Nationals Kick Off 2025 Amateur Draft with Exciting First Pick: Meet Eli Willits!

The Washington Nationals have made a bold choice by selecting high school shortstop Eli Willits as the first overall pick in the 2025 draft. At just 17 years old, Willits is now the youngest first overall selection in the draft’s history. Coming from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, he steps into a challenging role, following in the footsteps of notable past picks like Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.

This year’s draft was unpredictable, with no clear favorite. Complicating matters, the Nationals recently fired their longtime president of baseball operations, Mike Rizzo, along with manager Dave Martinez. Assistant GM Mike DeBartolo stepped up as the interim general manager, but he assured reporters that Willits has been their top choice all along.

One interesting angle is that Willits may sign for less than the $11.07 million slot value of the first pick. This could give the Nationals more financial flexibility in their overall bonus pool of approximately $16.6 million, allowing them to attract more talent later in the draft.

While some people were surprised by the pick, Willits had strong backing. He was ranked third by Baseball America and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, and fifth by Fangraphs and MLB Pipeline. Keith Law of The Athletic placed him eighth.

Evaluators praise Willits for his speed, strong arm, and potential to stay at shortstop. As a switch-hitter, he’s noted for his contact skills. The main question is how much power he can develop, but some believe he can hit around 15 home runs in the big leagues.

Though he may not carry the same hype as Strasburg or Harper, Willits represents a new chapter for the Nationals. The team hasn’t had a winning season since their 2019 World Series triumph. Recently, they finished with a disappointing 71-91 record, the sixth-worst in baseball. Ownership is clearly looking for change, which makes this pick even more significant.

As the Nationals rebuild, Willits could become a cornerstone for the future, inspiring hope for fans eager for a turnaround.



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