Just Baseball’s Final 2025 MLB Mock Draft
Our fourth and final crack at mocking what the 2025 MLB Draft could look like, mere hours before the Nationals make the first overall pick.
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We’ve hit the end of the road, it’s draft day!
Some changes have been made to a few selections below, based upon conversations with sources and some gut feel picks being made. This will almost assuredly be wrong by 6 PM this evening, but that’s to be expected. Let’s get this underway.
1. Washington Nationals – LHP Kade Anderson, Louisiana State
Slot Value: $11,075,900
Kade Anderson isn’t a dark horse candidate for the No. 1 overall pick anymore. His polish, pitchability, and SEC track record make him one of the few arms in the class who could move quickly through a farm system, something that might appeal to a Nationals organization in transition.
Washington’s recent front office shakeup, including the dismissal of GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, could open the door for a fresh draft philosophy. That said, Ethan Holliday remains a strong contender with superstar upside and the kind of prep profile teams dream on. It’s between those two at this moment, though you can make a case for Eli Willits, too.
The pick may come down to whether the Nationals prioritize ceiling or proximity to the big leagues.
2. Los Angeles Angels – LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee
Slot Value: $10,252,700
Liam Doyle could be a strong match for the Angels at No. 2 overall, especially given their consistent preference for college players and aversion to prep talent in early rounds. With one of the most dominant fastballs in college baseball, Doyle fits the mold of a quick mover, something Los Angeles has prioritized in recent drafts.
If the Nationals select Ethan Holliday, then Kade Anderson is the pick here, which means Doyle would fall a considerable amount due to a lack of fits within the top ten. With the Angels’ predictable draft history, a high-floor, fast-moving college player still feels like the safest bet.
3. Seattle Mariners – RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona HS
Slot Value: $9,504,400
Over the past 24-48 hours, Hernandez to Seattle has picked up steam, and the brass feel more comfortable taking him here. Yes, it’s an overwhelming risk given the demographic, but it’s incredibly loud and showcases budding athleticism and command. Aiva Arquette still shouldn’t be discounted here, though it’s less likely than it was a couple of days ago.
4. Colorado Rockies – SS/3B Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS
Slot Value: $8,770,900
Here’s the situation: if Holliday isn’t the first overall pick, the Rockies will pay overslot money to him at four. If Holliday winds up in Washington, the expectation is that Colorado takes Liam Doyle or Jamie Arnold. Colorado is not afraid to spend on their top picks (Condon, Dollander, and Veen are recent top ten picks that received slot or more).
5. St. Louis Cardinals – SS Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS
Slot Value: $8,134,800
Two names have been connected to the Cardinals in recent weeks: Eli Willits and Jamie Arnold. While we did mock Arnold here last time, we’ll pivot to Willits in this edition. Chaim Bloom has, again, only drafted one college arm in his career. Willits does have some steam here, and he fits the “high-contact, high-probability infielder” mold.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates – SS Aiva Arquette, Oregon State
Slot Value: $7,558,600
There is a plethora of names to shuffle through with this new scenario for the Pirates, but it’s hard to ignore the toolset with Arquette here. Even if there are hit tool questions, it’s robust power with the ability to be a long-term shortstop option. It likely will be a college pick here, regardless. Ike Irish and Jamie Arnold are other noteworthy names to watch here.
7. Miami Marlins – SS Billy Carlson, Corona HS
Slot Value: $7,149,900
There’s a lot to dig through with the Marlins. I’m sticking with Carlson here, mainly due to the upside in his profile. If he’s taken before this pick and another prep shortstop falls (i.e., Eli Willits), then they’d pounce on that profile. Ike Irish is another name linked to the Marlins recently, which would make plenty of sense if they choose to go the under slot route.
8. Toronto Blue Jays – LHP Jamie Arnold
Slot Value: $6,813,600
The obvious demographics at play here are prep shortstop and college pitching. We’ll re-shuffle the order here, as Jamie Arnold finds a new home north of the border. After their successes (to date) with Trey Yesavage and Khal Stephen a year ago, it makes sense from a developmental standpoint. If Arnold is off the board earlier, JoJo Parker and Kyson Witherspoon are names to watch here.
9. Cincinnati Reds – OF/C Ike Irish, Auburn
Slot Value: $6,513,800
Irish’s name is connected to plenty of teams ahead of this, especially as an under slot candidate, but I find it hard to see him drop past this point. The Reds are a bit of a wild card, in my personal opinion, but his offensive upside fits well. This will be the obvious landing spot for Jamie Arnold or Seth Hernandez if either falls this far, especially Hernandez.
