Nationals' top prospect makes tremendous leap in ESPN's prospect rankings

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Nationals' top prospect makes tremendous leap in ESPN's prospect rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After getting selected first overall in last year's MLB Draft, Washington Nationals top prospect (MLB's No. 4) Eli Willits has done exactly what he is supposed to do: hit. In his first 51 career games, all at Single-A Fredericksburg, Willits has hit .277 with a .827 OPS and four home runs. 

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A few years away from possibly making his debut (MLB eta, 2028), Willits has made a massive leap in ESPN's latest prospect rankings due to his development. 

Washington Nationals' Eli Willits jumps 33 places on ESPN's prospect rankings

Previously ranked in the 40's (41) on ESPN's prospect list, Willits development has helped propel him into the top 10, holding the eighth spot on the latest ranking. For an 18-year-old, Willits has shown remarkable plate discipline, almost having as many walks (35) as strikeouts (38). 

Willits has also shown some impressive speed on the bases, stealing 24 bags while being caught seven times. According to ESPN's Kiely McDaniel, this helped Willits jump that high, which will also make him a possible star in Major League Baseball. 

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"Willits has largely done what the Nats could hope for early in his pro career: controlled the strike zone, been strong on the bases and in the field, and is progressing with power," wrote McDaniel. "He's the age of the prep position players in the 2026 draft (he was originally a part of that class before reclassifying) and is standing out at Low-A with average to plus tools across the board as a switch-hitting shortstop. Reaching it will take a bit longer than for the top collegiates from the 2025 draft, but Willits' ceiling is a little higher." 

The Nationals are a lucky organization, as they are deep at shortstop. Ahead of Willits on the depth chart, the Nationals have shortstop Seaver King and obviously CJ Abrams, who is the everyday shortstop and is playing like an All-Star. In 49 games, Abrams is hitting .300 with a .928 OPS. 

King, 23, was recently promoted to Triple-A Rochester after tearing the cover off the ball at Double-A Harrisburg and could immediately replace Abrams this season if he is traded. In 35 games at Double-A, King hit .336 with a .989 OPS. 

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