This year’s amateur draft is officially underway, and we’ll be updating this post throughout the night with every first-round selection. More details and scouting reports on all these young players are available in pre-draft rankings from Baseball America, Fangraphs, MLB Pipeline, The Athletic’s Keith Law, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. As well, Pipeline has the breakdown of the slot values assigned to each pick in the first 10 rounds, as well as the bonus pool money available to all 30 teams.
Here are the first-round selections….
- Washington Nationals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK)
- Los Angeles Angels: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
- Seattle Mariners: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
- Colorado Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School (OK)
- St. Louis Cardinals: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona High School (CA)
- Miami Marlins: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
- Toronto Blue Jays: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis High School (MS)
- Cincinnati Reds: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville High School (AL)
- Chicago White Sox: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona High School (CA)
- Athletics: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
- Texas Rangers: Gavin Fien, SS/3B, Great Oak High School (CA)
- San Francisco Giants: Gavin Kilen, SS/2B, Tennessee
- Tampa Bay Rays: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek High School (GA)
- Boston Red Sox: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
- Minnesota Twins: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
- Chicago Cubs: Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson High School (TX)
- Baltimore Orioles: Ike Irish, C, Auburn
- Milwaukee Brewers: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee
- Houston Astros: Xavier Neyens, SS/3B, Mount Vernon High School (WA)
- Atlanta Braves: Tate Southisene, SS, Basic High School (NV)
- Kansas City Royals: Sean Gamble, OF/2B, IMG Academy (FL)
- Detroit Tigers: Jordan Yost, SS, Sickles High School (FL)
- San Diego Padres: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset High School (OR)
- Philadelphia Phillies: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
- Cleveland Guardians: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
The first round officially consists of only 27 picks since the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers all had their first-round selections dropped back by 10 slots. The three teams surpassed the third luxury tax tier in 2024, and thus their punishment included a 10-slot drop in their opening draft choice.
The 2025 draft is split up over two nights. Rounds 4-20 will take place tomorrow, while the draft’s first 105 picks will come off the board tonight. Those 105 picks consist of the first three proper rounds, the two Competitive Balance Rounds, and two sets of compensatory rounds (giving picks to teams who lost qualifying offer-rejecting free agents), and the Royals getting the 28th overall pick due to the Prospect Promotion Incentive. The evening’s 105th and final selection will be a compensatory pick to the Angels for not agreeing to a deal with 81st overall pick Ryan Prager.
Whats weird is the Angels just selected Bremner and he’s already been added to the AL All Star team…
Thanks for the laugh.
That was some damned fine work there, RSox
Good one lol
Well played. Standing O.
Lol
Rsox has massive upside as a poster.
He has to hone his cutter
Rsox said this will show the coaches who said he’d never make it.
Nationals taking Willits to save a few million dollars is hilarious.
I remember people said that when the Astros took Carlos Correa.
College SS more angels style but no surprised by they’re pick.
Taking a reliever at #2 is not a surprise?
Angels could have drafted just about anyone and not surprised me.
Team has terrible ability to build a bullpen. Last year was clearly a fluke.
That being said, this is just doesn’t make sense as a #2 pick.
Already full of surprises…………
Yesssss!!!! That’s exactly who I hoped the Cardinals would get!!!!!!! Great job Chaim!
Tell us why. Tell us more.
And I am keeping receipts! 😂
Seattle gets another young stud pitcher!
This really surprised me. I had him pegged as their number one target, but didn’t think he’d be available. I thought they were more likely to end up with Arnold, who is also great.
I thought they would go with Hernandez if Anderson was off the board
That was Eric at Fangraphs guess a few days ago, right? I didn’t see them taking a prep pitcher. I didn’t think they were likely interested in prep hitters, either. Not with the third pick.
I think they got their man.
