Major League Baseball’s 2025 Draft is in the Books

The 2025 MLB Draft is now complete. Many picks that were made fell where they were expected, but there were a few surprises to analyze. Draft Nation takes a quick look at Round One below:  

Eli Willits (1st overall, Washington Nationals)

There was no surprise here. For months, the Washington Nationals were expected to select Eli Willits first overall—and they did. Willits is a 17-year-old switch-hitting high school shortstop from Oklahoma. He made a bit of history, becoming the youngest first overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. That’s rarified air to be in for a prospect not even out of high school.

With that kind of praise, fans should expect Willits to be a future all-star. He’s the best all-around player in this draft class, bringing a variety of skills to the ballpark every day. Willits is already a great hitter with room to mature, possibly the best defensive shortstop in the draft, and he plays the game with a high baseball IQ for such a young age. Of course, some of his early maturity can be attributed to his bloodlines. His father, Reggie Willits, is a former major leaguer.

Tyler Bremner (2nd overall, Los Angeles Angels)

The Los Angeles Angels selected second overall and chose Tyler Bremner, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara. Bremner has a mean fastball and changeup combination and has been racking up strikeouts at the collegiate level this season. 

Bremner is a projected ace, boasting a 3.49 ERA with over 100 strikeouts in almost 78 innings this past season. Expect to see him sooner rather than later in the major league.  

Kade Anderson (3rd overall, Seattle Mariners)

In the three-spot, the Seattle Mariners took LSU’s left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson. Anderson led all of college baseball in 2025 with 180 strikeouts and was ranked by Baseball America as college baseball’s top prospect. The LSU fireballer won twelve games last season for the Tigers, posting a 3.18 ERA in 119 innings pitched. 

The Mariners have emphasized pitching over the last few seasons in the draft, and it was no surprise that Anderson came off the board when Seattle was at the podium. 

Ethan Holliday (4th overall, Colorado Rockies)

The Rockies might have gotten the steal of the draft here. For most of 2024 and part of 2025, Ethan Holliday was projected to be the first overall selection by many scouting outlets. Slipping to the Rockies at four might provide some great value for a team looking to rebuild in the field. And it doesn’t hurt that he brings a pedigree with him, as he’s the son of major league veteran Matt Holliday. 

A 6-foot-4 high school shortstop, Holliday will likely be moved to third base or the outfield and has the power in his bat to support that move. Stat freaks will love his exit velocity and overall rankings among scouts. 

Liam Doyle (5th overall, St. Louis Cardinals)

In the five-slot, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Tennessee Volunteer pitcher Liam Doyle. Doyle can be imposing, registering 164 strikeouts last season on the way to being named the SEC Pitcher of the Year.  

Doyle is a brawny 6’2, 220 lbs. and had a 42% strikeout rate this past campaign. His fastball can hit the 100-mph mark, but he will need to improve his pitching repertoire before getting to the pros. He throws a ton of heat and needs to develop a few other pitches before starting someday in St. Louis.