Mock Draft MLB 2025: Analysis and predictions of the 30 teams

2025 MLB Draft Mock: Predictions and Key Moves

The 2025 MLB Draft is approaching, with the first round scheduled for July 13th in Atlanta. Instead of focusing on who we think the teams will select, at Alofoke Deportes we decided to innovate. We asked our experts to take on the role of general managers and make the selections that, in their opinion, the 30 teams should make in the first rounds. To add excitement, we allow our “GMs” to trade draft picks at any time. Who was the first to surprise? Which MLB stars were traded in our simulation? Here’s how the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft would unfold if we were in charge.

2025 MLB Draft First Round Selections

1. Washington Nationals

Selection: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU

There’s a very competitive group at the top of this year’s class, without a clear prospect. I offered the number 1 selection to the Mariners for picks 3 and 35, but they turned me down. I’ll stick with Anderson, who combines potential and proximity to the Major Leagues. His projection fits that of the Nationals.
GM McDaniel

2. Los Angeles Angels

Selection: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee

The Angels prefer college players who progress quickly. Doyle, with his high-velocity and spin fastball, could quickly ascend to the Los Angeles rotation.
GM Passan

3. Seattle Mariners

Selection: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

With Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo two years away from free agency, a fast-progressing arm makes sense for the Mariners. Arnold, with his 98 mph fastball and a devastating slider, fits perfectly.
GM Passan

4. Colorado Rockies

Selection: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS (OK)

An athlete with batting power named Holliday in a Rockies uniform is perfect. Ethan, unlike his older brother, has more potential to stay in the infield. With the Rockies far from competing, they can focus on players with long-term projections.
GM Passan

GM McDaniel offered picks 14, 37 and 86 to move up, but Passan rejected the offers.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

Selection: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (MS)

The Cardinals haven’t picked this high since 1998. Parker has excellent hitting potential and could play third base, forming a promising infield.
GM Schoenfield

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Selection: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State

With Paul Skenes’s control time in countdown, the Pirates need a college player who can progress quickly. Arquette, with his 25-home run potential, could play shortstop or third base.
GM Schoenfield

7. Miami Marlins

Selection: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (OK)

I was waiting for Willits. When Arquette went in the sixth spot, I got my man. If Willits had been selected earlier, I would have focused on a pitcher.
GM McDaniel

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Selection: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (CA)

We got our player! Hernandez is the last player in the first tier. The Jays are one of the few teams that would select a high school pitcher in the top 10.
GM McDaniel

GM Passan offered Eugenio Suarez, Shelby Miller and the 25th pick to move up, but it was rejected.

9. Cincinnati Reds

Selection: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

The Reds tried the same deal as the Blue Jays, but the Diamondbacks had their eyes on Hernandez. The Reds select Witherspoon after the success with Chase Burns.
GM Schoenfield

10. Chicago White Sox

Selection: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (CA) Colson Montgomery has not performed in Triple-A. Carlson presents the best combination of defense and offensive potential. He has an 80-grade arm and power at the plate.

Exchange Alert!

11. Tampa Bay Rays (via trade with Athletics)

Selection: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)

I gave the A’s pick 86 to move up. Hall is a 70-grade runner who has a good feel for lifting the ball, similar to Trea Turner.
GM McDaniel

GM Passan got $250,000 in bonus money.

12. Texas Rangers

Selection: Ike Irish, RF/C, Auburn

The Rangers need fast-progressing bats. Irish is coming off the best offensive season of any college hitter eligible for the draft.
GM Passan

13. San Francisco Giants

Selection: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona

Summerhill looks good and his offensive game backs it up. Although he can play in center field, he fits better in right field, where the Giants need a long-term solution.
GM Passan

Exchange Alert!

14. Athletics (via exchange with Rays)

Selection: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas

I got the same player I would have selected at pick 11. Wood has the combination of talent and control that can take a player to the Major Leagues.
GM Passan

15. Boston Red Sox

Selection: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (CA) After taking Hall for the Rays, Fien was one of the best options. The Red Sox is a team interested in him. He has the same tools and showed great performance in the draft combine.

16. Minnesota Twins

Selection: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

The Twins have Carlos Correa. Houston provides too much potential value. He could be the best defensive shortstop in the draft.
GM Schoenfield

Exchange Alert!

