The Nationals will have plenty going on Sunday, and not just because they’re trying to finish the first half of the 2026 season above .500 against the New York Yankees. While Washington closes out its first half, the organization will also be in the middle of wrapping up its 2026 draft class, headlined by 11th overall pick Chris Hacopian, and getting an early start on All-Star break festivities with the Futures Game.
That showcase will feature two Nationals prospects, and one of them will even be in the starting lineup.
Eli Willits, taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, is set to play in the 2026 All-Star Futures Game and will start at second base for the National League. He’ll also lead off, giving him a chance to log at least a couple of plate appearances in the game.
Willits has backed up the hype in his first full pro season. After earning a promotion to High-A Wilmington, he caught fire with a power stretch right after the call-up. He’s cooled a bit since then, but he has still walked more than he has struck out for the Blue Rocks and is carrying an .875 OPS there.
He’ll be joined by another member of that 2025 draft class and another Wilmington teammate, Miguel Sime Jr. The 19-year-old right-hander has shown the kind of electric stuff that makes people dream on the ceiling, even if the control still needs work. In 45.2 innings between Wilmington and Low-A Fredericksburg, Sime Jr. has piled up 84 strikeouts while also handing out 45 walks.
For Washington, landing two prospects in the same Futures Game is a notable sign of how much talent is coming through the system. For fans who want a closer look, the game will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock at 12:00 PM EST today.
In Other News...
Nationals Add Four Draft Picks Led By Potomac Bat Chris Hacopian
The Nationals came away from the first day of the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft with four new names for the pipeline, headlined by a local bat who has been on the organizations radar for a while. Washington added second baseman Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M, outfielder Chase Brunson from Texas Christian, prep shortstop Luke Williams from Franklin Senior Regional High School and right-hander Cooper Harris from Flower Mound High School, with the picks announced by president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and assistant general manager Justin Horowitz.
Hacopian gives the club a polished college infielder with Washington-area roots, while the rest of the group adds a mix of college experience and high-school upside across the diamond. Williams brings another prep shortstop into the system, and Harris gives the Nationals a young arm to develop, leaving the early shape of the class clear even if the full draft-day strategy is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Nearly Made A Franchise Decision That Would Haunt This Season
James Wood and CJ Abrams have become central reasons the Nationals have stayed in the mix this summer, giving the lineup the kind of young, impact talent that can change the tone of a season. Wood has brought power and on-base ability, while Abrams has supplied a steady all-around presence, and together they have helped keep Washington around .500 and hanging in the postseason conversation despite the bullpen issues that continue to complicate things.
That makes the offseason even more interesting in hindsight, because the Nationals were reportedly willing to listen on both players before deciding to keep them in the organization. For a club trying to build something lasting, the choice to hold onto two of its most important young bats now looks less like routine roster management and more like a decision that may have helped preserve the season they are still trying to extend. [Read more 🡒]