MOCK DRAFT - Sportsnaut - THe First 28 Picks

 

2-26-25 –

MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB Draft

1. Washington Nationals: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

The Washington Nationals can go in a variety of directions with the first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, with no clear-cut top prospect right now. Infielder Ethan Holiday, out of Stillwater High School offers tantalizing potential and could add an outstanding left-handed bat to the future Nationals lineup. However, we take things in a different direction. 

Jace LaViolette offers a faster timeline to the big leagues and he might be the best hitter in the class. He boasts 70-grade power on the 20-80 scouting scale with above-average athleticism, especially for his size (6-foor-6). Already 21 years old, LaViolette could be part of the Nationals lineup in 2027.

Jace LaViolette stats (2024): .305/.449/.726, 1.175 OPS, 29 home runs, 81-64 K-BB ratio

 

2. Los Angeles Angels: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

If the Los Angeles Angels wanted to make the long-term play, Ethan Holiday is absolutely worth the second overall pick. However, the franchise continues to be emphasizing moves that could help the club win as soon as possible with Mike Trout still on the team. 

Florida State’s ace Jamie Arnold already offers two premium pitches (fastball and slider) with a changeup that could add a third above-average pitch to his repertoire. The 6-foot-1 southpaw posted a 13.5 K/9 this past season with a 6.12 K/BB ratio, with just a .200 batting average allowed. The 21-year-old offers an accelerated timeline to the majors and could develop into a No. 1 starter in the Angels rotation when he enters his prime years.

Jamie Arnold stats (2024): 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 90 hits allowed, 159-26 K-BB in 105.2 innings

 

3. Seattle Mariners: Ethan Holliday, IF, Stillwater HS

Jackson Holliday – No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft – has said that his younger brother is better than he was at 18 years old. While Ethan might not have as enticing of a hit tool as his brother does, the 6-foot-4 infielder offers power that perhaps only his father could rival. 

Unlike his brother, Ethan has much more swing-and-miss to his game and will likely be playing one of the corner infield spots long-term. With that acknowledged, an 18-year-old with this kind of raw left-handed power and his family’s track record is great value for the Seattle Mariners with the third overall pick.

 

4. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara’s Tyler Bremner is the best right-handed pitcher in the 2025 MLB Draft. Standing at 6-foot-2, the 20-year-old hurler’s arsenal is led by a changeup that flummoxed hitters this past season. There are certainly legitimate questions about whether Bremner’s numbers are legit or just a reflection on facing a lesser talent pool at the collegiate level. 

He also carries concerns about how effective he could be over a full season since he hasn’t thrown 90-plus innings in a season entering 2025. However, the righty’s three-pitch arsenal (changeup, fastball and slider) paired with the improvements he’s made specifically with the fastball and slider bode well for his long-term development. He’d need a few years in the minors, but the Colorado Rockies need long-term pitching help and there are few things in baseball more valuable than a cost-effective quality starter.

Tyler Bremner stats (2024): 2.54 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 104-21 K-BB, 57 hits allowed in 88.2 innings pitched

 

5. St. Louis Cardinals: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS

The St. Louis Cardinals are likely headed for a bit of a rebuild under Chaim Bloom and the fifth pick in the 2025 MLB Draft is a great place to start. Seth Hernandez, a 6-foot-4 righty, already offers the frame and athleticism clubs like in a prototypical pitcher. Hernandez’s makeup has reportedly drawn very high marks, per MLB.com, a characteristic that incentivizes a club to take a chance on a projectable high school pitcher. 

Hernandez is also enticing because of a four-pitch mix – fastball (97-98 MPH max velocity), curveball (projects to be above-average), changeup (second-best pitch) and a slider – that would provide the Cardinals organization with plenty to work from.

 

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https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/mlb-mock-draft-2025/