2025 MLB Draft: Date, time, format, draft order and top prospects
The uncertainty this year doesn't simply revolve around the player to be chosen with the No. 1 overall selection when Major League Baseball's 30 teams convene to make their picks in Atlanta beginning Sunday, July 13 as part of MLB All-Star week. The Washington Nationals, who won the MLB draft lottery, have an interim general manager at the helm of their front office after abruptly firing longtime GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 7.
Predictions and mock drafts vary for what the Nationals might do 15 years after taking Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with the No. 1 overall picks in back-to-back MLB drafts. There are promising high school options like shortstop Ethan Holliday or pitcher Seth Hernandez and dynamic players from the college ranks such as LSU Collee World Series ace Kade Anderson and Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette to choose from.
Here's a breakdown of what to know heading into the 2025 MLB Draft, including the date, time and draft order for the first round, the draft format and pick designations, top prospects and how to watch on July 13-14.
MLB MOCK DRAFT: Final breakdown of top prospects for 2025
When is the 2025 MLB Draft?
The 2025 MLB Draft is scheduled to take place on June 13-14 in Atlanta as part of MLB All-Star week.
2025 MLB Draft first round order
CLICK HERE: Full 2025 MLB Draft order for all 20 rounds
How many rounds are in the 2025 MLB Draft?
The MLB draft consists of 20 rounds of picks, with several sub-categories of picks in between certain rounds. The first three rounds will take place on Sunday, July 13, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ESPN and MLB Network. Rounds 4-20 are slated for Monday, July 14, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, with live streaming coverage on MLB.com.
There are also compensation picks awarded throughout the first four rounds, as well as a prospect promotion incentive pick after the first round this year. In addition, there remain two rounds of competitive balance picks, with Competitive Balance Round A between the first and second rounds and Competitive Balance Round B between the second and third rounds of picks.
Competitive balance picks are used as a way to help MLB teams from the 10 smallest markets and the 10 MLB teams with the lowest revenue in MLB. Fewer than 20 team are eligible, because some qualify under both categories. All eligible teams are assigned a pick in either Competitive Balance Round A or Competitive Balance Round B.
If a team that is a revenue-sharing recipient loses a qualifying free agent to another team for a contract worth more than $50 million overall, the team is awarded a compensation pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. If a player who is on a team's Opening Day roster was rated as a preseason top 100 prospect by at least two of three designated ranking lists (MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and/or ESPN) and goes on to win MLB's Rookie of the Year Award, that club is awarded a prospect promotion incentive selection after the first round.
Here's a breakdown of the additional picks for the 2025 MLB Draft:
2025 MLB Draft: Top prospects
How to watch 2025 MLB Draft: TV, live streaming
The 2025 MLB Draft will take place over two days (July 13-14) in Atlanta, with the first three rounds on Sunday, July 13 and rounds 4-20 on Monday, July 14. The first 43 picks, including the entire first round, will be televised by ESPN and MLB Network. The first round of the MLB draft is also available stream on Fubo, which is offereing a free trial to new subscribers.
The second and third rounds on Sunday will be broadcast by MLB Network. Day 2 of the MLB draft, with rounds four through 20, will be live streamed on MLB.com.
Stream 2025 MLB Draft on Fubo
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