Willits went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and two stolen bases Sunday for Single-A Fredericksburg.
The first overall pick in the 2025 Draft is already displaying his impressive upside despite being just 18 years old. Willits had hit safely in 15 of the last 17 games, slashing an eye-popping .348/.500/.591 over that stretch with three homers, 13 steals in 16 attempts, and more walks (21) than strikeouts (17). The Nationals won't rush their top prospect up the ladder too quickly, but Willits is already making a strong case that he needs a new challenge. If he keeps raking, a promotion to High-A is likely over the summer.
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Nationals' Eli Willits: Dazzles in pro debut
Rotowire
Willits went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base for Single-A Fredericksburg on Thursday.
Seeing his first game action since being selected first overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Willits looked more than ready for the challenge despite the fact that the 17-year-old is the youngest player in Fredericksburg history. Given his age, there's no reason to expect him to advance up the ladder quickly, but the fact that the Nationals felt he was ready for full-season ball is an excellent sign.
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Nationals' Eli Willits: Heading to Single-A for debut
Rotowire
The Nationals assigned Willits to Single-A Fredericksburg, and he could make his professional debut as soon as Thursday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Willits was assigned to the rookie-level Florida Complex League after being taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, but he didn't play in any games before the FCL season concluded. He's just 17 years old, so Willits could face a learning curve as he gets his feet wet in pro ball.
