Final 2025 MLB mock draft: Updated picks just hours before Round 1 begins

The 2025 MLB draft begins at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN, so it is time for one final update as teams lock in their Day 1 boards.

The drama starts right at the top this year, as the Washington Nationals have a difficult decision to make with the No. 1 overall pick a week after firing their general manager.

In a year without a slam-dunk top player, Oklahoma high school star Ethan Holliday (yes, the son of former major leaguer Matt) and a group of college left-handers (LSU's Kade Anderson, Tennessee's Liam Doyle and Florida State's Jamie Arnold) rank among the top prospects in the class.

Which direction will the Nationals go -- and how will the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners follow with the No. 2 and No. 3 picks?

Since this is a last-minute update on what teams could do Sunday night, my writeups here are focused on what has changed since the previous edition. You can find a more detailed look at each team's strategy in my mock draft 3.0. And remember, this is the order in which I think the players will come off the board, while my draft rankings are the order in which I'd pick the players.

Draft tracker: Results, analysis for every Day 1 pick

More coverage: Mock draft 3.0 | Big question for all 30 teams

Watch: Sunday, July 13 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

1. Washington Nationals

Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
Rank: 1

There have been a lot of rumors flying around over the last few days about what is happening in the wake of the firing of GM Mike Rizzo.

The industry feeling is that what has changed is 1) Anderson is a little more likely to be the pick mostly because Ethan Holliday is a little less likely to be the pick and 2) taking a bigger cut is now a real option, with Eli Willits the main cut-rate option, though Aiva Arquette has also been mentioned.

All but Willits are advised by Scott Boras, and he'll never tip his hand until he has to; now is not the time yet. Nothing is decided here and price will be a factor. If I turned this in 15 minutes before the draft, the Nats may still not have made the decision, so I'll stick with what seems most likely, even if I don't feel great about it. Landon Harmon is a rumored later round, overslot target.

For context, a scouting director for a team picking in the top 10 said I shouldn't feel confident about anything happening in the top-three picks specifically, adding "I'm hearing there's wars happening in all of those rooms right now," as of Friday night. I ran that by another director picking up high: "Yeah, we're hearing the same thing."

2. Los Angeles Angels

Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
Rank: 6

I'm going to stick with Doyle because he makes the most sense for what the Angels have proven they're looking for in recent drafts: a polished, quick-moving college player that will come at a savings.

I've heard at least six players seriously connected to this pick in the last few days: Anderson, Doyle, Arnold, Arquette, Ike Irish and Willits. There are a couple more I've been told are under consideration who I'm not taking seriously as options here.

It could be any of these players based on final conversations and bonus pricing info on each player coming in at the last minute. Doyle has a real shot to slide to No. 9 or No. 10 if he doesn't go here, so he is motivated to give a competitive number.

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Liam Doyle's MLB draft profile

Kiley McDaniel explains what makes Tennessee's Liam Doyle one of the top prospects in this year's MLB draft.

3. Seattle Mariners

Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (CA)
Rank: 4

The hot rumor of the last few days is Tyler Bremner will be the pick here at big savings and that holds up to further analysis because, in style, Bremner and Seth Hernandez (long connected to this pick) are pretty similar.

It's pretty widely known that Kade Anderson is the No. 1 player for Seattle and will be the pick if he gets here, which still has maybe a 20-30% chance of happening.

If Anderson isn't here, I think the decision comes down to Bremner at the most savings, Irish at a little less savings or Seth Hernandez at the least savings, broadly speaking. Some sources have said Arquette, Arnold and Kyson Witherspoon are also in play here, but feel like tertiary options.

I think Bremner having more support in the No. 11-No. 15 area that was reflected in the last mock will raise his price a bit to where Hernandez will be the pick, but this one is also wide open at the moment and will come down to a last-minute bonus price check if Anderson isn't available.

4. Colorado Rockies

Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (OK)
Rank: 2

There has been some waffling late in the process from sources who think maybe the Rockies wouldn't pay the overslot price to get Holliday down here -- but much of what I hear very late in the process is wrong or intentional misinformation, so I'll stick with what I've been hearing for a literal year.

I think the other options for Colorado if Holliday doesn't get here are all college pitchers: Anderson, Arnold, and Witherspoon, with Willits and Arquette getting some mentions.

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Ethan Holliday's MLB draft profile

Kiley McDaniel explains what makes Ethan Holliday one of the top prospects in this year's MLB draft.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)
Rank: 3

Willits now seems securely in play at the top two picks and possibly at No. 4, so the Cardinals landing him here would now be considered a solid outcome. I think Anderson and Holliday are the primary targets for this pick and Willits is next up, with Arnold and Irish as the possible underslot options.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Rank: 5

It now sounds like Seth Hernandez or Eli Willits will be the pick if he's here, so the Pirates are rooting for Seattle to either land Anderson or opt for a cheaper alternative to Hernandez.

