The Washington Nationals looked ready to take a safe route by eyeing a polished pitcher with the No. 1 overall pick. However, defying the odds, after skipping over Ethan Holliday, the Nats went for the 17-year-old Eli Willits—the youngest one ever chosen first overall. The Nats might not have vouched for the safe; instead, they wanted the best.
The fearless choice came just a week after the Nationals fired their longtime manager, Dave Martinez, and GM Mike Rizzo. Addressing why the Nationals selected Eli Willits No. 1 overall, interim GM Mike DeBartolo shed some light.
“We couldn’t be more excited. You know, Eli is a special player, a great hit tool, makes contacts, and controls the strike zones. We love his swing. Switch hitter. Um, just a clean operation at the plate…with developing power. Impact at the plate, and then, just an elite shortstop. Somebody who stays at shortstop, somebody with great range, smooth hands, great arm, accurate,” he revealed.
“It’s rare to get someone that we think is the best hitter in the Draft and the best fielder in the Draft.”
– @Nationals interim GM Mike DeBartolo on selecting Eli Willits No. 1 overall
MLB Draft presented by @Nike pic.twitter.com/wsaEkfrBIh
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 13, 2025
Further, he added the intangibles. “And then you add on top of that just intangibles and confidence and work ethic, just maturity that’s off the charts. So you put all that together. It’s rare to get someone that we think is the best hitter in the draft and the best fielder in the draft. And so we just thought that was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
Well, even though many had Holliday as the No. 1 player on the board, for the Nationals, Eli Willits—the high school shortstop out of Oklahoma—was a clear choice.
The post Nationals GM Reveals Why They Took Eli Willits Over Ethan Holliday at No. 1 in 2025 MLB Draft appeared first on EssentiallySports.