2025 MLB Draft: Baseball America Staff Draft 1.0

BA Staff Draft 1.0 Results

Pick	Round	Team	Writer	Player	Pos	School	Rank
1	1	Nationals	Carlos	Seth Hernandez	RHP	Corona (Calif.) HS	4
2	1	Angels	Peter	Jamie Arnold	LHP	Florida State	1
3	1	Mariners	Jacob	Aiva Arquette	SS	Oregon State	5
4	1	Rockies	JJ	Ethan Holliday	SS	Stillwater (Okla.)HS	2
5	1	Cardinals	Ben	Jace LaViolette	OF	Texas A&M	9
6	1	Pirates	Carlos	Tyler Bremner	RHP	UC Santa Barbara	3
7	1	Marlins	Peter	Marek Houston	SS	Wake Forest	6
8	1	Blue Jays	Jacob	Kruz Schoolcraft	LHP/1B	Sunset HS, Portland, Ore.	8
9	1	Reds	JJ	Dean Curley	SS	Tennessee	7
10	1	White Sox	Ben	Billy Carlson	SS	Corona (Calif.) HS	10
11	1	Athletics	Carlos	Eli Willits	SS	Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS	12
12	1	Rangers	Peter	Kayson Cunningham	SS	Johnson HS, San Antonio	13
13	1	Giants	Jacob	Kyson Witherspoon	RHP	Oklahoma	17
14	1	Rays	JJ	Liam Doyle	LHP	Tennessee	16
15	1	Red Sox	Ben	Xavier Neyens	3B	Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS	11
16	1	Twins	Carlos	Luke Stevenson	C	North Carolina	14
17	1	Cubs	Peter	Brandon Compton	OF	Arizona State	15
18	1	D-backs	Jacob	Patrick Forbes	RHP	Louisville	18
19	1	Orioles	JJ	Brendan Summerhill	OF	Arizona	19
20	1	Brewers	Ben	Gavin Kilen	2B	Tennessee	28
21	1	Astros	Carlos	Slater de Brun	OF	Summit HS, Bend, Ore.	32
22	1	Braves	Peter	Steele Hall	SS	Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS	23
23	1	Royals	Jacob	Ethan Conrad	OF	Wake Forest	22
24	1	Tigers	JJ	Wehiwa Aloy	SS	Arkansas	25
25	1	Padres	Ben	Kade Anderson	LHP	LSU	40
26	1	Phillies	Carlos	Riley Quick	RHP	Alabama	29
27	1	Guardians	Peter	Briggs McKenzie	LHP	Corinth Holders HS, Wendell, N.C.	36
28	PPI	Royals	Jacob	Cam Cannarella	OF	Clemson	20
29	1-C	D-backs	JJ	Ike Irish	C	Auburn	24
30	1-C	Orioles	Ben	Brady Ebel	SS	Corona (Calif.) HS	26
31	1-C	Orioles	Carlos	Josh Hammond	SS/RHP	Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C.	39
32	1-C	Brewers	Peter	Caden Bodine	C	Coastal Carolina	21
33	1-S	Brewers	Jacob	Kane Kepley	OF	North Carolina	54
34	1-S	Tigers	JJ	Joseph Dzierwa	LHP	Michigan State	50
35	1-S	Mariners	Ben	Lucas Franco	SS	Cinco Ranch HS, Katy, Tex.	41
36	1-S	Twins	Carlos	Joseph Parker	SS	Purvis (Miss.) HS	56
37	1-S	Rays	Peter	Angel Cervantes	RHP	Warren HS, Downey, Calif.	49
38	1	Mets	Jacob	AJ Russell	RHP	Tennessee	66
39	1	Yankees	JJ	Gavin Fien	3B/OF	Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif.	30
40	1	Dodgers	Ben	Matt Scott	RHP	Stanford	33

Pick-By-Pick Rationales

1. Nationals — Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: There’s not a clear 1-1 candidate in this class. In lieu of that, I’m going with the player who excites me the most and who I believe has the most overall upside. That’s Seth Hernandez, who has touched 100 mph, has a 70 changeup, two real breaking balls and would be a legitimate prospect as a hitter and shortstop if he gave up pitching. It’s ace upside. I’m taking it.

2. Angels — Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: Picking at No. 2 in this exercise made me realize how much I don’t envy the organizations picking in the top five. However, I’ll gladly select Jamie Arnold who’s off to an outstanding start. Arnold has a plus fastball/slider combination with a budding changeup and looks the part of a future No. 1 or No. 2 starter.

3. Mariners — Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: Arquette has performed great to start his draft season and has a big league body, power, great bat speed and could stick at short

4. Rockies — Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: If I’m the Rockies, this is my dream scenario. You get the son of a Rockies’ star who also could end up being the best player in the draft class.

5. Cardinals — Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: LaViolette has some of the best power in the nation. His contact rate is up too, but his batting average and overall performance slumped early in the season, so that’s triggered some panic with the industry. I’ve heard critiques about his swing being more stiff compared to last year, but that might just be outcome bias for a guy who swung this way last year, too. Once the numbers come back up—and that’s already started—so will the perception of his operation in the box.

