The 2025 Draft noticed 615 picks made throughout 20 rounds over simply two days earlier this week.
As we at MLB Pipeline have taken a while to let the mud settle, some picks proceed to face out greater than others. It might be that a company received the very best expertise at their slot, based mostly on the High 250 rankings. It might be that they received nice worth for the place they have been choosing. We simply would possibly just like the match between participant and farm system too.
Fact be advised, standout choices can come from anyplace within the Draft course of. Listed below are our favourite 2025 picks from every membership, together with 9 from the primary spherical and one as late because the twelfth:
Blue Jays: JoJo Parker, SS (first spherical)Toronto was tied to varsity pitching for a lot of the method, which is sensible given the success of 2024 picks Trey Yesavage and Khal Stephen this summer time, however went with a possible on a regular basis participant at a premium place as an alternative. Parker attracts raves for his easy left-handed swing, and he’s hitting the ball tougher as he matures bodily. Even when he strikes to second or third — and that dialog can be down the highway — the bat might nonetheless make him the most effective picks of the category.
Orioles: Slater de Brun, OF (Spherical CB-A)Phrase on the road was that the Nationals have been hoping to get de Brun with their second-round decide at No. 49 general. The Orioles, with the biggest bonus pool amongst all 30 groups, swooped in and took him at No. 37 general, getting an impressive left-handed swinging bat with extra pop than you’d anticipate from a 5-foot-10 outfielder, simple plus velocity and protection in a Corbin Carroll type of means.
Rays: Brendan Summerhill, OF (Spherical CB-A)Tampa Bay used the forty second general decide to take MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 Draft prospect. The Arizona outfielder faces some questions with regards to chase charges and general energy, however his bat-to-ball abilities, velocity and fielding all grade out as above-average as he enters the Tampa Bay system. The Rays might wish to preserve him in heart over proper, although he has the arm power for both.
Pink Sox: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP (first spherical)The Pink Sox deliberate on concentrating on pitchers however couldn’t have anticipated Witherspoon, the very best faculty right-hander, to fall of their laps at No. 15. The Oklahoma star runs his fastball as much as 99 mph, owns the most effective curveballs within the Draft and his slider and cutter will be plus choices as properly.
Yankees: Dax Kilby, SS (supplemental first spherical)The Yankees had a bunch of highschool hitters they hoped would get to their first decide at No. 39 and estimated they’d no higher than a 50-50 probability at Kilby. The Newnan (Ga.) HS product was one of many extra polished prep bats within the Draft, utilizing a mature method and fast, compact left-handed swing to make repeated contact from hole to hole.
Guardians: Jace LaViolette, OF (first spherical)LaViolette entered 2025 because the potential first decide within the Draft and wound up because the final alternative within the first spherical, a pleasant worth play for the Guardians. Despite the fact that he batted simply .258 with a 25.2 % strikeout price as a junior, he nonetheless gives a formidable mixture of uncooked energy, physicality and athleticism and set a Texas A&M profession document with 68 homers and 169 walks.
Royals: Josh Hammond, SS/3B (PPI)Utilizing the decide it acquired for Bobby Witt Jr.’s high three AL MVP end final yr, Kansas Metropolis went with Hammond, a North Carolina prep infielder with plus uncooked energy. The Royals identified that Hammond can be more and more displaying he can hit towards a number of pitch varieties, and his swing choices might get even higher as he strikes away from pitching within the execs. Introduced as a shortstop, Hammond may be a greater future match at third base, the place his rocket of an arm can be an asset.
Tigers: River Hamilton, RHP (eleventh spherical)Previously, golf equipment had an evening to determine how a lot cash they might use in Rounds 11-20, when solely the overage on bonuses above $150,000 rely towards the pool. This yr, they’d an hour break. Detroit appears to consider it will probably discover house for Hamilton, the 99th-ranked participant on MLB Pipeline’s High 250. The Oregon prep right-hander, who has an LSU dedication, is projectable at 6-foot-3, is already as much as the mid-90s along with his fastball and reveals the makings of a strong slider and changeup.
Twins: Matt Barr, RHP (fifth spherical)The Twins have an excellent historical past of discovering huge league arms within the later rounds of the Draft — Zebby Matthews (eighth spherical), Bailey Ober (twelfth spherical), David Festa (thirteenth spherical) — and Barr has as a lot upside as any of these latest examples. The 6-foot-6 junior faculty product is just 19 years outdated and throws all the things with a ton of spin, from a full of life fastball as much as 97 mph to 2 distinct breaking pitches with elite-level spin charges, all coming from a unfastened and athletic supply.
