On Tuesday afternoon, the Baseball Gods were shining down on the Washington Nationals. After a recent stretch that saw the Nationals select in the Top 5 twice in a row that resulted in them not being allowed to pick higher than 10th overall in 2023, the Washington Nationals have won the MLB Draft Lottery.
In case you were not aware, despite winning the lottery in 2023 as well, due to new MLB rules, the Nationals were not allowed to make a selection higher than 10th overall. The Nats selected infielder Seaver King from Wake Forest with that pick, after selecting prep outfielder Elijah Green 5th overall in 2022 and LSU outfielder and current #1 prospect in baseball, Dylan Crews in 2023.
Despite just a 10.20% chance of winning the lottery on Tuesday, the Nationals, represented by 2019 World Series Champion Matt Adams, took home the first pick. Adams coincidentally ran into Nationals' General Manager Mike Rizzo in the lobby at the Winter Meetings, where Rizzo asked Adams if he would be open to representing the Nationals at the draft lottery. Adams, who was in town to network in hopes of landing a coaching gig, ended up being the blessing in disguise that the organization didn't know they needed, 5 years after he hit 20 homers for the eventual World Series Champions. Long live Big City!
Looking back on the last two times the Nationals selected first overall back in 2009 and 2010, the team selected a pair of players that altered the course of the franchise for years to come. In 2009, they selected arguably the greatest pitching prospect in baseball history in righty Stephen Strasburg out of San Diego State. All he would do is become a 3-time All-Star, finish in the top 10 of NL Cy Young voting 3 times, and of course took home the 2019 World Series MVP. After the most hyped debut in MLB history, he would more than live up to his billing.
The year after in 2010, the Nationals would select baseball's "Chosen One" in outfielder Bryce Harper, who famously graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 16 and drew comparisons to LeBron James. He hasn't had a bad career either, becoming a 2-time MVP winner, 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, 8-time All-Star, 4-time Silver Slugger, and an NLCS MVP. Of course, both played an instrumental role in bringing a title back to DC, and the Nationals can only hope that whoever they pick in 2025 at #1 can follow in their footsteps.
#1 PICK BABY LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!!
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 10, 2024
And now in 2025, the Nationals will have the chance to select Ethan Holliday, the younger brother of Baltimore Orioles' infielder Jackson Holliday, who was the #1 overall pick in the 2022 draft and the former #1 overall prospect in baseball. Ethan, the youngest son of former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, stands at 6'4" and 200 pounds, with a sweet yet powerful left-handed swing that should easily translate at the next level.
Holliday has some really great tools that should make him a great prospect, with a 50 grade hit tool, 65 grade power, 50 grade run tool, 55 grade arm, and 50 grade fielding, for an overall prospect score of 60. The 17-year-old is a bigger player than his older brother, who stands at 6'0" and 200 pounds, and might even have a higher ceiling than Jackson does. Us Nationals fans will certainly be paying some attention to Stillwater High School's games in the Spring to monitor Holliday's progression throughout his senior season.
He should stick at shortstop in the interim, but due to his large frame lack of superior athleticism could be in line for a shift to third base similar to the one Brady House made once he got drafted. The only issue I could potentially see the Nationals having in drafting him would be giving him enough money to sign him away from his commitment to Oklahoma State. The Nationals have not really struggled with being able to keep highly-drafted prep picks away from their commitments recently, and you would expect that the team would have a pretty good idea of whether or not he would sign with them before making the pick.
The other most likely prediction for the first pick would be Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette, who is expected to be the top college hitter in next year's draft pool. Stay tuned later today for a piece discussing him in a bit more depth as well. The bottom line is, the Nationals will leave the Winter Meetings as a clear winner, having their choice of some fantastic talent to add to their farm system at the top of the draft in 2025.
Who’s the pick?
— District on Deck (@DistrictOnDeck) December 10, 2024
Be sure to vote on X for the poll above to see which direction Nationals fans are leaning for the #1 overall pick in 2025 MLB Draft as of now! To vote, simply click the option above to be routed directly over to X, where you can make your selection.
Do you want the Nationals to select Jackson Holliday with the #1 pick in 2025? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.