MLB never fails to remind us that logic is optional on draft night. In a class headlined by bloodlines and buzz, baseball’s decision-makers once again zigged where everyone expected a zag. The Washington Nationals, clearly unfazed by convention—or maybe just their budget—made a move that left Ethan Holliday watching from the sidelines. MLB’s latest plot twist…
What a start to the 2025 MLB Draft. All the mock draft picks and all the lists, everything went up in smoke in just minutes. Everybody thought that the Nationals’ first pick was going to be Ethan Holiday, and the rumors were growing stronger. Holiday even topped the list in prospect ranking, but the Nationals decided to go for Eli Willits from Oklahoma.
Eli Willits is a 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop with contact, instincts, and elite wheels. His swing is short, compact, and built to put balls in play with precision. Already a plus defender, he projects as a long-term anchor up the middle. Scouts love his youth, bat-to-ball skills, and the sneaky upside baked into his frame.
What drew the Nationals in was more than tools—it was a strategy meeting, fit, and value.
Willits isn’t represented by Boras, offering financial flexibility for a model-driven front office. His age, consistency, and defensive chops made him a data darling with developmental runway. If Holliday offered flash and Anderson offered floor, Willits offered both—in a budget.
So much for predictability in a draft run by algorithms and gut instincts alike. The Nationals didn’t just think outside the box—they set it on fire and drafted the smoke. In a system obsessed with traits, models, and margins, Willits fits like a cheat code. Whether it’s genius or gamble will take years to know—but for now, Ethan Holliday has every right to feel stunned.
The post MLB Draft 2025: Ethan Holliday Faces Major Snub as 17-YO Oklahoma Phenom Gets Fate Sealed With Nationals appeared first on EssentiallySports.