Otherwise, JoJo Parker, Arnold, Arquette and Irish are believed to be the four leading options here. Arnold has the most late support, but this one may also come down to money.

I hope you feel sympathy for me having to do this in public when none of these teams know what they're doing and won't for hours.

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Jamie Arnold's MLB draft profile

Kiley McDaniel explains what makes Florida State's Jamie Arnold one of the top prospects in this year's MLB draft.

7. Miami Marlins

JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (MS)
Rank: 7

I think this will come down to Parker, Irish, and Billy Carlson -- and I think Parker has the edge.

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
Rank: 9

I think the Jays would pick Parker if he gets here and would consider Arnold along with Arquette and Irish if he is still available here. This decision seems to come down to Arquette or Irish, with Carlson and Witherspoon also under consideration.

9. Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)
Rank: 13

Cincinnati seems to be the floor if Hernandez or Doyle slip and otherwise the Reds seem to be the ceiling for Hall. I think Irish, Witherspoon and Carlson are also in the mix.

10. Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (CA)
Rank: 8

Carlson's range seems to be No. 7 to No. 12, maybe No. 14. I think the White Sox really want to land the Parker brothers (JoJo and Jacob) but can't get JoJo to this pick.

The White Sox have been all over high school hitters all spring, and Carlson gets the nod over Gavin Fien.

11. Athletics

Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Rank: 18

Bremner is picking up steam at this pick, and I think his floor is now Boston's pick at No. 15. It's a bit surprising he could go ahead of Witherspoon, but Bremner clearly has been getting interest in the top half of the first round that just hadn't leaked out to the industry at large until late. I think this will be a college player, likely a pitcher, with Witherspoon and Summerhill also mentioned here a lot.

12. Texas Rangers

Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (TX)
Rank: 25

I think Steele Hall and Billy Carlson are the targets here, but neither makes it to the pick, so Cunningham becomes the pick, narrowly over Josh Hammond. I was hearing Cunningham would fit more 20-30 and in the late chatter is that he has multiple homes in the teens. Like the White Sox, the belief all spring is the Rangers want a prep hitter here.

13. San Francisco Giants

Ike Irish, RF, Auburn
Rank: 11

Irish is in play at most picks starting at No. 2 all the way down to the middle of the first round, but I think his slide would stop here. The Giants have long been tied to Marek Houston and Charles Davalan (a longshot at this pick, but gone by their next one), with Andrew Fischer getting some love, as well.

14. Tampa Bay Rays

Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Rank: 10

The Rays are tied to prep position players for later picks and could pull a shocker, as I projected in my previous mock, by taking Jaden Fauske here.

I think Hall, Billy Carlson and Cunningham are the main targets and none of them are available in this projection. Witherspoon is from Florida and is a great value, while the Rays still have a chance to land Fauske at their next pick.

15. Boston Red Sox

Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (CA)
Rank: 12

I'll stick with Fien here as one of the steadiest projections all spring. It sounds like Tyler Bremner will be the pick if he gets here but that's now looking unlikely.

16. Minnesota Twins

Gavin Kilen, SS, Tennessee
Rank: 20

I'll stick with Kilen here as he fits the type of prospect they have targeted for a while. I could see Houston, Caden Bodine or Gage Wood being options here, too.

17. Chicago Cubs

Josh Hammond, SS, Wesleyan Christian HS (NC)
Rank: 17

I think the Cubs are targeting in-game power here, and Hammond makes a lot of sense. They've scouted Quentin Young pretty hard this spring, as well, but this is too early for that kind of risk. Xavier Neyens, Wehiwa Aloy and Wood all fit, as well.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
Rank: 22

I think Cunningham is the target here, but he isn't available in this scenario. Hammond and Bodine are also mentioned here and I think Slater de Brun will be the selection at Arizona's next pick.

19. Baltimore Orioles

Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
Rank: 21

LaViolette should go in one of the next three picks and fits Baltimore's style. He won't get to the Orioles' next pick, but they may be able to float targets down there with their extra pool muscle, as covered in the previous mock.

20. Milwaukee Brewers

Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona
Rank: 14

Summerhill has a very unclear and wide range of teams that are interested, but could fit here. Daniel Pierce, Houston, Bodine and Coy James are all in the mix for this pick.

21. Houston Astros

Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
Rank: 15

I think LaViolette and Neyens, Southisene and Aloy are all in the mix here, along with possible underslot deals for Davalan or de Brun.

22. Atlanta Braves

Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Rank: 16

It now looks like Bremner won't get here, but the Braves have been tied to Wood for about a month. Otherwise, the hit-first shortstops like Houston and Pierce are tied here.

