The Washington Nationals’ next wave could arrive sooner than some fans think, and two names keep rising to the top: Seaver King and Eli Willits.
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden believes both prospects are on track to reach the majors in 2027. In a piece for The Athletic, Bowden wrote, "The offense already has a strong, young core, and there could be more on the way thanks to a resurgent farm system that includes 2024 first-round pick Seaver King and the top pick in the 2025 draft, Eli Willits, both of whom could debut sometime in 2027," as part of his case for why Washington could break through next season.
King looks like the safer bet to get there first. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 draft is ranked No. 3 in the Nationals’ system and No. 51 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, and his 2026 season gave the organization plenty to think about.
He put together a strong Arizona Fall League run, then tore through Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Triple-A Rochester. After a stint on the injured list, he kept producing, enough that some fans were pushing for a late-2026 callup that never came.
That decision leaves 2027 as the obvious target. If he stays healthy, King should be in the big leagues next year, and Opening Day is at least in play.
There’s swing-and-miss in his game, which could show up early against major league pitching, but the power is real. He can drive the ball hard and has the kind of all-fields pop that plays anywhere.
His glove is part of the appeal too, with the expectation that he can be at least an average defender while he settles in.
Willits is a little more complicated, but the ceiling is just as loud. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick already made a statement by reaching Double-A Harrisburg in his first full professional season, a sign that the Nationals are willing to challenge him early. He is ranked No. 1 in Washington’s pipeline and No. 6 overall, and he is likely to open 2027 back at Harrisburg.
What happens after that will depend on how quickly he proves he can hit consistently. At High-A, Willits slashed .230/.392/.420 with seven home runs, 12 doubles, five triples and 33 RBIs in 64 games. If he carries that production forward, a move to Triple-A could come fast, and a late-season debut would be very much on the table.
At 18, Willits already looks like a potential five-tool player, and the Nationals clearly view him as a premium talent. If the development keeps moving in the right direction, he could be the kind of all-around star this franchise has been waiting for.
For now, the biggest thing to watch is how he starts 2027. That stretch may end up deciding whether his first call to the majors comes that year or waits a little longer.
In Other News...
Jarlin Susana Just Gave Nationals Fans Another Reason To Dream
Jarlin Susanas Arizona Fall League debut gave the Nationals another reminder of why his arm carries so much intrigue. Back from injury and pitching in this setting for the first time, the right-hander worked 3 1/3 innings and flashed the kind of power stuff that keeps him near the top of Washingtons prospect conversation, pairing a lively fastball with a slider that helped him finish with four strikeouts.
The outing did not start cleanly, as Susana had to work through control trouble in the opening inning, but he gradually found his rhythm and showed better command as the night went on. More than anything, it was another encouraging step in a year defined by getting healthy and building back up, and it marked only the second time he has gotten into the fourth inning this season. [Read more 🡒]
James Wood Gave Nationals Fans Hope And One Lingering Concern
James Woods 2026 season gave Nationals fans plenty to feel good about, starting with the kind of power surge that makes a young hitter look like a centerpiece. He finished with 30 home runs and an .891 OPS, and the underlying contact quality backed up the production. Even before the All-Star break, he had already piled up 28 homers, giving Washington a long look at the sort of impact bat it has been trying to build around.
Still, the back half of the season left one lingering concern for a player who otherwise kept trending toward stardom. Woods second-half production faded as his swing and power dipped, and his final line settled at 4.1 WAR, a reminder that even in a breakthrough year there was some unevenness beneath the surface. The talent is obvious, but the way the season finished left the Nationals with one question worth watching closely moving forward. [Read more 🡒]