Draft Day Draws Near: Top Prospects Eyeing the Big Leagues
With the 2025 Draft looming, teams are finalizing their evaluations. The College World Series and Draft Combine are done. Now, organizations are focused on meetings, medical reviews, and setting their draft boards. The first round picture is beginning to take shape as the clock ticks toward July 13th.
Top Arm in the Class
The recently updated Top 250 Draft prospects list has seen some movement at the top. Kade Anderson, the LSU lefty, is now ranked as the leading arm in the class. Anderson’s College World Series performance certainly boosted his profile.
Kade Anderson, a left-handed pitcher from Louisiana State, is projected to be the first pick for the Nationals. The Nationals are still considering a handful of players. Ethan Holliday and Anderson appear to be the frontrunners. If Holliday doesn’t go first, he could land at picks four or five.
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The Angels are likely to select a college arm at the second pick. If Holliday is taken first, Anderson would be a likely choice here. Shortstops, such as Eli Willits, are also options for the Angels.
Other Potential Top Picks
The Mariners could choose between the college lefty Jamie Arnold, the top high school arm Seth Hernandez, or Aiva Arquette, the top college bat. The Rockies might consider either Hernandez or Arnold if they don’t pick Ethan Holliday.
The Cardinals may select college pitcher Arnold or look at right-hander Kyson Witherspoon. Holliday’s drop could lead them to high school bats like Willits or Billy Carlson. Ike Irish’s name has also been mentioned as a possible pick.
Later Round Predictions
The Pirates could see a debate in their draft room between Willits and Carlson, and they could also consider Witherspoon or JoJo Parker. The Marlins will likely select a high school shortstop.
The Blue Jays could target Witherspoon. If all left-handed pitchers are off the board, the Jays may be looking for the next best college arm. Hernandez or Irish could also be options.
The Reds are in a good spot to select the best available player. If Hernandez is still available, he could be a Red. The White Sox might select JoJo Parker or look at other infielders like Kayson Cunningham, Steele Hall, or Daniel Pierce.
The Athletics might choose a college hitter, with Kilen getting the nod. The Rangers are likely to pick a high school infielder, with Pierce being the favorite.
The Giants could lean toward the college hitter group. Irish gets the nod. The Rays are likely to pick Hall or Cunningham. The Red Sox could consider Summerhill, Houston, or Irish.
The Twins may pick Houston. Fien and Wood are possibilities. The Cubs are considering Bremner, or Aloy from the hitting group. The Diamondbacks may take Fien.
The Orioles are expected to take a hitter. The Brewers could choose between LaViolette’s power and the prep route with Cunningham’s hit tool.
The Astros could select Cunningham. The Braves could draft Wood, potentially marking six straight years they have selected an arm. The Royals might pick Schoolcraft, while the Tigers could consider de Brun.
Given that the Padres frequently select a high school player, it’s easy to predict one here. The Phillies could pick Gamble. The Guardians could look at Hammond.
Supplemental First-Round Picks
The Royals, Diamondbacks, Orioles, and Brewers are also making picks in the supplemental round, with names such as Riley Quick, Caden Bodine, Mason Neville, Patrick Forbes, and Andrew Fischer expected to be drafted. More picks are coming from the Red Sox, Tigers, Mariners, and Twins.
Additional supplemental picks are expected from the Rays, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Marlins. This draft class could bring exciting potential to Major League Baseball. The MLB average salary in 2024 hit an all time high of $4.9 million (Source).
The 2025 draft is set to be filled with anticipation. These early predictions offer a glimpse of how draft day may unfold. There are many talented players who could become future stars.
