The 2025 MLB Draft has concluded, with the two-day event running Sunday and Monday.
The first three rounds were held Sunday night at the Coca Cola Roxy next to Truist Park in Atlanta, the site of this week’s All-Star Game festivities. The rest of the draft, the fourth round through the 20th and final round, was held all day Monday.
Organizations selected the top high school and college players from around the country as they stock their farm systems with the crop of players they hope will one day become big-league stars, or at least contributors.
The Washington Nationals held the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and selected Oklahoma high school shortstop Eli Willits, who at 17 years old became the youngest player taken No. 1 overall since the Seattle Mariners took Ken Griffey Jr. with the top pick in 1987.
It’s safe to say that pick turned out pretty well.
As for the Cubs and White Sox, they each selected three players during the first three rounds Sunday, then both teams made the rest of their selections on Monday. Here’s a detailed look at each team’s first three draft picks, as well as a listing of the rest of their picks.
Visit MLB.com to see all selections and more breakdown from the draft.
Cubs
Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest
Round: 1; Pick: 17
Bats: Left; Throws: Left
Height: 6-3; Weight: 220
The lowdown: With their first-round pick, the Cubs selected Conrad, a college outfielder who transferred from a smaller school to ACC program Wake Forest prior to last season. After slashing .389/.467/.704 and leading NCAA Division I with 13 triples at Marist in 2024, Conrad had a great summer in the Cape Cod League, according to MLB.com, before landing at Wake Forest. He was having a strong season there this spring before he injured his throwing shoulder diving for a ball and subsequently undergoing season-ending surgery.
What does MLB.com scouting report say? Strong gap-to-gap hitter with steady left-handed swing. Aggressive hitter who chases pitches out of the zone, but compensates with great hand-eye coordination. Has strength and bat speed to develop at least average power, but concerns that he doesn’t drive the ball to his pull side enough. Speed is solid but not great, probably profiles best in right field with average arm strength.
Kane Kepley, OF, North Carolina
Round: 2; Pick: 56
Bats: Left; Throws: Left
Height: 5-8; Weight: 180
The lowdown: The Cubs took another left-handed college outfielder from the ACC with their second-round pick. So it seems they were looking for talent closer to MLB-ready at the top of their draft, as opposed to high school prospects who may have a higher upside but are less developed. As for Kepley, according to MLB.com, he got no NCAA Division I scholarship offers out of high school due to his small stature, but he earned a starting job as a walk-on at Liberty in 2023 and then had an All-Star season in the Cape Cod League. He subsequently transferred to North Carolina, where he ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in steals and led the ACC with a miniscule 7% strikeout rate.
What does MLB.com scouting report say? On-base machine who excels at putting the ball in play and rarely chases out of the strike zone. Not big and has a flat swing that worries some about how much impact he can make offensively, but good bat speed could lead to some pull power from left side. Has plus speed and makes up for below-average arm with great speed, range and instincts, making him a viable center fielder.
Dominick Reid, P, Abilene Christian
Round: 3; Pick: 90
Bats: Right; Throws: Right
Height: 6-3; Weight: 201
The lowdown: The Cubs took another college player with their third-round pick, this time a pitcher. According to MLB.com, Reid transferred to NCAA Division I Abilene Christian in Texas after pitching just 19 1/3 innings at more-high profile Oklahoma State over his first two college seasons. Reid blossomed into a starter this spring at Abilene Christian and set the program’s NCAA Division I record with 112 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings.
What does MLB.com scouting report say? Moves a running fastball around the zone at 91-94 mph, but can reach 96 with carry at the letters or sink at the plate. Best pitch is 82-84 mph change-up with fade and sink, but doesn’t have much confidence in low-80s breaking ball that rarely fools hitters. Strong frame, athletic delivery and consistently able to throw strikes, but will likely need to develop better breaking ball to remain in rotation at next level.
Other picks, by round (overall in parentheses)
4 (121). Kaleb Wing, P, Scotts Valley HS (California); 5 (151). Kade Snell, OF, Alabama; 6 (181). Josiah Hartshom, OF, Orange Lutheran HS (California); 7 (211). Pierce Coppola, P, Florida; 8 (241). Jake Knapp, P, North Carolina; 9 (271). Colton Book, P, Saint Joseph’s (Pennsylvania); 10 (301). Justin Stransky, C, Fresno State; 11 (331). Eli Jerzembeck, P, South Carolina; 12 (361). Connor Spencer, P, Ole Miss; 13 (391). Nate Williams, P, Mississippi State; 14 (421). Kaemyn Franklin, P, Victory Christian (Oklahoma); 15 (451). Noah Edders, P, Troy University (Alabama); 16 (481). Riely Hunsaker, P, Lamar (Texas); 17 (511). Logan Poteet, C, UNC Charlotte; 18 (541). Connor Knox, P, George Mason (Virginia); 19 (571). Caleb Barnett, 3B, Mountain Brook HS (Alabama); 20 (601). Freddy Rodriguez, P, University of Hawaii.
White Sox
Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (California)
Round: 1; Pick: 10
Bats: Right; Throws: Right
Height: 6-1; Weight: 185
The lowdown: The White Sox went with a high school shortstop for their first-round pick, and Carlson played at high-profile Corona in Southern California, which won USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational last year. According to MLB.com, Carlson’s skills at shortstop have been displayed at a variety of big showcase summer events, like the Area Code Games and MLB’s High School All-American Game. He had committed to play in college at Tennessee.