White Sox: Jaden Fauske, OF (second spherical)It is no secret that the White Sox wish to draft gamers who hung out with their Space Codes Recreation staff, they usually grabbed one other one in Fauske, who drew supplemental first-round curiosity from a number of golf equipment. Gatorade’s Illinois Excessive Faculty Participant of the 12 months after starring at Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park), he is a sophisticated hitter with a easy left-handed stroke, a disciplined method and strong velocity.
Angels: Talon Haley, LHP (twelfth spherical)The Angels love discovering a highschool arm after the tenth spherical and signing him, having performed so with Caden Dana and Trey Gregory-Alford in latest drafts. Haley is a straightforward one to root for, having overcome each Tommy John surgical procedure earlier than highschool (he realized to throw right-handed so he might play whereas rehabbing!) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He performed by chemo and radiation remedies, however then tore his UCL once more, needing inside brace surgical procedure. But it surely’s not only a really feel good story of resilience — he can get his fastball as much as 97 mph and has a hammer of a curve, a strong slider and a few really feel for a changeup.
Astros: Ethan Frey, OF (third spherical)Frey performed an integral position in Louisiana State’s Males’s School World Collection championship, posting the very best batting line (.331/.420/.641) on the staff and delivering a number of clutch hits. He is bodily imposing at 6-foot-6 and 225 kilos and patiently waits for pitches that he can drive within the air. He spent a lot of his faculty profession at DH, partly as a result of he tore the labrum in his proper shoulder in 2024, however he is athlete with strong velocity who was a dual-threat quarterback in highschool.
A’s: Devin Taylor, OF (second spherical)After being thrilled that Jamie Arnold was there for them at No. 11 general within the first spherical, the A’s had one other terrific faculty performer fall of their laps within the second. Taylor has performed nothing however rake, with the prospect to be a plus hitter with plus energy on the subsequent degree. He’s probably restricted to left area, however who cares with that offensive profile.
Mariners: Kade Anderson, LHP (first spherical)Main as much as the Draft, all the “intel” we have been getting is that if Anderson one way or the other received to the Mariners at No. 3, they’d be ecstatic, however it appeared unlikely to occur. Besides that it did. It shouldn’t take lengthy for Anderson to affix that very strong Mariners huge league rotation.
Rangers: A.J. Russell, RHP (second spherical)If Russell had been absolutely wholesome this spring, he virtually definitely would have gone within the high half of the primary spherical. However he had shoulder and elbow points in 2024, resulting in inside brace surgical procedure that June, and labored simply 25 1/3 innings this spring at Tennessee. At his greatest, Russell has a 92-94 mph fastball that reaches 98 and will have the very best heater metrics within the Draft, and a low-80s sweeper that grades as a plus providing.
Braves: Briggs McKenzie, LHP (fourth spherical)After drafting bats (one highschool, two faculty) with their first three picks, the Braves might have struck gold within the fourth spherical with McKenzie, a North Carolina prep lefty who offers off MacKenzie Gore vibes, and never simply due to his final identify. It’s the texture to spin a curve that attracts the comp, even when McKenzie didn’t have the identical velocity leap Gore did in highschool. There might be extra within the tank for this McKenzie, so the side-by-side might change into much more correct.
Marlins: Cam Cannarella, OF (supplemental first spherical)Cannarella seemed like a slam-dunk High 10 decide as a Clemson freshman earlier than being hampered by a torn labrum in his proper shoulder and the after results of surgical procedure the subsequent two seasons, so this might be a steal. He nonetheless showcased among the greatest hitting skill and center-field protection within the faculty ranks, and he has the plus velocity to steal bases regardless of not operating a lot the final two years.
Mets: Peyton Prescott, RHP (fifth spherical)A Draft-eligible sophomore, Prescott moved from Jacksonville to Florida State and struck out 46 in 36 2/3 innings out of the Seminoles’ bullpen. He confirmed a triple-digit heater and received whiffs on a mid-80s slider, however he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure after injuring his elbow in Tremendous Regional play. The stuff is sweet although, and if he can get again to displaying it after rehabbing with the Mets, he has upside as a high-leverage aid arm.
Nationals: Landon Harmon, RHP (third spherical)Washington discovered gold within the third spherical with Travis Sykora in 2023. It went again to the properly to take an enormous, right-handed prep arm who will probably have to signal for above slot right here in ‘25. Ranked No. 48 in MLB Pipeline’s High 250, the 6-foot-5 Harmon earns borderline plus-plus grades for his 93-96 mph fastball due to its flat method angle. He can manipulate his slider from a sweeper to a cutter look too, and would possibly he simply have to discover a constant changeup to take off within the Washington pipeline.
Phillies: Matthew Fisher, RHP (seventh spherical)The Phillies went exhausting after pitching, with 9 of their 10 picks within the bonus pool vary (high 10 rounds) being arms. Just one got here from the highschool ranks and that was Fisher, a super-projectable and athletic right-hander who was additionally his highschool quarterback. We consistently level out that if gamers are drafted within the high 10 rounds, they’re 99.9 % sure to signal, however it’s not widespread to see an over-slot highschool participant at this stage in a Draft.
