The 2025 MLB Draft will be remembered for many things—bold moves, record-setting trends, and stunned reactions—but most of all, for how completely it upended expectations from the very first pick.

Analysts, scouts, and fans were left scrambling as the top of the draft board unraveled in ways few could have predicted. While projections pointed to names like Ethan Holliday and Kade Anderson leading off the night, the actual selections turned the consensus upside down—starting with a high school shortstop from Oklahoma and a college arm few saw coming so early.

Nationals Shock the World with Eli Willits at No. 1

When the Washington Nationals stepped up with the first overall pick, most experts expected them to take either LSU pitcher Kade Anderson or shortstop Ethan Holliday, the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday. Instead, they went all-in on Eli Willits, a 17-year-old shortstop out of Oklahoma who wasn’t widely considered a frontrunner for the top spot.

Willits, while certainly talented, was projected to go in the top 10—not at the very top. Known for his advanced plate discipline, switch-hitting ability, and smooth glove work, Willits is considered a long-term project. The Nationals are clearly betting on upside and makeup, but the pick caught nearly everyone off guard.

“It’s one of the most surprising No. 1 picks in recent memory,” said ESPN analyst Kiley McDaniel. “He’s got tools, but to go over Holliday and Anderson? That’s a bold move.”

Angels Take Tyler Bremner at No. 2—Another Stunner

As if one surprise wasn’t enough, the Los Angeles Angels followed with an equally shocking move by selecting Tyler Bremner, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara. Bremner had an excellent junior season and showed late helium in draft circles, but few imagined him cracking the top five—let alone No. 2.

Sources indicate the Angels may have used a bonus-pool strategy, taking a slightly less expensive player early in hopes of saving money for aggressive signings later in the draft. Even still, Bremner’s selection at No. 2 raised eyebrows across the league.

Star Talent Falls into Lucky Hands

The biggest beneficiaries of the surprise top picks were teams like the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies. Seattle landed Kade Anderson at No. 3, a lefty with polished command and big-game experience. Meanwhile, Colorado scooped up Ethan Holliday at No. 4, a player many expected to go first overall.

In many ways, these two teams walked away with the night’s best value picks—players with elite tools and strong track records who fell simply due to unexpected chaos at the top.

A Record-Breaking Night for Shortstops

Another headline from the night: a record 17 shortstops were taken in the first round. That includes both high school and college players, underscoring the league-wide belief in the positional value and athletic upside of shortstops.

In fact, the first 10 position players taken were all shortstops—a trend that’s never happened before in draft history.

“Teams are prioritizing versatility and long-term ceiling,” said MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds. “You can always move a shortstop to second or third, but you can’t always move someone into shortstop.”

What It All Means

The 2025 MLB Draft’s first round sent a clear message: teams are thinking long-term, betting on upside, and not afraid to challenge expectations. Whether the bold strategies of the Nationals and Angels pay off remains to be seen—but one thing’s certain: this was one of the most surprising drafts in recent memory.

As the dust settles, fans will be watching closely to see how players like Eli Willits and Tyler Bremner develop, and whether the more “safe” picks like Anderson and Holliday ultimately become the stars most expect them to be.

Top 5 Picks Recap:

1. Washington Nationals – Eli Willits, SS, High School (OK)

2. Los Angeles Angels – Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

3. Seattle Mariners – Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU

4. Colorado Rockies – Ethan Holliday, SS, High School (OK)

5. Athletics – Jordan Knox, SS, Georgia Tech

The rest of the draft promises to be just as interesting, especially with so many top talents still available. But one thing is certain: the 2025 draft began with a bang—and left baseball fans with plenty to talk about.