In the end, the Nationals went with the other talented shortstop from Oklahoma whose father played in the big leagues.

The Nats selected Eli Willits with the No. 1 pick in tonight’s Major League Baseball Draft, a choice that may have surprised some but became increasingly possible over the last week both because of the 17-year-old’s all-around skills and the suspicion he might command a lower signing bonus than either Ethan Holliday or Kade Anderson, possibly opening the door for the club to go over slot on later-round picks.

Owners of the top selection in the draft for the third time in club history, the Nationals faced a much tougher decision this time than they did when last they found themselves in this position. Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010) were no-brainers, two of the most highly touted prospects in the history of the sport.

The list of viable options was much longer this year, with Willits joined by fellow Oklahoma high school infielder Holliday, LSU left-hander Anderson, Tennessee lefty Liam Doyle and California high school right-hander Seth Hernandez all meriting consideration down to the wire, according to a source familiar with the club’s deliberations.

Willits, who admitted he made it his personal goal to be drafted No. 1 overall two years ago, was optimistic about his chances after he visited Nationals Park last month and got a chance to meet team executives and coaches. That didn't diminish his emotions when he officially got the call today.

MILWAUKEE – If the Nationals were going to head into the All-Star break on a positive note, they had an uphill climb to battle.

Already having struggled this weekend against Brewers pitching, facing right-hander Freddy Peralta, who was selected for the upcoming All-Star Game but will not pitch in it, may have proved to be the Nats’ toughest challenge yet.

And they were shorthanded heading into the matchup, with their two best hitters sidelined before the game even started. For the first time in 174 games since he made his major league debut, James Wood was not in the starting lineup, the struggling All-Star slugger getting some extra rest before tomorrow’s Home Run Derby.

“He's going to be in the Home Run Derby, he's going to play in the All-Star Game. And he doesn't have time off, so I just wanted to give him the day today so that he can just chill out and relax," interim manager Miguel Cairo said after the game. "He's been playing every day. He's the big player on our team. And I just wanted to give him a day.”

Then 30 minutes before first pitch, CJ Abrams was scratched from the starting lineup, with Paul DeJong taking over at shortstop and batting fourth. The Nats announced during the game (a change from the team’s policy under the previous regime) that the young shortstop was scratched with minor right shoulder soreness, which he first experienced on Saturday.

The Washington Nationals selected prep shortstop Eli Willits out of Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) High School with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Sunday. Interim General Manager Mike DeBartolo; Vice President, Amateur Scouting Danny Haas; Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek; and Assistant Director and National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting Reed Dunn made the joint announcement.

Willits, 17, hit .473 with 14 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 34 RBI, 27 walks, 47 stolen bases and 56 runs scored while striking out just four times all season to lead the Mustangs to their sixth straight Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Class B state title. He posted a .602 on-base percentage and a .912 slugging percentage to combine for a 1.514 OPS in 128 plate appearances.

Willits was named a  Baseball America, Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association and Perfect Game High School All-American, an Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Class B All-Star and was an OBCA Class B All-State selection.

The switch-hitting Willits was also a member of the U-18 Team USA squad that won the gold medal at the 2024 World Baseball and Softball Confederation World Cup America qualifier to earn a place in the U-18 WBSC World Cup. He started all eight games for the Americans in center field and recorded four hits, four RBI and two stolen bases in the tournament. He registered one hit, a hit by a pitch and a stolen base in the gold medal game.

At 17 years old and seven months, Willits is the youngest first overall pick in Major League history and the fourth-youngest selection at any point in the history of the MLB Draft. After he reclassified to the 2025 class, he was rated the eighth overall player in the Perfect Game national rankings and the second in the state of Oklahoma, while being named a Perfect Game All-American in 2024.