WASHINGTON (7News) — The Washington Nationals selected high school shortstop Eli Willits with the number-one overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Sunday night from Atlanta.
Willits, a 17-year-old Oklahoma native, plays for Fort Cobb-Broxton High School. He’s the third-youngest player in history to be drafted first overall.
Known for his quickness in the infield and on the basepaths, Willits was the number-five draft prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
“Eli was the top guy on our board. It was one of those nice things where the scouts and the analysts see things exactly the same way,” Nationals interim General Manager Mike DeBartolo said. “[They] saw him as the best hitter in the draft, the best fielder in the draft, with just great makeup, great work ethic and all the intangibles. Everything came together, and it was a really collaborative and great process.”
Willits is the son of former Major Leaguer Reggie Willits, who played parts of six seasons from 2006-11 with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Nationals ended the first half of the season 38-58. The team has lost eight of its last nine games and sits at the bottom of the NL East.
The team fired longtime manager Davey Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo one week ago.