2025 MLB Draft order: Who has the first pick?

The Washington Nationals will pick first in the MLB Draft this weekend, after the team from the U.S. capital benefited from a “good lucky bounce” in the Draft Lottery.

It will be the third No. 1 selection in the franchise’s two-decade history. The Nationals were previously given first Draft choice in 2009, when they recruited pitcher Stephen Strasburg, and in 2010, when they opted for first baseman Bryce Harper.

Who will Washington pick this year?

The Nationals, who also have day-one picks at No. 43 and No. 80, appear likeliest to go with LSU Tigers pitcher Kade Anderson or Stillwater High School prospect Ethan Holliday. Anderson leads the betting for No. 1 pick, with moneyline odds of -220, per DraftKings Sportsbook.

“The Nats are still looking at a larger group of candidates, but […] we think it’s largely down to Anderson and Ethan Holliday here,” wrote MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo on Thursday.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel agrees that there appears to be only “a small chance of another player being the choice”.

2025 MLB Draft - first-round order:

1. Washington Nationals

2. Los Angeles Angels

3. Seattle Mariners

4. Colorado Rockies

5. St. Louis Cardinals

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

7. Miami Marlins

8. Toronto Blue Jays

9. Cincinnati Reds

10. Chicago White Sox

11. Athletics

12. Texas Rangers

13. San Francisco Giants

14. Tampa Bay Rays

15. Boston Red Sox

16. Minnesota Twins

17. Chicago Cubs

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

19. Baltimore Orioles

20. Milwaukee Brewers

21. Houston Astros

22. Atlanta Braves

23. Kansas City Royals

24. Detroit Tigers

25. San Diego Padres

26. Philadelphia Phillies

27. Cleveland Guardians

Take a look at the complete 2025 MLB Draft order on the league’s official website.

Nationals GM out after “incredible” Draft Lottery win

At December’s Draft Lottery in Dallas, Washington secured this year’s top pick after starting with a 10.2% chance, in the wake of a 71-91 regular season in 2024. That was only about half the Lottery likelihood assigned to the Colorado Rockies, the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels.

“It was incredible - it’s something that’s a good lucky bounce for us,” said the Nationals’ then-general manager, Mike Rizzo, in the aftermath of the team’s Draft Lottery win. “We’ll get the player of our choice.”

Rizzo no longer has any say in the Nationals’ Draft choice, however, after he and team manager Dave Martinez were fired last weekend.

Rizzo and Martinez led Washington to the franchise’s only World Series title in 2019, but the 38-55 Nationals are currently bottom of the National League East and heading for a sixth straight season without making the playoffs. Mike DeBartolo has taken over as interim GM, while Miguel Cairo has been appointed as interim manager.

“Mike DeBartolo is a smart and thoughtful executive, and we’re fortunate to have him as part of our organization,” Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner said in a statement.

“As we hold the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft and look ahead to the Trade Deadline, we are confident in his ability to lead the baseball operations staff through these next, important months.”

How to watch the MLB Draft in the U.S.

Staged at the Coca-Cola Roxy theater in Cumberland, Georgia, the 2025 MLB Draft is to be held on Sunday, July 13, and Monday, July 14.

• Day one (rounds one to three): from 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
• Day two (rounds four to 20): from 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT

Viewers in the United States can tune in to day one of the MLB Draft on MLB Network (all picks) and ESPN (first 43 picks only). Day two will be available on MLB.com.

If you’re in the U.S., you can stream MLB Network and ESPN on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.

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