Corona HS (CA)
43. Miami Marlins: 1B/OF Nolan Schubart, Oklahoma State

Note: Pick explanations courtesy of MLB.com