Maybe this is the LHPer I have wanted them to get. Can he pitch a few games in AA then be called up? Can they trade Castillo? Yes he has a no trade clause but things can be done to get his approval. From a bonus to an extension. Don’t see the extension but a few mill might make him want to go. Now get those other starters under long term contracts.
Why would they want to trade Castillo? He’s been solid and he’s a key to their postseason hopes.
That said, the no-trade clause runs through the 2025 season, so that’s something they’ll likely be considering in the offseason.
I don’t think Anderson’s going to debut until 2027, but I would imagine his presence will influence some decisions.
I was shocked that the nationals and especially angels passed on Anderson since he had a Paul skenes-like run in the college World Series
Classic angels move to select a guy with a ton of questions marks but I’m not complaining since Anderson will be on my mariners in a few years
I think he could be in MLB in two years. Gilbert, Kirby, and Woo had 27-29 starts in the minors before their promotions, if I’m not mistaken. Miller had 35 or 36.
And all of them had more to work on when they were drafted.
Angels love taking right handers in the first
Stevil what says he can’t pitch a couple games in AA and if he does we’ll get called up to see how he does. We need a LHPer in our rotation. I have been pulling for this for awhile. The Whitesox have 3 in AAA one is in top 100 prospect list. Was wondering what it would take to get one of them. Maybe they think this is the answer to not losing any prospects and bringing in a LHPer to fill that need. They could then try to trade Castillo. Asked in a post that was deleted what it would cost to get Geno and if trading those 2 and getting the player they get keep his salary. The Ari can trade him next off season after his no traade drops off.
If they don’t want Castillo it couldn’t take more than a mid level prospect. Like something in late teens to 20s.
Those 2 moves if works out should make us a better team could get a player to replace Salamo and Garver. Not sure about the C we got in comp round is he close to ready to take Garver spot? He would need to catch once a week DH a bit. If we get a true 1st bm that can hit and maybe a switch hitter that would help. Hope they follow up this draft with a couple good trades and don’t dumpster dive just to fill a spot.
Wow, Rockies gonna bring the thunder with Condon and Holiday in a few years.
Works for that ballpark.
Little bit of pressure on Ethan, following in dads footsteps if he makes it to the bigs with Colorado.
Added bonus if he makes it: Old school Rox fans can break out their old Holliday jerseys.
Pressure would be there anyway being his son. It was the same all along, I’m sure.
His dad har a great career so yeah he was always going to be scrutinized. Let’s hope he has a great career with the Rockies. Then maybe he lands with the Cardinals lol
Hard for high 1st round not to make it on a awful franchise.
Can’t put into words what Nationals and Angels were thinking. Gifting talent to the team’s behind them.
With MLB can’t really judge until complete draft is over. Willits is very talented and also HS like Holliday, likely he accepted a bonus significantly less than Holliday would’ve. Angels can
Damn app. *Nationals not Angels, can grab a lot of talent in mid-rounds that otherwise would go to college with bonus savings if they play it right. I would t have done it, but can be a very successful strategy.
Willits attended the Combine and took the physical there, so he is required to get 75% of his slot. Bremner did not.
75% could be an agreed upon number. Let’s find out if he took 75% slot.
The problem with the kids in later round guys is they have to decide on the pros or NIL money. A kid taken in the 2nd rnd on can gamble on himself and get more NIL money and believe they can improve their draft spot in 3 years. Or go Jr college rte and be drafted next year or year after. NIL money won’t be the same but improving slot could be huge.
Nats did well.
Please.
The Nats just guaranteed themselves another three to five years of “rebuilding.” The Lerner family is cheap, and they didn’t want to pay a 1st round college pitcher despite the fact their pitching is awful.
They might as well trade Abrams, Gore and Wood now, because they’re all going to walk as free agents. The MLB team’s been horrible for five years, and the fan base is declining because ownership’s showed *zero* commitment to winning since Ted died.
I’ll guarantee right now that the Lerners also won’t spend any money in free agency.
If they were cheap they wouldn’t have extended Ruiz or traded for Lowe or signed Bell or given Strasburg that awful extension or signed Corbin Scherzer.
