More MLB family ties
Rounds 1-3 of the 2025 MLB Draft are complete in Atlanta with the Washington Nationals selecting Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) High School shortstop Eli Willits No. 1 overall.
The Los Angeles Angels shocked observers by taking UC Santa Barbara pitcher Tyler Bremner at No. 2 overall. The Seattle Mariners took LSU left-hander Kade Anderson, who helped his team win the 2025 College World Series, at No. 3 while the Colorado Rockies selected Ethan Holliday, son of former star outfielder Matt Holliday, at No. 4.
Day two of the draft, encompassing Rounds 4 through 20, starts at 11:30 a.m. ET Monday.
Read below for updates expert analysis from The Athletic's team of MLB writers for all 105 picks from the draft's first three rounds Sunday. Get involved: live@theathletic.com
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Nationals pick Eli Willits with the No. 1 selection of the 2025 MLB Draft
Lots of bloodlines in this range of the draft. Cam Leiter, nephew of Al and Mark Leiter, just went to the Dodgers in the second round. Right-hander has had injury issues but the Dodgers have some upside here to work with. Imagn Images
The Phillies take Iowa LHP Cade Obermuller No. 63 overall.
The Guardians take Tennessee SS Dean Curley No. 64 overall.
The Dodgers take Florida State RHP Cam Leiter No. 65 overall.
The Guardians take Arizona OF Aaron Walton No. 66 overall.
Kyson Witherspoon said at the MLB combine that his mom has never had to choose which team to watch because both he and his twin brother Malachi have always been on the same teams. She'll need to invest in split jerseys now, as Kyson went in the first round to the Red Sox and Malachi just got picked by the Tigers. Some big AL battles ahead!
Malachi Witherspoon is the twin brother of Kyson Witherspoon, who was drafted No. 15 overall by the Red Sox tonight. What a night for the Witherspoons!
The Braves selected Florida State SS Alex Lodise No. 60 overall.
The Royals selected Tulane RHP Michael Lombardi No. 61 overall.
The Tigers selected Oklahoma RHP Malachi Witherspoon No. 62 overall. Imagn Images
The Cardinals selected Houston HS (Tenn.) OF Ryan Mitchell No. 55 overall.
The Cubs selected North Carolina OF Kane Kepley No. 56 overall.
The Mariners selected Don Bosco Prep HS (N.J.) Nick Becker No. 57 overall.
The Orioles selected Michigan State LHP Joseph Dzierwa No. 58 overall.
The Brewers drafted Vanderbilt LHP J.D. Thompson No. 59 overall.
As Austin mentioned, Quentin Young is the nephew of Dmitri and Delmon Young. He also put on a big show at the MLB Draft Combine. Getty Images
Some more family ties in the opening night of this year's draft: Longtime Twins fans likely remember Quentin Young's uncle Delmon Young, who was an outfielder in Minnesota from 2008-2011. Dmitri Young, Delmon's brother and Quentin's uncle, also played at the MLB level. Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Reds take Trinity Christian Academy (Fla.) RHP Aaron Watson No. 51 overall.
The Texas Rangers take Tennessee P AJ Russell No. 52 overall.
The Tampa Bay Rays take Aliso Niguel HS (Calif.) SS Cooper Flemming No. 53 overall.
The Minnesota Twins take Oaks Christian HS (Calif.) SS Quentin Young No. 54 overall.
The Pirates get the draft's two top high school righties in Seth Hernandez and Angel Cervantes, both out of Southern California. Imagn Images
The Athletics selected Indiana OF Devin Taylor No. 48 overall.
The Nationals selected South Carolina OF Ethan Petry No. 49 overall.
The Pirates selected Warren HS (Calif.) RHP Angel Cervantes No. 50 overall.
Chase Shores seems like the most Angels pick — he closed out LSU's College World Series win, and I bet he shows up in the majors this year.
Brandon Compton was a standout at the MLB Draft Combine. People watching his batting practice were buzzing about it. Imagn Images
The second round of the 2025 MLB Draft is underway! Here are the first four picks so far...
The White Sox selected Nazareth Academy (Il.) OF Jaden Fauske No. 44 overall.
The Rockies selected Southern Mississippi RHP JB Middleton No. 45 overall.
The Marlins selected Arizona State OF Brandon Compton No. 46 overall.
The Angels selected LSU RHP Chase Shores No. 47 overall.
MLB is reporting Kade Anderson has agreed to a deal for $8.8 million by the Mariners already. Imagn Images
Miami takes the player who led Clemson to a national seed berth in this year's NCAA baseball tournament, and with that, we're headed to the second round.
Brendan Summerhill came into the year as a likely top-15 pick, but showed very little power this spring, and teams shied away from him due to some makeup concerns. He missed time with a fractured hand, which explains at least some of the lost power, and he maintained his strong command of the strike zone even when he wasn't producing. He hasn't looked good in center and is going to stay in a corner. Imagn Images
The Dodgers appear to have done all of their scouting in Fayetteville - not a bad strategy, mind you. Davalan, like Zach Root, spent just one year as a Razorback, but emerged as one of the team's top two hitters, walking more than he struck out, poking 14 homers, and enough sock to project above-average power. If he can play centerfield, this will go down as a steal of a pick; even if he's in a corner it seems like great value.
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