The MLB Draft is one of the most exciting parts of the MLB season, and it starts this Saturday, kicking off All-Star Game festivities. Time and time again, there have been draft busts. You never know how a draft pick will play out. In this article, I will assign a letter grade to each of the last three first-round draft picks made by the Washington Nationals, provide a status update on their current standing, and describe their performance to date.
2025: Eli Willits, SS; #1 pick (Fort Cobb-Broxton HS, OK)
Grade: A+
Anytime you can draft a player and, less than a year later, they are a top-three prospect according to MLB Pipeline, that is a success-even if the player was the first overall pick. Eli Willits was not even 18 years old when he was drafted, and has turned out to be a stellar player at such a young age. Anytime you can draft a player and have them be considered a top three prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline less than a year later, that is a success, even if the player was the first overall pick.
Willits' choosing to reclassify to get drafted a year earlier than he was originally eligible (which was supposed to be 2026) was the right choice. Becoming the first overall pick and getting a huge payday will be worth it in the long run to reclassify to get drafted a year earlier than he was originally eligible hoice to reclassify to get drafted a year earlier than he was originally eligible to (which was supposed to be 2026) was the right choice. Between his time at low-A and high-A, the switch-hitting shortstop has shown great contact numbers and some power, and looks like he will become a great big league player for the Nationals.
2024: Seaver King, SS; #10 pick (Wake Forest University, NC)
Grade: B
King, who was drafted out of Division I Wake Forest, originally started his college career at Division II Wingate and worked his way up to become a top-10 draft pick in 2024. He has shown potential for great speed, stealing 30 bags last season between high-A and double-A, and with a really solid combination batting average at the plate, defensive versatility, and solid power, he can be a great addition to the Nationals roster, or even a trade piece at the deadline, if the Nationals choose to be buyers this deadline, because of their current outstanding team performance.
The Nationals have great infield depth in their farm system, especially at shortstop with Eli Willits and with CJ Abrams in the big club.
2023: Dylan Crews, OF; #2 pick (Louisiana State University, LA)
Grade: C-
A big part of the Tigers' National Championship victory in 2023, Dylan Crews got drafted second overall by the Washington Nationals, and had expectations through the roof. He got called up to the big leagues the next season, on August 26. Over parts of three seasons, he has not performed well at all. He has dealt with injuries, been sent down to the minors, and is a career 79 OPS+ hitter, which means he is 21% worse than the average big league hitter. Not good at all, considering the expectations were through the roof for Crews after getting drafted.
However, he has looked a lot better this year, especially over the past couple weeks. He must continue to prove he is turning the corner in order to be fully locked in as a part of this team's winning core moving forward.
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