Eli Willits: The Rising Star of Baseball Drafted by the Washington Nationals
Exciting news for baseball fans! Eli Willits, a talented high school shortstop, has just taken a monumental leap toward realizing his professional baseball aspirations. On Sunday night, the Washington Nationals made headlines by selecting Willits as the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB amateur draft.
Willits, the all-state baseball player of the year from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, is making waves in the baseball community. At just 17 years old, he is the youngest player to be drafted first overall since the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. was selected by the Seattle Mariners in 1987. Eli is the son of former major leaguer Reggie Willits, who played for the Los Angeles Angels and served as a coach for the New York Yankees.
During his time at Fort Cobb-Broxton, Willits showcased his impressive skills as a switch-hitting shortstop. As he continues to develop, there are high expectations for him to increase his power at the plate. "I believe I have strong hitting abilities, and I’m eager to elevate that to the next level," Willits expressed. "My power is on the rise, and I’m excited to join an organization like the Nationals that can nurture my growth."
At 17 years and 216 days old, Willits is making history. He narrowly surpasses Griffey, who was drafted at 17 years and 193 days. Tim Foli, who was the top pick in 1968, holds the record for the youngest player selected at 17 years and 180 days, according to MLB.com.
The Nationals’ decision to select Willits comes shortly after the organization made significant changes, including the dismissal of manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo. Nevertheless, interim general manager Mike DeBartolo expressed confidence in Willits, stating, "Our scouts and analysts unanimously recognized him as the best hitter and fielder in the draft, possessing a remarkable work ethic and all the essential intangibles."
In his final year of high school, Willits achieved an impressive batting average of .473 and an OPS of .912, further solidifying his status as a promising player.
Stay tuned for more updates on Eli Willits and his journey in professional baseball. For the latest sports coverage, follow Fox News Digital on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
