Nationals Choose First in 2025 MLB Draft; How Final 10 No. 1 Picks Have Fared

The Washington Nationals, who’re greater than midway by their sixth consecutive shedding season since profitable the 2019 World Sequence, have the No. 1 decide within the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday night. 

After firing each their common supervisor Mike Rizzo and supervisor Dave Martinez every week in the past, it is unclear who the Nationals will take with the primary general decide. Will or not it’s infielder Ethan Holliday, the youngest son of former MLB star Matt Holliday? May LSU left-hander and nationwide champion Kade Anderson hear his identify referred to as?

A method or one other, the draft is an inexact science — furthered by the implementation of the MLB Draft Lottery in 2022 — with 20 rounds and gamers typically being traded earlier than they even attain the massive leagues.

That mentioned, here is how every of the final 10 No. 1 picks has fared.

Travis Bazzana hasn’t but reached the massive leagues. (Picture by George Kubas/Diamond Photos through Getty Photos)

Bazzana flaunted energy and pace whereas enjoying a number of positions at Oregon State, however he has primarily performed second base in Cleveland’s minor-league ranks. So far, Bazzana hasn’t reached the massive leagues however has risen to the group’s Double-A Akron affiliate. 

Paul Skenes began for the Nationwide League within the 2024 All-Star Recreation. (Picture by Joe Sargent/Getty Photos)

Skenes has been sensational. Making his MLB debut simply 10 months after being drafted out of LSU, the hard-throwing right-hander immediately turned an elite power. Skenes has pitched deep into video games, stored runners off the basepaths at an elite clip and posted strikeouts at a excessive price whereas throwing as many as seven pitches, however primarily a four-seamer, split-fingered fastball and sweeper. The starter for the Nationwide League within the 2024 MLB All-Star Recreation, Skenes has a profession 1.98 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 301 strikeouts over his first 43 MLB begins (254 innings pitched).

Jackson Holliday made his MLB debut in 2024. (Picture by G Fiume/Getty Photos)

“No … there’s one other” is what the baseball world was informed after Holliday, the older son of seven-time All-Star and World Sequence champion Matt Holliday, was chosen with the foresight of his youthful brother, Ethan, on the horizon. Chosen out of highschool, Jackson Holliday reached the massive leagues in 2024 however struggled to the tune of a .189 batting common. In his first full season on the MLB stage in 2025, Holliday has flaunted some energy from the left aspect whereas holding his personal as Baltimore’s on a regular basis second baseman.

C Henry Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates (2021)

Henry Davis has performed in 146 profession MLB video games. (Picture by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Images through Getty Photos)

This can be a distinctive one, as Skenes and Davis turned the primary battery of former No. 1 picks to start out a recreation collectively earlier this season. As for the backstop, Davis reached the massive leagues in 2023 however has been up and down from the MLB roster, showing in a mixed 144 video games. Throughout his 44 appearances behind the plate for the Pirates this season, Davis has posted 1 DRS. For what it is value, throughout Davis’ mixed minor-league profession, the previous Louisville backstop has raked, boasting a profession .529 slugging proportion.

Drafted as a 3rd baseman, Spencer Torkelson has performed first base for the Tigers. (Picture by Mitchell Layton/Getty Photos)

Torkelson was referred to as as much as the Tigers in the course of the 2022 season, and it has been a seesaw trip, however the potential is clear. Drafted as a 3rd baseman, Torkelson has solely performed first base on the big-league stage. On the plate, the highly effective right-handed hitter blasted 31 house runs in 2023 and has hit 21 lengthy balls this season, whereas boasting a career-high .494 slugging proportion. Torkelson, an Arizona State product, is among the many faces of a Tigers crew that owns one of the best document in MLB this season (59-37).

Adley Rutschman helped the Orioles make the playoffs in 2023 in his second season. (Picture by Peyton Stoike/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Photos)

One other Oregon State star drafted with the No. 1 decide, Rutschman hit the bottom working with the Orioles in 2022, shortly changing into one of many stars of the crew. The switch-hitting catcher has appreciable energy, strikes nicely on the basepaths and has been the most effective all-around backstops within the sport over his three-plus years on the scene. A two-time All-Star and 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner, Rutschman was the runner-up for the 2022 American League Rookie of the 12 months Award. He averaged 20 house runs and 80 RBIs per season from 2023-24.

RHP Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers (2018)

Casey Mize has 9 wins within the 2025 MLB season. (Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Photos)

Like his Tigers teammate and beforehand talked about No. 1 decide Torkelson, Mize has endured a roller-coaster profession however one which has made a flip for the higher. After making seven begins in 2020, the right-hander posted a believable 3.71 ERA over 30 begins in 2021. Nonetheless, Mize then required Tommy John surgical procedure two begins into the following 12 months and missed the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023 because of restoration from the elbow harm. In 2024, Mize made 22 appearances (20 begins) and is now pitching at an All-Star stage. By his first 16 begins of 2025, the Auburn product has recorded a 3.15 ERA and 1.22 WHIP throughout 88.2 innings. Furthermore, Mize has been capable of successfully preserve a five-pitch arsenal: four-seamer, split-fingered fastball, slurve, slider and sinker.

Royce Lewis has been held again by accidents, enjoying in simply 181 video games over the previous three seasons. (Picture by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos)

Lewis brings the ability. Since arriving in 2022, he has hit for energy and with effectivity. The difficulty for Lewis, who was chosen out of highschool, has been accidents, particularly his knee and hamstring, which have restricted him to a mixed 193 video games. When wholesome, Lewis is a power to be reckoned with. Whereas flashing leather-based on the sizzling nook, Lewis averaged 16 house runs, 50 RBIs and a .493 slugging proportion throughout 70 video games per season from 2023-24 and cranked 4 house runs for Minnesota within the 2023 postseason.

Mickey Moniak has performed for 3 MLB groups (Picture by Meg Oliphant/Getty Photos)

Moniak’s MLB profession has been an journey. After receiving minimal enjoying time with the Phillies from 2020-22, Moniak was traded midseason to the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he did not grow to be a full-time starter till 2023. In mentioned season, Moniak was restricted to 85 video games however nonetheless managed to complete 14 house runs, 45 RBIs and a .495 slugging proportion. Following a tedious 2024 marketing campaign, the Angels launched Moniak in spring coaching, and he signed with the Colorado Rockies, with whom the outfielder is within the midst of a profession 12 months. Throughout 78 video games, Moniak has totaled 13 house runs and 32 RBIs whereas proudly owning a .256/.303/.520 slash line. Whereas strikeouts have been a problem, Moniak has proven indicators of promise within the type of his energy and has began in any respect three outfield positions all through his profession.

Dansby Swanson received the 2021 World Sequence with the Braves. (Picture by Rob Tringali/MLB Images through Getty Photos)

The Diamondbacks drafted Swanson first general, however he was despatched to the Atlanta Braves 5 months later as a part of a blockbuster commerce that despatched right-handed pitcher and 2015 All-Star Shelby Miller to Arizona. The deal labored out fairly nicely for the Braves, as Swanson, who first debuted in 2016, turned the most effective shortstops within the sport. Whereas it took a while for the ability to return alongside, the Vanderbilt star was stellar on the middle-infield place and averaged 26 house runs and 92 RBIs per season from 2021-22. Swanson earned one Gold Glove and one All-Star nod with the Braves, with whom he received the 2021 World Sequence, earlier than becoming a member of the Chicago Cubs after the 2022 season. 

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