In a thrilling twist of fate, the Washington Nationals were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft after winning the third-ever MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. It’s a big moment for the Nats, who haven’t held this spot since 2010—when they made a game-changing selection in Bryce Harper, a future MVP and a franchise cornerstone. Introduced as part of the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, the lottery aims to reduce tanking and promote fairness.

Now, the first six picks are up for grabs, and with a few rules in place to keep things spicy—like limiting how many consecutive years teams can enter—the odds are always changing. That being said, a few teams were notably absent from this year’s lottery fun – the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics, due to their recent revenue-sharing status, were ineligible. Tough break for them, but hey, better luck next year, right?

What is the MLB draft : Knowing about the yearly affair   

The MLB Draft is one of the most thrilling events in baseball, where teams can add fresh talent to their rosters and young players realize their lifelong dreams. According to Refrsports.com, the Draft occurs annually in June or July, consisting of 20 rounds, with 30 teams selecting players based on the previous season’s standings. The team with the worst record picks first, creating a reverse order designed to help balance competitive strength across the league. In total, there are 600 picks, each offering the potential for a future star to emerge. 

The draft order itself is crucial to team strategy. Teams can receive compensatory picks if they lose key free agents, further impacting their ability to strengthen their roster. However, the goal isn’t to reward failure but to level the playing field and encourage improvement. For scouts and executives, this is a high-stakes game of evaluating talent, not just for immediate impact but also for long-term potential. A successful draft class can set a team up for years of triumph, while a poor one can delay a rebuilding process or derail a playoff push.

Rules, regulations, and format   

In recent years, the MLB Draft has added Draft Combine, where top prospects show off their skills in front of scouts, coaches, and team brass. It’s like a talent show meeting a pressure cooker, where players can climb the draft board—or drop-down—depending on how they perform in drills and scrimmages. Whether crushing home runs, making jaw-dropping catches, or striking out batters with heat, the combination allows teams to see how these young stars handle the spotlight.  

When it comes to eligibility, High school graduates need to be at least 17, while college players can enter after their junior or senior years, or if they’re 21. Junior college players have more flexibility, as they can enter the draft at any time. And it’s not just about domestic players; international prospects have their own route into the league through international free agency, with each team having a set budget to sign global talent.  

Even referees are quietly helping shape the future. Their job is to ensure fair and consistent officiating at every level—high school, college, or even the minors—giving scouts an accurate picture of players’ performance. Once players are drafted, they dive into the world of rookie contracts. To prevent teams from just outbidding one another for the best players, like in free agency, MLB’s slot value system gives each pick in the first ten rounds a predetermined premium. 

When is the 2025 MLB draft? Players to look at: Projections for the draft 

The Washington Nationals are holding all the cards with the first overall pick in what is sure to be an incredible spectacle of a 2025 MLB Draft. All eyes will be on them when the draft begins on July 13 after they secured this position by winning the draft lottery in December. Who will the Nats pick to start the celebration? Right now, the consensus top two picks are Ethan Holliday, a dynamic prep shortstop from Oklahoma, and Jace LaViolette, a power-hitting outfielder from Texas A&M.  

Holliday is drawing comparisons to some of the best young shortstops, and LaViolette’s bat speed and raw power have scouts seriously buzzing. On the mound, Jamie Arnold, a lefty from Florida State, and Tyler Bremner, a hard-throwing righty from UC Santa Barbara, are considered the best arms in the class. These guys are poised to be the stars of this year’s draft, and every team with a pick would keep a close eye on how they perform as the season unfolds.

There will be a lot of excitement for the Compensation Round and Competitive Balance Round A. The catch is that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers are all fined for surpassing the luxury tax threshold, which means their first-round selections are pushed back ten spots. Teams lower in the draft order now have the chance to acquire some hidden jewels that might have been unattainable in a more conventional arrangement.

What do you think awaits for the 2025 draft? Don’t hold back on your thoughts, keep sharing!