With the Nationals choosing first general, it feels applicable to have a look at a few of the prime names within the 2025 Draft. Heading into the season, there are three gamers who rise above the remaining in Ethan Holliday, Jace Laviolette, and Jamie Arnold. Nonetheless, this can be a fluid scenario, and the race for the primary choose feels extra fluid than most years. The spring season will inform us a ton.
The largest identify on the checklist is Ethan Holliday, the son of MLB star Matt Holliday, and the brother of Orioles teen and former primary choose Jackson Holliday. He’s the primary prospect on the MLB Pipeline draft rankings. Ethan is construct extra like his dad than his smaller brother, with a 6’4 200 pound body at simply 17 years previous. He performs shortstop now, however tasks as a 3rd baseman long run. Holliday’s largest promoting level is his immense uncooked energy. He has already posted exit velocities above 110 MPH, a rarity for somebody that younger. Holliday can develop into authentic 30 plus house run energy, and in addition shows a affected person method on the plate.
He’s additionally very marketable, and would create an excellent enjoyable Beltway rivalry between himself and his brother in Baltimore. The factor stopping Holliday from being a consensus prime choose is a bent to swing and miss. Throughout the summer season showcases, he had some strikeout points. It’s not to the extent of former Nats prime 5 choose Elijah Inexperienced, however it’s one thing to observe.
The very best faculty hitter within the class is Jace Laviolette. He’s the highest prospect in line with Baseball America. Laviolette put up monster numbers at Texas A&M final season. Whereas Laviolette is an outfielder, his profile is just like Holliday in a number of methods. He’s an influence over hit participant who has a ok hit software. Laviolette is a 6’6 behemoth with big energy, and strikes gracefully for his dimension. In some methods, he’s just like James Wooden as nicely, additionally possessing a complicated method. This spring will probably be big for Laviolette. If he manages to chop down on the swing and miss whereas conserving his prodigious energy, he has the potential to be a giant favourite to go no 1. With huge upside and SEC pedigree, Laviolette has an opportunity to make an enormous splash and drive the Nationals hand.
The highest pitching prospect within the 2025 draft is Jamie Arnold of Florida State. Like most excessive octane lefties with a low arm slot do, Arnold attracts comparisons to Chris Sale. His mid 90’s fastball generates huge swing and miss numbers as a result of its flat method angle. Hitters merely can’t choose up the pitch out of his hand. Regardless of the funky mechanics, Arnold throws loads of strikes and his stuff holds up nicely deep into outings. He additionally has a wipeout slider that could be a devastating weapon significantly towards left handed hitters.
In practices this winter, Arnold has been throwing his changeup extra typically, and it has flashed plus potential. Whereas Arnold might not have the uncooked velocity of a Paul Skenes, he might have an analogous rise to the highest of draft boards. Arnold shares some similarities with final years fifth choose, Hagen Smith. Nonetheless, Arnold is extra refined and his changeup is additional alongside than Smith.
These are the three prime names that Nats followers needs to be watching heading into the spring season. In a draft with no Bryce Harper sort prospect, there are many different guys who might stand up boards and make a case to be the primary choose with a robust season. The draft will probably be a giant subplot to the Nats season that we are going to cowl right here on Federal Baseball.
