Live Analysis, Scouting Reports For First-Rounders

1. Washington Nationals

Pick: SS Eli Willits
BA rank: 3

Reaction: Willits does a lot of things well. He’s ultra young after previously being a member of the 2026 class, he’s a switch-hitter who always seems to hit with good contact skills, a mature offensive approach for his age and is an athletic shortstop who should stick in the middle infield with a high baseball IQ that shows in all facets of the game. The biggest question mark on Willits is how much extra-base impact he will grow into because it’s not elite bat speed or raw power, but he’s also still 17. The sum of the parts as a premium position player with a strong offensive track record and all-around instincts pushed him to the top of the first round.

Scouting Report: Willits boasts one of the better all-around profiles in the 2025 class. Originally a member of the 2026 class, he reclassified for 2025 and is now one of the youngest players in the class. He doesn’t turn 18 until December. Willits is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound switch-hitting shortstop who makes an impact all over the diamond. In the batter’s box, he has short, tight and compact swings from both sides of the plate and can shoot the ball on a line to all fields. He has a balanced swing with an advanced approach, good barrel control and makes contact against all pitch types with high-quality pitch recognition and timing. While Willits is more of a line drive hitter, he should have the bat speed and physical projection to develop average power to go with an above-average hit tool. Willits is a plus runner and impressive athlete who has the tools to be an above-average defender at shortstop as well as an impact baserunner. He ranges to both sides effectively and has an above-average arm that allows him to make difficult plays in the hole, with the arm versatility and body control to make all of the off-balance and in-between plays necessary for the position. Willits makes hard, aggressive turns on the bases, and his instincts show up there as well and should allow him to be a perennial basestealing threat. Unsurprisingly given the polish to his game at such a young age, Willits comes from a baseball family. His father Reggie was an outfielder for the Angels for seven years and is the associate head coach at Oklahoma, where Eli is committed and where his brother Jaxon is the team’s everyday shortstop. While there are players in the 2025 class with louder individual tools or bigger power upside than Willits, it’s difficult to point to another player who has a game as well-rounded. He’s in the mix to be the first overall pick. If that happens he’ll be the youngest 1-1 player ever drafted.

2. Los Angeles Angels

Pick: RHP Tyler Bremner
BA rank: 11

Reaction: Bremner is one of the best pitchers in the class, but it is a surprise to see him as the top pitcher off the board, particularly with LSU lefthander Kade Anderson available. Bremner had a stellar K-BB mark this season even after an up-and-down start to the spring. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, touches 98 with carry and that’s his second-best pitch behind an outstanding changeup that has good separation off his fastball and lively fade. Bremner’s slider wasn’t as sharp this year as it was in 2024, so if the Angels think they can help him refine that pitch, then he could end up even better. It’s hard to say in the moment, but my bet would be the Angels get Bremner on an under slot deal that will allow them to spend more on players in later rounds and add more depth to a farm system that needs it.

Scouting Report: Bremner pairs some of the best control in the 2025 draft class with high-end stuff and a strong three-year track record with UC Santa Barbara. He cemented himself as one of the premier arms in the class after a lights-out 2024 season and a summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and entered the 2025 spring neck and neck with Florida State’s Jamie Arnold in the race for starting pitcher No. 1 in the class. Bremner scuffled a bit early but finished the year strong—including six 10+ strikeout games in his last seven—and posted a 3.49 ERA with a 29.7 K-BB% that was good for No. 6 among all Division I arms. Bremner has a lean pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and throws with a simple delivery that features a high leg kick and a three-quarters arm slot. His three-pitch mix is led by a fastball that averages 94-96 mph and will touch 98 with underlying qualities that could allow it to play up. The pitch has a loud overall movement profile—both with riding life and armside movement—a flat approach angle and generated a strong 33% miss rate in 2025. The centerpiece of Bremner’s arsenal is his double-plus, mid-80s changeup. It’s a high-usage, wipeout secondary he can locate effectively to both lefties and righties repeatedly to generate whiffs and weak contact. Bremner’s mid-80s slider flashes above-average, but the pitch backed up and was hit hard in 2025. He’s a plus control pitcher and high-probability starter who fits in the first round.

