Welcome to our fourth MLB mock draft of the season.
We’re a month out from draft day, and teams have begun having their pre-draft meetings. Most of the player pool has finished playing and scouting departments are now getting antsy and ready to roll. The College World Series and draft combine are the two biggest items still on the calendar, and many teams are in the process of having private workouts for some of their targets.
As before, uncertainty continues to loom throughout the industry when it comes to this draft.
The Nationals are keeping quiet about who their preference is with the first-overall pick. The 2025 class remains quite muddled overall. Still, there are players who have made their cases down the stretch and are more frequently talked about at the top of the draft. Some player/team connections are beginning to surface with more frequency.
1. Nationals — Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS
Holliday continues to feel like the most-likely option for the Nationals in the 1-1 spot, though no one seems to offer that prediction with confidence. He gets tied to the Nationals regularly, and I’ve talked to some in the industry who think it’s more likely the Nationals go for a hitter than a pitcher. If that’s not the case, college lefthanders Kade Anderson and (to a lesser extent) Liam Doyle might be the favorites on the pitching side.
I still think the Nationals are more likely than some other teams picking at the top of this year’s draft to take a shot on high school righthander Seth Hernandez, who might have more upside than anyone in the class. I also have a hunch that fellow Oklahoma shortstop Eli Willits could seriously be in play here. Holliday, Willits and then Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette would be my favorites, in that order.
2. Angels — Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
Anderson has more momentum than any college arm in the class and increasingly is being talked about as the top college pitcher. He had two extremely loud starts against Texas A&M and Dallas Baptist before his less impressive start against West Virginia in the super regionals. Anderson is getting Max Fried comps as a lanky lefty with a clean delivery, command and great feel to spin the ball.
Liam Doyle has been linked to the Angels as much as anyone and should also be in the mix here, as should Jamie Arnold and Kyson Witherspoon. The industry continues to think it’s going to be a college player here given their track record. If the team is looking for a deal—which sounds like it could be the case—UC Santa Barbara righthander Tyler Bremner isn’t all that different from the other pitchers mentioned, but has more risk to slip into the teens.
3. Mariners — Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
We’ve previously tied the Mariners with upside high school players, but there’s some thought that they might want to add a fast-moving college bat to help out their big league pitching. It’s not a great class for that strategy, but Arquette is the best college hitter and seems like one of the favorites here. Doyle and Jamie Arnold could also be fits, and Eli Willits seems to check a lot of the boxes Seattle seems to target with high school hitters.
Seth Hernandez’s name doesn’t get mentioned here much, but I have to think he’s in the mix considering Seattle’s pitching development and how locked in some of their higher ups have been on him this spring. One potential darkhorse option here is Jojo Parker, whose market typically starts a bit after this. It sounds like the Mariners really like him.
4. Rockies — Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
It sounds like Ethan Holliday might be the preference for the Rockies. This could be his floor if he isn’t the first-overall pick. He’s not available in this iteration, in which case the favorites seem to be some combination of Doyle or Anderson on the college pitching side, Eli Willits as the top available high school hitter or Seth Hernandez as the loudest pure upside play. I’ve heard a lot of college pitching names as the most-likely backup options to Holliday, and it feels like Doyle still has a chance to get off the board before both Arnold and Kyson Witherspoon.
Doyle’s fastball is one of the better fastballs in the class, and he’s been perhaps the most dominant college arm in the country this year, though Anderson is giving him a nice run down the stretch.
5. Cardinals — Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS
It sounds like the Cardinals could have a shot at anyone in the draft outside of Ethan Holliday. They might be in a situation where they are hoping someone cuts a deal in front of them and pushes more of their top targets down the board (though, to be fair, every team in the draft hopes for this). In this scenario, Willits feels like the favorite if the team wants to take a hitter, and Jamie Arnold could be the top option if the team would prefer to take a pitcher.
The Cardinals could be excited about both options here. Willits is the most well-rounded prospect in the class as a likely shortstop with speed and a polished hit tool. Arnold entered the season as the top arm in the class and still provides a solid mix of strikes, stuff, deception and track record.
6. Pirates — Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS
As a high school righthander, Seth Hernandez has more of a chance to slide down the board than high school hitters like Ethan Holliday and Eli Willits, but teams still think there’s a limit to just how far that will be, as he has a strong case as the best pitcher in the class. The Pirates have been linked to him thanks to their willingness to spend big on high school pitching as well as their pro pitching development.
