{"id":59685,"date":"2025-07-12T13:37:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T13:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/59685\/"},"modified":"2025-07-12T13:37:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T13:37:16","slug":"final-mlb-mock-draft-2025-kade-anderson-still-at-1-where-will-ethan-holliday-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/59685\/","title":{"rendered":"Final MLB Mock Draft 2025: Kade Anderson still at 1; where will Ethan Holliday land?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is my \u201cfinal\u201d draft mock for 2025, with the scare quotes there because I\u2019ll update this over the next 24 hours if I hear anything relevant to any of these picks.<\/p>\n

The true first round is 27 picks, but in this mock I go down through pick 30 as I\u2019ve heard a few more rumors on the teams drafting in the compensation round. As always, I draw on what I hear from industry sources and my own understanding of what certain teams value in the draft to assemble this projection. My own opinions and evaluations of players do not factor into it. Where I\u2019m truly just speculating, I note it.<\/p>\n

For full scouting reports on these players, check out my Big Board<\/a>, ranking the top 100 players in the draft class.<\/p>\n

Player Type Pitcher Position Player<\/p>\n

School Type 4-Year College High School<\/p>\n

Position 3B C LHP OF RHP SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Loading<\/p>\n

Try changing or resetting your filters to see more.<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: LSU<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I\u2019m leaving Anderson here, because ultimately I think the Nats will pick the player with the best balance of probability and upside, but I have heard that Eli Willits is much more in the mix at pick 1 than I\u2019d thought before \u2014 and that several other teams have Willits at No. 1 in their draft models, probably because he\u2019s the youngest player in the class. If it\u2019s not either of those two, I think it\u2019ll be Aiva Arquette. Ethan Holliday doesn\u2019t seem as likely today.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Corona HS (Calif.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I believe it\u2019s Hernandez, Liam Doyle or Kade Anderson here, with an outside chance it\u2019s Jamie Arnold. Everyone seems to think the Angels are taking a pitcher, although I heard they met with Eli Willits again in the past few days.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Oregon State<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

My sense is that Arquette is second on Seattle\u2019s board, after Kade Anderson. I don\u2019t think they\u2019d take Liam Doyle. If Arquette and Anderson are gone, they could go Eli Willits, or maybe try to do a deal with someone further down, possibly with a college guy like Ike Irish.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Stillwater HS (Okla.)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

The rumor has been that the Rockies would even consider going over slot to get Holliday, which I understand since I have him as the top prospect in the class. If he\u2019s not here, I believe they\u2019d go college pitching \u2014 Kade Anderson, Liam Doyle or Jamie Arnold.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)<\/b>, Bats: B, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I\u2019m assuming Kade Anderson and Ethan Holliday are gone here no matter what, in which case my guess is they take Willits over Kyson Witherspoon.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Tennessee<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard recently that the Pirates are more inclined to go college than high school. That could mean Doyle, Jamie Arnold or Ike Irish. If Seth Hernandez gets here, the Pirates are a possibility.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Corona HS (Calif.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

The Marlins are one of the only teams in the top 10 I\u2019ve heard primarily on high schoolers all spring, mostly the shortstop group with Eli Willits, Carlson and JoJo Parker, along with right-hander Seth Hernandez.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Purvis HS (Miss.)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

It\u2019s shortstops or college pitching here. I believe they\u2019d take Liam Doyle or Kyson Witherspoon but not Jamie Arnold. I\u2019ve had them with Billy Carlson in previous mocks and still think they\u2019d do that, and I believe the Jays are Eli Willits\u2019 absolute floor.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Auburn<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

The Reds are the opportunists of the top 10 \u2014 as far as I can tell they\u2019re the most flexible and are looking to see who might fall to them. I don\u2019t have them limited to any player type, although I haven\u2019t heard them on any high school arms (even Seth Hernandez, but maybe they just think he\u2019s long gone by pick nine).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

C<\/p>\n

OF<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Florida State<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the White Sox on Arnold, Liam Doyle, Steele Hall, Kruz Schoolcraft and JoJo Parker. I worry that the Arnold\/Doyle rumors are just because everyone assumes the White Sox will take any good lefty with a funky delivery.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Hewitt-Trussville HS (Ala.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