3. Seattle Mariners

Pick: LHP Kade Anderson
BA rank: 4

Reaction: After dominating at LSU as just a sophomore this season, Anderson has the combination of stuff and pitchability to move quickly, to the point where it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him pitching in the big leagues next year given the way teams have pushed the top collegiate picks in recent years. Between the delivery, four-pitch mix, strike-throwing and ability to miss bats, Anderson has the look of a starting pitcher who could fit toward the front-end of a rotation. He had Tommy John surgery in high school, so there’s some durability risk here down the road, but for the Mariners, they should be getting someone who can quickly factor into the middle of their rotation or higher. If the Mariners wanted a college pitcher, I think they have to be excited that Anderson was still available here given the college-heavy Angels were picking one spot ahead of them.

Scouting Report: Following a 2024 freshman season in which he carved out a meaningful role, Anderson enjoyed a career year in 2025 when he was a first team all-SEC selection after posting a 3.18 ERA with 180 strikeouts to just 35 walks across 119 innings. Anderson has a slender frame at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with some present strength in his lower half. He has a simple delivery in which he starts with his shoulders almost square to the first base dugout. Anderson begins his motion with an extremely small sidestep that leads into a high leg lift. He has a short and compact arm action and attacks from a high three-quarters slot with above-average arm speed. Anderson’s fastball sits in the 92-95 range, but has been up to 97 with plus carry in the top of the zone. The biggest revelation in Anderson’s arsenal in 2025 was his mid-80s slider—a pitch he threw just 2% of the time in 2024. It emerged as an above-average offering that flashes plus with lateral life, and garnered a 30% miss rate. Anderson’s upper-70s high-spin curveball is a plus pitch that has great pure spin rates, excellent depth and distinct shape from his slider. Anderson rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup that also took a step forward in his draft-eligible sophomore season. It’s an average fourth pitch that flashes tumbling life, and it’s especially effective against righthanded hitters. Anderson is a plus strike-thrower who has an above-average feel for his entire four-pitch mix. Perhaps the only blemish on Anderson’s resume is the fact that he’s already had Tommy John surgery. He’s a high-probability starter with physical projection, a blend of strikes and stuff that gives him midrotation upside and has a chance to be the first college pitcher off the board.

4. Colorado Rockies

Pick: SS Ethan Holliday
BA rank: 1

Reaction: Holliday has been the No. 1 high school player in the 2025 class since his sophomore year and hasn’t relinquished his place at the top since then. Why? He’s 6-foot-4 with a smooth, powerful lefthanded swing, high-end bat speed and an exciting combination of strike-zone judgment and power. The risk with Holliday is that, while he does a good job of staying within the strike zone, there is swing-and-miss to his game, so we didn’t see him truly dominate the summer the way you would love to see for the top high school player in the country. Then again, we could have said the same thing last year for Pirates first-round pick Konnor Griffin, who looks terrific so far. Holliday isn’t that type of athlete—he’s a shortstop now who could end up at third base, with some risk he ends up in an outfield corner—but if everything clicks, Holliday has a chance to develop into a slugger in the middle of a lineup who can get on base at a high clip and hit 30-plus home runs. 

Scouting Report: Ethan Holliday is the younger brother of Orioles second baseman and 2022 first overall pick Jackson Holliday. The Holliday brothers—sons of seven-time all-star outfielder Matt Holliday—have a chance to match or exceed the draft position that the Upton brothers achieved after B.J. was the No. 2 pick in 2002 and Justin went No. 1 in 2025. Ethan has been a high-profile player in the 2025 class for years. Scouts saw him as a freshman at Stillwater High when Jackson was the focus, and even then noted his advanced physicality. Ethan is built much more like his father than Jackson, with a hulking 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame and a different shade to his game. Holliday has tremendous ease with his lefthanded swing, which is smooth and powerful and comes with good rhythm and balance in the box. He has an excellent eye, tracks pitches well and is willing to take a walk when he’s pitched around—which is often. He also has a knack for using the entire field. Holliday has swing-and-miss tendencies that could impact the quality of his hit tool, but scouts are confident he has the power and patience to compensate. He generates easy power to all fields and doesn’t have to sell out to get to it, with a chance to develop into a 30-home run threat. Holliday is a below-average runner who takes a few steps to get going. He has the hands and arm strength for shortstop and improved his fielding consistency in 2025. He likely will outgrow shortstop and slide to third base, an outfield corner or even first base. Holliday’s offensive upside is as good as any hitter in the class.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

