Between the Draft Combine and the Men's College World Series, the 2025 Draft is on everybody's mind this week. The MLB Pipeline Podcast crew is on site at Chase Field for the Combine as the best Draft-eligible prospects look to boost their respective stocks.
Each week leading up to the Draft, Jim Callis or Jonathan Mayo release a mock draft projecting how they think the first round may shake out. This week, they did it together on the MLB Pipeline Podcast with Callis and Mayo alternating picks based on intel they're hearing with the big night less than a month away.
Detailed scouting reports, grades and video for all players mentioned below can be found on MLB Pipeline's Draft Top 200 list. The rankings will be revamped and expanded to the Top 250 after the Combine concludes this week.
This is how Callis and Mayo see Round 1 shaking out:
1. Nationals: Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater (Okla.) HS (No. 1)
He's been No. 1 on our Draft list for some time now and still has the best chance at going No. 1 overall to the Nationals.
2. Angels: Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (No. 3)
If it isn't Holliday, Anderson has the best chance at going No. 1. If not, he is exactly what the Angels love -- a college guy who can reach the big leagues quickly.
3. Mariners: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State (No. 6)
This probably comes down to the best college bat or the best college arm. Arquette has separated himself among the college bats as the one who really fits in the top five picks or so.
4. Rockies: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (No. 4)
The Rockies can get a really polished college pitcher who maybe doesn't have Seth Hernandez's incredible ceiling but still has a really high ceiling and a really high floor.
5. Cardinals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS (No. 5)
The Cardinals would love to see Arnold available at five. If not, it'll come down to which high school shortstop they like the best or a college arm.
6. Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 2)
You're not drafting for need up top. Last year, they were only one of a couple of teams in the top 10 picks who would've taken Konnor Griffin over Bryce Rainer. Griffin had the highest ceiling of any player in the Draft last year. By that logic, they take the player with the highest ceiling in this year's Draft, and that's Hernandez.
7. Marlins: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS (No. 7)
If Willits is off the board, this is the next best high school shortstop.
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8. Blue Jays: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (No. 9)
Doyle's gone as high as No. 2 in our previous mocks, but his stock is down slightly. The Blue Jays go for a guy that two, three weeks ago they didn't expect being here.
9. Reds: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 8)
Another team waiting to see who might drop to them. If any of the top eight get to them, they won't try to get too clever. Witherspoon is the best college arm still on the board.
10. White Sox: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS (No. 10)
Parker's name is buzzy. He's been talked about as high as No. 2. If the White Sox grab him, they could take his twin brother, Jacob (Draft No. 107), in the second round.
11. Athletics: Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee (No. 17)
You don't want to automatically give the A's a college hitter, but they have recent history of drafting polished bats that reach the big leagues quickly.
12. Rangers: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek (Ga.) HS (No. 18)
There are so many high school shortstops, and when you line them up, Pierce doesn't come out the best in any tool. But he might have the second-best tool in almost every category.
13. Giants: Kayson Cunningham, SS/2B, Johnson (Texas) HS (No. 11)
Could be Cunningham, could be Steele Hall, could be Ike Irish. Cunningham has a plus hit tool.
14. Rays: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS (No. 13)
The Rays might want to take a pitcher here, but there may not be a pitcher who fits here necessarily. Hall is one of the best runners and best defenders in this year's prep shortstop class, earning comps to Trea Turner in high school.
15. Red Sox: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn (No. 21)
Boston can stick Irish in the outfield and let his athleticism and bat play. This might be the start of a mini-run on college bats.
16. Twins: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona (No. 19)
Minnesota continues the college bat trend with a player who might have as good all-around tools as anyone. If it all clicks, he's a 20/20 center fielder.
17. Cubs: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas (No. 22)
Another college bat -- one of the few still playing in the College World Series. Aloy has played himself into this range of the Draft with an excellent season for the Razorbacks.
18. Diamondbacks: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (No. 12)
A potential top 10 pick entering the year, Houston is probably the best defensive shortstop in the college ranks. But there are questions about the hit and the power tools.
19. Orioles: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak (Calif.) HS (No. 26)
He was the best pure high school hitter on last year's showcase circuit. His senior season was a little up-and-down, but this is probably the floor for as low as Fien stays on the board.
20. Brewers: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M (No. 15)
MLB Pipeline's No. 2 Draft prospect entering the year, LaViolette dropped after a not-stellar junior year for the Aggies. But his combination of physicality, athleticism and upside should start getting real intriguing if he remains available for this long.
21. Astros: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon (Wash.) HS (No. 27)
Neyens looked like one of the most dangerous high school power hitters at times. The swing-and-miss is a concern, but he still has a ton of ceiling.
22. Braves: Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas (No. 50)
The Braves are comfortable taking pitchers in the first round, and Wood is the hottest name after his historic 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series.
23. Royals: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset (Ore.) HS (No. 16)
Kansas City loves taking prep left-handers, so the top high school southpaw going to the Royals here makes too much sense not to predict.
24. Tigers: Slater de Brun, OF, Summit (Ore.) HS (No. 25)
Detroit has had a lot of success with high school hitters in recent Drafts, and de Brun gives off Corbin Carroll vibes.
25. Padres: Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) HS (No. 30)
San Diego has taken a high schooler with its first pick in nine consecutive Drafts. That streak doesn't end here. Hammond was a two-way player who turned himself into a first-round-caliber hitter.
26. Phillies: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 14)
They've gone high school with their last five first-round picks, but with so many prep targets off the board, Philadelphia could go with a college arm here. Bremner dropped in our rankings because of a slow start this spring, but he finished strong and could offer some value and upside at the back of the first round.
27. Guardians: Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee (No. 29)
Fischer fits the kind of left-handed power bat the Guardians covet. He cranked 56 homers in his college career, including 25 for the Volunteers this spring.
On the MLB Pipeline Podcast, Mayo and Callis are your tour guides through all the unfolding stories and breaking news of baseball's top prospects. Each week, you'll find out about the stars of tomorrow from the guys who know today. Download, subscribe and help others find the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes or your favorite platform.