The possible few million they saved here is nothing.
That Lerner is dead AI. It’s his kids now.
Did he come back from the dead to throw $ at Lowe and Bell?
If I was concerned about saving $ instead of saving a few million on my draft I would rather saved 16 million on Lowe Bell.
You are being a ridiculous troll now. One-year deals for chump change for both.
Strasburg, Corbin and Scherzer were all signed when Ted Lerner owned the team. He’s dead.
Since he died, his family’s not spent any money. In fact, they angered Strasburg by trying to get him to take less money than he was *contractually owed!* That’s why Strasburg didn’t retire the day they had a retirement ceremony scheduled, and he’s never been back to Nats Park to say goodbye to the fans.
The Ruiz contract was *stupid* and one of the reasons Rizzo got fired. He tried to salvage something out of that trade with the Dodgers and gave Ruiz a $50 million 8 year deal he hadn’t earned. Now that contract is completely “underwater.” Ruiz’s defensive metrics have always been among the worst in MLB and now his offfense has cratered.
They traded a RP for Lowe because they didn’t want to spend *any* money in free agency for multiple years in a row. They didn’t even make an offer to Alfonso and quickly got outbid on Walker.
It’s quite clear ownership isn’t committed to winning. Strasburg and Scherzer were the top two highest paid Nats this year because ownership has always relied on defered money contacts in the first place. Strasburg will be the highest paid player next year too.
Both gone by 7/31. Should save them 1/3 rd of $16 million. Send em. They kinda suck.
No you just aren’t of high or even average intelligence. Or maybe you didn’t read all the comments.
*The Lerner family is cheap, and they didn’t want to pay a 1st round college pitcher”
I was replying to that comment.
Definitely not trolling.
16 million for Bell Lowe. For less $ they could have got Santana or Goldschmidt. For minimum wage they could have traded for Horwitz. Naylor makes under 11. Seems not spending $ isn’t their problem. Problem is spending too much $ and on much worse players.
You are definitely trolling. Or just massively uninformed. You choose and those are the only choices.
“Did he come back from the dead to throw $ at Lowe and Bell?”
Lowe got 1/$10.3 million and Bell got 1/$6 million. That’s practically the bare minimum for spending. Also Ruiz is 8/$50 million. Hardly breaking the bank.
Lowe has the highest salary on the entire team. Trevor Williams ($7 million) and Ruiz ($5.38 million) are the only players under contract for next season that aren’t pre-Arb or Arb. That is pathetic for a team in a good market, and their decreasing attendance bears that out.
Is that more or less than they saved on their #1 pick?
Twins did well, Houston, Quick and Young. Twins won the draft with Quick and Young.
Maybe saving moolah for that 7th round slot. When they go waaaay over
Ethan at 4 is a shocker
Rox got lucky drafting another holliday
Why? He was mocked to go #4 in all the mock drafts that I looked at.
You mock? Pistols at dawn!
I saw him 2nd in a few. I wasn’t surprised Seattle passed on him. They are all in on Celestin. Hopefully he gets bumped up to Everett and does well there. Then a bit more at Everett then to Arkansas then Seattle for a cup of coffee. I like the idea of them getting a few game look at the majors early. Not sure how many games they can play before it affects their rookie status or messes with years of Arb.
Not necessarily if he didn’t go one he probably would’ve gone to the Rox. I heard per BA he didn’t wanna go to the Angels or the Mariners. A wonderful pick for the Rox.
We will take Celestin over him anyway. One of them would have to be traded. Seattle did a great job taking Kade. Especially if he told them he would not sign.
Seattle finally got their SS seems everyone wants a SS this year. How many HS SS have been taken today? A lot.
Minasian is the worst GM in baseball. Spin this Angel fans.
1) Worst Record in Angels history history.
2) In spite of the highest cumulative draft picks in Angel history, a 28th ranked farm system.