6. Pirates — Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: The Pirates have earned trust with what they’ve done with their pitching development in recent years. Tyler Bremner’s pure stuff and strikethrowing feels like a real steal here to me. He has middle of the rotation upside and could move quickly. Based on my first two picks I guess I’m a sucker for changeups.

7. Marlins — Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: Houston has always been known for his defensive acumen and plus bat-to-ball skills, but he’s completely changed his body since last spring. With his newfound physicality, Houston has added impact and looks more explosive in the box. There’s a lot to like here from a tools standpoint.

8. Blue Jays — Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP/1B, Sunset HS, Portland, Ore. 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: At 6-foot-8 and armed with a mid-90s fastball that can reach the upper 90s, Schoolcraft has a case for best high school pitcher in the class. I couldn’t pass up on a young, projectable lefty here.

9. Reds — Dean Curley, SS, Tennessee 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: This feels like a logical Reds pick. Curley is the best talent on the board at this point, and he’s a productive college middle infielder, which is a path the Reds have had success with many times over the 21st century.

10. White Sox — Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: The White Sox are getting a true shortstop with Carlson. He’s a potential plus to plus-plus defender. And while it’s his defense that’s easy for everyone to love, his bat keeps trending up as well. He performed well last summer and has kept it up this spring, showing good bat-to-ball skills throughout. I’m not sure if he will ever grow into huge power because of the way he’s built, but there’s sneaky bat speed for such a wiry player.

11. Athletics — Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: I was eyeing up any of the high school shortstops who were available in this range with my preference in this order: Eli Willits, Kyson Witherspoon, Billy Carlson. I’m pumped to get Willits here. He isn’t the pure hitter of Cunningham or the defender of Carlson, but he might be the best of both worlds with plus speed, great defensive actions, a clean swing and impressive overall athleticism. He’s absurdly young for the class as well. I thought about taking Willits sixth overall but gambled that I could get him here.

12. Rangers — Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS, San Antonio 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: Carlos picked my pocket by taking Eli Willits—who I also considered taking at No. 7—but I’m a fan of Cunningham’s plus hit-ability, even if he’s most likely a second baseman long-term.

13. Giants — Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: I thought about Tennessee lefthander Liam Doyle here but have too many concerns about whether or not he can avoid a pro bullpen. Witherspoon has dominated in his draft year and felt like a slightly safer pick.

14. Rays — Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: Doyle may be the most fascinating pitcher in the first round. He’s taken a step back in SEC play so far, but he has an elite fastball. The Rays are a team that can help round out his arsenal, and they are more willing to be creative on using starters in shorter stints.

15. Red Sox — Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: The Red Sox are getting a hitter with patience and what could end up being 70 power from the left side of the plate. There is some swing-and-miss in there that’s given me pause, but I generally like the smooth, powerful swing. I’m also impressed with the strides he has made physically and with his defense to give him a greater chance to handle third base long term than I thought when he was younger.

16. Twins — Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: The next tier of players is a large one without much separation, in my opinion. I was hoping Xavier Neyens would fall to me, but Ben made a nice pickup right in front of me. Luke Stevenson has less upside, but he sounds like a pretty safe lock to stick at catcher and be a good one for a long time. He’s got a solid approach, fine swing and some power, as well. A bit less upside than I want to hunt here, but I like the all around profile quite a bit.

17. Cubs — Brandon Compton, OF, Arizona State 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: I became enamored with Compton this past summer on the Cape, where he looked like one of the more advanced bats in the league. From this chair, he’s got an above-average hit tool to go along with comfortably-plus raw power that he has no issue getting to in-game. That hit-power blend was too enticing for me to pass up on.

18. Diamondbacks — Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: It didn’t take long for Forbes to explode up boards this year after dominating early and showing a plus fastball-slider combo. I’m buying stock. 

19. Orioles — Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: Sticking with team tendencies, the Orioles consistently target productive college outfielders. Summerhill is one of the best of this year’s class.

20. Brewers — Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: The numbers for Kilen this season have been bonkers. Those will come down as we get deeper into SEC play, but Kilen has been a high-contact hitter with a good lefty swing showing more power now that he had in previous years. Given the draft history of the Brewers, he’s a legitimate target for them here.

21. Astros — Slater de Brun, OF, Summit HS, Bend, Ore. 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: De Brun is someone who you just love to watch play the game. He’s got great baseball IQ, will stick in center field as a good defender, and I think he’s got a chance to be an above-average hitter. Sure, he’s not big, but I don’t mind that too much since I’m pretty convicted in his hit tool and defensive profile, especially compared to my other hitting options at this stage.

22. Braves — Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: Hall has been one of the buzzier names recently, and for good reason. He’s an above-average shortstop with arm strength to boot and is also a double-plus runner. Couple that with the strength gains he’s made, and you’re looking at an appealing up-the-middle profile. He is the definition of “tooled out.”

23. Royals — Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: Conrad has performed at a high level at Wake and can more than handle a premium position in center. He’s tooled up and felt like the perfect pick for the Royals at 23.

