The Washington Nationals have been playing a better brand of baseball at the Major League level as of late, going 4-6 in their last ten games against some of the best teams in the league. While Monday night's 10-0 loss to the New York Yankees was a disappointing result, it wasn't entirely unexpected, given the significant talent discrepancy between the two clubs. It's not exciting to watch the Nats play every day right now, but there are plenty of players to watch in the minor leagues. Two players drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft are making an immediate impact at the Single-A level, giving Nats fans a glimpse of the future.
Eli Willits
Just over two months ago, the Washington Nationals selected Eli Willits with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. While it was a surprise to some, the selection gave the Nats flexibility to spend more money in the following rounds with pitchers Landon Harmon and Miguel Sime Jr. Willits, just 17 years old, was assigned to the Fredericksburg Nationals last Thursday and has made an immediate impact.
In four games, Willits is hitting .429/.529/.958 with three RBIs and two walks. In 14 at-bats, the switch-hitting shortstop has struck out just once. In the field, Eli has shown range with a diving play to his left and a strong arm, throwing a batter out after fielding a ball deep to his right. His left-handed swing is very smooth, while his right-handed swing is more compact and to the point. The first overall pick also swiped a base in his first career game, in which he went 3-4 with two RBI and one walk. The early returns on Eli Willits are extremely positive from Fredericksburg.
Ethan Petry
The Nationals' second-round pick, Ethan Petry, has hit the ground running in Fredericksburg. In 12 games, Petry has a slashline of .333/.434/.923 with one home run and six RBI. In 45 at-bats, Petry has drawn eight walks and struck out once while adding two doubles and one triple. The former freshman of the year at South Carolina is a pure slugger. Standing at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Petry is imposing at the plate and can do damage at any point in an at-bat. His lone home run for the FredNats was to the opposite field, showcasing his raw power with the bat.
Petry is listed as an outfielder but has played five games in left field, five as a designated hitter, and two at first base. I project Petry to move to first base full-time in the near future. His physique suggests he would be a suitable first baseman, and with ample time in the minors, he could develop into a serviceable player at the position. Petry is 21 years old with college experience, so the Nats could attempt to fast-track him to the big leagues, and playing first base is the quickest avenue for that when considering the Nationals' Major League roster.