Breaking Down the 2025 MLB Draft: How the Nationals Surprised Everyone
This year's MLB Draft was strange. The odds were kicked off by the Washington Nationals surprising everybody and taking high school shortstop Eli Willits. They were expected to take left-hander Kade Anderson from LSU, who instead fell to the Mariners with the third overall pick. Many of the top selections were unexpected, as six of the first ten picks were out of high school, the first time that has happened since 2002. It was also the first year since 2012 that there was only one hitter selected in the top ten. Finally, a significant number of shortstops were picked early. This marked the first year ever that there were nine shortstops taken, before there had never been more than five taken.
There was serious discussion about where Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year, Ethan Holliday, would end up. The high school senior was fittingly selected by the Rockies with the fourth overall pick, the organization that similarly drafted his father, Matt Holliday. Ethan is committed to Oklahoma State University, but is likely joining the Rockies' farm system as soon as he is ready. He joins a small group of brothers all drafted in the top overall, including his brother, Orioles star Jackson Holliday, who was picked first overall in 2022. If Ethan Holliday reaches the MLB as he is expected to do eventually, he will join a rare yet distinguished club of brothers both active in the MLB. Currently, only the Naylor brothers, Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor, the famous Nola brothers, and the Rogers twins, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Rogers, are the active siblings in the MLB.
The MLB draft, unlike other major sports, is difficult to decipher. Selectees often don’t play in the majors for several years, and there isn’t as much emphasis on their importance. While drafting plays a pivotal role in setting up an MLB team’s future, we will have to wait and see how these high schoolers and some college players pan out. With that, several fan bases can feel excited for what their future brings. Mariners found themselves in an exciting position to land LSU’s Kade Anderson, and the National’s organization seems prepared to make as many bold decisions as they can to change the trajectory of their franchise.
