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Andy's 2025 MLB Draft analysis - dynasty fantasy baseball prospects and FYPD draft targets for first-year player drafts. Read about MLB draft prospect sleepers and risers.
The 2025 MLB Draft is now in the books, and our attention has shifted to first-year player drafts (FYPD), which means it is time to analyze which prospects possess the best skill sets that can translate to the major leagues.
In this piece, we will look at some of the top picks in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, including the top four picks, and analyze their projected dynasty fantasy baseball outlook, and even begin to determine their very early major league ETA.
Which prospects should we be keeping a close eye on? Who should be pushed up our draft board in FYPD? Are any of these players worth monitoring in redraft leagues in 2026? Let's dive in.
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Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals
Draft Position: Selected first overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 5
In a somewhat surprising move, the Washington Nationals selected 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits out of Fort Cobb-Braxton High School with the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Willits is one of the youngest players to ever be selected first overall, and for good reason.
MLB.com noted that the shortstop is an elite hitter but has slightly more upside batting from the left side of the plate. He has "outstanding" bat-to-ball skills and can hit line drives. The switch-hitter is also credited for not straying away from the strike zone, which is a notable sign of his young age.
He was given an above-average 60 grade on Hitting, a 60 grade on Run, and an Overall 60 score on MLB.com's scouting report. He fell slightly below average in power (45), but he can easily see that number increase as he matures in the Washington system.
Unlike last season, where several of the top players were drafted out of college and had a viable path to the big leagues early in their first professional season. Willits will likely need to wait several seasons. Pittsburgh's Konnor Griffin was the only player taken out of high school in last year's top 10 picks, and he was sent to Low-A at the start of 2025.
Fantasy managers should expect a similar outcome for Willits. While his upside is immense, given his raw profile and young age, he is unlikely to reach the upper minors until 2027.
If you take him in our FYPD, do not expect any MLB production til at least 2028.
SS Eli Willits (High School):
17 Years Old
.610 BA + 10 Home Runs in Spring
Youngest prospect in class— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) July 13, 2025
Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Draft Position: Selected second overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 18
If you thought the first pick was surprising, wait until you see this one. The Los Angeles Angels left everyone scratching their heads when they selected right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner out of UC Santa Barbara with the second pick. Entering the draft, MLB.com ranked Bremner as the 18th overall player in the class and the sixth overall pitcher.
Many projected LSU's Kade Anderson, Tennessee's Liam Doyle, or Corona High School's Seth Hernandez to be the first pitcher off the board.
Did the Angels make the right pick?
Bremner spent all three seasons of his collegiate career at Santa Barbara. In 2023, the right-hander logged just 55 1/3 innings to the tune of a 5.37 ERA. In 2024, the right-hander bounced between the rotation and bullpen but found much more success, holding a solid 2.54 ERA with an impressive 0.88 WHIP. During these 88 2/3 innings, he struck out 104 hitters and allowed only 21 walks.
This past season, Bremner continued to develop as he spent his entire campaign in the starting rotation. Through 77 1/3 innings of work, the 21-year-old posted a strong 12.9 K/9 (a two-point jump from 2024) and held a 3.72 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP.
Bremner deploys just three pitchers, his four-seamer, slider, and changeup, all of which have a varying degree of success. His four-seamer touches 98 mph and holds a solid 65 grade on MLB.com. His changeup is his top secondary pitch, earning a 65 grade on MLB.com, and has consistently generated a substantial number of whiffs. However, his slider still requires significant improvement, as it struggles to find the strike zone, with a modest 50 score on MLB.com.
While his four-seamer and changeup look quite impressive, he will need to develop a third pitch before being in contention to reach the majors. However, given the Angels' aggressiveness when promoting prospects and his three years of college pitching experience, that promotion could come early in 2026.
Starting the 2025 MLB Draft video thread!
The guy that impressed me the most at Collegiate Team USA trials this week: UC Santa Barbara RHP Tyler Bremner.
He has a 70-grade Dylan Lesko/Grayson Rodriguez-esque screw-action changeup. FB 97-98 SL 88-90 CH 82-84 for 1 inning. https://t.co/L0H1flvv1y pic.twitter.com/OKbvo4m09c
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) June 29, 2024
Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners
Draft Position: Selected third overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 2
The Seattle Mariners got an excellent value at the No. 3 slot, selecting a left-handed pitcher out of LSU. Anderson was one of the top pitchers in the nation and led the Tigers to win the College World Series. In the College World Series, Anderson was their best player, as he won the Most Outstanding Player award, logging 17 innings of one-run ball, including a complete-game shutout.
During the regular season, Anderson led all Division I schools in total strikeouts. He posted a remarkable 13.6 K/9 across 119 innings with a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
The left-hander's fastball doesn't blow hitters away with velocity, as it sits at 92-94 mph. However, don't let that fool you, as it played exceptionally well and was given a 60 grade on MLB.com. He mixed in a solid slider and a curveball, but his top secondary pitch is his changeup. This pitch received a 60 score on MLB.com's scouting report and was elite in striking out batters throughout the season.
Given his impressive final season in college, Anderson should quickly progress through the minor leagues. While he may not progress as quickly as former LSU graduate Paul Skenes, Anderson should be in the mix to debut later in the 2026 season.
He will join a Seattle rotation that is already full of stars such as Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and George Kirby. He will likely be the top pitcher selected in all FYPD.
