MLB never fails to remind us that logic is optional on draft night. In a class headlined by bloodlines and buzz, baseball’s decision-makers once again zigged where everyone expected a zag. The Washington Nationals, clearly unfazed by convention—or maybe just their budget—made a move that left Ethan Holliday watching from the sidelines. MLB’s latest plot twist…
What a start to the 2025 MLB Draft. All the mock draft picks and all the lists, everything went up in smoke in just minutes. Everybody thought that the Nationals’ first pick was going to be Ethan Holiday, and the rumors were growing stronger. Holiday even topped the list in prospect ranking, but the Nationals decided to go for Eli Willits from Oklahoma.
Eli Willits is a 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop with contact, instincts, and elite wheels. His swing is short, compact, and built to put balls in play with precision. Already a plus defender, he projects as a long-term anchor up the middle. Scouts love his youth, bat-to-ball skills, and the sneaky upside baked into his frame.
What drew the Nationals in was more than tools—it was a strategy meeting, fit, and value.
Willits isn’t represented by Boras, offering financial flexibility for a model-driven front office. His age, consistency, and defensive chops made him a data darling with developmental runway. If Holliday offered flash and Anderson offered floor, Willits offered both—cheaper.
Source: Eli Willits’s Instagram Handle
There’s also strategic math involved—selecting Willits may allow the Nationals to go bold in later rounds. With a likely underslot deal, the front office gains flexibility to pursue high-upside talent from picks 2 through 5. In a draft system defined by bonus pools, that financial edge can reshape an entire class. Willits wasn’t just a pick—he was a portfolio decision dressed in cleats and upside.
Compared to Ethan Holliday, Eli Willits offers more certainty at shortstop and cleaner contact from both sides. Holliday boasts more raw power and name value, but also Boras and a steeper price tag. Willits may only project 12–15 homers, but could hit .290 while sticking at short—a rare combo. If Holliday is the headline act, Willits might be the smarter script that steals the show.
So much for predictability in a draft run by algorithms and gut instincts alike. The Nationals didn’t just think outside the box—they set it on fire and drafted the smoke. In a system obsessed with traits, models, and margins, Willits fits like a cheat code. Whether it’s genius or gamble will take years to know—but for now, Ethan Holliday has every right to feel stunned.
Eli Willits almost missed out on the Nationals’ pick due to his family
Baseball’s top pick was nearly benched by a living room PowerPoint and two skeptical parents. In a league where 100-mph fastballs earn less resistance than teenage ambition, MLB’s latest No. 1 selection comes with a twist of domestic drama. The Washington Nationals didn’t just draft a shortstop—they drafted Eli Willits, the 17-year-old who had to outpitch doubt before ever stepping on a pro mound.
Eli Willits didn’t just have to convince scouts—he had to sell the dream at home first. When he pitched his early-graduation plan via PowerPoint, his parents, Reggie and Amber, were far from sold. “Nope, not doing it,” was the initial verdict, despite Reggie being a former big leaguer himself. But instead of shutting it down, the family chose to pause, pray, and let possibility hang in the balance.
Reclassifying wasn’t about ego; it was a calculated sprint toward a lifelong dream. Willits believed entering the MLB Draft early would fast-track him to the big leagues. “I want to be a big leaguer by the time I’m 20,” he explained confidently. At just 17, his age isn’t a liability—it’s his boldest asset in a draft full of risk.
Yet beneath the swagger sits a quiet faith that anchors his ambition with humility. “God is in control and He’s going to do something magical,” Willits said. His goal was to go No. 1 overall—and now, the Nationals have made that belief a reality. Eli didn’t just bet on talent; he bet on timing, trust, and something bigger than baseball.
Turns out, the toughest scout Eli Willits ever faced sat across the dinner table, not behind home plate. But once the family signed off, the rest of baseball didn’t stand a chance. The Nationals didn’t just draft a shortstop; they drafted a blueprint in cleats. In a sport built on five tools, Eli’s sixth might just be conviction. Who needs college reps when you’ve already survived a parental veto and a PowerPoint?
The post MLB Draft 2025: Ethan Holliday Faces Major Snub as 17-YO Oklahoma Phenom Gets Fate Sealed With Nationals appeared first on EssentiallySports.