The 2025 MLB Draft is just a couple of weeks away, set to begin on Sunday, July 13. This year marks the third iteration of Major League Baseball’s draft lottery system, which has introduced a more complex allocation of picks compared to the previous format where the draft order was determined strictly by the previous season’s standings.
In last year’s lottery, the Washington Nationals, despite finishing with one of the worst records at 71-91, were awarded the first overall pick, marking the third time in franchise history they have this selection. Previous top picks for the franchise include Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, both of whom became significant contributors to their respective teams.
The Seattle Mariners also saw a boost, moving from the No. 17 pick to No. 3 in the lottery, which is their highest selection since 2012. In contrast, the Chicago White Sox, who had the No. 5 pick last year, fell back to No. 10 due to their placement in the lottery, as teams contributing to revenue sharing cannot receive consecutive lottery selections.
Each franchise has a designated bonus pool for draft spending, which serves as a cap and is based on the picks they hold. If a team signs a player for less than their allocated slot value, they can allocate those savings to another player.
As the draft approaches, the focus shifts to potential first-round selections, beginning with the Nationals likely taking left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson from LSU. While there are other strong candidates including Ethan Holliday and Jamie Arnold, Anderson’s recent performance in the College World Series has solidified his status as a top prospect.
The draft landscape shows a strong focus on college pitchers in the early selections, a trend highlighted by the teams’ selections in mock drafts leading up to the event.
Here’s a summary of projected first-round picks:
1. Nationals – Kade Anderson, LSU
2. Angels – Liam Doyle, Tennessee
3. Mariners – Jamie Arnold, Florida State
4. Rockies – Ethan Holliday, Stillwater HS
5. Cardinals – Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS
Notably, the draft will also see teams such as the Braves, Twins, and Cubs looking to fill positions with promising talent, showing a mix of interests between high school prospects and college players.
With the recent changes and the excitement surrounding the draft lottery, this year’s event promises to deliver intrigue and potential disappointments for teams navigating player selections amidst strategic considerations. There is a sense of optimism for fans as their teams vie to secure the talented youth who could shape the future of Major League Baseball.