The 2025 MLB Draft is underway in Atlanta, and FYM News is bringing you live updates, pick-by-pick analysis, and expert insights. This year’s draft promises to deliver tomorrow’s superstars, with teams strategically selecting talent to bolster their rosters. The Washington Nationals kicked things off by selecting Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) high school shortstop Eli Willits as the No. 1 overall pick.
Stay tuned as we cover all the notable selections, surprising picks, and emerging trends from this year’s MLB Draft. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of player dreams coming true and team strategies unfolding in real-time. The following coverage keeps you in the loop with who’s getting picked and why.
From the Nationals’ top pick to the Rockies selecting Holliday, FYM News provides real-time updates and expert analysis. Key points to watch include:
- The Nationals selecting Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) high school shortstop Eli Willits No. 1 overall.
- The Los Angeles Angels shocking observers by taking UC Santa Barbara pitcher Tyler Bremner at No. 2 overall.
- The Colorado Rockies selecting Ethan Holliday, son of former star outfielder Matt Holliday, at No. 4 overall.
Nationals Select Eli Willits No. 1 Overall
The Washington Nationals have selected Eli Willits, a shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, with the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Willits is known for his exceptional athleticism, strong defensive skills, and promising hitting potential.
This selection marks a significant moment for the Nationals, as they aim to rebuild their roster with young, high-potential talent. Willits’ versatility and leadership qualities make him a cornerstone for the future.
Austin Green notes, ‘The Nationals are betting on Willits’s upside and potential to develop into a star player.’ This pick reflects the Nationals’ focus on long-term growth and strategic player development.
Angels Surprise with Tyler Bremner Selection
In a move that surprised many, the Los Angeles Angels selected Tyler Bremner, a pitcher from UC Santa Barbara, with the No. 2 overall pick. Bremner’s selection deviates from pre-draft projections, which favored other highly-touted prospects.
Bremner’s strengths lie in his command and pitch accuracy, making him a valuable addition to the Angels’ pitching rotation. With this being said, Sam Blum reports on Angels pick Tyler Bremner who lost his mother, Jennifer, to cancer in June. “I know she’s watching over me and she’s so proud of me. In a weird way, I went to the Angels. It’s weird how life works. It’s a special moment.”
Rockies Select Ethan Holliday
The Colorado Rockies added to their organization by selecting Ethan Holliday, son of former MLB star Matt Holliday, with the No. 4 overall pick. Holliday brings a combination of hitting prowess and baseball pedigree, making him an exciting prospect for the Rockies.
Ethan Holliday embodies a blend of skill, determination, and baseball heritage, setting the stage for a promising career with the Rockies. His talent and background make him a player to watch as he develops within the Rockies organization.
Astros Draft Xavier Neyens
With the 21st pick, the Houston Astros selected Xavier Neyens, a sweet-swinging lefty shortstop from Mount Vernon HS (Wash.).
Keith Law said ‘He’s one of the top power bats in the class, with some concerns over his present hit tool; I know some teams didn’t have him in the first round because of concerns about swing and miss, while the power was probably top-ten worthy if you believe he’ll hit enough for it. He’s nominally a shortstop but will end up at third base.’
“The Astros take a sweet-swinging lefty shortstop from the high school ranks after some memorable postseason battles with Corey Seager in the 2017 World Series and 2023 ALCS,” reports Austin Green.
Brewers Add Andrew Fischer
The Milwaukee Brewers chose Andrew Fischer, a slugging first baseman from Tennessee, with the 20th overall pick.
Andrew Fischer nearly led D1 in homers, and boasted a hard-hit rate of 60% that was only behind Ike Irish’s among major-conference prospects this year. It’s actually not elite raw power; he hits it hard enough and puts it in the air so often that it produces plenty of homers by a different route. He also dramatically improved his approach at the plate this year, making more contact and better swing decisions across the board. The Brewers announced him as a third baseman, where he played a little this year, although I think he’s going to end up at first, reports Keith Law.
Orioles Pick Ike Irish
The Baltimore Orioles selected Ike Irish, a C/OF from Auburn, with the 19th overall pick.
Irish sliding to pick 19 is a bit of a shocker, as I know he was at least in consideration by several teams in the top ten; I’ll be curious to see what his bonus is, as the Orioles . He’s a catcher by trade but spent more time in the outfield this spring after he fractured his collarbone; he’s very much a work in progress out in right, although the hope is that the bat is good enough that it’ll profile anywhere. He makes a lot of hard contact and goes the other way as well as anyone in the class, according to Keith Law.