3) For the highest pick in more than 30 years, the Angels pick a pitcher whose upside is a mid-rotation starter.
Arte is a terrible owner. Minasian is an even worse GM.
No argument here. Took a 2b over a 5 tool ss last year. Took a pitcher this year who is good but is he the safest or highest upside I don’t think so. Maybe he is crazy under slot and they get another 1st round player.
This pick is beyond terrible. I knew he would mess up but not this bad.
As a White Sox fan, I understand that pain. Jerry is selling the team in five years, I really hope Arte does the same for you guys.
But did you make it to the cell for festivities? Nice being there for the Buerhle and 4 aces bobbles
Im not excited by the White Sox draft, time will tell, Arnold would have been an exciting pick.
he has stiff competition with Pirates GM Ben Cherington
In 6 years at the helm, his team’s most successful season was with a measure 76 wins
And 2-100 loss seasons to boot
Cherington didn’t pass on Hernandez and Griffin
Cherington’s not the tight purse strings guy in pittsburgh .. at least minasian has more to work with in anaheim
@Halos11Fan Absolutely, this pick doesn’t make sense. You have the #2 pick, you could have picked the best pitcher available or even the 2nd best or 3rd best, but the Angels go for the #18 player of the board.
If the draft was about 6 months ago, it would have made more sense. Bremner and Arnold were the best pitchers entering the season, but Bremner didn’t have a good year.
I’ve been waiting nine months for this pick. I’m like an eight year old waiting for Christmas morning and all I got was clothes.
Or worse just socks
Halo fan clothes aren’t the worst. I got used underwear or a T-shirt my mom said she knew I would like but knew it wouldn’t fit. I was 9% body fat 6’4” and 200lbs. I wore an XL and she got me a M. I said thanks and threw it to my younger brother. Used undies and a shirt that is too small sucks. The undies were more than one year. No I didn’t wear them threw them away.
@google Maybe they felt like Bremmer just had an off year and he’ll be fine.. But it is a very odd choice. I was hoping for Hernandez but expecting one of the other more high profile pitchers.
Kellen, has Minasian done anything where you think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
@keitlin This is why they can’t give the Angels the #2 overall pick. They could have had the #12 pick and still picked Bremner. No one else would have picked him in the top 10. No one else would have picked him in the top 10.
Despite having TJS in high school, Kade Anderson was the choice here for me. Even if things don’t work out for him, it would have been the choice everyone expected and recommended. Now the Angels are in the position of having to prove people wrong and they don’t have a track record of doing so.
@Halo11Fan ya, it was huge disappointment. Clothes can be cool some times. I am getting more of “school supplies for Christmas” feeling.
We Seattle fans feel we got a new PSP and COD with $200 of COD coins
Our GM is great. Has made great picks the last 8 years and even longer. Has brought in great int players. I bet you wish you had him. I think without the owner controlling his GM like in Seattle maybe yours would be better.
He took a SP, its a bit if a crap shoot, Hernandez was the pick, Arnold was the fall back but Bremner could be the best of the lot time will tell.
Disagree. Low-ranked farm bc top prospects in MLB. Bremner has 65 FB and 65 CH, needs to develop 1 more and should be ready next year. Angels get benefit of the doubt with so many 1st rounders now on roster: Ward; Adell, Trout, Moore, Neto, Schanuel, Detmers, Bachman. Not many teams do that.
What have the Angels done with all those 1st. round picks? Not even a Wildcard game!
Is it over? Have all those picks left the organization? Give them time
Interesting to see how many high school players are getting drafted early.
Majority of best players are hs this year
Pirates got another good arm too
Best arm in draft. Best player in draft.
Maybe he can replace Skenes when he leaves in 3 years…Pirates needed to draft talent much closer to the show IMO. Build around Skenes as much as possible as soon as possible.
Why pass on the best player in draft to get a lesser player just because they will be ready sooner?
they need a power hitting first baseman amongst other offensive players
Taking a 1b at #6 is a last resort. Better be a really special bat.