17. Cleveland Guardians (via trade with Cubs)

Selection: Gavin Kilen, SS/2B, Tennessee The Cubs trade this pick, outfielder Kevin Alcantara and reliever Luke Little to Cleveland for closer Emmanuel Clase and Cleveland’s third-round pick. The Guardians add Kilen, who hit .357 with 15 home runs.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

Selection: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UCSB

Before the college season, Bremner and Arnold were the favorites for the No. 1 selection. Bremner had 111 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 5 home runs allowed in 77⅔ innings. His changeup could be the best in the entire draft.
GM Passan

19. Baltimore Orioles

Selection: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas

The Golden Spikes Award winner lasts until number 19 and fits the Orioles’ style of taking center fielders with a lot of power. The combination of 25 home run potential is too tempting to pass up.
GM McDaniel

20. Milwaukee Brewers

Selection: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (Wash.) The Brewers have shown a propensity for developing pitchers. In Neyens, they get a different type of prospect: a left-handed third baseman with perhaps as much raw power as any player in this draft.

21. Houston Astros

Selection: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

This is the point in the draft where good teams happily use their first-round pick as a lottery ticket. LaViolette has great raw power and a very good eye, but his batting average alarmed enough teams.
GM Passan

22. Atlanta Braves

Selection: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (GA)

Pierce could reach as high as the top 10. Pierce can hit, run, field, and throw, but he will need some adjustments to his swing. He has the potential to become a starting shortstop.
GM McDaniel

23. Kansas City Royals

Selection: Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest

Shouldn’t one choose out of necessity? The Royals need help in the gardens. Conrad underwent shoulder surgery that ended the season.
GM Schoenfield

24. Detroit Tigers

Selection: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

The Tigers have tremendous organizational depth. Taylor hit .374/.494/.706 with 18 home runs. He’s limited to the outfield, but possesses speed and power at the plate.
GM Schoenfield

25. San Diego Padres

Selection: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (TX)

Cunningham has one of the best hitting tools in the draft. He can run and his offensive profile compensates for the lack of physique.
GM Passan

26. Philadelphia Phillies

Selection: Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian HS (NC)

Hammond has a power projection of grade 70, a clear infield adjustment, and stellar summer performance. He looks like Josh Donaldson and fits the Phillies’ story.
GM McDaniel

27. Cleveland Guardians

Selection: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina

Stevenson has hitting and receiving tools, including a plus arm, but had a disappointing season, batting .254 with 19 home runs. The strikeout rate is a concern, but a left-handed catcher with power could be a good late-round pick.
GM Schoenfield

28. Kansas City Royals

Selection: Sean Gamble, 2B/CF, IMG Academy (FL) The Royals have shown little systematic preference in their recent history. Gamble has excellent speed and a good left-handed hit. Some scouts see him as an above-average second baseman, but he also played in center field.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks

Selection: Slater de Brun, CF, Summit High (OR)

Arizona isn’t afraid to spend high picks on small-sized players. De Brun is a speedster who can also do damage in the batting box.
GM Passan

30. Baltimore Orioles

Selection: Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Bodine and Luke Stevenson are seen as the two possible first-round receivers. He stands out for his contact skills, although scouts fear he is not a great defender and does not have outstanding power. Grabbing Bodine here is good value.
GM McDaniel

31. Baltimore Orioles

Selection: Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (GA)

Kilby had a great combined training and is in play in several places. He’s probably not a long-term shortstop, but he’s developing the power that many projected a year ago.
GM McDaniel

32. Milwaukee Brewers

Selection: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS (OR)

Schoolcraft is a definite first-round name. He’s 6-foot-8 and hits 97 mph with his fastball, and he already does a good job of repeating his delivery.
GM Schoenfield

33. Boston Red Sox

Selection: Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee

Fischer, for some teams, is like Ike Irish with less defensive value. Both are power and patience players who bat left-handed.
GM McDaniel

34. Detroit Tigers

Selection: Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas

Root is another Razorbacks lefty who could go reasonably high. His curve and changeup are his best pitches, and while he wasn’t as dominant as Smith, he struck out 126 batters in 99 innings.
GM Schoenfield

Exchange Alert!