The Washington Nationals selected Eri Willitz, a shortstop from Oklahoma High School, as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft on Sunday night. At 17 years old, Willitz is the youngest player to be chosen first since 1987, joining the ranks of notable players like Ken Griffey Jr. Willitz is the son of former MLB player Reggie Willitz, who spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and later coached for the New York Yankees.
This year’s draft saw a remarkable 11 shortstops chosen among the first 18 picks, surpassing previous records of 10 shortstops among the top 30 picks set in 2021 and 2023. Willitz, a switch hitter from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School, is recognized for his developing power hitting and strong defensive skills.
When discussing his strengths, Willitz expressed confidence and the desire to grow under the Nationals’ organization, stating, “I feel like I have a good foundation and I’m ready to take it to the next level.” The draft followed significant changes for the Nationals, who recently fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, creating an uncertain environment around the selection process.
Interim GM Mike DeBartolo explained that Willitz was the clear top choice due to his superior batting, fielding abilities, and rare intangible qualities for someone so young. DeBartolo described the decision as straightforward and praised the input from scouting vice president Danny Haas.
Willitz’s signing bonus is expected to be under the $11.08 million ceiling for the top pick, enabling the Nationals to allocate savings to other draft picks. The Angels surprised many with their second pick of Tyler Bremner, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara, followed by LSU’s lefty Cade Anderson.
At fourth, the Colorado Rockies picked Ethan Holiday, a shortstop from Oklahoma and son of former Rockies star Matt Holiday. Ethan expressed gratitude towards the Rockies, appreciating his family’s long-standing connection to the team. Other notable picks include the St. Louis Cardinals selecting Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle at fifth, and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafting right-handed Seth Hernandez from California.
Toronto chose Purvis High School shortstop JoJo Parker eighth, and Cincinnati picked Steel Hall of Hewitt Trussville, Alabama, ninth. The Chicago White Sox selected their sixth shortstop, Billy Carlson from Corona High School, as the 10th overall pick. By the 18th pick, shortstop Cason Cunningham from Texas High School became the 11th shortstop taken.
During the draft event held near Atlanta’s Truist Park, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred faced some boos from fans but highlighted the draft’s role in shaping franchise futures, referencing the Braves’ historic 1990 first overall pick, Chipper Jones. The first three rounds of the draft occurred on Sunday night, with the remainder continuing on Monday.
Fan Take: This draft highlights a surge in scouting and valuing young infield talent, especially shortstops, signaling a potential new wave of baseball stars who bring both defensive prowess and growing offensive skills. For baseball fans, these picks promise exciting prospects who could soon influence the sport’s competitive landscape and thrill fans with their development.
