The 2025 MLB Mock Draft, put together by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, David Schoenfield, and Jeff Passan, offers a wild look at how front offices might handle one of baseball’s most unpredictable processes. Strategic trades, surprise picks, and that classic debate—MLB readiness or long-term upside? It’s all there.
The Nationals grab LSU lefty Kade Anderson with the first pick. Other teams scramble for their favorites, shuffling bonus pools and chasing roster fits in a pretty fascinating simulation.
The Strategy Behind the Top Picks
The first few picks really show how much teams try to balance immediate needs with player development. For the Washington Nationals, picking Kade Anderson, a southpaw from LSU, sends a message—they want pitching dominance.
Anderson’s a college arm who looks ready for MLB action sooner than most. That’s a big draw.
Why Left-Handers Dominated Early Picks
The Angels, desperate to fix their rotation, went with Tennessee’s Liam Doyle, another college lefty. Adding Doyle signals Los Angeles is serious about fixing pitching depth after years of, well, not great results.
Seattle kept the lefty streak alive by taking Jamie Arnold from Florida State. His power arm fits right into the Mariners’ approach—build around high-upside pitching prospects, hope for the best.
This early run on college pitchers shows just how much teams trust proven arms over high schoolers who might need years to develop.
The Power of Legacy: Ethan Holliday Joins the Rockies
With the fourth pick, the Colorado Rockies went for Ethan Holliday, a high school slugger and son of former Rockie Matt Holliday. There’s a lot of emotion in that pick, but also real promise.
Ethan could become a key offensive player. His family ties add a nice twist, giving Rockies fans a shot of nostalgia and maybe a little hope for the rebuild.
High School Talent Blossoms Despite Competitive Nature
Holliday’s pick shows teams still believe in young hitters with big potential. The Rockies ignored trade rumors and outside pressure, sticking with their belief in Holliday’s long-term upside.
Breaking Trends: Cardinals Take a Gamble
At pick five, the St. Louis Cardinals surprised everyone. They usually go for polished college players, but this time picked JoJo Parker, a high school infielder with serious upside.
Shifting Philosophies Across Organizations
This move hints at a bigger change in how teams draft. With bonus pool math and advanced scouting, franchises now balance their old-school values with the raw potential of younger prospects.
The Depth Factor: Notable Mid-Round Selections
The mock draft featured some interesting picks after the top five. There’s real depth across different positions:
- Eli Willits: The Marlins picked this versatile position player, hoping to boost their infield.
- Seth Hernandez: A talented high school pitcher went to the Blue Jays, who never seem to pass up a project arm.
- Kyson Witherspoon: The Reds grabbed this standout hitter, clearly betting on his bat.
These picks show how teams work their bonus pools and chase upside deeper in the round. Shortstops and pitchers remain hot commodities, as clubs prep for both quick contributors and future stars.
The Drama of Trades
Mock drafts love throwing in speculative trades to stir the pot. The 2025 version didn’t disappoint.
Several trade offers for top picks got shot down, which really highlights how hard it is for teams to give up potential franchise-changers. These scenarios show just how tricky it is to balance draft position with sticking to your scouts’ gut feelings.
The Value of Bonus Pool Strategy
Throughout the mock draft, teams juggled their picks with the MLB’s tight bonus pool limits. It’s a chess match—sometimes you win, sometimes you regret it for years. The way teams maneuvered around these rules shaped almost every decision in the room.
The MLB Draft’s Unpredictable Magic
ESPN’s 2025 MLB Mock Draft really showed off the wild mix of innovation, tradition, and drama that makes baseball’s talent pipeline so fascinating. Kade Anderson’s got that immediate impact potential, while Ethan Holliday brings a legacy angle that’s hard to ignore.
JoJo Parker’s selection felt bold, honestly. The draft just keeps spinning out these different organizational philosophies, and it’s impossible not to wonder what comes next.
Here is the source article for this story: A new kind of MLB mock draft: Our insiders make the picks for all 30 teams — with trades!
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