10. Chicago White Sox – SS/3B JoJo Parker, Purvis HS
Slot Value: $6,238,400
An obvious change from Mock 3.0, but the philosophy stays the same. My gut feel is that the White Sox are looking to open up the wallets at 44, and in this scenario, Parker fits what they’re seeking. They’ve coveted prep shortstops for a bit. Billy Carlson’s name is linked here, too. It’ll get chaotic.
11. Athletics – RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara
Slot Value: $5,985,100
College seems to be the way to go with the Athletics, and a bunch of names are being considered here. They are the first team heavily in on UCSB RHP Tyler Bremner, and given their recent success with pitching development, it’s a fit that makes perfect sense.
Gavin Kilen, Wehiwa Aloy, and a few others are linked in some capacity, as well.
12. Texas Rangers – RHP Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma
Slot Value: $5,746,800
It’s hard to envision Witherspoon falling very far in this draft, especially considering the stuff and command jump in 2025. Texas *does* have links to plenty of prep options, including Gavin Fien, though this feels a bit early for my money. They’re likely waiting to see which prep falls out of the top ten. None do in this scenario, hence the Witherspoon pick here.
13. San Francisco Giants – 2B/SS Gavin Kilen, Tennessee
Slot Value: $5,524,300
The Giants are seeking a bat here. Nothing more, nothing less. There’s a good likelihood that they’ll hunt college guys over prep, which puts Gavin Kilen at the forefront. He checks a lot of boxes for contact skills and batted-ball data. However, I wouldn’t rule out a prep here. Daniel Pierce has links here, as does Steele Hall and Gavin Fien.
14. Tampa Bay Rays – SS Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville HS
Slot Value: $5,313,100
Given all the noise, would we be shocked if Steele Hall wasn’t a Ray after Sunday? Probably. Could it all be a smoke screen? Also probably.
Either way, Hall fits the profile that the Rays tend to love. One of the youngest players in the class, Hall offers rare upside with advanced defensive instincts and athleticism at shortstop, along with a developing hit tool. It’s a fun match and one to keep an eye on.
Other names to watch are SS Daniel Pierce and RHP Kyson Witherspoon.
15. Boston Red Sox – 3B Gavin Fien, Great Oak HS
Slot Value: $5,114,200
Boston and SoCal preps. There’s a lengthy history between the pairing, and while Gavin Kilen fits what Boston looks for, he’s gone in this scenario. Fien should develop well in this system, especially considering their recent track record. Hall’s name is an option, as well, though it’s less likely.
16. Minnesota Twins – OF Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
Slot Value: $4,929,600
The likelihood that a bat is the pick here is ever-increasing. Gavin Fien is a top option if they choose to go prep, but college seems to be the more likely option. While Summerhill is a pure hit-over-power guy, I believe the Twins can get him to hit the ball a bit harder down the line. Aloy’s name makes another appearance here, too.
17. Chicago Cubs – SS Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas
Slot Value: $4,750,800
Shortstops are linked heavily to the Cubs here, and I think it comes down to Wehiwa Aloy or Marek Houston. Aloy is a better athlete with much better pop, albeit it comes with a riskier hit tool. However, the upside is immense. If Aloy goes earlier, then Houston makes much more sense.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks – C Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
Slot Value: $4,581,900
There’s been some smoke around Bodine to Arizona for some time now, and I’ve finally opted to bite on it. Considering how they like to strategize their drafts, it makes complete sense to underslot here and save up for a prep at 29. Bodine is a very well-rounded profile, too. Marek Houston’s name starts appearing here in conversations, as well as a few other college guys like Jace LaViolette.
19. Baltimore Orioles – OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
Slot Value: $4,420,900
Jace LaViolette makes a lot of sense for the Orioles at pick 19, especially with Baltimore holding three first-round selections (19, 30, and 31) and ample bonus pool space to get creative.
The Orioles love guys who bludgeon the baseball and get on base. Few players in the class can match LaViolette’s raw power; he’s already hit 68 home runs in college and consistently posts exit velocities north of 115 MPH. There are some concerns with the hit tool, but that doesn’t hinder his ability to draw a walk.
If the bat continues to develop, LaViolette has the upside to be one of the more dangerous middle-of-the-order bats in this class and would fit the Orioles’ mold perfectly.
