Former top overall pick and Washington Nationals shortstop Eli Willits opened up on his rookie season and preparing for year two
Spring training for the Washington Nationals has given a handful of new faces a chance to shine with the stars like CJ Abrams and James Wood playing in roughly half of the 15 games thus far, but it also provided an early chance for one of the team's future hopeful stars to make his spring debut on the mound.
Willits made an appearance in the split roster spring training opener against the Houston Astros where he checked in at shortstop in the top of the sixth inning, then flied out to center to end the eighth inning in his lone at bat. But it marked an exciting day for the star prospect who revealed he learned of his appearance the day prior.
"I got a text, I think, a day before, so a day leading up to it. I knew I was going to go in there, and I didn't know if I was going to play. I just knew I was going to back up," Willits said on an appearance with 106.7 The Fan over the weekend. "So when I was excited, I got I was excited to get it at bat and be able to play four and as a defense. So it was great."
Willits enters his first spring training after becoming the top overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He's also remained the consensus top prospect within the Nationals' farm system with MLB.com ranking Willits as the 13th best prospect in baseball with his estimated arrival in the majors still projected in 2028. But he will also get another chance to showcase himself with the MLB Spring Breakout set to begin next week, March 19 for a three-day event featuring prospects across both spring training leagues. He'll be one of three Nationals in the event alongside Harry Ford and Luis Perales, but he's also been able to bond with others on the team, including some of his future teammates in the minors in Gavin Fien and Devin Fitz-Gerald.
"Fitz-Gerald [is] always on Fein, so it's hilarious to see him kind of go at it a little bit. But they're both great guys. We have great guys in the clubhouse," Willits added. "I'd love to kick it back with a bunch of those in there."
Willits is also coming off a rookie season where he batted .300 and posted five RBIs and a pair of stolen bases across 50 at bats and 15 games, though also without a home run. Having a dad, Reggie Willits, as both a former player and coach has given him a chance to map out his blueprint for success while also pointing to Brett Gardner as another who proved to be an inspiration.
"My dad was coaching with the Yankees, so I got to be up close and watch how he goes about his business and how he does everything. He was a grinder."
Willits also pointed to Trea Turner as someone he models his game after, but he also sees himself as a "true five tool player" with a chance to prove that in 2026.
"I have my strengths and I have my weaknesses, but as a player, I'm trying to attack the weaknesses every day and the on in the work, and then keep those strengths and strengths. So just being who I am, just trying to be, be a great player, be a great teammate, and just go out there and work every day as hard as I can."