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.
Then with the money save it allowed them to have money for a pitcher that was kinda important for them.
MLB fans will never understand how the draft works in mlb it’s not like the other sports. All these teams do is look for value with players and contracts and they do the same in the draft. If they get an under value guy for way less money than they think he should sign for so they can take another first round or two guy later they will always spread the risk.
Rarely does the best player get taken 1st and mlb fans still can’t wrap their head around it.
Paul Skenes begs to differ.
Congrats on citing one example of a generational talent that was obviously going to go number 1.
Obvious now, yes. At the time, Crews or Skenes was very much a thing.
ThatsIT, I have had students and relatives drafted. They’ve done a good job of explaining it to me. I also played baseball into my forties with former pro players and college players. And I went to college with a guy who’s in the scouting hall of fame. You’re right, it’s more complicated than we understand.
Read your comment out loud – “ MLB fans will never understand how the draft works in mlb”. Hmmm, sure a casual fan but someone in this site isn’t a casual fan and knows how it “works”. Weird comment. I don’t even think a casual fan would call it MLB. They would just call it baseball.
They obviously don’t. Otherwise they wouldn’t say the same thing every year and wonder why the top ranked guy drops. Go read comments from past drafts same thing every year.
You see comments about why they drafted a SS when we have a SS.
MLB fans understand the draft the least amount compared to the other big 4 sports fans on draft night. The other sports drafting for need is something the simpletons in nfl and nba fan bases can understand.
Drafting a guy ranked 7,8 at one because you save 1.5 million to draft another 1st round talent in the 2nd round isn’t something these simpletons can ever understand despite every year the writers and draft analysts telling you why every year.
He’s a fantastic prospect. Also, they saved money to spend on other prospects later, so they’ll get better guys than they would have had they taken Holliday. Not to pocket the cash.
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.
They’ve done well here recently with their #1 picks so I’m going to wait and watch. This current staff seems to know what they’re doing. 4 straight pitchers picked by the Angel’s so far, and I’m glad.
You and I have a different definition of well.
They drafted starter who doesn’t start.
A Shortstop with no range (statcast has Neto at 3%)
A first baseman who doesn’t drive the ball and has no bat speed.
A secondbaseman, who can’t make contact.
It’s not hard to believe why this team set an all time record for losses last year and has the 28th ranked farm system
It’s extremely hard to believe how many fans can’t see the obvious..
Minasian is a huge problem and a horrible GM.
@Halo11 I know that you are a serious fan and are very passionate about the team. You’re right that we don’t always see eye to eye and that’s okay. I obviously look through a different lens. I stand by my statement and it’s based in what I view as realistic. Not many 1st rounders make it and stick, very few are 5 tool players and only a handful turnout to be superstars. This team needs a lot… not just one superstar but several players that can stick at the MLB level. Years of depleting the farm system has haunted this team and more than half the roster over the last few years could be argued as “not acceptable” MLB players. Yes, I think Minasian has done well to put players on the field from the draft that were better options than what was in the minors or currently on the field, and yes I think that the draft so far has been on target as far as pitchers and 3rd baseman. Kellin said the team needs pitching, I’ve said that for the last 4-5 years. I don’t know why they didn’t select someone higher but I’m not questioning it because we need someone that will stick and they might no a little bit more about what that looks like than you and I. So far, they have shown me that they are right. It’s unfortunate that Minasian inherited such a mess… because if he hadn’t his actions might actually be in line with what you’re expecting.
Very few are, but it’s rally hard to win without elite players. Being safe is fine, if you already have stars.
We don’t have stars. We need a couple of star players. If you have a team of Netos, flawed but good players, you can win. But when he’s your best player, you can’t.
We needed to hit a home run with this pick and we didn’t come close.
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.
How many times have you seen a starting pitcher get drafted, pitch a couple of games in the minors, then get thrown to the wolves? Skubal started 33 games in the minors. Skene started 12.
And why do they have to have a LHP? They need ‘good’. That’s all that matters.
Trading Castillo makes zero sense. They’re fringe contenders. They need to add pitching, not subtract, and it’s a pretty safe bet that they’ll do that.