If there’s pressure to add a hitter, this might be the worst case scenario for the Pirates, since arms like Hernandez, Jamie Arnold and Kyson Witherspoon are the best players available. The top hitters include Billy Carlson, Jojo Parker, Ike Irish and Brendan Summerhill, which is a group of players that typically comes into play a bit behind this pick.
7. Marlins — Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Teams picking in the 5-8 range are heavily linked to Eli Willits, so if he doesn’t go first overall, there’s a decent chance he winds up somewhere in this part of the board, with the Marlins and Blue Jays frequently tied to him. He’s not available here, so would the Marlins prefer to take a quicker moving, proven college arm like Jamie Arnold or Kyson Witherspoon? Or perhaps take a shot on the next tier of available bats, with Billy Carlson, Jojo Parker and Ike Irish perhaps headlining that group.
Arnold has seemingly lost a bit of steam compared to Kade Anderson and Liam Doyle, but he was lights out vs. Oregon State in the super regionals, striking out out nine in 6.2 innings and racking up plenty of whiffs with his plus slider. He shouldn’t fall too much further than this if he gets here.
8. Blue Jays — Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Witherspoon improved across the board in 2025 and finished the season with a 2.65 ERA over 16 starts and 95 innings. He improved his control in a big way, going from an 11.2% walk rate in 2024 to a 5.9% walk rate this spring. He also showed much more depth to his arsenal with a few new breaking ball shapes. Teams have been consistently impressed with how he’s been able to hold mid 90s velocity deep into his games.
He has real landing spots throughout the top 10 picks, though he seems to get less buzz than the college lefty trio for whatever reason. If the southpaws do go in front of him, he should come off the board quickly thereafter. This feels like the floor for Eli Willits.
9. Reds — Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn
With all of the top-tier arms and bats off the board, the Reds could have their pick from a second tier of names that includes college hitters like Ike Irish, Brendan Summerhill, Marek Houston and Jace LaViolette or a high school shortstop group led by Billy Carlson and Jojo Parker. The Reds have taken college arms inside the top 10 picks in each of the last two drafts. If they wanted to go that route again, Tyler Bremner is the best option and fits here on talent.
It does sound like Cincinnati is intrigued by the offensive chops of Irish, who has a case as the most well-rounded hitter in the college class with terrific SEC production.
10. White Sox — Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS
It sounds like the White Sox are one of the teams who would take a shot on the high-risk, high-reward profile of Jace LaViolette. This could be his high-water mark after a disappointing season where he hit just .258. This could also be the ceiling for Tennessee hitters Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer. The White Sox rolled deep to see Tennessee during regionals and it wasn’t to scout Liam Doyle.
While Chicago is tied to a lot of college bats, this is right in the range where Carlson is expected to come off the board. He is also less of a risk to slide than the other options mentioned here. He’s a top-tier defender with great contact skills to build on.
11. Athletics — Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona
The A’s have gone with proven college hitters in each of the last three drafts and have found great success doing that. Summerhill and Marek Houston would both be the best available options if they want to return to that well. Summerhill is viewed by many as the best pure hitter in the college ranks with a well-rounded profile and tremendous 2025 performance. Houston is a no-doubt shortstop with solid bat-to-ball skills and developing power. He slumped in April and then had a strong regional showing. They both fit in the top 15 range.
12. Rangers — Jojo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS
Parker has real landing spots inside the first 10 picks. If he doesn’t go there, he shouldn’t last too much longer than this, with the Rangers and the Giants both teams he gets tied to pretty heavily. If both Parker and Billy Carlson are off the board in front of this pick, other prep shortstops like Steele Hall, Kayson Cunningham and Daniel Perice could make sense, as well. Parker has more risk to slide off shortstop but his lefthanded hit/power combo is as appealing as any hitter in the class.
13. Giants — Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
I’ve heard the Giants are linked to many of the same high school names mentioned with the Rangers. There’s some expectation that neither Billy Carlson or Jojo Parker are likely to get further than this spot on the board if they make it here. In this scenario, the Giants could be weighing the upside potential of high school shortstops like Steele Hall, Daniel Pierce and Kayson Cunningham vs. the perceived safety and floor of Houston.
14. Rays — Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
The Rays are tied to plenty of athletic, upside high school shortstops, and there are a handful of those profiles still available here. At the same time, proven high-end college starters are more difficult to find in this year’s class, and the Rays have both the pool money and picks to add an upside high school hitter at 37 or 42.
