ATLANTA — The 2025 Major League Baseball draft kicked off Sunday with a mix of surprises and historic moments, setting the stage for a new generation of talent to make its mark on the sport. The Washington Nationals stunned many by selecting 17-year-old high school shortstop Eli Willits from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School, Oklahoma, with the No. 1 overall pick. This choice marked a significant departure from expectations, as many anticipated the Nationals to choose either Ethan Holliday, another highly touted high school infielder, or LSU’s standout left-hander Kade Anderson.
Interim Nationals general manager Mike DeBartolo explained the decision during a video conference, saying, "We considered Ethan Willits the best hitter in the draft and the best fielder in the draft. It made this very easy for us." Willits, who does not turn 18 until December 9, 2025, is a 6-foot-1 switch-hitter known for his exceptional bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and strong defense at shortstop. At 17 years and 216 days old, he is the youngest No. 1 overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.
Willits’ selection comes just a week after the Nationals fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, moves that signaled a major shift in the franchise’s direction. Despite the upheaval, Willits expressed confidence and gratitude, telling MLB Network, "I'm excited, thankful to the Nationals organization for giving me this chance... I'm ready to get to work." He added, "I feel like I have good hittability and I'm going to take that to the next level. And I feel like my power is up and coming, but I needed to get into an organization like the Nationals that can help develop that and take that to the next level."
Notably, Willits is the son of former major league outfielder Reggie Willits, who played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and later coached with the New York Yankees. This second-generation player led his high school team to its third consecutive state championship and boasts impressive statistics, including a .473 batting average, 14 doubles, eight home runs, 47 stolen bases, and only four strikeouts in his senior season.
Right behind Willits, the Los Angeles Angels made a bold move by selecting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner with the No. 2 pick. Bremner, a 6-foot-2 right-hander with a fastball sitting between 93 and 96 mph, also features a plus changeup and slider. This season, he posted a 3.49 ERA with a Big West-leading 111 strikeouts over 77⅓ innings. Bremner’s selection was especially poignant as it came just a month after his mother passed away from breast cancer. Reflecting on the moment, Bremner said, "I know she's out there watching, and in a weird way, I went to the Angels. It's weird how life works, so, it's a special moment."
The Seattle Mariners followed by selecting LSU left-hander Kade Anderson with the No. 3 pick. Anderson, who was named Most Outstanding Player at this year’s College World Series, won both of his starts with a remarkable 0.56 ERA, leading LSU to their second championship in three years. He dominated Division I with 180 strikeouts over 119 innings and was a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, following in the footsteps of former LSU Tiger and 2023 No. 1 pick Paul Skenes. The Mariners reportedly agreed to an $8.8 million signing bonus with Anderson, about $700,000 less than the slot value for the No. 3 pick.
At No. 4, the Colorado Rockies made a sentimental yet strategic choice by selecting high school shortstop Ethan Holliday from Stillwater High School, Oklahoma. Ethan is the son of Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and former Rockies star who made three All-Star teams with the franchise during the 2000s. Ethan’s impressive senior year included a .611 batting average, 19 home runs, a 1.295 slugging percentage, and a 2.038 OPS. He is also the first top-five pick to be drafted by the same team his father played for, a rare family milestone. Ethan’s brother, Jackson Holliday, was the No. 1 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022, making the Hollidays the third set of brothers to go within the top 10 picks, joining the Uptons and Youngs.
Other notable selections in the top 10 highlighted the draft’s emphasis on shortstops, with six of the first 10 picks being high school players at that position. Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle was taken No. 5 by the St. Louis Cardinals after a dominant college season where he posted a 10-4 record, 3.20 ERA, and set a program record with 164 strikeouts. Right-hander Seth Hernandez, the Gatorade National Player of the Year from Corona High School in California, went No. 6 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hernandez, who also excelled as a hitter, could soon join a Pirates rotation alongside Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Hernandez remarked, "Paul Skenes is unbelievable. I obviously know Jared Jones, so to be able to go through the process with them, be able to learn from those guys, is unbelievable." Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette was selected No. 7 by the Miami Marlins, the only college hitter among the top 10 picks, marking a rare shift in recent draft trends.
The Toronto Blue Jays picked right-hander JoJo Parker at No. 8, followed by Alabama shortstop Steele Hall at No. 9 to the Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox selecting Corona High School shortstop Billy Carlson at No. 10. Carlson, ranked the No. 3 prospect nationally and the No. 2 shortstop by Perfect Game, joins Hernandez as one of the first high school teammates ever selected in the top 10 of the same draft.
Interestingly, the 2025 draft marked the first time in 13 years that only one college hitter (Arquette) was selected within the top 10, and the first time since 2002 that six of the top 10 picks were high school players. The Tampa Bay Rays’ selection of Daniel Pierce at No. 14 represented the ninth shortstop taken, setting a record for the position in a single draft. Additionally, no outfielders were chosen within the first 15 picks, only the third time this has happened in draft history.
Beyond the top 10, several other college standouts made their mark. Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold was picked No. 11 by the Oakland Athletics, while Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon went No. 15 to the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs took a chance on Wake Forest right fielder Ethan Conrad at No. 17, despite his season-ending shoulder surgery in March. Left-handed shortstop Brady Ebel, son of Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, was drafted No. 32 by the Milwaukee Brewers, helping Corona High School become the first school to have three players selected in the first round of a single draft.
The draft’s first three rounds, encompassing 105 picks, took place Sunday, with rounds four through 20 scheduled for Monday. The event was hosted at a small concert venue adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta, the site of the upcoming Home Run Derby and All-Star Game. Though fans filled the venue, no draftees were present, as many agencies advised their clients to avoid attending to maintain negotiation leverage.
As the 2025 MLB draft unfolds, the influx of young talent, particularly at the shortstop position, promises to reshape the league’s future. With intriguing storylines ranging from second-generation stars like Willits and Holliday to pitchers like Bremner and Anderson overcoming personal challenges and dominating on the mound, baseball fans have plenty to watch for in the years ahead.