You should take a look at the game logs for Solano, Garver, Williamson and Young. None of them are struggling right now. That doesn’t mean Seattle won’t get a bat, but don’t be surprised if the focus is pitching.
Oh, and the last position player I can remember who skipped the minors was John Olerud and he must have had an 80 grade hit tool. We would see Ford if Garver or Cal got hurt (and if he isn’t traded). Stevenson comes with a 40.
There’s a reason the minor leagues exist. Baseball hard. Development demands time and patience.
White Sox love their pitching prospects, Id say Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz are all but untouchable. Shane Murphy and Tanner McDougal also likely off the trading block if only for the reason that they are quality depth on the farm.
I think they would trade Shane Smith, he made the all-star team this season, had a great run through April but has regressed some.
Rebuilding teams don’t trade their top pitching prospects. Even contending teams rarely trade their top pitching prospects. So, yeah, highly unlikely.
For Proton: The Mariners already stated they don’t intend to have Anderson report to a minor-league affiliate, and that isn’t surprising. He has already thrown a lot of innings this year, including 130 in the first game of the championship series.
The White Sox have some good pitching prospects but not one of them is a guaranteed ace.
Two pitchers for the White Sox that don’t get a lot of widespread recognition are Davis Martin and Jonathan Cannon. Martin doesn’t seem to have a high ceiling but for some reason he reminds me of Greg Maddux. Martin throws primarily Fastball, Cutter, Changeup and is mixing in a sinker, has a soft curve ball. Maddux threw four seamer, sinker, cutter, changeup too.
Cannon also pitches in a similar way but has more athleticism to him, he is 6’6 righty and could dial it up more with his fastball, but throws well within himself with a four seamer, sinker, cutter and changeup w/ a soft sweeper. Cannon could be the best pitcher we have.
Both are masters of the changeup. Neither relies heavily on breaking balls. I hope the Sox keep both of them, I think they could be long in the rotation on the south side.
Shane Smith throws four seamer and a plus changeup, his changeup is his best pitch but he relies heavily on his breaking balls and they aren’t all that good. He is a two pitch pitcher and probably will end up in the bullpen. Smith is the player Id trade.
Id also trade Burke who is our flashiest starter at the moment. He relies heavily on four seamer and changes speeds with a big curveball.
Civale and Houser can be had cheaply. Smith and Burke are likely going to require a decent return.
Id keep Cannon and Martin.
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.
If I were him,I would go back to school and tell them not to draft me again.
And delay or even risk getting 6 7 million no thank you. And becoming free agent years later would be catastrophic.
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.
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.
“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
but he did draft Henry Davis with the #1 pick in a draft
As he should have as it allowed him to get Bubba Chandler as well.
Wake me when Bubba gets to the show, and then maybe you’ll have an argument
Davis is one my favorite players.
Doesn’t matter if he ever gets to the show. Still a great strategy.
If he doesn’t get to the show. and Davis continues to flounder, then it wasn’t much of a strategy at all
IMHO, Davis is just being horribly managed. They need to start him every game. 75% at catcher and 25% at DH. He’s not going to reach his potential as a platoon player. I’d gladly trade Casas straight up for him.
Well that’s been the case with Davis from the start. Bring him up, play with his head about getting time behind the plate. Then sign/trade for two other catchers. Then move him to right without much practice. Then pull the plug and DH him. Then send him down and make promises the following season as spring training begins
Rinse. Repeat
Yeah, I’m betting he’d flourish someplace else. It’s the Pirates Way
Cherington’s not the tight purse strings guy in pittsburgh .. at least minasian has more to work with in anaheim
No, he’s just incompetent. Not only has he assembled the worst player development program in MLB, he consistently misses in his trades.
If you tried to run a franchise into the ground, you couldn’t do a better job than this owner and his front office has done
@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
And what has Minasian done where he’s earned the benefit of the doubt?
Angel fans needs this kind of positivity.
This pick is giving me Sam Bachman vibes all over again. Don’t be surprised to see Bremner in the Angels pen before end of the year.
I can understand your frustration, and I’m not shy about critiquing the Angels FO. But I think drafts need to be viewed in totality. The pirates drafted Davis (bad) so could draft Chandler later.
I’d need to review their entire draft. It’s also why they need to allow trading.