If they pass on Bremner here, they’re not going to get another shot at him or a similar pitcher. Despite a slow start, the totality of Bremner’s 2025 season is as impressive as any he’s had at UC Santa Barbara. I would not be surprised at all if he goes inside the first 10 picks.
15. Red Sox — Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee
I’d expect college hitters like Ike Irish, Brendan Summerhill and Marek Houston to come off the board before Kilen, but once that trio is gone, he’s as appealing a hitter as any. The Red Sox loved Kilen out of high school and drafted him in the 13th round. Now they have a chance to actually sign him.
Steele Hall is another name that could make sense for the Red Sox. It’s also hard to avoid thinking about the success they might have with big power bats like Xavier Neyens or Jace LaViolette given Roman Anthony’s progress in their system.
16. Twins — Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
I’ve heard the Twins are associated with a ton of college profiles, including names like Ike Irish, Brendan Summerhill, Gavin Kilen and Tyler Bremner. All of those players are off the board in this scenario. If they were all on the board, I would guess that Irish is the pick, and this might be his floor. Aloy has a riskier and more athletic profile than the other college bats linked to the Twins, but I think in this scenario he makes a lot of sense given his standout 2025 season and development as a hitter.
17. Cubs — Andrew Fischer, 1B, Tennessee
Plenty of people are linking Tyler Bremner to the Cubs, but I don’t think he gets this far on draft day. The Cubs haven’t taken a high school player in the first round since Ed Howard in 2020, and I’ve heard a lot more college names tied to them this spring—though all of the top high school shortstops still on the board make sense here on talent.
Fischer has a limited defensive profile, but is his bat really going to fall into the late 20s on draft day? He makes a lot of contact, has great power and excellent plate discipline. This doesn’t feel like a profile that slides.
18. Diamondbacks — Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS
This could be a great outcome for the D-backs, who get their pick of either Steele Hall or Daniel Pierce—both of whom could easily go in front of their pick. Arizona has been more willing to take shots on athletic, up-the-middle high school bats than some of the teams picking around them. At the same time, this is a run of model-heavy clubs and Steele Hall’s age and athletic testing should pop for all of them. Kayson Cunningham isn’t the same athlete, but his hit tool is the best available and would make a ton of sense here, as well.
19. Orioles — Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
LaViolette is one of the most difficult players to place in the first round. He has tools and upside that fit inside the top 10, but also posted a historically scary pure hitting performance for a first-round college hitter. The Orioles prioritize walks and power—which are not questions with LaViolette—and also have picks 30 and 31. That might make them feel better about taking on more risk here. Xavier Neyens could be a fit here for the same reasons.
20. Brewers — Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS, San Antonio
This feels low for Cunningham based on his immaculate track record as a pure hitter. He might be the lone plus hitter in the class. Still, there’s some thought in the industry that his size and lack of secondary tools could cause him to slip a bit on draft day, ala Kevin McGonigle in 2023. The Brewers have never had an issue taking shorter pure hitters—Sal Frelick, Tyler Black and Eric Brown among others—and I’m guessing his lengthy performance history is weighed heavily in their model.
21. Astros — Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Wood has been on a rocket ship in recent weeks. He has first-round stuff between his swing-and-miss, mid-90s fastball and a hard biting power curve. There are some Cade Horton/Ty Floyd vibes to Wood’s 2025 season and postseason up-arrow surge. Dana Brown has prioritized riding fastballs like Wood’s in the past. Some in the industry think this is too high, but we’re reaching a bit of a vacuum in the college starter demographic at this point in the draft.
22. Braves — Josh Hammond, SS/RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C.
It’s hard to not tie Gage Wood to the Braves given the sorts of pitchers they have drafted in recent years. Josh Hammond also fits their tendency to go for athletic two-way players and beyond just making that connection, there’s thought in the industry that the Braves are one of the higher teams on the powerful North Carolina shortstop. This pick would only accentuate the Austin Riley comparisons.
23. Royals — Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga.
If Pierce slips past 20, the Royals are in a position to capitalize with more bonus pool money than any other team picking after the Brewers. After a run of model-heavy clubs, the Royals start a run of teams associated with high upside, athletic high school players. It sounds like the Royals have been scouting the slick defender heavily this spring. He shouldn’t last too much longer than this.
24. Tigers — Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS
Neyens remains a polarizing player who is hard to slot in mock drafts. The range of opinions on him is wide, and there are also some questions about how difficult he might be to sign out of his Oregon State commitment. Neyens has as much power upside as any player in the class, but he is less hitterish than a lot of Detroit’s recent picks. Coy James fits that bill a bit more and might be a fit here.
