The Washington Nationals found themselves on the wrong side of history last night, as they set the all-time MLB record for having the most blown saves in a single season. It is a brutal record to have next to your name as an organization overall, but perhaps there can be a net positive to be able to take away from it.
In a year that has been up and down and full of positive takeaways as a whole, the best part of the organization's success this season has been the progression of the farm system. Previous guys who had struggled mightily like Seaver King and Luke Dickerson showed long-term potential, earning several promotions along the way. However, another fellow top prospect is responsible for the latest headlines in the team's farm system.
Eli Willits promoted to Double-A Harrisburg after A-ball season ends
Despite those aforementioned players, perhaps nobody stood out more this year than last year's top overall draft pick, Eli Willits. The #4 prospect in all of baseball and the #1 prospect in the Nationals' system put together an incredible first full season as a professional, and now will get a chance to show off his skills at a higher level in preparation for the 2027 season.
Willits, who began the year with Low-A Fredericksburg, debuted last night for AA Harrisburg, which in itself is an incredible accomplishment for an 18-year-old. He did finish the game 0/4, but did also notch a pair of walks to combine with a pair of strikeouts, showcasing his advanced approach that has allowed him to move through the team's system in record time.
He earned the promotion after High-A Wilmington's season came to an end over the weekend, and will now be able to dip his toes into Double-A competition, where he will likely begin next season as a 19-year-old. He had said after he got drafted that his goal was to be a big leaguer by the time he turned 20-years-old, and if he keeps moving like this, he should have a good chance to do just that.
For the year, Willits slashed .300/.418/.500 with a .918 OPS to go along with 6 homers, 37 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases in 47 games for the FredNats, and also walked 38 times compared to 54 strikeouts. That earned him a promotion to Wilmington, where he slashed .230/.392/.420 with an .812 OPS as well as 7 homers, 33 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a nearly even 54:55 BB:K ratio. Throw in the fact that while Willits' numbers were lesser at Wilmington, the Nationals' High-A affiliate is notoriously a very hard place to hit in for home games.
To save you from needing to do the calculations, that comes out to a .260/.403/.452 slash line, good for an .855 OPS in 112 games between both levels of A ball. The 13 homers, 71 RBIs, 60 stolen bases in 75 tries, and 94:111 BB:K ratio are absurd numbers for an 18-year-old, and his stellar defense has also been put on full display. It is unclear whether Willits will begin 2027 at High-A or Double-A, but a strong audition for the Senators may make the promotion permanent heading into next year.
What do you think of Eli Willits earning a promotion to AA Harrisburg already? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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