Johnnyn Salwinski, who they signed, is the high upside player you are talking about. But not worth the number one pick.
But worst record in Angel history, 28th ranked farm system.
If Minasian had a history of astute moves, I’d be more optimistic, but he has not earned any sane person’s trust.
Davis was in just about everyone top 5 some had him 1 2 3. Bubba top 20 30. Angels didn’t come anywhere close to those numbers. Maybe they are the smartest in the room and everyone else is wrong. One fan is just happy the 1st round picks made it to the show. I wouldn’t be happy if I was a Angels fan. Even if the end up right was it worth the risk? Sure take a chance picking later but a huge part of having #2 pick is not only getting the most elite talent but the safety that goes along with it.
AL GM. Minasian isn’t the smartest person in the room even when sitting on a toilet.
I couldn’t care less when our number one pick makes the major leagues, is about to go free agent, and has a lifetime fWAR below 10.
Or a with a number one pick, with well over 1000 PAs and an fWAR of 2.1.
I couldn’t care less when our 2021 top ten college player pick has 28 big league innings with zero starts.
They believe this is an accomplishment because they believe the announcers who are fun to listen to, but nothing more than paid PR employees.
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.
Our pitching in the minors looks good. McDougal is a 6’5 hurler, a big righty, 73K in 57 innings this season. Murphy is a 6’5 lefty with a a WHIP around 1.00, has a mean mug, is a competitor, has had excellent K/BB ratios for three seasons in MiLB.
Riley Gowens looks like a good bullpen piece. Wilkelman Gonzalez can’t pitch but has the arm, has potential. Iriarte and Lucas Gordon both are good pitchers, both could have success in MLB.
We have three good prospects on the mend from TJ, Mason Adams, Ky Bush and Drew Thorpe.
That is a list of our depth and doesn’t include our three top prospects: Hagen Smith, Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor .
We released Nick Nastrini and he was swooped up by the Dodgers. That says a lot about our depth on the farm.
But the hitting side is lacking not named 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.
Nope not how it works. Hernandez who I would’ve taken #1 isn’t as close to majors as a guy who pitched in college world series. You think and hope he can be better but right now he isn’t.
A college pitcher has better stuff than he does? Who is it? That doesn’t refute anything I said. lmao.
Anderson. Why Seattle drafted him. If Hernandez was closer to majors they would have drafted him. They know what they are doing with pitching.
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.
Herz could emerge, Susana has had success. Id agree that Gray is a longshot, Nationals bullpen is a real drag.
They either have to spend their way out of it or rebuild for a few years.
Everybody dogs the White Sox but we are in far better shape in my opinion.
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
Expos — Montreal needs a team, Vancouver too. Edmonton. More Canadian teams needed.
2013-2021 the Nats were ranked between 4th and 11th in spending in baseball. After 2021 there has been zero reason for the Nats to spend a ton. However, they’ve proven they are willing to spend to win – and did.
If your argument was they should have re-signed Harper and extended Soto, you have a point. Then again what if they re-signed Rendon? Did we not see the Strasburg contract blow up in their face? As for the SS, guy could become the next SS OR CF OR 2B. Time will tell.
The Nats made a good trade, Wood, Abrahms and Gore have got them some wins.
Nathaniel Lowe is a good player but he gone.
Alex Call has had a good season. They need to give Chapparo some run at third and they need Hassell and Crews to develop.
Susana, Herz and Gray could be three for the rotation behind Gore and Irvin. Bullpen needs to be retooled.
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.
I like the value approach. I wonder if that enhanced the perceived value of Teek and Montgomery?
RS fans have generally been unhappy since 2004. Too many scars for some to recover. But I like Witherspoon. We weren’t going to do any better at that slot.
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.
That makes zero sense and isn’t true
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
Who says Cherington is gone? Who knows what Nutting will do. And maybe Cherington shouldn’t be gone. He drafted the best player in the draft 3 years in a row. If you are Nutting and see your gm drafted the best prospect in baseball with 9th pick. A guy you picked in round 3 is best pitching prospect in baseball. Skenes is a generational talent when many experts had Crews 1 or 1b. As awful as player development and international has been maybe it’s Nutting lack of $ fault. He might be impressed with Cherington and for some things he should be. I think there are better gms than Cherington and the Pirates need better. But they could do worse. They talk over everything big. Cherington wanted to trade Reynolds Bednar and was shut down. Looks like he was on the right said of that. I have no idea how it will go but I wouldn’t right off Cherington for certain.
