2025 MLB draft grades: Live picks, analysis as selections are made in Atlanta – USA Today

The Washington Nationals will have its choice of any draft-eligible player available when the 2025 MLB Draft gets underway on Sunday, July 13.
The Nationals, who won the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery at the Winter Meetings last December, could select LSU ace Kade Anderson, who vaulted into the top pick conversation after a dominant showing at the College World Series. They could also pick high school prospect Ethan Holliday, who’s arguably the best player in the draft and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday (and brother of former No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday).
In a college pitcher-heavy draft, Anderson, along with left-handed pitchers Liam Doyle (Tennessee) and Jamie Arnold (Florida State), and right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma) are all expected to be picked in the top 10.
However, it’s the MLB draft, of course, and some surprises and out-of-left-field picks are almost assuredly on the table.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports’ live MLB draft grades from each pick in 2025:
USA TODAY Sports’ 2025 MLB Draft grades will be added live as picks are made.
Eli Willits, the youngest player ever selected No. 1 overall (17 years old), goes No. 1 overall in a bit of a surprise. Willits, who attends Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, was projected to be picked No. 4 to the Colorado Rockies by USA TODAY in the lead up to the draft.
Willits is a do-it-all shortstop, who projects to be a plus defender at the position with a plus hit tool. He still needs plenty development but has an All-Star ceiling.
Willits goes over fellow Oklahoma high schooler Ethan Holliday, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Willits signs for under slot value.
While it’s hard to project future success at the MLB level, UC Santa Barbara right-hander pitcher Tyler Bremner was viewed as a mid-first-round pick behind many other highly regarded college pitchers.
Bremner has an elite changeup, but the Angels chose him over the likes of LSU pitcher Kade Anderson, Tennessee’s Liam Doyle and Florida State’s Jamie Arnold, who were all projected to be selected before Bremner.
Maybe the Angels see something in Bremner others don’t, but it’s not the most popular pick at No. 2 overall.
Seattle gets great value at No. 3 overall, selecting LSU left-hander Kade Anderson, a draft-eligible sophomore.
Anderson, the top pitcher in the class according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, led college baseball in strikeouts in 2025 and led the Tigers to a national title as a sophomore.
Anderson falls into a perfect situation with the Mariners, who are known for having one of the best pitching development programs in MLB.
Ethan Holliday falls to No. 4 to the Colorado Rockies, where his dad, seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, started his MLB career.
Holliday, also the younger brother of former No. 1 pick Jackson Holliday, is the top-ranked player in the class, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, and was projected No. 1 overall by USA TODAY Sports.
The Stillwater High School (Oklahoma) product has big-time power at 6-foot-4 and becomes the latest Holliday to enter MLB. Colorado, meanwhile, lands perhaps the best hitter in the draft, and looks to build around the potential cornerstone player.
The third college pitcher comes off the board in Liam Doyle, who boasts one of the best fastballs in the class.
Doyle tops out at 100 miles per hour, and put together one of the best seasons in college baseball this season at Tennessee after transferring from Ole Miss. He had a 3.20 ERA with 164 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings this season, having a huge breakout season to break into the first-round conversation.
The No. 8-ranked player in the class by MLB Pipeline needs to work on some of his secondary offerings but could find himself in the majors very early in his career.
Pirates go best available, grabbing right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez at No. 6 overall. Hernandez was mocked No. 6 overall to the Pirates by USA TODAY Sports.
Hernandez, the No. 3-ranked player by MLB Pipeline, has a big 70-grade fastball and also a 60-grade changeup. He’s already 19 years old and has the background of being a high school pitcher and likely needs plenty of development before reaching MLB.
Still, the Corona High School (California) product has high-end upside potential and is a worthwhile pick for the Pirates.
Aiva Arquette, mocked at No. 3 overall by USA TODAY Sports, falls to No. 7 and Miami pounces. He is the No. 6 overall prospect of the draft, per MLB Pipeline.
Arquette, a 6-foot-5, 22-pound shortstop, was one of the best hitters in college baseball this season at Oregon State and could potentially stay at the position despite his large frame, given his athleticism. He also has the chance to move quickly through the Marlins’ farm system.
The 21-year-old was originally picked in the 18th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of high school.
Toronto grabs Jojo Parker, a left-handed hitter from Purvis High School in Mississippi.
The Mississippi State commit is one of the top high school hitters in the class, with a 60-grade hit tool and 55-grade power tool, according to MLB Pipeline. He likely projects as a third baseman at the majors, despite playing shortstop in high school.
Parker has a twin brother, Jacob Parker, who’s also expected to hear his name called sometime on Day 1 of the draft.