Hall to the Athletics seems likely at this point \u2014 Hall is going in this range and he\u2019s on the A’s short list. I\u2019ve also heard the A’s several times with Tyler Bremner, and more recently with Luke Stevenson. They have also been connected with Wehiwa Aloy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Johnson HS (San Antonio, Texas)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I think the Rangers are JoJo Parker\u2019s floor, or maybe Steele Hall\u2019s floor, but they can\u2019t be both because they have only one floor to give. I\u2019ve also heard them with Daniel Pierce, so it seems like they\u2019re on the high school shortstop train.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: UC Santa Barbara<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had the Giants with Bremner in almost every mock, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s some mortal lock that they take him \u2014 it\u2019s just the most plausible scenario here almost no matter what I do ahead of them. This is also the area of the draft where the second tier of college bats \u2014 Gavin Kilen, Marek Houston and perhaps Jace LaViolette \u2014 comes into play.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Tennessee<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

This is more based on my understanding of the Rays\u2019 draft model than specific rumors; the only firm thing I\u2019ve heard is that the Rays are much more likely to go college than high school. I\u2019ve heard the Rays with Cooper Flemming a few times, but that could be for pick 42. I know they\u2019re interested in JoJo Parker, who I don\u2019t think has any chance to get here.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

2B<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Arkansas<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think the Red Sox are anti-pitching \u2014 like some teams \u2014 but with their first pick they appear more likely to go hitter than pitcher, and more likely to go college than high school. I wonder if they\u2019d consider high schooler Gavin Fien, however, since his batted-ball data was among the best from the showcases last year. (I mean, I\u2019d take him here, but it\u2019s not my pick.)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Oklahoma<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

Witherspoon could go anywhere from No. 5 to the late teens, which isn\u2019t a reflection on his ability but on the broad disagreements scouts and teams have on how to rank players beyond the top three or four. I\u2019ve heard the Twins on several of the main high school shortstops, including Daniel Pierce, and I would imagine (without specific intel) that they\u2019d be on Marek Houston.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Mill Creek HS (Hoschton, Ga.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

This pick is going to be whoever the draft model selects \u2014 although, to be fair to the model\u2019s feelings, its past few first-round picks all look pretty good right now. I think this run from 15-19 or so has teams on very similar players, primarily hitters with excellent batted-ball characteristics and good swings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Coastal Carolina<\/b>, Bats: B, Throws: R<\/p>\n

Bodine could also be their target at pick 29, which they received for losing Christian Walker in free agency. I\u2019ve heard them with Slater de Brun and Kayson Cunningham as well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

C<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Mount Vernon HS (Wash.)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

The Orioles traded for an extra pick on Thursday, giving them the largest bonus pool and four of the top 37 selections. There\u2019s been a ton of speculation on who they might be trying to \u201cbuy down,\u201d or if they\u2019re trying to sign someone seen as unsignable (Alec Blair? Sean Gamble?). I could see them trying to get three players they considered at 19 \u2014 so maybe Neyens, Jace LaViolette and one of a handful of others I’ll talk about at pick 30, promising one of them a first-round bonus if they get to picks 30-31.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

3B<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Great Oak HS (Temecula, Calif.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

More of a best-player-available guess here than any specific intel. The Brewers do typically value players with strong batted-ball data, but not always. They had one of the two most surprising picks in the first round last year when they took the young Texas high school outfielder Braylon Payne; if they were to go that route, that could mean Quentin Young or Jaden Fauske, but I\u2019m just spitballing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Texas A&M<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I believe the Astros will take a college hitter here, which, if true, would mean LaViolette, Marek Houston, or maybe Charles Davalan or Mason Neville. I haven\u2019t heard them with any of the college catchers (Caden Bodine, Luke Stevenson).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