Pick: LHP Liam Doyle
BA rank: 8

Reaction: Doyle has an electric fastball from the left side that reaches 100 mph with carry to explode above barrels. He’s clearly one of the best pitchers available in the draft, but where there may be a split in how high people have him lined up is based on the delivery and the quality of his secondary stuff. It was a fastball-heavy attack that worked for Doyle in college, but I’m in the more optimistic camp in his ability to tease more value out of his secondary stuff in pro ball, particularly with a splitter that has good tumbling action.

Scouting Report: When hitters step into the box against Doyle, they know his fastball is coming but there’s not much they can do about it. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound lefthander and New Hampshire native has bounced around in college, first at Coastal Carolina in 2023, then at Ole Miss in 2024 and finally Tennessee in 2025. He surged up draft boards by being the most dominant arm in the country, with a 2.91 ERA over 16 regular-season starts and 89.2 innings. His 42.6% strikeout rate was the best mark in Division I. Doyle attacks hitters with a high-effort delivery that features a harsh fall-off to the third base side and looks more like a reliever, but he has pitched as a starter with solid control for three years. His arsenal is centered on a high-usage fastball that sits 95-97 mph and touches 100 with excellent riding life. It’s an easy plus pitch on velocity alone, but the life and the flat approach angle with which he throws it—in addition to his impressive ability to locate it at the top of the zone—makes it a 70-grade offering and one of the best fastballs in the class. Doyle’s secondaries are a bigger question. He throws a low-80s slider, an upper-80s cutter and a mid-80s splitter, all of which earn differing grades depending on whether you talk to scouts or analysts. The latter are more optimistic. Both parties agree that Doyle’s splitter has above-average potential and is his most advanced secondary pitch. Doyle’s outlier fastball traits and SEC dominance have him positioned to be a top 10 overall pick and in the running to be the first arm off the board.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pick: RHP Seth Hernandez
BA rank: 6

Reaction: The Pirates get the No. 2 player on the Baseball America board at No. 6 overall and a player we strongly considered putting in the top spot in our rankings. We wouldn’t normally do that for a high school pitcher, but that’s partly due to the state of the college players (particularly the hitters) at the top of this class and a testament to how talented Hernandez is for his age. It’s a power fastball that can reach 100 mph, though Hernandez is more comfortable cruising in the mid-90s as a starter, a devastating changeup and feel to spin two breaking balls that should get even better with professional instruction. There’s premium stuff, athleticism, good mechanics and advanced pitchability. There’s risk with any teenage pitcher, but Hernandez has the upside to be a front-end starter and the polish that makes him a candidate to move quickly. Last year the Pirates bet on one of the highest upside players in the class with shortstop Konnor Griffin and they went that route again here with Hernandez.

Scouting Report: Hernandez has been the top high school pitcher in the 2025 class for years. As he has progressed, it’s clear he’s one of the most talented prep arms in the last decade or so, with the sort of upside that puts his name in the same phylum as Hunter Greene, MacKenzie Gore and Jackson Jobe. Hernandez is a standout athlete with a 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame and throws with a clean delivery and three-quarters slot. If he weren’t a pitcher he would be a legitimate pro prospect as a hitter and shortstop. As a senior on a historically loaded Corona High team, Hernandez hit right in the middle of the lineup between Brady Ebel and Billy Carlson—both of whom have first-round potential. Hernandez’s ace-level pitching upside is enough for teams to view him as a pitcher only. He has a four-pitch arsenal that tops any in the class and starts with a plus fastball that sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 100 mph. In one outing at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational, Hernandez threw a 99-pitch complete game, throwing 93 mph or faster on every pitch and reaching back for 99 in his final frame. His low-80s changeup is his best secondary. It’s an easy 70-grade offering that earns Dylan Lesko comparisons and features tremendous velocity separation and tumbling life. Hernandez uses a circle-change grip and will alter his thumb placement on the ball depending on whether he wants to generate more life to get a chase below the zone or take a bit off and spot it in the zone. Hernandez also throws a low-to-mid-80s slider and an upper-70s spike curveball that both have above-average potential. He ties the arsenal together with above-average control that could become plus thanks to his clean delivery. Hernandez is a Vanderbilt commit but has a chance to become the first prep righty ever drafted first overall.