25. Padres — Slater de Brun, OF, Summit HS, Bend, Ore.
Shortstops like Steele Hall, Daniel Pierce and Josh Hammond could make plenty of sense here for the Padres. They’re all gone, so what about another up-the-middle athletic prep in Slater de Brun? San Diego is in a spot where they could get squeezed out of high school players with leverage. They have just $6.57 million in pool money and are surrounded by teams with multiple picks and bigger bonus pools.
26. Phillies — Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina
Stevenson could fit anywhere in the 15-30 range. There’s a decent argument to say he should go in front of LaViolette. Both have hit tool questions with lefthanded power and on-base skills, but Stevenson is a much better bet to provide above-average value at a premium defensive position. He’s a better prospect than Malcolm Moore from the 2024 class, who went 30th overall to the Rangers.
27. Guardians — Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
Bodine feels like a great fit here, both on talent and organization tendencies. He’s a high-end catcher and receiver who has some of the best pure contact skills in the class. His lack of impact and upside makes him a better fit for the 20-40 range, and Cleveland could covet his contact track record as much as any team. Bodine had a loud super regional showing with a multi-home run game against Auburn.
28. Royals — Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset HS, Portland, Ore.
Kansas City sounds like a solid fit for Schoolcraft, and they have the picks and bonus pool money to take him with their second pick and hand him a significant bonus. Some teams covet lefthanded pitching more than others, and the Royals fit in that camp. A dark horse for this pick is Tennessee high school shortstop Josh Owens, who is gaining steam but might fit better with Kansas City’s second-round pick.
29. D-backs — Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif.
Fien is difficult to place as a right-right, likely corner profile coming out of high school whose spring has been just OK. Still, he is one of the better pure hitters available, and he dominated the 2024 circuit with hitting ability and all-fields power. Riley Quick could also make sense.
30. Orioles — Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson
Cannarella looked great in the ACC Tournament and finished the season strong. He’s a no-doubt center fielder and great athlete who should begin to get more active on the bases as he gets further away from his shoulder injury. This pick would be reminiscent of the 2023 Enrique Bradfield selection.
31. Orioles — Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State
It feels like Lodise belongs in the first round based on his 2025 season, power and rock solid shortstop defense. I don’t have a strong enough organizational tie to make that happen quite yet. There’s some speculation that the Orioles will go college with their first pick and target high-upside preps with Nos. 30 and 31. Josh Hammond could be a fit if he’s available.
32. Brewers — Dean Curley, SS, Tennessee
Curley is expected to come off the board after teammates Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer at this point. While he has some throwing questions, his hitting track record is still impressive and should prevent him from falling too much further than this.
33. Red Sox — Sean Gamble, OF/2B, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Gamble could be a fit throughout the 20s and into the comp round. He’s one of the more exciting athletes available with plus speed, power upside and potential homes at a few different up-the-middle positions.
34. Tigers — Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama
Detroit is one of a handful of teams who were scouting Quick heavily down the stretch. His arm talent would make him a great second pick for the Tigers.
35. Mariners — Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana
Taylor’s track record as a high-level hitter is as good as anyone’s in the class, though questions about his defensive profile and supplemental tools might make him a better fit in the 25-45 range.
36. Twins — Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest
Conrad is a wild card who could fit as high as the middle of the first round. His bat-to-ball skills, power, physicality and defensive profile are better than this, but his shoulder injury and limited playing time add some volatility that’s difficult to see through.
37. Rays — Ryan Mitchell, SS, Houston HS, Germantown, Tenn.
Mitchell’s blend of batting eye, contact ability, natural athleticism and projectable frame make him a fit for a number of teams in the comp range. The Rays are one team that’s been heavily linked to him.
38. Mets — Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU
It wouldn’t be shocking to see Eyanson push himself into the back of the first round with his consistent performance this season. His fastball is a bit lighter than most teams would want from a first-round arm, but he’s an athletic strike-thrower with a deep arsenal and SEC performance.
39. Yankees — Max Belyeu, OF, Texas
This is more of a speculative play for the Yankees. I haven’t heard the team tied to Belyeu in particular, but he fits in this range and could go higher. Many scouts prefer him to college outfielders already off the board, including Cannarella, Taylor and Conrad.
40. Dodgers — Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville
I’m sticking with the Forbes/Dodgers connection here. They’ve continued to scout him heavily, and he has shades of Bobby Miller as a Louisville righthander with an electric fastball/slider combination and reliever questions.
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