Eli Willits: Baseball Draft's First Pick Fulfills Childhood Dream for 17-Year-Old

The Washington Nationals made MLB history with their youngest-ever No. 1 overall pick, and they may have found their future franchise cornerstone. They made a bold statement in the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits as the No. 1 overall pick. This made him the youngest top selection in draft history.

This milestone doesn't just tick off a personal dream fulfilled for the native from Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. It could also be the start of a potential new era for a franchise navigating significant organisational change.

Just a week after parting ways with longtime GM Mike Rizzo, the Nationals handed the reins to interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, who worked alongside scouting director Danny Haas to settle on Willits. Despite the franchise's turmoil, the front office found rare alignment: both scouts and analysts agreed that the Eli Willits pick was best for the team. This was because he had the perfect blend of talent and character.

From Hay Bales to Headlines

Willits wasn't just another baseball prodigy. He was raised on a working ranch and trained under the watchful eye of his father, former MLB outfielder Reggie Willits. This upbringing made him a grounded, hard-working teenager with Major League aspirations.

According to ESPN, Willits reclassified to enter the 2025 draft early. This was after balancing rigorous academics, high-level baseball, and life on the family's Double Seven Ranch.

His drive was pure. Two years ago, he scribbled a dream into his Bible: be the No. 1 pick. On 14 July 2025, that dream became reality. Wearing a Nationals cap he picked up during a workout at Nationals Park weeks prior, Willits told MLB.com, 'Every kid's dream is to be the No. 1 overall pick. ... I'm just grateful and thankful for God to put me in this situation'.

A Unique Skill Set for a Rebuilding Team

Willits brings elite bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline beyond his years, and defensive instincts that earned him comparisons to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Though his power remains in development, his switch-hitting ability, strong arm, and slick glove give the Nationals a high-upside player at a premium position. His high school stats are jaw-dropping: a .473 average, 8 home runs, 47 stolen bases and just 4 strikeouts in 128 plate appearances.

As noted by The Washington Post, Willits' impact could extend beyond the diamond. DeBartolo praised his 'great work ethic and all the intangibles', while Haas pointed to Willits' unique ability to blend high-level analytics with old-school scouting traits: 'Just the high contact rate, the plate discipline, the patient ABs with the true switch-hit profiles becoming more valuable in this game', he said.

Willits isn't represented by super-agent Scott Boras, but by WME Sports' Bryan Minniti, a former Nationals executive. This may help Washington sign him to an under-slot deal. That financial flexibility allowed the Nats to take swings later in the draft, including South Carolina slugger Ethan Petry and fireballing high school pitcher Landon Harmon.

Oklahoma-Bred, Big League Bound

The Eli Willits MLB draft story is also a tale of family and roots. He honed his skills alongside older brother Jaxon, and received invaluable lessons from coaches at Oklahoma, where his father now works. He took at-bats against college-level pitching by age 15 and soaked up knowledge from Yankees coaches when his dad worked in New York.

Even as he makes history, Willits remains grounded. He's still texting fellow Oklahoma star and No. 4 pick Ethan Holliday about fishing and life, rather than baseball stardom. His story isn't just about being the Eli Willits baseball phenom, but about work ethic, humility and family. These are traits the Nationals hope will anchor their rebuild.

While much development remains, the Eli Willits pick could become a franchise-defining moment — one that began with a teenage boy, a dream, and a belief that hard work trumps odds.