OF<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Wake Forest<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also heard them with Gage Wood a few times, but I don\u2019t know if Wood is going in the first round given the shoulder injury that cost him about six weeks earlier this spring.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Sunset HS (Portland, Ore.)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve written previously that the Royals are Steele Hall\u2019s floor, and I think Schoolcraft may be their top choice. They pick again at 28 and could try to float someone down a few picks and go under slot here, maybe for one of the next tier of college arms.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

It would make sense for the Tigers to change gears and take a college player \u2014 Riley Quick? \u2014 who\u2019ll help the big-league club sooner, now that they\u2019re contending again, but Mark Conner has thrived when he\u2019s used high picks on high-ceiling prep players. I threw Sean Gamble\u2019s name out there in the last mock for similar reasons.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

SS<\/p>\n

3B<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Arkansas<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

If Kruz Schoolcraft got here, I think they\u2019d take him, but if they\u2019re on another high school arm for this pick (Angel Cervantes?) I’m not aware of it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Arkansas<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

If any team would just say \u201cscrew it\u201d and take Wood despite the medicals, it\u2019s probably the Phillies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Arkansas<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I speculated on Anthony Eyanson going here in my last mock, and that remains plausible. I have to think Gavin Fien stops here in the unlikely event he falls that far.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

4-Year College<\/p>\n

OF<\/p>\n

2B<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Tulane<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the Royals like Lombardi, who definitely fits some of the things they like in players (especially as a very athletic, two-way guy), and I don\u2019t think he gets to their next pick at 61.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Summit HS (Bend, Ore.)<\/b>, Bats: L, Throws: L<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also heard the Diamondbacks with Ryan Mitchell here.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

OF<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Player Profile<\/p>\n

School: Oaks Christian School (Westlake Village, Calif.)<\/b>, Bats: R, Throws: R<\/p>\n

The Orioles pick at 30 and 31, then again at 37. They have enough money to pay pretty much anyone they want in the draft. Young, Alec Blair, Jaden Fauske, Ethan Conrad (who was heading for the first round before shoulder surgery), even Uli Fernsler could all be in play if they want, although I have only had people link the Orioles to the first two. Conrad just makes too much sense. Maybe Cam Cannarella should be in this list, for similar reasons (he didn\u2019t look like himself all spring after shoulder surgery).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Position Player<\/p>\n

High School<\/p>\n

3B<\/p>\n

OF<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One additional note<\/strong> \u2014 I have heard the Los Angeles Dodgers particularly want Louisville right-hander Patrick Forbes, if he should get to their picks at 40-41.<\/p>\n

(Photo Illustration: Demetrius Robinson \/ The Athletic; Photos: Mike Janes, Danny Parker \/ Four Seam Images via Associated Press)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is my \u201cfinal\u201d draft mock for 2025, with the scare quotes there because I\u2019ll update this over…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":59686,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1279,1280,1276,1281,1271,1274,5048,1282,1283,1885,2382,1284,1285,2502,1286,4247,1287,1266,1305,2228,5055,2083,1886,1306,1275,1288,62,3692,1289,1278,1290,67,132,68,1291],"class_list":{"0":"post-59685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","9":"tag-atlanta-braves","10":"tag-baltimore-orioles","11":"tag-boston-red-sox","12":"tag-chicago-cubs","13":"tag-chicago-white-sox","14":"tag-cincinnati-reds","15":"tag-cleveland-guardians","16":"tag-colorado-rockies","17":"tag-detroit-tigers","18":"tag-houston-astros","19":"tag-kansas-city-royals","20":"tag-los-angeles-angels","21":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","22":"tag-miami-marlins","23":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","24":"tag-minnesota-twins","25":"tag-mlb","26":"tag-new-york-mets","27":"tag-new-york-yankees","28":"tag-oakland-athletics","29":"tag-philadelphia-phillies","30":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","31":"tag-san-diego-padres","32":"tag-san-francisco-giants","33":"tag-seattle-mariners","34":"tag-sports","35":"tag-st-louis-cardinals","36":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","37":"tag-texas-rangers","38":"tag-toronto-blue-jays","39":"tag-united-states","40":"tag-unitedstates","41":"tag-us","42":"tag-washington-nationals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}