I wouldn’t write it off either, but more because of what Mackey alluded to: a strange sense of allegiance that Nutting harbors
The great unknown in all of this, from trades to signings, is what parameters Cherington must work under. We will never know just how he’s confined financially. As such, it’s hard to make a judgment about his actions. I suspect he’s been given limits and told to not exceed them
I question Cherington’s competence in terms of how he’s built a player development department. Certainly, he’s aware of the stagnation of players. It’s inexcusable, really
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?
If he was that good at 16 it makes him significantly more valuable to me. What can he be when he’s 18!
Probably not a SS so that hurts in a class loaded with SS. K are concerning but many other prospects haven’t shown the power.
To me this was a draft to go pitching high. If I had to go SS it would’ve been a near certain SS. Really though Washington could have drafted any of a dozen guys and I would have been like ok. Personally I’d went Hernandez who I think is the clear best talent ceiling in draft and as HS pitcher vs college more to work with and less miles.
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.
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
Where’s the rest of it?
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.
Preller keeps looking for his Tarik Skubal. I think he is enamored with Skubal. Bateman is a nice lefty. Schoolcraft is gangly. Padres should have taken Quentin Young.
What GM wouldn’t like to find the next Skoobs? I’ll play your shoulda/coulda/woulda game… in 8 years from now. Cheers bee-dubya!
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.
Just because the media didn’t rank the players highly doesn’t mean that other teams didn’t. Harris has done fine drafting to this point, so maybe give him the benefit of the doubt.
I agree he has done a great job of drafting. The draft ranking for Oliveta was between 59 for Fangraphs and 200 something for MLB. Lots of variety in the opinions. The young SS they drafted looks like a hitter and plays a good SS. They obviously got the players they wanted and that has worked out well so far.
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.
He doesn’t pick the players.
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
Very creative.
The Dodgers get the Arkansas boys and get to continue the Leiter dynasty?
Best draft of the night!
Can we all just wait for jimmers scouts eyes before evaluating lol
WRONG link to Jamie Arnold. He’s not 51 years old!!!! Terrible reporting as usual!!
That could explain him not going #1.
And the Pirates continue to ignore their hitting woes
At least they didn’t draft another middle infielder
Same for CLE. Organization is full of former SS they tried to convert to other positions with mixed results, but the common denominator is none of them can hit worth a damn.
At least DeLauter and Kayfus are close to the big leauges.
The Pirates took Temarr Johnson way back when and he’s barely breaking even at AA. He’s since been surpassed by Nick York and Jared Trillo.
Though to be fair, most of the hittters from the 2022 Draft have struggled
You know why you can never have too much pitching?
In addition to injuries, Pitching prospects are usually the first and last added to a trade for the rental star especially with another year of control after
In short Pitchers are money in baseball
Tate Southisene and Kruz Schoolcraft are probably 1.1. and 1.2 for best 1st round names, but in what order?!?!?
A bit surprised LaViolette dropped so far
Yr ago some said might go #1
Nearly dropped out of 1st rd altogether
A’s won the day!!! Got two steals later than expected
Kudos to the scouts and front office
Maybe they’ll be up in the Majors right when the new ballpark and generate LT fan interest
I think you give a little too much credit to parents and dont so much believe in an individual’s own heart and in their own spirit.
And you label it as narcissitic when it is anything but that.
A baby is born and has tremendous strength to survive.
It will survive with or without its parents if the spirit is strong in many times in spite of its parents. Small babies have destiny, they can be very powerful forces in this world. In most cases they come into being to assist their parents to the end of their own lives not to be taught by them.
24 hours later, and the major takeaway from this comment section is that it’s a surprise the amount of posters saying “why did my team draft X player when my team needs this instead?”
Didn’t you all learn that you don’t draft for need but you draft the best players available? Especially in MLB?
Glad none of you manage sports franchises
oh… so you mean there are OTHER ways to get players….
I get it
[sarcasm alert]