7. Miami Marlins

Pick: SS Aiva Arquette
BA rank: 5

Reaction: It’s a tough year if you’re wanting to get an elite college hitter with one of the top picks in the draft, particularly compared to the last two years. That helped push up Arquette, a power-hitting shortstop who could develop into a 25-plus home run threat. It’s a power-over-hit profile, and for a player as big as he is, Arquette has his believers who think he might be able to stick at shortstop.

Scouting Report: Arquette became a premium transfer portal talent after a strong 2024 season at Washington where he hit .325/.384/.574 with 12 home runs, 14 doubles, a 17.5% strikeout rate and a 7.4% walk rate. Arquette took his talents to Oregon State for his 2025 draft campaign, where he slid from second base to shortstop for one of the nation’s top programs. Arquette has a major league body at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and finished the season as a .354/.461/.654 hitter with a career-best 19 home runs and a career-low 16.5% strikeout rate. Arquette is a free and easy righthanded swinger whose above-average bat speed from his strong frame leads to comfortably plus raw power. He has the ability to drive the baseball to all fields and has always shown impressive pull-side power that has come with its share of swing-and-miss tendencies. Arquette did a nice job improving his approach in 2025 and demonstrated improved plate discipline that led to a 12.6% walk rate—the best mark he’s had in a complete college season. Arquette moves well for his size, but he’s more of a solid runner underway and has never been much of a base-stealing threat. He’s more likely to slow down in the future as he continues to add mass to his hulking frame. Defensively, Arquette has shown an ability to handle shortstop and potentially stick there. He has a plus, accurate arm that fits nicely on the left side of the infield, where he prefers to throw from a lower slot and has reliable hands. He has experience at second, but might profile best as a slugging third baseman if he needs to move. Viewed by many as the top college bat in the class, Arquette should be a slam dunk top-10 pick.

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Pick: SS JoJo Parker
BA rank: 10

Reaction: Parker has been one of the biggest high school helium players of the last year. That’s because of the belief many scouts have in his hitting ability with a sweet, adjustable lefthanded swing and impressive barrel accuracy with an all-fields approach and good strike-zone judgment. There are questions about where he ends up defensively, but the Blue Jays are betting on one of the most advanced high school hitters in the nation. 

Scouting Report: Parker, whose given name is Joseph but goes by Jojo, has steadily climbed draft boards by hitting, hitting and then hitting some more. He’s a strong athlete with a powerful 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He has a picturesque lefthanded swing and a nose for the barrel. Parker has a case as one of the best pure hitters in the class, with real power to go with his polished hit tool. He starts with a narrow and open lower half, with the bat resting on his shoulder before taking a standard stride with a simple and quiet hand load to get the barrel into a good hitting position. The swing itself comes with solid bat speed and strength, and Parker does a nice job getting the barrel into different hitting zones depending on how he’s pitched. He has an eye for the zone, will take pitches when he needs to and is a proven hitter against both velocity and spin. He’s got all the ingredients to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. Parker is typically an average runner, but he has turned in some plus run times in workout settings in 2025. A shortstop now, he might slide off the position because he lacks typical quickness and actions. He does have an advanced internal clock, above-average arm strength and the work ethic to earn a chance to prove himself at the position. He could fit at third base, second base or an outfield corner. Parker is committed to Mississippi State but is expected to be a first-round pick. His twin brother Jacob is his Purvis High teammate and also a talented 2025 prospect.

