2025 MLB Draft Time: Start Date, TV Schedule, and How to Watch Live on ESPN and MLB Network

The 2025 MLB Draft is just around the corner, with the first round kicking off July 13 at 7 PM ET in Atlanta. ESPN and MLB Network will broadcast the event live, featuring top prospects like Ethan Holliday and Kade Anderson.

This year’s draft spans 20 rounds over three days, with the Washington Nationals holding the coveted No. 1 pick. Fans worldwide can stream coverage via MLB.com, ensuring no moment is missed from this pivotal event for baseball’s future stars.

When is the 2025 MLB Draft? Key Dates and Start Times

The 2025 MLB Draft will kick off on Sunday, July 13th at 6:00 PM ET in Atlanta, Georgia, continuing through July 15th. This year’s event is strategically timed to coincide with MLB All-Star Weekend, creating a baseball spectacle for fans. The draft will unfold over three days:

• Day 1 (July 13): Rounds 1-3 (6:00 PM ET on ESPN/MLB Network)
• Day 2 (July 14): Rounds 4-10 (11:30 AM ET on MLB.com)
• Day 3 (July 15): Rounds 11-20 (12:00 PM ET on MLB.com)

The scheduling genius here is undeniable—tying the draft to All-Star Weekend creates a baseball immersion weekend that fans will flock to. Strategically placing Day 1 in primetime ensures maximum viewership for the marquee picks.

How to Watch the 2025 MLB Draft: Complete TV and Streaming Guide

Coverage of the 2025 MLB Draft will be split between traditional television broadcasts and digital streaming platforms:

• Television: ESPN and MLB Network will air Day 1 with a combined broadcast team featuring analysts like Jessica Mendoza and Greg Amsinger.
• Streaming: MLB.com will provide live coverage of all rounds, including expert commentary and real-time draft tracker updates.
• International: MLB.tv subscribers globally can access the draft, while Canadian viewers can watch via Sportsnet.

Special Coverage Features

Both ESPN and MLB Network will offer unique perspectives: ESPN focusing on player profiles and MLB Network providing in-depth scouting analysis. MLB.com’s stream will include:

• Real-time draft board updates
• Team draft rooms camera feeds
• Instant analysis after each pick

The multi-platform approach is smart—casual fans get the polished TV product while hardcores can deep dive into analytics on MLB.com. What’s missing is a dedicated YouTube stream for younger audiences.

Top Prospects to Watch in the 2025 MLB Draft

The 2025 draft class is headlined by prep infielder Ethan Holliday, brother of MLB star Jackson Holliday. The top 5 projected picks currently are:

The Holliday family pedigree is undeniable, but Kade Anderson’s collegiate dominance against SEC competition makes this the most interesting #1 debate since Strasburg vs. Ackley in 2009.

Draft Order Breakdown: Teams With Multiple Picks and Penalties

The Washington Nationals hold the coveted first overall pick, but several teams have competitive balance selections:

• Nationals: Pick #1 (owed to worst record) and #43 (Competitive Balance Round A)
• Mets/Yankees/Dodgers: Pushed back 10 spots for exceeding luxury tax thresholds
• Guardians: Hold three of the top 50 picks due to competitive balance and compensation selections

Most Valuable Draft Capital

These teams have the most flexibility in the 2025 draft:

Watch the Pirates—they’ve nailed recent drafts and now have the bonus pool to be aggressive with overslot picks after round 10. Their player development system is finally catching up to their scouting.

Draft Strategy Trends: What Teams Are Prioritizing in 2025

Scouts report several key trends shaping this year’s draft strategies:

• Prep Infielder Boom: 8 of the top 15 projected picks are high school position players
• College Pitching Depth: Mid-round value clusters of polished collegiate arms
• Signability Concerns: Several top prospects have strong college commitments (e.g., Vanderbilt, LSU)

The prep infielder trend reflects teams valuing positional flexibility early—these athletes often project at multiple spots. But beware: for every Bobby Witt Jr. success story, there’s a Bubba Starling cautionary tale.

Historical Context: How the 2025 Draft Class Compares

Scouts compare the 2025 class to recent drafts:

• 2019: Similar depth of college pitching (Adley Rutschman year)
• 2021: Comparable prep position player crop (Marcelo Mayer draft)
• 2023: Parallels in top-end talent (Paul Skenes/Dylan Crews)

Notably absent from the 2025 class are:

• Elite college bats (unlike 2023’s Crews/Langford)
• Flame-throwing prep arms (2022’s Lesko/Dylan Lesko)

This draft lacks the consensus generational talent we saw with Rutschman or Skenes, but the 15-50 range might be the strongest in a decade. Teams picking in that sweet spot could land future All-Stars.