2025 NL East Draft Grades: Nats Shine Amid Shakeup, Phillies Shift Focus

The 2025 MLB Draft wrapped up, and the National League East teams took some interesting swings to strengthen their farm systems. Some clubs chased risky, high-upside prospects, while others stuck with safer college picks.

Draft strategy in those top 10 rounds? It’s often a tug-of-war between bonus pools, player fit, and future plans. Teams try to balance what they need now with what might pay off years down the line.

Here’s a look at how each NL East franchise tackled the draft, plus a few picks that could shape their next chapter.

The Braves: Swinging Big, but Playing It Safe

The Atlanta Braves, never shy about taking chances, grabbed infielder Tate Southisene in the first round. Some folks questioned his bat and his pre-draft ranking, but Atlanta clearly saw something special in him.

They seemed to lean more toward long-term upside than a quick fix. That’s pretty on-brand for this front office.

Under-the-Radar Gem: Landon Beidelschies

Landon Beidelschies, a lefty reliever, could be a name Braves fans remember. He’s got a knack for shutting down lefties, which is always handy.

Relievers rarely get much love on draft day, but Beidelschies might become a real bullpen weapon in Atlanta.

Marlins: College Hitters Take Center Stage

The Miami Marlins switched gears in 2025. Instead of their usual focus on high school bats, they went after college hitters with more polish.

Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette leads the group. He’s got raw power and might end up moving to third base as he comes along.

High-Value Picks: Cam Cannarella and Beyond

Cam Cannarella looks like one of the draft’s better bargains. He gets on base and flashes solid defense—maybe he’ll move up the ladder fast.

Max Williams and Chris Arroyo round out the group. If they can iron out their mechanics, there’s some real upside there.

Mets: An Adaptation to a Late Start

The New York Mets didn’t pick until 38th overall, so they had to get creative. They went with Mitch Voit, a two-way guy with contact skills and defensive flexibility.

Voit gives them a project, but there’s something to dream on. It’s not the flashiest pick, but it fits their developmental style.

Mixing Arms and Upside

After Voit, the Mets grabbed a mix of young pitchers and high-upside prep talent. Missing out on those early picks stung, but they’re banking on their player development to work some magic.

Phillies: A Focus on College Arms

The Philadelphia Phillies changed things up in 2025, targeting college arms instead of high schoolers. Arkansas righty Gage Wood headlines their class after a standout College World Series run.

There’s some debate about whether Wood will stick as a starter, but the Phillies clearly liked what they saw.

Relievers with Intrigue

Cade Obermueller and Cody Bowker show Philly’s push for bullpen-ready arms. Both have interesting stuff, though they might top out as dependable relievers instead of rotation guys.

The Nationals: Strategy Unveiled Later

We don’t have the full scoop on the Washington Nationals’ draft class yet. Still, it’s obvious their NL East rivals leaned hard into careful, data-driven picks.

Nationals fans are probably wondering how their own team will answer back.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 MLB Draft gives us a glimpse into how NL East teams want to shape their futures. Each front office leans on a mix of strategy, data, and old-fashioned scouting grit.

Fans will probably debate these picks for years. Some folks love a risky move, others groan at what feels like a swing and miss.

But, honestly, isn’t that part of the fun? The NL East is never short on drama, and these new faces might just shake things up all over again.

 
Here is the source article for this story: NL East 2025 draft report cards: Nats do well despite leadership shakeup; Phillies change course