Cincinnati grabs Steele Hall, a speedy shortstop from Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama.
Hall might be the fastest player in the draft, with his speed tool graded at 70, according to MLB Pipeline. He also has a standout glove, with his offensive skills improving as a senior in high school.
The Tennessee commit definitely has the tools to stay at shortstop defensively, with his bat likely determining his future impact at the MLB level.
Another Corona High School product goes in the top 10, as Chicago drafts shortstop Billy Carlson, the teammate of pitcher Seth Hernandez.
Carlson, a Tennessee commit, is the No. 7-rated player in the class, according to MLB Pipeline. He was also mocked No. 7 to the Miami Marlins by USA TODAY Sports.
Carlson has one of the best gloves in the entire draft, rated as a 70-grade tool. His bat needs some development, but he’s a plus-plus defender, also having a 65-grade arm as he was once viewed as a potential two-way player given his prowess on the mound in high school.
Jamie Arnold falls to No. 11, and is scooped up by the Athletics, who get great value in the left-handed pitcher.
Arnold was mocked to Toronto at No. 8 by USA TODAY Sports, as he is ranked as the No. 4 player in the class, according to MLB Pipeline.
Arnold has a funky arm angle, which makes his fastball play up to hitters. He also has a plus-slider, as the polished arm is expected to fly through the minor-league system. Arnold showed big strikeout stuff in college and lands in a good situation with the Athletics.
Another high school shortstop comes off the board, as Gavin Fien goes to the Texas Rangers at No. 12.
Fien, the No. 22 player of the class per MLB Pipeline, might be a bit of a reach at No. 12. The Texas commit’s lone grade above 50 is his arm, which is rated a 55.
The 6-foot-3 18-year-old has plenty of room for development, and the Rangers will look to mold the right-handed hitter into a future big leaguer.
Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen goes No. 13 overall to the San Francisco Giants.
Kilen, a second baseman at Tennessee, has a plus hit tool with below average power. He was rated the No. 21 player in the class per MLB Pipeline, representing a slight reach for the Giants.
Kilen has a high floor and could certainly develop into an impact big leaguer with his skills-over-tools makeup.
Tampa Bay selects Daniel Pierce, a shortstop from Mill Creek High School in Georgia.
Pierce has big-time tools, and projects to stick at shortstop and be an impact defender. the 6-foot 18-year-old has below-average power, but has plus speed and an above-average hit tol.
Pierce is a high upside pick for the Rays, which is a worthwhile risk, especially at No. 14.
Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, projected to go No. 9 by USA TODAY Sports, falls to No. 15 for the Boston Red Sox. He is MLB Pipeline’s No. 10-ranked draft prospect.
The Red Sox get good value in Witherspoon, who boasts a big fastball that peaks at 99 mph. His fastball has a 65 grade, according to MLB Pipeline. Witherspoon also has three plus secondary offers in his slider, cutter and curveball, which are all 60-grade pitches.
Witherspoon spun a 2.65 ERA with the Sooners in 2025 and was one of the top pitchers in college baseball.
Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston goes No. 16 overall to the Minnesota Twins, right around where he was expected to be picked.
Houston, projected No. 16 to the Twins by USA TODAY Sports, is a no-doubt shortstop at the next level and projects as a glove-over-bat player in the majors.
The 21-year-old shortstop will need to hit to be an impact big leaguer, but his glove is certainly good enough to keep him on the field.
The first non-shortstop hitter comes off the board, as the Cubs pick Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad to make it back-to-back Demon Deacons picks.
Conrad, the No. 28 player in MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings, finished second in hitting (.385) in the Cape Cod League last summer before missing nearly the entire 2025 season due to injury. The injury likely provided a slight discount on the college hitter.
Conrad could provide great value for the Cubs if he can put the injury behind him.
Here’s a look at the first-round order for the 2025 MLB Draft, along with prospect promotional picks, compensation picks and Competitive Balance Round A selections.
First round
Prospect promotion incentive picks
28. Kansas City Royals
Compensation picks
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Baltimore Orioles
31. Baltimore Orioles
32. Milwaukee Brewers
Competitive Balance Round A
33. Boston Red Sox
34. Detroit Tigers
35. Seattle Mariners
36. Minnesota Twins
37. Baltimore Orioles
38. New York Mets
39. New York Yankees
40. Los Angeles Dodgers
41. Los Angeles Dodgers
42. Tampa Bay Rays
43. Miami Marlins
The 2025 MLB Draft is set to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13, from Atlanta. The draft is part of MLB All-Star Week, with the festivities held in Atlanta in 2025.

source