20. Milwaukee Brewers – SS Marek Houston, Wake Forest
Slot Value: $4,268,100
The Brewers love to get creative with their draft strategies, and this year should be no exception. They’ll pick again at 32 and have three more day one selections.
There’s a wide net cast here, though this is a logical landing spot for Marek Houston. It’s a safer floor with limited power, but he brings a consistent track record to Milwaukee.
21. Houston Astros – 3B/OF Tate Southisene, Basic Academy
Slot Value: $4,122,500
This is where things begin to get murkier in terms of direct connections, though this morning, there’s been rumblings of a prep link here with Houston. Xavier Neyens and Tate Southisene are candidates who fit Houston’s philosophy, though Neyens might be a bit too expensive. They don’t have a second-round selection, so there’s a good chance they want to go under slot here. Southisene fits the bill perfectly.
22. Atlanta Braves – 3B Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy
Slot Value: $3,983,900
I’ll be the odd man out on the Braves. They love taking arms in the first, and while Gage Wood is an enticing option here, I know that the Braves are enamored by Josh Hammond. It would certainly make sense given the offensive struggles at the big league level, too. Again, there’s a plethora of pitchers that make sense here, but I’m going with a gut selection. Trust your guts, folks.
23. Kansas City Royals – RHP Gage Wood, Arkansas
Slot Value: $3,852,100
With the Royals having two picks in the next five, there’s a good likelihood that they perform some sort of fun strategy. This feels like a comfortable under slot selection with Gage Wood, who has suitors within the late teens, but there’s some worry about medicals. If he’s here, the Royals would pounce on the opportunity, in my personal opinion.
24. Detroit Tigers – SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek HS
Slot Value: $3,726,300
The Tigers have gone after hitterish prep bats in the past few years, so mocking a prep infielder here makes the most sense. My gut feel? One of Daniel Pierce or Kayson Cunningham falls to this selection, and the Tigers follow through.
25. San Diego Padres – 2B/SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson HS
Slot Value: $3,606,600
It’s the Padres; a prep is a given at this position, given their draft history. We’ll pull a bit of a hard right here, as while I think Kayson Cunningham is off the board by this point, he would certainly fit the bill at this selection. Sean Gamble, Slater de Brun, and Ryan Mitchell all make sense here, too.
26. Philadelphia Phillies – SS/OF Sean Gamble, IMG Academy
Slot Value: $3,492,200
If Gamble gets passed on by the Padres, this is a likely spot for him to land. The Phillies are reportedly the floor for Marek Houston if he falls, and Fien’s name is attached here, but both are gone in this scenario. Anthony Eyanson’s name has been brought up, as well.
27. Cleveland Guardians – OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson
Slot Value: $3,382,600
The Guardians stick to their “left-handed bat” philosophy, taking Clemson OF Cam Cannarella. Cannarella is a table-setting option in the future, though there’s some upside to find in this profile. He finished the year rather strongly for the Tigers, too. This would be a potential floor option for Bodine if he’s not the pick at 18. Eyanson makes sense here, too.
28. Kansas City Royals – LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft, Sunset HS
Slot Value: $3,282,200
Kruz Schoolcraft is a name that’s likely to be poached from Tennessee’s hands at this point, and it would take an overpay at this slot to do so. The Royals can manage it, plus they’ve been long-rumored to love his profile.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks – OF Slater de Brun, Summit HS
Slot Value: $3,191,100
We let Arizona draft a Slade Caldwell clone, and we are not sorry for it. There’s a link to de Brun at 18 for Arizona, though if they employ the draft strategy mentioned before, this makes more sense.
30. Baltimore Orioles – 3B/OF Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon HS
Slot Value: $3,113,300
Potentially saving some money on LaViolette at 19 could pay off dividends for the Orioles at 30. That brings us to prep 3B/OF Xavier Neyens, who is another prospect with some insane power and high on-base skills.
Neyens brings an elite combination of bat-to-ball skills, zone control, and emerging plus power from the left side, traits that align with Baltimore’s preference for mature offensive profiles. Neyens would be a fun fit for the Orioles’ development abilities with bats, and with their opportunity to manipulate slot values, it feels like they could pull him down to 30.
31. Baltimore Orioles – 1B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
Slot Value: $3,042,800
There have been some rumors that the Orioles do love the safe floor bats out of the University of Tennessee.
