Follow the Prospects: Eli Willits, SS

[IanRubbish]

I think he is young enough that Nats should consider challenging him for a while longer in Fredericksburg. See if A pitching figure out how to challenge him.

Yeah, not sure there's any need to rush him through.  Main thing is he seems to be bucking the long trend around here of 1st round draft busts.

[tomterp]

Worth noting we have a first round pick topping our rotation - Griffin.  Not OUR pick of course.

[IanRubbish]

BABIP bad luck turning around, up to an .810 OPS.  BB/K still exceptionally strong at 20:23.

[Slateman]

BABIP bad luck turning around, up to an .810 OPS.  BB/K still exceptionally strong at 20:23.

His BABIP is .328.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

His BABIP is .328.

I think it was.lower early on. He's a fast guy and a good talent, so he probably will run a high babip in low minors.

[Slateman]

I think it was.lower early on. He's a fast guy and a good talent, so he probably will run a high babip in low minors.

He's already in the top 25 of BABIP amongst qualified hitters.

[Smithian]

1-4 with the walkoff single last night. Also had a BB and a SB for good measure.

[imref]

1-4 with the walkoff single last night. Also had a BB and a SB for good measure.

Willits: .258 / .394 / .416 / .810, 2HR, 18SB
Holliday: .230 / .388 / .426 / .814, 3HR, 1SB

Holliday is in Fresno (also A), not sure how much the league/parks are skewed.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Willits: .258 / .394 / .416 / .810, 2HR, 18SB
Holliday: .230 / .388 / .426 / .814, 3HR, 1SB

Holliday is in Fresno (also A), not sure how much the league/parks are skewed.

Fresno made Carter Kieboom look like a hitter, too

[blue911]

Willits: .258 / .394 / .416 / .810, 2HR, 18SB
Holliday: .230 / .388 / .426 / .814, 3HR, 1SB

Holliday is in Fresno (also A), not sure how much the league/parks are skewed.

League averages

Carolina .237/.350/.375

California .258/.358/.413

[JCA-CrystalCity]

League averages

Carolina .237/.350/.375

California .258/.358/.413

Holliday wRC+ - 117
Willits wRC+ - 123


Holliday seems passive but, as projected, does more damage. 18.8 BB%, 25 K%, swing 39.4%, contact 70.4%. ISO .197
Willits 18.3 BB%, 21.1 K%, 43.1%, contact 74.2%. ISO .157

[imref]

HR #3

[nobleisthyname]

Ranked the best team prospect by FanGraphs.

Hit

|

Raw Power

|

Game Power

|

Run

|

Fielding

|

Throw

|

FV

25/60

|

35/45

|

20/45

|

60/60

|

45/60

|

55

|

55

The son of speedy former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, Eli was originally going to graduate in 2026, but he reclassified to 2025 and was still 17 (and a half) on draft day, when the Nationals made him the first overall pick and signed him for a whopping $8.2 million. Willits was assigned to Low-A Fredericksburg starting in late August and comported himself well there for the final few weeks of the season, slashing .300/.397/.360. He turned 18 during the Winter Meetings and is back with the Fred Nats to start 2026, where he’s been a little slower out the gate (but looks fine).

Willits’ youth makes it easier to project that he’ll add relevant strength to his kind of boxy, medium frame over the course of the next several years, and if that comes to fruition, we’re talking about a true five-tool player. His track record as an amateur hitter was outstanding and he’s a great shortstop defender — power is arguably the only piece of his prospect puzzle that’s currently missing. Willits’ swing looks like Colt Emerson‘s did three years ago. He creates big hip-and-hand separation, and his wrists turn over in that classically explosive, baseball-y way through contact. To say Willits was overwhelmed by pro velocity last year would be an overstatement (he hit .300), but again similar to Emerson, his spray chart against fastballs does not include pull-side contact; he has been a little too late against A-ball fastballs to pull them. This is sometimes a warning sign that a hitter’s swing is too long for big league success, but it’s too early to say that’s true of Willits. He has plus hit tool projection, and we like the quality of his hitting hands enough to project nearly average raw power for him even though he’s a smaller-framed athlete.

And we don’t want Willits to get too big, because excellent shortstop defense is a big part of his star-level forecast. He’s a plus infield athlete with great range and body control, and he made some sensational plays in the hole to his right after the draft, adjusting well to the speed of the pro game. His arm is fine for shortstop, and he’s one of the few players in the minors who makes us wish we still did present and future throw grades, because he’s young and athletic enough to justify projection on a skill that tends to be static for most players. Willits’ defense gives him a relatively high floor, and his feel for contact makes him a good bet to be an everyday shortstop eventually, but his profile’s X-factor is his power, which could make him a franchise-altering star with Goldilocks Zone physical growth.

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 18
Team rank: 1
Current level: A

April recap

Games played at position
SS: 19
2B: 2
DH: 2

PA

|

AVG

|

OBP

|

SLG

|

HR

|

SB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

ISO

|

OPS

|

wRC+

114

|

.247

|

.377

|

.398

|

2

|

18

|

21.9%

|

17.5%

|

.151

|

.775

|

113

[imref]

https://www.mlb.com/news/eli-willits-nationals-hot-streak-single-a

[GataNats]

Leads the minors in stolen bases. 

[GataNats]

No reason for him to be in Fredericksburg any longer

[GataNats]

He has real power.  His home runs this year are bombs.  Opposite field, center.   I can see him turning into a Trea Turner

[zimm_da_kid]

He has real power.  His home runs this year are bombs.  Opposite field, center.   I can see him turning into a Trea Turner

I've been thinking people have been too low on his power as well. He's built lean and athletic plus he should be a high school senior right now. With his contact ability, he'll be a consistent 20-25 homer guy consistently, maybe 30+ at his peak.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Trea Turner with defense?

[imref]

monster shot off the scoreboard last night: https://x.com/Nats_PlayerDev/status/2052169602243629111?s=20

[Smithian]

Trea Turner with defense?

I know I preach "wait for AA" constantly but

[Squab]

monster shot off the scoreboard last night: https://x.com/Nats_PlayerDev/status/2052169602243629111?s=20

beautiful quiet swing with power at 18, let’s go

[Monarch]

No reason for him to be in Fredericksburg any longer

There is a very legitimate reason he should stay where he is - i'm going to a game there next weekend!

[Natsinpwc]

There is a very legitimate reason he should stay where he is - i'm going to a game there next weekend!

I’m hoping to go early June but that’s probably too much of an ask