What does MLB.com scouting report say? Line-drive hitter from right side of the plate with potential to develop average or better power. Speed is on the upswing, but glove is really his best attribute right now. Some scouts ranked him as high as 70 on arm strength and defensive actions at shortstop. Was thought to be a legit two-way prospect at one time, with fastball in the mid-90s and good breaking ball on the mound. Only 19 years old, so age may have scared off some teams looking for older, more developed players.
Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy (Illinois)
Round: 2; Pick: 57
Bats: Left; Throws: Right
Height: 6-3; Weight: 200
The lowdown: The White Sox went with another high school player with the first pick of the second round this year, and he’s a local kid. Fauske played at Nazareth Academy in west suburban La Grange Park, helping lead the program to back-to-back IHSA Class 3A state titles in 2022-23 when he was a freshman and sophomore. According to MLB.com, Fauske could be the best high school catching prospect in this year’s draft, but teams don’t think he wants to play much behind the plate after spending his junior season in high school as a DH and much of his showcase and senior season in the outfield. Fauske was named the Gatorade State Prep Player of the Year. He had committed to play in college at LSU.
What does the MLB.com scouting report say? Smooth, left-handed swing with disciplined plate approach who can hit gap-to-gap. A bit too patient at times, but should be able to develop 20-homer power as he gets stronger. Great speed for a catcher but just solid for a center fielder, so likely to wind up on a corner. Average arm strength but quick transfer, so could be adequate behind the plate if he wants to play there. The bat is what makes him an intriguing prospect, most of all.
Kyle Lodise, SS, Georgia Tech
Round: 3; Pick: 76
Bats: Right; Throws: Right
Height: 5-11; Weight: 180
The lowdown: The White Sox also had the first pick in the third round this year and selected a second shortstop, this one from the college ranks. Lodise has a twin, Alex, who also played in the ACC, at Florida State, and both had great springs. According to MLB.com, Kyle Lodise was lightly recruited as a Georgia high school player and first went to NCAA Division II Augusta, where in two seasons he slashed .349/.450/.584 with 23 homers and 44 steals. He then transferred to Georgia Tech and put up similar numbers as a junior against better pitching.
What does the MLB.com scouting report say? Solid right-handed hitter with disciplined plate approach and ability to use whole field. Hits the ball harder than smaller stature would suggest, but struggled in wood-bat Cape Cod League, leading to questions about power ability in pro ball. Good speed and instincts and high baseball IQ, but average range and arm strength make him more likely to be a second baseman or utility player, rather than a shortstop, at next level.
Other picks, by round (overall in parentheses)
4 (106). Landon Hodge, C, Crespi Carmelite HS (California); 5 (137). Gabe Davis, P, Oklahoma State; 6 (166). Colby Shelton, SS, Florida; 7 (196). Anthony DePino, 3B, University of Rhode Island; 8 (226). Blaine Wynk, P, Ohio State; 9 (256). Riley Eikhoff, P, Coastal Carolina; 10 (286). Daniel Wright, P, Iowa; 11 (316). Matthew Boughton, SS, Covenant HS (Texas); 12 (346). Ely Brown, OF, Mercer University (Georgia); 13 (376). Rylan Galvan, C, Texas; 14 (406). Max Banks, P, Washington; 15 (436). Caedmon Parker, P, TCU; 16 (466). Kaleb Freeman, Utility, Georgia State; 17 (496). Derek Cerda, OF, Kansas; 18 (526). Landen Payne, P, Southern Mississippi; 19 (556). Nick Weyrich, P, Marshall (West Virginia); 20 (586). Andrew Sentlinger, P, Virginia Tech.
Chicagoland draft picks
Jaden Fauske was the highest-drafted player with Chicagoland ties this year, but he wasn’t the only player with Chicagoland ties selected.
After Sunday’s first three rounds, a slew were selected throughout the rest of the draft on Monday, both right out of high school and from various colleges.
Here’s a look:
- Joshua Flores, P, Lake Central HS (St. John, Ind.): Milwaukee Brewers, 4th round, No. 125 overall.
- Conor Essenburg, OF, Lincoln-Way West HS (New Lenox): Atlanta Braves, 5th round, No. 157 overall.
- Jack Wheeler, 3B, Morris Community HS: Texas Rangers, 6th round, No. 175 overall.
- Shai Robinson, SS, Illinois State (Homewood-Flossmoor HS): Minnesota Twins, 10th round, No. 299 overall.
- Alex Barr, P, Kankakee Valley HS (Wheatfield, Ind.): Athletics, 12th round, No. 350 overall.
- George Bilecki, OF, Lewis University (Marist HS, Chicago): San Diego Padres, 12th round, No. 370 overall.
- Ethan Storm, P, Rock Valley College (Sycamore HS): Tampa Bay Rays, 13th round, No. 387 overall.
- Luke Mensik, P, Lincoln-Way Central HS (New Lenox): San Francisco Giants, 17th round, No. 506 overall.
- Luke Nowak, OF, University of Illinois Chicago: Kansas City Royals, 17th round, No. 518 overall.
- Ethan Moore, SS, Oak Park and River Forest HS: Cincinnati Reds, 18th round, No. 534 overall.
- Julius Sanchez, P, University of Illinois (LaSalle-Peru Township HS): Texas Rangers, 18th round, No. 535 overall.
- Jimmy Anderson, SS, Heartland CC (Joliet West HS): Baltimore Orioles, 19th round, No. 574 overall.
- Estevan Moreno, SS, Notre Dame (Montini Catholic HS, Lombard): Seattle Mariners, 20th round, No. 602 overall.