What a year for Kade Anderson 🙌
⚾️ Led D-I in strikeouts (170)
⚾️ Won national championship
⚾️ Named MOP of the MCWS
⚾️ No. 3 pick in 2025 MLB draft@LSUBaseball | @Mariners pic.twitter.com/vQa4pJm2yU— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 13, 2025
Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Colorado Rockies
Draft Position: Selected fourth overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 1
Rounding out the top four picks is infielder Ethan Holliday, who was selected by the Colorado Rockies. Holliday's brother, Jackson Holliday, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Their father, Matt Holliday, was a seven-time All-Star who played most of his career with the Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals.
Ethan will now join the franchise his father called home for six MLB seasons.
Holliday entered the draft as the No. 1-ranked player on MLB.com. The 18-year-old has immense power upside for his age. Unlike his brother, who entered the draft as a more well-rounded player, Ethan possesses much higher power upside. MLB.com graded him with an eye-catching 65 Power score. They also noted that his 6-foot-4 frame paired with his elite left-handed swing can provide 35+ HR upside each season.
While his bat is unquestioned, he may struggle to play shortstop. He is not known for being the fastest player and could lose speed as he continues to mature. As a result, MLB.com noted that there is a good chance Holliday shifts to third base as he progresses through the upper levels of the minor leagues.
Similar to Willits, given his raw profile, he will have a long road ahead of him before reaching the major leagues. However, he has elite power upside that could make him a very valuable player once he reaches Coors Field.
He will not be on the redraft radar for a few seasons, but do not be surprised if he sits comfortably alongside Sebastian Walcott and Leodalis De Vries as the top hitting prospects in the game.
Ethan Holliday is a HUGE get for the #Rockies:
- Gatorade’s Oklahoma Player of the Year
- BA: .611
- SLG: 1.295
- OPS: 2.038
- Perfect Game’s #1 Ranked HS Prospect pic.twitter.com/qiA7ASgFqG— Christian Saez🎙 (@DNVRSaez) July 13, 2025
Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Draft Position: Selected sixth overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 3
After reviewing the top four picks, we will look at one more hitter and pitcher that stood out to me on draft day.
Sitting as the No. 3-ranked prospect on MLB.com's board, the Pirates may have gotten a steal at the sixth spot. While Hernandez was selected out of high school, unlike the other top arms, he carries just as much (and even more) upside.
Hernandez emerged as one of the top pitchers at the high school level last season when he won National High School Invitational MVP Honors after pitching a complete-game shutout. He then continued to dominate at several national showcases, including the Area Code Games.
The 19-year-old possesses an elite fastball. MLB.com graded this pitch with an excellent 70 score. This pitch can reach the upper 90s and has even hit triple digits at times during those showcases. He has two secondary pitches that were given a strong 60 score: his slider and changeup. MLB.com noted that his changeup appears to be his top secondary at the moment.
His curveball appears to be a true 12-to-6 spike curveball and has shown solid upside at times as well.
Prior to the draft, he verbally committed to Vanderbilt and would have joined an elite group of budding pitchers that attended that university, including Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. However, once he signs a contract with Pittsburgh, he will report to the lower levels of the minor leagues.
In last year's MLB Draft, Cam Caminiti (ATL) and Kash Mayfield (SD) were the only high school pitchers selected, and both reported to Low-A at the start of the season. Fantasy managers should expect Hernandez to follow a similar path. However, unlike those two names, he will be in early contention to sit as one of the top right-handed pitchers in the minor leagues alongside Travis Sykora and Trey Yesavage.
Corona (Calif.) HS righthander Seth Hernandez, the No. 4 draft prospect in the country, struck out 11 in a complete game today at the National High School Invitational. Here's all of his whiffs, plus some called third strikes. pic.twitter.com/NvC1QdTOwY
— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) April 11, 2025
Ike Irish, C/OF, Baltimore Orioles
Draft Position: Selected 19th overall
MLB.com Draft Prospect Ranking: No. 11
Rounding things out will be catcher/outfielder Ike Irish. Irish entered the draft sitting as the No. 11-ranked prospect on MLB.com, but the Orioles were able to select him with the 19th overall pick.
Irish has spent all three of his collegiate seasons with the Auburn Tigers. He showed steady improvement each season and finished his college tenure with an impressive .364/.469/.710 line, including 13 doubles and 19 home runs across 55 games in 2024. Irish swiped a career-high 11 bases and held a 37:33 K:BB.
While he typically played behind the dish for most of his time at Auburn, this past season, he also saw time in the outfield, which could be where the Orioles have him develop to provide more opportunities for growth offensively.
MLB.com gave Irish a solid 60 Hit grade and a 55 Power and 55 Arm score on his scouting report. However, he sits below average with a 45 Fielding and 40 Run score.
While his bat has shown high upside throughout his college career, many scouts have noted concerns due to the frequency of groundballs he hits. This was evident during his time in the Cape Cod League, where he hit just two home runs through 62 games. However, he will be given ample opportunities to improve his batted-ball profile in the minor leagues.
Given his college experience, Irish should have the opportunity to debut in the Baltimore system later this season and should be given the green light to open 2026 in the upper minor leagues. If he can continue to put the ball in the air, he could find himself contending for his MLB debut later next season.
With Adley Rutschman viewed as the franchise catcher and Samuel Basallo knocking on the door, fantasy managers should expect Irish to enter the major leagues as an outfielder.
Irish has the upside to emerge as one of the top bats in this class and is worth reaching for in FYPD.
Lucky us, we got Irish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/DQ3Oo2tPOK
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 14, 2025
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