B/c they will lose an even better, already performing like a star in MLB player. Other than that, cool at best he makes it to the show in Skenes last year and that would be the 1% rise thru minors for a HS pitcher.
He can play with all the dudes skenes is traded for
Anderson? LFG!!!
Hope Arquette drops to the ChiSox.
Sry the marlins said otherwise.
Let’s see what Getz does for the White Sox.
Billy Carson, another good 1st round pick for Getz.
He’s a shortstop, good we need position players.
They got an outfielder later.
I’ll probably see both of these guys play pro ball in the minors at some point.
Really wanted the reds to get Irish
I am sure that got your Irish up.
He is still there so far.
Orioles just got him. No surprise with the offensive prospects they have brought through the system lately.
Perry Minasian should immediately be fired. You are handed the opportunity to select Anderson and you let Seattle take him? And you have the opportunity to take Ethan who’ll be a cornerstone franchise player for years. Or you can take Seth Hernandez who easily has the highest ceiling of any arms in this draft. And you get cheap and select the 18th best prospect with the #2 pick? I don’t get it.
Keep all these weak gms. Pirates got best player in draft 3 years in a row and 2 of those years they picked 6th 9th. They need all the help they can get.
If they are able to lure a 1st round HS talent away from college by going over slot with their savings on that pick it could work out good. I don’t necessarily agree with it but teams don’t take the best player available every year for this reason.
1) The Angels don’t draft high school players.
2) when they wasted their pick on Bachman, did they pay well over slot value James Wood? No, we got Ky Bush.
3). When the drafted Schanuel’s a dozen picks prior to projection, did they save bonus money? No, they gave him the biggest bonus in Angel history.
You are assuming Minasian has a plan and a brain….he has neither.
Amazing value for white Sox
Reds picked another high school SS high. All about saving money rather than have to pay a college hitter, you can bet.
Kid has speed, wonder if he is ticketed for CF. Gonna be a slower route to the bigs if he makes it.
You want them to draft a worse player just because he is in college?
Actually the HS players have more leverage and can get more $. Don’t want to pay me I’ll just go to college.
Why are you convinced anyone else they would have drafted would be a worse player?
Very shortsighted comment.
Because the college players available were worse. Could they be developed to be better sure. Could Hall fail sure. But today he was superior to any college player.
If anything one could argue Carlson would be the better pick. But no one who knows anything about scouting would take a college player over Hall. On a completely different tier.
I will just laugh at your second sentence in your second paragraph and you will never know why.
Nor will I care but glad to entertain you that I do care about.
White Sox need some pitching in the lower minors, they look pretty rough. I thought they should have went all out for pitching, especially college arms.
Carlson is a nice pick but they have a couple good shortstop prospects already.
Carlson might be one of the 3 best players in draft. You can’t pass on that. Can’t draft too many SS either. If you draft a SS for 10 straight years in 1st round it isn’t a problem.
Unless you need pitching to stop the bleeding and people to play the other positions on the field.
I said he was a nice pick, but so was the college pitcher the A’s got that better helped them sooner.
There is team building and there is also organization building. The White Sox are doing the latter at the moment but they can also help the former.
“Unless you need”
That’s it right there. You don’t draft for need. Need doesn’t factor in at all unless there is a tie which isn’t likely to happen. You draft best player available.
Mariners Pirates Marlins know more about pitching than just about anyone and they passed on him. Pirates would have taken Carlson if Hernandez wasn’t there.
Dude, I still defend my Trail Blazers picking Bowie over Jordan. But even I understand that you’re supposed to pick the best player available
White Sox need more hitters than arms period. Preferably SS and OF.
White Sox need position players. The shortstop was a good pick.
Another good 1st round pick for Getz.
I’ve seen the pitching in the lower minors live. Ouch. Position players are coming that will help.
