Nationals take 17-year-old SS Eli Willits in surprise No. 1 pick

ATLANTA — Fresh off an organizational switch-up, the Washington Nationals made a surprise selection with the first pick of the MLB Draft on Sunday, selecting 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits.
A week after general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired amidst the franchise’s sixth straight losing season, the team hopes Willits — a Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, native — can spark a return to glory for the 2019 World Series champs.
With most pundits predicting LSU pitcher Kade Anderson — who the Seattle Mariners selected No. 3 overall — or high school shortstop Ethan Holliday to be the first choice, the Nationals went a different route with Willits.
As a senior in 2025, Willits hit .516 with nine home runs, 33 runs, RBIs and 48 stolen bases. Originally a member of the 2026 class, Willits reclassified and was committed to the University of Oklahoma.