Follow the Prospects:Eli Willits, SS

[Slateman]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/18/Tv/video/cnn-sitroom-pamela-brown-eli-willits-mlb-draft-first-pick

[tomwvr]

Dumb question if you are drafted with money now being paid in college sports can someone be drafted and still
Play in college? And if so does the team lose the draft rights?

[imref]

Dumb question if you are drafted with money now being paid in college sports can someone be drafted and still
Play in college? And if so does the team lose the draft rights?

Players have until July 28 to sign, if they are a 1-10 round pick and do not sign, the team not only forfeits the pick, but also loses the slot value for that pick from their pool. With the new system the days of negotiating until the last minute, like we did for Harper and Strasburg, are over.

I imagine it's possible that a signed player could still play in college, but I can't see why a team would allow it.

[tomterp]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/18/Tv/video/cnn-sitroom-pamela-brown-eli-willits-mlb-draft-first-pick

Awesome,  thanks for SHARING.  Eli isn't the best interview right now but at 18 I'm pretty sure I wasn't either. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It also assumes his bat will be as bad.

good sense of the strike zone and good contact in the strike zone. I don't see the Young comparison

[IdahoNat]

Players have until July 28 to sign, if they are a 1-10 round pick and do not sign, the team not only forfeits the pick, but also loses the slot value for that pick from their pool. With the new system the days of negotiating until the last minute, like we did for Harper and Strasburg, are over.

I imagine it's possible that a signed player could still play in college, but I can't see why a team would allow it.

Jack McGeary did something like that when he played for Stanford and played in the minors during the summer. That was way back in 2007 though so who knows if it's still allowed.

[imref]

Willits introduction news conference and contract signing Saturday at 3:15 PM on MASN

[Elvir Ovcina]

Jack McGeary did something like that when he played for Stanford and played in the minors during the summer. That was way back in 2007 though so who knows if it's still allowed.

He didn't play baseball at Stanford. He was ineligible because he was a professional.  It's still not allowed.

[nobleisthyname]

Saw on Reddit that he's signed for about $2.9M underslot:

No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits signs w/Nationals for $8.2 million (slot value = $11,075,900). Breaks Draft record for a HS player ($8.19 mil, Josh Holliday). Oklahoma prep SS, quality bat-to-ball skills, plus speed, solid defender, high baseball IQ. Son of ex-big lgr Reggie.

https://bsky.app/profile/jimcallis.bsky.social/post/3ludo4nqp3s2z

[IanRubbish]

Eli isn't the best interview right now but at 18 I'm pretty sure I wasn't either.

I don't know, sounded like a great communicator compared to um, ah, you know, um, Tyrannosaurus Rizzo.

Also appreciated Wolf Blitzer calling out his fandom for this fine franchise. 

[varoadking]

NationalsSource says Willits is signing tomorrow and heading to Florida next week.

How do they deal with young kids...do they hire a Nanny for them?

[nobleisthyname]

So we've covered the doomsday comparisons with Jacob Young. How about comps in the positive direction? The snippet in the starting post mentions Volpe, but Volpe has above average pop and a high K rate which seems to be the opposite of how Willits is described.

Would anyone be disappointed in a career like Elvis Andrus or Starlin Castro?

[imref]

So we've covered the doomsday comparisons with Jacob Young. How about comps in the positive direction? The snippet in the starting post mentions Volpe, but Volpe has above average pop and a high K rate which seems to be the opposite of how Willits is described.

Would anyone be disappointed in a career like Elvis Andrus or Starlin Castro?

Bleacher Report compares him to Edgar Rentería. Jackson Holliday has also been mentioned as a comparable.

[Smithian]

So we've covered the doomsday comparisons with Jacob Young. How about comps in the positive direction? The snippet in the starting post mentions Volpe, but Volpe has above average pop and a high K rate which seems to be the opposite of how Willits is described.

Would anyone be disappointed in a career like Elvis Andrus or Starlin Castro?

Both those guys early in their careers weren't bad, but I don't think I would be happy with that. It wouldn't be a failure, but I'd be

It's hard to do exact comparison before he's seen a professional pitch, but I don't think we have to think hard about a possible comp in Nationals history. Athlete who looks able to hold up at SS or CF, big hit tool potential, great speed, questionable if power will develop.

My personal hope is a good leadoff hitter who we don't have to worry about defensively at SS. For #1 pick in a weak draft, I'll take it.

[Natsinpwc]

Larry Bowa!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Trea Turner with a bit more D and likely a bit less pop.

Geraldo Perdomo this year?

[imref]

Playing in Florida and going to opposite field:
https://x.com/nats_playerdev/status/1953238008980742617/mediaviewer

[Section214]

Assigned to Fredericksburg, should be in the next few days.

[imref]

Assigned to Fredericksburg, should be in the next few days.

[Slateman]

https://bsky.app/profile/spencernusbaum.bsky.social/post/3lwtoa6e4ac2n

Could be as soon as tomorrow

[imref]

https://bsky.app/profile/spencernusbaum.bsky.social/post/3lwtoa6e4ac2n

Could be as soon as tomorrow

a full year younger than Angel Feliz and around 1.5 years younger than Luke Dickerson. Feliz has struggled since getting promoted to A, but has only played 15 games. I assume he heads back to WPB.

[imref]

Sam Dykstra says he's starting tomorrow.

[imref]

1-2, RBI, SB so far. Grounded into a force with runners on 1st and 3rd in his first AB to get the RBI. Thrown out at second trying to extend a hit in his second AB.

[welch]

1-2, RBI, SB so far. Grounded into a force with runners on 1st and 3rd in his first AB to get the RBI. Thrown out at second trying to extend a hit in his second AB.

2-for-3 with 2 RBIs so far. Game is in the 6th, or was when I looked. Green 1 for 3 and Petry 2 for 4, each with an RBI.

[IanRubbish]

1-2, RBI, SB so far. Grounded into a force with runners on 1st and 3rd in his first AB to get the RBI. Thrown out at second trying to extend a hit in his second AB.

Just put the Fred Nats game on milb.tv.  Willits is 2 for 3 now.