White Sox need college hitters be cause they have very few but they went HS ss and catcher. Maybe they figured out how to make a 175 pound ss into a homerun hitting outfielder.
Facuke long term future is corner outfielder not catcher.
Ofc the Pirates get Seth Hernandez. He’s probably the closest to the Majors than anyone. Pairing him with Skenes would be something.
Not close at all as HS player.
In terms of raw talent he is.
6 SS taken with the first 10 picks…. Can’t ignore the golden age of SS we are in Bichette, Gunnar, Witt Jr., Pena, J.P., Wilson, Trae, Lindor, CJ, Elly, Mookie, Perdomo even the 2nd tier shortstops have talent Tovar, Adames, Wynn, Swanson, Neto, Correa, Story, Volpe
Another reason to despise Bud Selig. He sold the Expos to a family that, other than the elderly Ted Lerner, has absolutely no intention of spending any money. They get the #1 pick, need pitching that can help the big league club badly, and need to start winning before Gore’s a free agent in 2027. So what do they do? Draft a HS SS when you’ve already got Abrams and a highly regarded 1st round SS you converted into a 3B (Brady House.)
I’m done with the Lerners. The Nats might just as well trade Abrams, Gore and Wood now, because this pick doesn’t make *any* sense unless the new GM and ownership has already decided to abandon this rebuild and start over. DC is *not* a baseball town that’s going to support the Nats through more losing. If the Lerners don’t sell during the offseason, Opening Day 2026 will see lots of empty seats.
They’re cheap according to you so Abrams is as good as gone. You just made a fantastic argument why they should have taken a SS because they are cheap and won’t extend Abrams!!!!!!
They’ve already got Abrams eventual replacement.
Last year they took SS Sever King #10 overall out of Wake Forest. He’s already in AA and their #5 prospect. Beyond that, later in last year’s draft they got HS SS Luke Dickerson, who’s already their #6 prospect.
This pick doesn’t make *any* sense at all. The organization’s stacked with multiple young SS in the sysrem and not much pitching, especially not much that’s likely to help before Gore walks as a free agent.
Mediocre K rate. Awful walk rate. 580 ops. And you have him as future SS already even though his profile suggest 3b as more likely? Anything can happen but right now he looks more like why Rizzo got fired than future stud SS.
SS can be easily converted to other positions and have great trade value.
Again, you’re willfully missing the point. This team needs to win sooner rather than later, and where’s the pitching?!?!? Beyond Gore, there definitely doesn’t look like much on the big league club. In the upper minors there’s Sykora and Susana. And..that’s it.
Cavalli’s spent two years rehabbing. He’s a bullpen arm or closer at this point. Gray was a walking gopher ball until he had TJ surgery. He’s not likely a #2-3 SP at all. More like a #5, if that.
Oh, and the Nats better already have their 3B of the future in Brady House, or that #1 pick goes into the list of Rizzo busts. There’s lots ot reasons Rizzo deserved to get fired, but ownership and the new GM aren’t giving me any reason to think they’re any better.
I’m not missing the point. Maybe you are. There are more pitchers and good pitchers from places are than 1st round picks. Actually the current meta is to get 1st round talent pitchers in rounds 2 3 by going over slot. Now if Washington doesn’t take a pitcher in these rounds you would have a strong argument. But it’s 1 draft pick. Doesn’t matter who they take as long as it isn’t like what the heck what a reach level pick. 19 more rounds. International draft. Free agency. Trades. This is just 1 pick.
You all realize the best athlete/player in high school and below are usually put at SS, right? Most won’t be there when they get to the league. They’re expected to be placed where needed because they are the best athlete on their teams.
Okay, but the Nats need a pitcher in 2027 and it’s unlikely Willets is that. Maybe he can get them one in trade.
As pointed out, you don’t draft for need. You draft the best player available
Red Sox solid value. Lots of value. If you have a top 20 pick you should get a top 100 player. Extremely deep draft. But lots of development needed.
