The 2025 MLB Draft is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. The unpredictability of the lottery system mixes with a class heavy on college pitchers and high school position players.
The event kicks off July 13 during the All-Star break. Teams will face big decisions about their selections and the long-term impact on their franchises.
With the Washington Nationals landing the coveted No. 1 pick, the spotlight is on them—and on standout prospect Kade Anderson. Other teams are scrambling to make the most of their positions in a loaded draft pool.
2025 MLB Draft Overview
This year’s draft continues MLB’s relatively new lottery system, now in its third official use, to determine the order of the top six picks. The rest of the first round falls in reverse order of last season’s standings, so postseason runs can actually bump teams down the board.
It’s all meant to discourage tanking and reward well-run organizations. Whether it actually works is up for debate, but the drama’s definitely real.
The Washington Nationals, who had the sixth-worst record in 2024, won the lottery and landed the top selection. It’s only the third time in their history they’ll draft first overall—previous No. 1 picks Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010) both turned into franchise cornerstones.
No pressure, right?
Lottery Drama and the Big Winners
This year’s draft lottery created some serious buzz. The Nationals weren’t the only big winners.
The Seattle Mariners, who came in with way less lottery hype, jumped all the way to the No. 3 slot. This windfall gives them a shot at a future star, and it fits their strategy to build a long-term contender through player development.
The Chicago White Sox, on the other hand, got burned by the lottery rules. Despite losing a staggering 121 games in 2024, they dropped to No. 10 because teams getting revenue-sharing cash can’t land top lottery picks two years in a row.
For a team desperate for talent, that stings.
Big Money: The Largest Bonus Pools
The financial side of the 2025 MLB Draft is just as wild as the order itself. Bonus pools are more important than ever for how teams plan their picks.
This year, the five biggest pools belong to:
- Seattle Mariners: Over $17 million (the largest pool)
- Tampa Bay Rays: A perennial player development powerhouse
- Los Angeles Angels: Likely to leverage slot savings
- Washington Nationals: Extra cash to play with at No. 1
- Baltimore Orioles: Continuing their strong developmental pipeline
The Mariners’ huge bonus pool is a credit to their smart positioning this year. It gives them the flexibility to chase top-tier talent or spread the wealth across several high-upside players.
With a shallow pool of generational talents, that kind of flexibility could be everything.
Who’s No. 1? Spotlight on Kade Anderson
All eyes are on Kade Anderson, a standout pitcher from LSU. He’s projected as the top pick after dominating the College World Series.
Scouts rave about his control, velocity, and poise. The Nationals could easily build the next phase of their rebuild around Anderson, just like they did with Strasburg and Harper.
But Anderson isn’t the only name in the conversation for No. 1. Ethan Holliday, son of Matt Holliday and brother to Jackson Holliday (the Orioles’ rising star), looks like a top-five lock and could make things interesting for Washington.
Holliday’s blend of athleticism and baseball pedigree puts him among the most promising high school position players in years.
Other Names and Storylines to Watch
While Anderson and Holliday grab the headlines, plenty of other prospects and team strategies are worth watching. The Los Angeles Angels, for example, are rumored to be eyeing Trey Doyle, a college pitcher who could sign below slot value.
If that pans out, the Angels might stretch their bonus pool further down the draft. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies, sitting at No. 4, could make a serious move for Holliday if he slips past Washington—which would shake up everyone’s plans.
Draft Trends: No Generational Talent, but Plenty of Depth
Scouts and analysts keep saying it: there’s no clear-cut, once-in-a-decade generational talent in this class. But the depth is real, especially among college pitchers and high school position players.
Teams seem likely to chase “best available talent” instead of drafting for immediate needs. After all, player development timelines make predicting future gaps a guessing game.
It’s a balancing act—do you take the safer college player, or swing for a younger, rawer talent who might be a superstar in five years? That’s what makes this draft so unpredictable—and, honestly, so much fun to follow.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 MLB Draft isn’t about instant results. It’s about laying the groundwork for a team’s future.
The Nationals, Mariners, and other lottery winners are ready to shake things up. Honestly, the stakes feel massive this year.
Kade Anderson’s rise, Ethan Holliday’s background, and the wild math of bonus pools all play a part. Every pick here could echo for years.
July 13 can’t come soon enough. Baseball fans are itching to see the next wave of stars step into the spotlight.
Here is the source article for this story: 2025 MLB Mock Draft: Kade Anderson jumps into No. 1 spot, Ethan Holliday remains in top 5
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