As spring training creeps closer – only 19 days until pitchers and catchers report! – we’re starting to see the unveiling of various preseason top prospect rankings from the major outlets who compile such things. And the Nationals’ No. 1 pick from last summer’s draft is all over those rankings.

Eli Willits debuts as the 31st best prospect in the sport, according to Baseball America, which released its 2026 Top 100 list Wednesday. That may sound a bit low for the first player selected in the draft, but keep in mind he just turned 18 and has played only 15 games to date as a professional.

Willits, the dynamic all-around shortstop from Oklahoma, “has a chance for five average or better tools and should be the Nationals’ shortstop of the future,” per Baseball America’s blurb. Consider that a major compliment, touting his lack of weaknesses in all aspects of the game. And if that 15-game debut for Single-A Fredericksburg – a .300 batting average, .397 on-base percentage and .757 OPS – offered a glimpse of things to come, Willits should live up to the billing.

Eleven of the 30 prospects ranked above Willits are also shortstops, which is by far the most loaded position in the minor leagues at the moment. Consider MLB Pipeline’s recent exercise ranking the top 10 shortstop prospects: Willits is eighth on that list, even though he ended the 2025 season as the No. 15 overall prospect in baseball per that outlet.

It’s notable that Willits outranks fellow Oklahoma shortstop and fellow 2025 first rounder Ethan Holliday, who ranks 10th on that MLB Pipeline top shortstops list and 80th overall in the sport on Baseball America’s list.

Two other Nationals made BA’s Top-100 list this year: Jarlin Susana (68th) and Harry Ford (99th).

Susana, who moved down one spot from his perch last year, is still regarded as having one of the most electric arms in the sport, with a fastball that easily tops 100 mph. The 21-year-old right-hander did require surgery to repair a torn lat muscle last season and won’t be ready to open the 2026 season on time. So there are some legitimate questions about his ability to stay healthy (not to mention his ability to stay in the strike zone). But he’s still highly regarded within the industry, not just within the organization.

Ford was acquired from the Mariners in December in the first trade completed by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. The 22-year-old with good on-base skills and unusual athleticism for his position is the ninth-rated catcher by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.