Why did the Pirates and Yankees not receive PPI picks like the Royals? Or was that just not in the article?
Didn’t qualify. Don’t know what Yankees did but Pirates didn’t call up Skenes soon enough to qualify.
Red Sox fans might be happy for a change.
They were happy last few years at least. Montgomery was seen as tremendous value as well as Teel Teal or whatever catcher name is.
Red Sox seem to be going with value picks, regardless of position. Montgomery, Teel and Witherspoon were all ranked and expected to go higher than Red Sox’s spot. Bill Belichick would not approve.
Time will tell but first 16 picks only pitchers & shortstops
Feels like a very underwhelming draft
One of the greatest drafts in years for teams picking outside the top 10. Weak at the top.
If its weak at the top, the lesser players taken later in the draft are weaker.
Smart that the Pirates took a pitcher to sure up their lack of hitters in the minors. Does Cherington know he is gone and just doesn’t care?
Neither the Reds or the Pirates are hiring anyone competent.
Teams don’t draft for immediate needs. At least not good teams.
The Pirates are not a good team.
Panj341, probably smart to take the best player available, right? 3 years from now, all of their current pitchers will be gone
Nationals we’re smart not picking Ethan Holliday. Tons of red flags.
Please tell us more. What are all the red flags?
@AI GM
Holliday is very often late getting to pitches on the outer third of the zone. His swing is super long and makes it tough for Holliday to pull fastballs at all, which is a red flag at this level. He struck out a lot on the showcase circuit, posting a pretty scary swinging strike rate, with more whiffs than balls in play.
Where should he have went in draft?
@AI GM
Should be working on his game a bit more not getting drafted. He’s still 16 years old with all those red flags.
Ethan Holliday turned 18 in February of this year. He was the consensus #1 on talent, a 60 grade prospect, by all 4 of the major scouting organizations, but was not widely expected to go #1 in the draft for other reasons. Talent was not the reason. He was a lock to go in 1st 4 in the draft.
@outinleftfield
I’m too old and can’t see. I swear I read an article recently where they said he was 16. Probably something from the White House’s website?
Diamondbacks may have gotten the best value in the draft so far. Certainly the best pure hitter in the 1st round to this point.
The Brewers were the Brewers and got a nice piece at their pick.
They .ight be a rival but not too much of a homer to admit they run their organization well.
It is really nice hearing Manfred getting roundly booed.
Padres just got a GREAT HS pitcher. I expected him to be off the board much higher. LHP hitting upper 90s in HS with a plus slider and good feel for his pitches. 6’8″ and repeats his mechanics with ease, which is unusual. Watched him in AG games and he hit a 445 ft HR, but he won’t be hitting in professional ball.
Schoolcraft is only 18 with a long pitching frame to work with. Very athletic. Wonder why he lasted so long. Great pick!
Who would you have not drafted instead? A few guys but pretty much 20 guys better as good or really close to Schoolcraft. Good value he should have went inside top 20 but can see why he didn’t. Some teams just aren’t ran well. Some couldn’t pass up a SS.
He was ranked 12-19th on all the lists and NO ONE had him dropping to 25. Troll much?
You don’t even know what a troll is lol.
I said he should have went inside the top 20.
Let me explain to you how it works. Teams have their own scouts who they pay to scout players. If they cared what these websites thought they wouldn’t pay these scouts right? Dropping from 19 to 25 is common. Players have dropped much further than that. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.
I agree with Web, you are a troll.
What a get by the Mariners. Maybe a
Little over a year away from being a possible call up? They need a lefty with that all right handed staff. Great pick M’s!!!!
Laviolette at 27? WOW!
Too high or too low. I think it’s just right. He won’t be able to hit pro pitching and half the teams aren’t likely capable of improving him enough so 27 sounds right.
Too low. Was expected by BA and MLB to go off the board 19-21. Since you are saying he won’t be able to hit pro pitching, he will be probably in the majors in 2026.