24. Tigers — Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: Aloy has a lengthy track record of hitting, and he’s off to an exceptional start in the 2025 season. He may have to move off shortstop eventually, but he should stick in the infield.

25. Padres — Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: The college bats we have on the board here don’t scream Padres picks and neither do some of our top ranked high school hitters here. But they do love lefties and there are some intriguing ones in play here with Briggs McKenzie, Cameron Appenzeller and maybe a wild card with Jack Bauer on the high school side, but I’m going with the more polished Kade Anderson, who has become one of the more dominant starters in college baseball.

26. Phillies — Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: I would consider taking Riley Quick in the same tier of college arms as Kyson Witherspoon/Liam Doyle/Patrick Forbes. Given the gap between those players and where I am getting Quick, it feels like good value. His fastball/slider combination is as good as that group’s in my mind. 

27. Guardians — Briggs McKenzie, LHP, Corinth Holders HS, Wendell, N.C. 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: This might be a little bit of a reach at 27, but I’m a huge fan of McKenzie and think this is the general range in which he gets selected this July. He’s been up to 95 this spring with a feel to spin a plus breaking ball, and his changeup has taken a step in the right direction. It’s an aesthetically-pleasing look with present arm speed, and he’s also done well competing in the zone.

28. Royals — Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: There are definitely some concerns about Cannarella’s shoulder, but I couldn’t pass up on a double-plus defender with a well-above average feel to hit. This felt like a steal at 28.

29. Diamondbacks — Ike Irish, C, Auburn 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: The D-backs have had success with their pick of Adrian Del Castillo, a bat-first catcher, in the 2021 draft. Here’s the 2025 version. Irish can really hit, but he’ll need a lot of work to improve his defense.

30. Orioles — Brady Ebel, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: In 2019, after selecting Adley Rutschman with the first pick in the draft, the Orioles used their second-round pick (No. 42 overall) on Gunnar Henderson. This time, the Orioles are going with another talented lefthanded-hitting shortstop in Ebel. He’s one of the youngest players in the class with a patient approach and a smooth, efficient swing from the left side. If he had dominated all summer, I don’t think he’s still available here, but I’m betting on everything coming together for him.

31. Orioles — Josh Hammond, SS/RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C. 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: Entering the year, I probably would have had Josh Hammond as a top-five or so high school pitcher in the class. It sounds like he’s been as impressive as a hitter, and I’d love to draft him, let him hit and then have a great fallback option on the mound if need be. I see a future third baseman with good defense and a solid hit/power combination.

32. Brewers — Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: I was a little surprised that Bodine made it to me at 32. He has some of the best contact skills of anyone in the class and is an advanced defender behind the plate. His power—or lack thereof—is a bit of a question mark, but I’m a real believer in his plus hit tool translating professionally. Good catchers who can hit are hard to come by.

33. Brewers — Kane Kepley, OF, North Carolina 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: Kepley is a plus runner with elite contact skills and pitch recognition. His athleticism and baseball IQ will allow him to stick at a premier position.

34. Tigers — Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: This is a home state pick, but Dzierwa has also been exceptional with a 51-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go with solid stuff.

35. Mariners — Lucas Franco, SS, Cinco Ranch HS, Katy, Tex. 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: The Mariners like their lefthanded-hitting high school infielders, and we have a few to choose from here. Ryan Mitchell is another appealing option, but the pick here is Franco. He’s young for the class, it’s a good swing and he’s starting to show more power this spring that I had always hoped he would come into as he filled out his long, lean build.

36. Twins — Joseph Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS 

Writer: Carlos 

Rationale: The more I watch Parker swing the bat, the more I like him. He was a standout performer on the circuit last summer, he’s turned in better run times this spring and he’s been scouted heavily early. 

37. Rays — Angel Cervantes, RHP, Warren HS, Downey, Calif. 

Writer: Peter 

Rationale: Cervantes is one of my favorite high school arms in the class. I would’ve taken him earlier, but I was confident enough he’d still be here for me at 37. It’s a clean, repeatable look on the mound with an exciting blend of strikes and stuff. His fastball has been up to 96, which is a pitch he pairs with a plus changeup and an above-average curveball that flashes plus. As a cherry on top, there’s little-to-no reliever risk.

38. Mets — AJ Russell, RHP, Tennessee 

Writer: Jacob 

Rationale: While his health is a major concern, Russell has a standout fastball that draws tons of whiffs, and it’s hard not to dream on his potential. The Mets also taken no fewer than two college pitchers in the first four rounds since 2021 so this was a fit in my book.

39. Yankees — Gavin Fien, 3B/OF, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif. 

Writer: JJ 

Rationale: At this point, this is just taking the best value left on the board. The Yankees get a back-of-the-first round talent at pick 39.

40. Dodgers — Matt Scott, RHP, Stanford 

Writer: Ben 

Rationale: Can the Dodgers fix Matt Scott? The stuff is in there, but the results haven’t been, and this year the reports have come back from scouts with concerns about the fastball, which previously had been a major weapon. If Scott keeps pitching this way the rest of the year, maybe this ends up being too early to draft him, but the Dodgers have the development program in place to help him figure it out.