9. Cincinnati Reds

Pick: SS Steele Hall
BA rank: 15

Reaction: Hall is an elite, quick-twitch, bouncy athlete with elite speed and acrobatic defense at shortstop. He’s a former member of the 2026 class, so he’s still 17, a factor that also helped push him up draft boards. I do like Hall, but this high up the board as a top 10 overall pick, there’s also a fair amount of risk here with his offensive game relative to other players who were available and are more advanced pure hitters.

Scouting Report: Hall is an exceptional athlete who will still be 17 years old on draft day and is one of the youngest players in the 2025 class. He was originally a member of the 2026 class but reclassified in November 2024. That made the 5-foot-11, 175-pound shortstop something of a mystery heading into 2025 because most scouts weren’t focusing on him during the 2024 showcase circuit. Hall had a tremendous offseason and packed a lot more strength onto his frame which, when paired with a dynamic tool set, rocketed him up draft boards and into first-round consideration. He is an aggressive hitter with a quick, handsy swing that comes with an operation that has been quieted down this spring. While he’s a hit-over-power righthanded bat, Hall’s improved strength and bat speed could lead to some 18-20 home run projections, though below-average or fringy in-game power production is more likely. He isn’t the most rhythmic or instinctive hitter and he’ll need to shore up some swing-and-miss tendencies against secondaries as he begins to see higher-quality pitching with more consistency. He’s a 70-grade runner who will turn in top-of-the-scale run times and plays the game with a high-energy, infectious style. Hall has all the tools to be an above-average shortstop defender. His short-area quickness is impressive, his hands are reliable and he also has an above-average arm to make all the required throws. Hall is committed to Tennessee but is a likely first-round pick who could easily go in the 10-20 range.

10. Chicago White Sox

Pick: SS Billy Carlson
BA rank: 9

Reaction: Carlson is the best defensive shortstop in the country. The actions are silky, he floats around the position with ease, clean hands and can finish plays with an elite arm. The split camp from scouts on Carlson is around his offensive game. Some evaluators have concerns about how much he will hit at higher levels or what type of impact he will develop given his slender frame. I shared some of those concerns when Carlson was younger, but I’m in the optimistic camp on his bat. The hand-eye coordination he shows in the field translates at the plate, where he has good bat-to-ball skills, and while I’m not sure he ever hits for big power, there’s surprising bat speed for a wiry teenager.

Scouting Report: California area scouts have spoken with anticipation about Carlson since his freshman days at Corona High, when he was just starting to show glimpses of his precocious baseball talent. At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Carlson is a lean and athletic two-way player who immediately stands out for his glovework and is regarded as one of—if not the best—defenders in the 2025 class. He has silky smooth actions in the field with clean hands, nimble footwork and a rocket of an arm that earns consistent 70-grade reviews. Carlson is more of an average runner without elite range to either side, but his advanced defensive instincts and arm strength should allow him to make all of the plays expected of a big league shortstop—and then some. He has real Gold Glove potential. Offensively, Carlson’s game centers on strong bat-to-ball skills, which give him a chance for an above-average hit tool. He has a narrow, upright stance with a high handset and a swing that can get stiff as he lunges at the ball at times, but he’s a high-level competitor in the box. He takes professional at-bats and can backspin the ball nicely to the opposite field. Carlson has a chance to develop average power potential, but scouts are split on how confident they are with that piece of his game. He would be a pro prospect on the mound as well, with a fastball up to 97 mph, a high-spin hammer curveball and a decent changeup. Carlson is a Tennessee commit and turns 19 shortly after the draft but is expected to be a top-15 pick.

11. Athletics

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12. Texas Rangers

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13. San Francisco Giants

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14. Tampa Bay Rays

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15. Boston Red Sox

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16. Minnesota Twins

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17. Chicago Cubs

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18. Arizona Diamondbacks

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19. Baltimore Orioles

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20. Milwaukee Brewers

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21. Houston Astros

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22. Atlanta Braves

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23. Kansas City Royals

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24. Detroit Tigers

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25. San Diego Padres

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26. Philadelphia Phillies

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27. Cleveland Guardians

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38. New York Mets (Supplemental)

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39. New York Yankees (Supplemental)

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40. Los Angeles Dodgers (Supplemental)

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