I never said that. I said right now he won’t be able to but keep reading and you will see it’s possible to improve him just less likely for some teams and why they didn’t draft him.
“He won’t be able to hit pro pitching” – AI GM
Cruz Schoolcraft 6’8 beast that can hit.
Love it.
Randy Johnson or Aaron Judge 🙂
Can’t hit. Why he went 27th. Can be improved possibly. Obviously teams until 27 didn’t think they could or he would have been long gone.
AJ finding that 6′ 8″ High School flamethrowing lefty, love it!
LFGSD
Yeah great player for that spot. Draft has about 20 who could quickly be top 100 prospects if not already so great draft for mid and late drafting teams.
Thank GOD the Guardians didn’t take another middle infielder in the first round. I think it helped they picked late in the round after all the worthwhile SS were taken. LaViolette could be the one who stops the revolving door in CF or RF, and he’s a college player, so he’ll be ready way before a HS player.
This year seems awfully top-heavy on SS. Thus far, 14 picks are listed as playing the position, including 10 listed exclusively as SS.
SS is a very versatile position. In some cases SS switch to 3B, 2B and sometimes CF
There were many guys on this site that were bagging on my Padres having 8 MiLB SSs rostered on the 26 Man recently, and we can see the versatility in play. Austin Nola became a C, Merrill a CFer, Tatis RF, Cronenworth 2B, Manny 3B… et al.
A’s having a good draft so far. Was hoping the Reds would get Taylor, he was in their backyard.
Another catcher, Orioles?!?!
They also drafted a shortstop, an outfielder, and 2 pitchers.
Maybe they’re writing his name on tomorrow’s line-up card as we speak!
First 3 Tigers picks could have been taken later. I’m not slamming the pick just confused about where they picked them. Pick Quentin Young with the #34 Pick and grab the young catcher in the 3rd round instead.
Now that the Holliday boys have been groomed for big league careers, it’s time for Matt Holliday to come back to Colorado and manage the Rockies. Lets get some leadership from back in the better days.
Twins nailed the draft with Quentin Young in RF, he has a great arm, and he can hit the long ball.
Keaschell, Jenkins and Young is a very nice OF.
Seems like a bountiful harvest of shortstops in the 1sr round this year-like 13 picks!
I wonder if there’s been a player selected #1 from a high school smaller than Fort Cobb. That place is tiny and they play in the lowest class of schools in the state. He’s obviously got access to a lot due to his family & played well with Team USA, but his competition during the school year is not great.
So far I like the Marlins pick the best. That kid is gonna be a stud and then traded of course.
With the #2 pick in the 2025 draft the Angels take…
a college pitcher destined to be a reliever.
Bremner is a great feel good story, but he only has two pitches, a 98 mph FB with little spin and a changeup. He could not locate his slider at all the last 3 years. He could be in the Angels bullpen by the end of next season, but that is his ceiling.
Was really hoping for Liam Doyle from Tennessee. Guess Bremner said he would take a bigger discount to sign.
The Angels are a train wreck and will remain a train wreck until Arte sells the team. Regarding GM Perry Minasian, it should be noted the Angels young core was accumulated by Perry – Neto, Schanuel, Moore, O’Hoppe, Soriano, Bachman, Joyce, etc. Because of Arte induced limitations, Perry, for the most part, can only acquire talent via the draft and waiver wire pick ups. Signing international players, acquiring prospects at the deadline by trading expiring contracts, restocking the minor league system by trading Ohtani, etc are/were not available to Perry. Imo, Perry is the first GM under Arte to amass a core group that has moved the needle and is doing so with one hand tied behind his back. Please, Arte, for the love of all things holy, sell the team.
The California of Anaheim of Los Angeles of Souther California Angels whole FO needs to be fired immediately
These kids thank God before thanking their parents, without whom, they wouldn’t even get a chance to be in this position. What a joke; a whole generation of brain-washed, narcisistic, entitled who has their priorities on the wrong thing.