Nationals Select Eli Willits No. 1 in Draft

The Washington Nationals selected 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, making him the youngest top selection in history. The pick came amid organizational upheaval, following the firings of GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, with interim GM Mike DeBartolo overseeing the draft. Willits, a switch-hitter and son of former MLB player Reggie Willits, is praised for his defensive skills, maturity, and baseball IQ, though his power is still developing. Experts had expected the Nationals to pick either Ethan Holliday or LSU pitcher Kade Anderson, both of whom went soon after. The Nationals are reportedly likely to sign Willits to a below-slot bonus to increase flexibility for later picks. This draft also set a record with 17 shortstops selected in the first round, illustrating a major trend in talent evaluation.