The Washington Nationals made waves in the 2025 MLB Draft, but not in the way many fans expected. Holding the No. 1 overall pick, the organization passed on the headline-grabbing name-Ethan Holliday, the youngest son of former All-Star Matt Holliday-and instead selected Eli Willits.
At the time, the decision sparked plenty of debate. Some fans questioned the move, suggesting it was financially motivated.
But nearly a year later, early returns are starting to validate the Nationals’ belief in their guy.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t some out-of-left-field pick. While Holliday had the pedigree and the flash, Willits was viewed by several front offices as the more complete player at the shortstop position.
Yes, he signed for less than Holliday, but that wasn’t about cutting corners-it was about strategy. Washington used the savings to bring in a deeper draft class overall, a move that’s already paying dividends across the farm system.
Now, as the new season approaches, MLB Pipeline has started rolling out its positional prospect rankings-and the shortstop list is absolutely loaded. It’s arguably the most talent-rich position in the minors right now.
So where does Willits stand among the game’s future stars? Higher than many expected.
Willits landed at No. 8 on the shortstop rankings, two spots ahead of Holliday, who came in at No. 10.
That’s notable not just because of the draft-day discourse, but because both players had limited pro exposure last year. Despite the small sample sizes, evaluators are already seeing enough to project Willits as the more advanced prospect at this stage.
And there’s another wrinkle that jumps off the page: Willits, who just turned 18 last month, was given an earlier projected MLB arrival-2028 compared to Holliday’s 2029. That’s a subtle but significant vote of confidence in his development path. It suggests that scouts and analysts believe Willits is already showing signs of being able to handle the grind and complexity of pro ball at a quicker pace.
Of course, both of these young shortstops have a long road ahead. Nothing is guaranteed, and the minor leagues are full of twists and turns. But based on what we’ve seen so far, the Nationals’ pick is starting to look less like a gamble and more like a calculated move that could pay off in a big way.
Willits has drawn early comparisons to Francisco Lindor-a lofty comp, no doubt-but if he continues to progress at this rate, he’ll be a name to watch closely in the coming seasons. With many of the top-ranked shortstop prospects expected to graduate to the majors this year, the stage is set for Willits to climb even higher in the rankings. And for Nationals fans, that future-focused approach might be starting to look a lot more exciting.