Enter Andrew Fischer. Fischer could be a strong value pick for the Orioles at 31, especially if they’re looking to add another left-handed power bat with middle-of-the-order potential. Fischer has shown he can produce against elite pitching, punishing fastballs, and doing real damage to his pull side with a swing built for backspin and loft.
Baltimore usually targets guys who are strong defenders, but with three picks in the first round they could potentially get Fischer at slot value here and afford to take a shot on Fischer’s offensive ceiling here and afford to take a shot on Fischer’s offensive ceiling here.
32. Milwaukee Brewers – OF/C Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy
Slot Value: $2,970,900
That aforementioned Brewers’ creativity? Here it is! Jaden Fauske is, in our opinion, an underrated prep bat in this class, though he fits more in the outfield than behind the plate. It’s a lovely swing, and he’ll hit for average and power moving forward. He’d fit in very well in the Brewers system.
33. Boston Red Sox – 2B/SS Ryan Mitchell, Houston HS
Slot Value: $2,898,300
This still feels like an option to go over slot on a prep bat, and with Mitchell, he’s rumored to have plenty of steam within the comp round. He’s a twitchy athlete with plenty of bat speed and could use a swing change. Does this sound like anyone? Again, I’ll continue to leave Coy James’ name here. Gut feel pick there.
34. Detroit Tigers – RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
Slot Value: $2,827,300
Assuming that Pierce may take a bit of an over slot deal to get done, this pick should be an under slot deal. Quick has the potential to move quickly in this system, though he does come with medical concerns. It’s a low-slot righty with power stuff.
35. Seattle Mariners – RHP Anthony Eyanson, Louisiana State
Slot Value: $2,758,300
Given the shakeup at third overall, I’ll revert to a college arm at this selection. Eyanson makes too much sense at this pick for the Mariners, and while the fastball shape is not ideal, his breaking balls are sublime. He finished the year very well, too.
36. Minnesota Twins – OF Devin Taylor, Indiana
Slot Value: $2,692,000
Taylor’s name has some steam down the stretch here, likely signaling a comp round selection or better. The offensive upside is there with Taylor, and his track record is amongst the best in this class, but his lack of defensive value puts a lot of pressure on the stick to perform.
37. Baltimore Orioles – OF Ethan Conrad, Wake Forest/Portal
Slot Value: $2,631,400
Baltimore adding this selection to their bonus pool puts them at over $19 million in total, with $13 million in their top four picks alone. Their creativity should be fun. Conrad has tons of suitors in the twenties, and he may very well be an option at 30 or 31. Yes, there’s injury risk, plus he’s in the portal at this moment, but it’s a valuable left-handed bat with significant upside.
38. New York Mets – LHP Zach Root, Arkansas
Slot Value: $2,569,400
The Mets have become a bit of a pitching lab in recent years (look at their recent drafts and successes that follow). Zach Root has buzz in the top 40 picks, and he would fit in very well with the Mets’ development system. He has traits that they covet.
39. New York Yankees – 1B/OF Brandon Compton, Arizona State
Slot Value: $2,509,500
Brandon Compton put on an absolute show in Arizona during the combine, and the Yankees typically covet his profile. A physical lefty with tons of power in the stick? Sign us up.
40. Los Angeles Dodgers – 3B/OF Quentin Young, Oaks Christian HS
Slot Value: $2,443,600
The first of back-to-back selections for the Dodgers, Young has gained some steam in this range. It’s a hometown selection for the team, though it’s more than just that. Young has prodigious power and traits in his profile, though his hit tool has question marks. He may be a bit pricey.
41. Los Angeles Dodgers – RHP Patrick Forbes, Louisville
Slot Value: $2,386,900
Another connection that has been frequented by others in recent weeks, and with the Rays trading their selection to Baltimore, this is the likely outcome for Forbes, in my opinion.
42. Tampa Bay Rays – RHP Aaron Watson, Trinity Christian Academy
Slot Value: $2,331,000
Watson’s arsenal and high floor are highly valuable to teams in this range, plus his makeup is very, very good. He would fit in well with the Rays system, especially as a groundball right-hander with a revamped slider and a fun splitter.
43. Miami Marlins – C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
Slot Value: $2,276,700
This would be excellent value for Miami at this selection, though my gut tells me he goes well before this. It’s hard to find this kind of left-handed pop and defense as a backstop. There’s a few prep options to watch out for here, including Gustavo Melendez.