23. Kansas City Royals

Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (GA)
Rank: 19

Hammond seems to be the target, but doesn't make it to K.C. in this edition. I think the Royals will take a prep pitcher with one of their high picks, likely either Watson or Fisher, and maybe another later on Day 1. Eyanson and Wood are two college arms being considered.

24. Detroit Tigers

Coy James, SS, Davie County HS (NC)
Rank: 69

James has a good shot at being a Tiger and some of Detroit's primary options go right ahead of this spot in this scenario, so I think this could be a curveball pick to most viewers.

Fauske is another possibility here along with Kruz Schoolcraft, Pierce, Watson, Dax Kilby (more at their next pick), de Brun (same), Southisene and Fischer.

25. San Diego Padres

Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU
Rank: 45

There's lots of late momentum for Eyanson here, which is counter to the history of A.J. Preller's time making picks for the Padres, so I'm going out on a limb.

Kilby on a cut, Young, Schoolcraft, Alec Blair, Josh Owens and de Brun all seem like high schoolers in the mix here.

26. Philadelphia Phillies

Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
Rank: 23

Philly normally takes high-ceiling high school players but this is too good of a value to pass up. Matthew Fisher, Sean Gamble and Blair are the leading prep targets and Fischer is also mentioned.

27. Cleveland Guardians

Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (NV)
Rank: 37

Kane Kepley on a big cut, Devin Taylor on a smaller one or one of Kilby and Watson are all options here.

Note: No. 27 is the final pick of the first round of the 2025 MLB draft. You can read mock draft 3.0 for my thinking and potential targets for teams making the comp and second round picks that follow and see the full draft order here.

28. Kansas City Royals: Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (FL)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Slater de Brun, CF, Summit HS (OR)
30. Baltimore Orioles: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (WA)
31. Baltimore Orioles: Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee
32. Milwaukee Brewers: Charles Davalan, LF, Arkansas
33. Boston Red Sox: Marcus Phillips, RHP, Tennessee
34. Detroit Tigers: Jaden Fauske, RF, Nazareth Academy HS (IL)
35. Seattle Mariners: Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas
36. Minnesota Twins: Devin Taylor, LF, Indiana
37. Baltimore Orioles: Jordan Yost, SS, Sickles HS (FL)
38. New York Mets: Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville
39. New York Yankees: Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (GA)
40: Los Angeles Dodgers: Quentin Young, 3B, Oaks Christian HS (CA)
41. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS (OR)
42. Tampa Bay Rays: Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson
43. Miami Marlins: Alec Blair, CF, De La Salle HS (CA)
44. Chicago White Sox: Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest
45. Colorado Rockies: Sean Gamble, 2B, IMG Academy HS (FL)
46. Miami Marlins: Josh Owens, SS, Providence Academy HS (TN)
47. Los Angeles Angels: J.D. Thompson, LHP, Vanderbilt
48. Athletics: J.B. Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss
49. Washington Nationals: Max Belyeu, RF, Texas
50. Pittsburgh Pirates: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina
51. Cincinnati Reds: Taitn Gray, C, Grimes Community HS (IA)
52. Texas Rangers: Michael Oliveto, C, Hauppauge HS (NY)
53. Tampa Bay Rays: Dean Moss, CF, IMG Academy HS (FL)
54. Minnesota Twins: Josiah Hartshorn, LF, Orange Lutheran HS (CA)
55. St. Louis Cardinals: Cooper Flemming, SS, Aliso Niguel HS (CA)
56. Chicago Cubs: Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State
57. Seattle Mariners: Malachi Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
58. Baltimore Orioles: Mason Neville, CF, Oregon
59. Milwaukee Brewers: Mitch Voit, 2B, Michigan
60. Atlanta Braves: Kane Kepley, CF, North Carolina
61. Kansas City Royals: Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama
62. Detroit Tigers: Dean Curley, 3B, Tennessee
63. Philadelphia Phillies: Matthew Fisher, RHP, Evansville Memorial HS (IN)
64. Cleveland Guardians: A.J. Russell, RHP, Tennessee
65. Los Angeles Dodgers: Chase Shores, RHP, LSU
66. Cleveland Guardians: Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa
67. Tampa Bay Rays: Briggs McKenzie, LHP, Corinth Holders HS (NC)
68. Milwaukee Brewers: Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU
69. Baltimore Orioles: Brandon Compton, LF, Arizona State
70. Cleveland Guardians: Aiden Stillman, LHP, Trinity Prep HS (FL)
71. Kansas City Royals: Angel Cervantes, RHP, Warren HS (CA)
72. St. Louis Cardinals: Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
73. Pittsburgh Pirates: Ethan Petry, 1B, South Carolina
74. Colorado Rockies: Easton Carmichael, C, Oklahoma
75. Boston Red Sox: Jake Cook, CF, Southern Miss