Yikes, ESPN...

New York Times

5 days ago

Follow live as hundreds of prospects will be selected today in rounds 4-20 of the 2025 MLB Draft Getty Images
The 2005 White Sox had a 20th anniversary reunion this past weekend and during media availability on Friday, we spent a lot of time asking guys if the team gets enough respect, with the context that ESPN and other national outlets consistently forget about that team's success. The players agreed it was kind of a joke, especially given they went 11-1 in the playoffs. And then, lo and behold, on the MLB Draft, ESPN anointed the Houston Astros, who were swept in four games, as the winners of that World Series. Getty Images
The Rockies end up with the top player on my board, and I would say if he's the, uh, plurality vote for #1, in a year when we had nothing close to consensus on who the best guy was. Ethan is a power-hitting shortstop with excellent hands and a strong arm; if he doesn't stay at shortstop because he outgrows it, he could be a Scott Rolen-esque third baseman.
He has shown some propensity to swing and miss, much more than Jackson ever did as an amateur, although I think there are some mechanical issues the Rockies can iron out once they get their hands on him. Rockies fans have had a rough year, but this is fantastic news for the organization. Getty Images
Full circle for the Holliday family!
A full 27 years after the Rockies selected Matt Holliday in the seventh round of the 1998 MLB Draft, the former Colorado star's younger son joins the same team. Getty Images
The Mariners got the guy most people, myself included, thought would go 1-1, LSU's ace lefty Kade Anderson, who led Division 1 in strikeouts and led the Tigers to the College World Series title. He's very polished and probably has the most complete arsenal of any of the top pitchers in the class. There's some disagreement over what his ultimate ceiling might be, whether he's more of a good #2 or more of a dependable mid-rotation guy. He seems like he's very close to big-league ready, though, and that also fits the Mariners' desire to contend next year and beyond. Getty Images
There it is — the star of the Tigers' run to a second College World Series in three years goes third overall to Seattle.
Pick #2 is the first shocker of the night, as the Angels take Tyler Bremner — who pretty clearly had no idea they were taking him — betting that the UCSB right-hander's late-season surge is more indicative of who he'll be as a pitcher than the guy many of us saw get knocked around earlier in the spring. He's got an easy plus changeup and can hit 97, with the four-seamer playing up thanks to the presence of the change, while his slider has been inconsistent and is hindered by his delivery.
He's a big strike-thrower, though, and came into the year as the top college right-hander in the class. He lost his mother just a month ago to cancer, which many people who know Tyler thought was affecting him during the season, as it would affect just about anybody.
If recent history is an indicator, it's pretty likely that Tyler Bremner will be wearing red and white in Orange County, Calif. before too long. The Angels have fast-tracked several prospects to the big leagues in recent years — at least one Angel has been among the three fastest draftees to reach the big leagues in each of the past five draft classes, including all three fastest in the 2022 draft class (Zach Neto, Ben Joyce and Victor Medros).
Woah, a stunner! Bremner was all the way down at No. 16 on Keith Law's top 100. The Angels are clearly fond of the polished right-hander, who won't have to travel far down the California coast. Getty Images
The Angels have long followed a draft pattern under GM Perry Minasian. A ready-made college player has been taken every first round, and has almost always signed for under slot value.
This draft, and the No. 2 overall pick, present a fascinating conundrum for the front office. Stick with that approach, and get a college player that could debut possibly this season. Or take a high schooler that might take years to develop, in a system that has been famously poor at player development.
Minasian has drafted for big league need in years past, and might do so again in 2025. Taking a high school player of any kind might be the smart thing to do, but it would also be very anomalous. There are people in the organization with differing viewpoints, and it will fascinating to see where they land.
The Nationals take one of the youngest players in the draft class in shortstop Eli Willits, son of former big leaguer Reggie Willits, and a darling of analytical models because of his age, position, and propensity for making contact. He's a plus defender at short already and might end up better than that, while his swing is short and compact, aimed at putting the ball in play, without much loft or impact right now. He won't turn 18 until December, so he has more time to fill out than just about any other player in the draft, and scouts had a wide range of opinions on how much power he might ultimately get to. His contact skills and overall feel for the game are separating tools. He wasn't first or second on my board but he does have the upside of a potential star who anchors the infield for years.
Woah, that's a bit of a shocker! Instead of a top college pitcher, Washington goes with the talented but young high school shortstop out of Oklahoma.
Manfred's example of how teams build through the draft:
"35 years ago, the Braves selected a high school infielder from Florida named Chipper Jones."
The mention of the Braves legend draws a cheer from the crowd in Atlanta.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is at the podium to open the draft.
We're almost set for the 2025 MLB Draft!
Remember, you can get involved in our coverage tonight by sending us an email: [e-mail] Getty Images
One thing to watch during tonight's broadcast — are any of the draft picks actually in the building? MLB didn't send around a list of attendees this year and they haven't shown any players there in the pre-draft show thus far.
They moved the draft from June to July to try to give this event more national hype even though no one in the industry likes that move as it cuts into scouting for the next year's class, runs into the trade deadline and makes it hard for players (especially pitchers) to jump into pro ball with such a long break between the end of their seasons and the draft.
But if they aren't going to have players at the draft, what is the point of moving it to All-Star weekend? Getty Images
Round 1, Pick 10: White Sox take Tennessee LHP Liam Doyle
Pretty sure this would be a dream scenario for the White Sox. I've heard them with Seth Hernandez, Steele Hall, Kruz Schoolcraft and JoJo Parker too. Getty Images
Round 1, Pick 9: Reds take Florida State LHP Jamie Arnold
I don't know for sure if the Reds would take Arnold or Liam Doyle here in this very weird scenario where two of the best college pitchers in the draft fall to picks nine and 10.
Round 1, Pick 8: Blue Jays take Purvis HS (Miss.) SS JoJo Parker
The Blue Jays will either take a high school shortstop or college pitcher. In this scenario, I think they'd be debating between Parker and Liam Doyle.