Eli Willits, 17-year-old shortstop, is the first pick of the 2025 Draft by the Nationals

Washington, D.C.– With the first overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals selected young shortstop Eli Willits, one of the most intriguing prospects in American amateur baseball.

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Willits, just 17 years and 216 days old, comes from Fort Cobb-Broxton high school in Oklahoma. He thus becomes the third youngest player in history to be selected with the first overall pick, and the youngest since the selection of Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. Only Tim Foli (1968) was younger at the time of his selection. Ranked as the number 5 prospect of the Draft according to MLB Pipeline, Willits is a switch hitter who projects best from the left side of the plate. He exhibits excellent discipline, advanced contact skills, and good speed, in addition to notable defensive instincts that profile him as a high-level shortstop or a potential center fielder.

Although his power at the plate is still developing, scouts project that he could hit between 10 and 15 home runs per season in the Major Leagues. Many experts already compare him to a youthful and more physical version of the Yankees shortstop, Anthony Volpe.

“I am excited and grateful to the Nationals organization for giving me this opportunity,” Willits said in an interview with MLB Network. “I want to thank God for everything. But at the end of the day, I’m just ready to go out and get to work.” Willits comes from a family linked to baseball. His father, Reggie Willits, played in the Major Leagues and is now a coach at the University of Oklahoma, where Eli had signed a commitment. His older brother, Jaxon, also plays in the same program. However, given his position as the first overall pick, Willits is expected to start his professional career immediately. Willits has already represented his country internationally. He was part of the United States 18U team in 2024, where he recorded a .345 OBP and drove in four runs in eight games, showing his ability to perform against high-level competition.