Brewers: Daniel Dickinson, 2B/SS (sixth spherical)Dickinson was a two-year standout at Utah Valley, made the U.S. collegiate nationwide staff, transferred to LSU and helped the Tigers win the Males’s School World Collection final month. That whirlwind profession has been pushed by the right-handed hitter’s innate hand-eye coordination, and whereas he faces loads of questions on his pop (particularly with wooden bats), Dickinson might make a leap with Brewers hitting instructors that routinely get probably the most out of younger bats. Introduced as a shortstop, he’s a greater match at second base as a consequence of common arm power.
Cardinals: Liam Doyle, LHP (first spherical)With the fifth general decide, the Cardinals received probably the most explosive pitcher on this yr’s class. Doyle’s fastball picked up some velo into the mid-90s (touching 100) this spring, and the perform of a excessive arm slot makes it play up much more. The Tennessee star has three extra above-average choices in his slider, cutter and splitter too, and whereas some surprise how he can maintain his high-octane type over a full professional season, his stuff could also be so good that he’ll should be challenged with fast strikes up the chain towards St. Louis.
Cubs: Ethan Conrad, OF (first spherical)Although Conrad performed simply 21 video games at Wake Forest this spring earlier than injuring his left shoulder diving for a ball in March and having season-ending surgical procedure, his abilities have been obvious. He starred at Marist and within the Cape Cod League in 2024, and he continued to make exhausting contact whereas showcasing strong velocity and enjoying a succesful heart area.
Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP (first spherical)For the second yr in a row, the Pirates had the prospect to take a highschool participant who might find yourself being the very best participant within the Draft. Final yr, issues about his hit instrument allowed Konnor Griffin to get to them at No. 9, and we’ve seen how that’s turned out. This yr, they didn’t cross on the prospect to take by far the very best highschool pitcher within the class in Hernandez, whose polish and pure stuff might permit him to maneuver sooner than most prep arms.
Reds: Mason Neville, OF (fourth spherical)We have been stunned that Neville, who tied for the NCAA Division I lead in dwelling runs (26) this spring, lasted till the fourth spherical, and it sounds just like the Reds have been, too. Sure, there are some swing/miss and platoon break up issues, however the energy is legit and he has the prospect to play heart area, so this might be a steal within the fourth.
D-backs: Dean Livingston, RHP (fourth spherical)This one’s all about projection. Livingston didn’t be part of his Georgia highschool rotation till this spring, so he nonetheless has loads of expertise to select up within the Arizona system. Scouts have been already projecting that the 6-foot-4 righty might some day hit triple-digits provided that he already touches 96. His changeup is forward of his slider and curveball, and the D-backs might want him to concentrate on one breaking ball early in his profession. That mixture of dimension, present velocity and anticipated enhancements isn’t usually obtainable within the fourth.
Dodgers: Cam Leiter, RHP (second spherical)Leiter made solely seven begins at Florida State in 2024 earlier than coming down with shoulder issues that value him all of this season, although he did throw a bullpen exercise for golf equipment shortly earlier than the Draft. He would have been a straightforward first-round decide with out well being points, and he is the kind of gamble a wildly profitable group just like the Dodgers can afford to take. His fastball sits at 95 mph and touches 98 whereas exploding on hitters, his upper-80s slider generally is a wipeout pitch and he reveals really feel for a curveball and changeup as properly.
Giants: Cameron Maldonado, OF (seventh spherical)Maldonado slashed .351/.467/.631 with 15 homers and 29 steals whereas displaying an attention-grabbing mixture of instruments at Northeastern this spring. He does include some swing-and-miss issues that knocked him right down to the seventh spherical, however he is additionally a middle fielder with plus uncooked energy and velocity who set a Huskies document with 86 profession steals.
Padres: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP (first spherical)San Diego solely has $6,569,100 in its pool this yr, the third-lowest of any group, and will have been forgiven for not taking an enormous swing at No. 25 general with a purpose to unfold out that pool. As an alternative, they went huge on Schoolcraft, who might find yourself being probably the most proficient arms in the entire class. Standing 6-foot-8, the southpaw has three above-average pitches in his fastball, slider and changeup, and he might take off now that he’s set to be a full-time pitcher. It’s the ninth straight yr the Padres have gone the highschool route within the first spherical.
Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS (first spherical)It’s a trigger for celebration when you will get the participant most felt was the very best expertise within the class, particularly once you weren’t positive he’d get there, as he was in very sturdy competition to go No. 1 general. Whether or not he finally ends up at brief or strikes to 3rd, it doesn’t actually matter as a result of his bat has the prospect to be very particular.
