As buzz continues to grow each day as we move closer to the 2025 MLB Draft as to who will be the #1 pick of the Washington Nationals, some interesting news dropped earlier this week. While many people have been all over the idea of Stillwater High School infielder Ethan Holliday being the pick, in recent days, there have been some new developments to make note of.
While MLB Pipeline connected LSU lefty Kade Anderson as being a potential fit for the Nationals with the 1st pick last week, USA Today dropped an interesting nugget while making their selection for the Nationals in their latest mock. It is important to note that USA Today did end up choosing Holliday as the pick for the Nationals, it was another high school infielder from the state of Oklahoma who drew some attention from the club as recently as last week.
That player is Eli Willits, who has been projected by most outlets and experts to be a Top 10 pick at the lowest, and potentially as high as the #1 pick in next month's draft. According to Gabe Lacques from USA Today, the Nationals hosted Willits and his family on a visit to DC last week, and the team put him through a workout as well, according to other sources
Now, whether this is enough to unseat Holliday as the top pick remains to be seen, but I would chalk this up more as the Nationals being sure to do their due diligence on one of the draft's top prospects, rather than tipping their hand as to who they will pick. We know the Nationals have explored numerous top options, as Mike Rizzo went to personally watch Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold earlier this season, and multiple Nationals scouts went out to California to watch prep stars Billy Carlson and Seth Hernandez at Corona High School.
But if the pick ended up being Willits, what does he bring to the table? For starters, he is the youngest player in this year's draft, as he will not even be 18-years-old by the time next month's draft rolls around, and won't even be 18 until December. Scouts are high on his bat-to-ball skills, as he has a 60-grade hit tool, and he should profile as a true 5-tool guy, and a switch-hitter to add even more value at a premium position.
His current 6'1" and 180-pound frame should see him add more muscle to potentially make him a 20/20 threat that should have a pretty good chance of sticking at shortstop long-term as well due to his athleticism. Like Holliday, he also has a former MLB player in his genes, as his father, Reggie Willits, played in 414 career games, all with the Angels.
Do you think the Nationals are tipping their hand by hosting Eli Willits on a visit? Or just doing their due diligence? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.