The 2025 Draft has captured the attention of baseball enthusiasts, with the MLB Pipeline Podcast team reporting live from Chase Field during the Draft Combine. As top prospects strive to improve their draft positions, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo have collaborated on a mock draft predicting how the first round may unfold. This projection is based on insights gathered less than a month before the big night.
The MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 200 list offers comprehensive scouting reports, grades, and videos for all players mentioned in this mock draft. After the Combine concludes this week, these rankings will be updated and expanded to include the Top 250 prospects.
In their predictions for Round 1, Callis and Mayo suggest that Ethan Holliday could be picked first by the Nationals. “He’s been No. 1 on our Draft list for some time now,” they note, indicating his strong potential to secure this position.
For the Angels at pick two, Kade Anderson is a leading candidate if Holliday is not available. “If it isn’t Holliday,” they say, “Anderson has the best chance at going No. 1.”
Aiva Arquette is projected as a top choice for the Mariners with their third pick due to his standing among college bats: “Arquette has separated himself among the college bats as one who really fits in the top five picks or so.”
Jamie Arnold may appeal to the Rockies at fourth place as a polished college pitcher: “The Rockies can get a really polished college pitcher who maybe doesn’t have Seth Hernandez’s incredible ceiling but still has a really high ceiling and a really high floor.”
As we approach pick five with Eli Willits potentially joining the Cardinals, Callis and Mayo highlight: “It’ll come down to which high school shortstop they like best or a college arm.”
Seth Hernandez might attract interest from teams such as Pirates at sixth due to his high ceiling: “By that logic, they take the player with highest ceiling in this year’s Draft.”
Billy Carlson could be chosen by Marlins next since he represents another promising option among high school shortstops after Willits’ selection.
Additional notable mentions within remaining projections include Liam Doyle (Blue Jays), Kyson Witherspoon (Reds), JoJo Parker (White Sox), Gavin Kilen (Athletics), Daniel Pierce (Rangers), Kayson Cunningham (Giants) Steele Hall (Rays), Ike Irish (Red Sox) Brendan Summerhill(Twins) Wehiwa Aloy(Cubs) Marek Houston(Diamondbacks) Gavin Fien(Orioles).
Further selections feature Jace LaViolette(Brewers) Xavier Neyens(Astros) Gage Wood(Braves) Kruz Schoolcraft(Royals) Slater de Brun(Tigers).
Finally rounding out first round are Josh Hammond(Padres); Tyler Bremner(Phillies); Andrew Fischer(Guardians).
Listeners can stay informed about ongoing developments by tuning into weekly episodes hosted via MLB Pipeline Podcast featuring detailed analyses provided through expert perspectives offered exclusively by hosts Callis & Mayo accessible across popular platforms including iTunes along others while also engaging audience participation encouraging reviews contributing toward broader discoverability fostering community engagement amid vibrant dialogue surrounding future stars shaping tomorrow’s major league landscape today!