Diamondbacks Draft Kayson Cunningham
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Kayson Cunningham, a SS from Johnson HS (Tx.), with the 18th overall pick.
Arizona took another fun-sized player, and the sun rose in the east. Kayson Cunningham can hit — I knew a few people who ranked his bat up there with the best hit tools in the class — and he’s very strong for a smaller guy, projecting at least to hit for real gap power, with outstanding contact rates last summer. He’s 19 already, but with that propensity to hit even against better stuff, he should be able to move a little more quickly than the typical high school draft, reports Keith Law.
Cubs Choose Ethan Conrad
The Chicago Cubs selected Ethan Conrad, an OF from Wake Forest, with the 17th overall pick.
The Cubs provide the second real surprise of the first round so far (the Angels’ pick being the first), as they take Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad, who was in the midst of a breakout spring when he injured his throwing shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery in early April. He destroyed the Cape Cod League last summer and was doing the same in the early going in 2025, mostly against non-conference competition. He keeps his hands inside the ball well and showed increased power this year, although he’s still not that disciplined a hitter and might have more adjustments to make in the low minors than some of the Cubs’ other recent first-rounders. It’s a bet that the shoulder is fine and that he can keep raking the way he did over the last twelve months, reports Keith Law.
Twins Pick Marek Houston
The Minnesota Twins selected Marek Houston, a SS from Wake Forest, with the 16th overall pick.
Marek Houston is one of the safest picks in the draft, as he’s definitely a shortstop and seems extremely likely to hit enough to at least be a regular for someone in the majors. He started to hit the ball a little harder this year, although his career-high 15 homers were aided more than a little bit by Wake Forest’s Manhattan studio apartment-sized ballpark. He hit for average and a ridiculous .465 OBP on the Cape last summer as well, a very positive sign since that came with the wood bat. I don’t see a star here, but I do see an everyday player, notes Keith Law.
Red Sox Select Kyson Witherspoon
The Boston Red Sox selected Kyson Witherspoon, a RHP from Oklahoma, with the 15th overall pick.
Kyson Witherspoon was the top right-handed starter on my board, a very athletic right-hander with a five-pitch mix, and I think there’s some low-hanging fruit here if someone just helps him alter what pitches he uses to lefties. I heard some of the most positive notes on his makeup this spring that I heard on any player as well. He did slide a little on concerns about his unusual arm action, although he repeats it well and showed plus control in college. He’s a definite starter and should at least get to double A very quickly, reports Keith Law.
Rays Draft Daniel Pierce
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Daniel Pierce, a SS from Mill Creek HS (Ga.), with the 14th overall pick.
The Rays picking Pierce is a little bit of a surprise, as I’d heard them with more college players than high school this year. Pierce is a no-doubt shortstop who shows at least four of the five tools, with some disagreement over what kind of power he’ll ultimately have. He’s closer to average now, but some scouts and analysts think he’s going to get to plus, as he flashes that kind of hard contact already. I see some similarities between his profile and that of outfielder Theo Gillen, the Rays’ first-round pick last year, according to Keith Law.
Cardinals Draft Liam Doyle
The St. Louis Cardinals chose Liam Doyle with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The excitement is palpable with this selection! While scouting director Randy Flores remains cautiously optimistic, he doesn’t hesitate to put a potential timeline on if Liam Doyle could fast-track to the majors, as he’s clearly floored with the selection.
“(Doyle) threw a lot of innings this year,” Flores said. “We need to find out his physical capacity, what his goals are regarding whether he wants to throw this year or not. From that, we’ll figure out a work plan for him for both this summer and the offseason.”
Flores highlights Doyle’s unique abilities, saying, “He has a very unique fastball. Not only is the shape unique, the velocity is a level above his peers. There are a range of outcomes of any player, and his range of out comes includes an extremely high floor, and the ceiling is through the roof. … When we saw that he could be in play as the board unfolded, everyone was excited.”
Conclusion: A Promising Start to the 2025 MLB Draft
The 2025 MLB Draft has kicked off with a series of intriguing selections and surprising picks, setting the stage for a new wave of talent to enter professional baseball. From the Nationals’ choice of Eli Willits to the Angels’ unexpected selection of Tyler Bremner, the first round has already provided plenty of storylines and talking points.
Stay connected with FYM News for continuous coverage, in-depth analysis, and exclusive insights as the 2025 MLB Draft unfolds. We’ll be here to guide you through every pick, trade, and emerging star, providing a comprehensive look at the future of MLB.
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