Eli Willits joined The Situation Room to discuss becoming the third-youngest first-round pick in MLB draft history. The Washington Nationals selected Willits, who plays shortstop at his Oklahoma high school, this week.

Washington

Eli Willits, a 17-year-old shortstop from Fort Cobb Broxton High School in Oklahoma, was selected as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals. This achievement makes Willits the third-youngest player ever to be drafted first overall in MLB history.

In an interview, Willits expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared that the selection was a surprise. He credited his family, especially his father—a former professional player and current coach—for supporting his development. Willits will soon sign his contract and begin training with the Nationals, aiming to continue playing shortstop as he transitions to professional baseball.

17-year-old MLB first-round pick talks about upcoming season

With the first pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals select Eli Willits, a shortstop from Fort Cobb Broxton High School in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. So that right there, that was the moment Eli Willits' life completely changed forever. The youngest player in this year's Major League Baseball Draft class became the league's number one overall draft pick. The 17-year-old was selected by my Washington Nationals, my favorite team. According to the Major League, he's the third youngest player in history to be drafted as the first overall pick, and he joins us here right now. Eli, thanks very much for coming in. Congratulations to you. Thank you, I appreciate it. What was it like to hear that announcement, that you're not just the Washington Nationals' first round draft pick, but Major League Baseball's first round draft pick? It's just a dream come true. I'm just grateful for the opportunity that the Nationals gave me. I'm just excited to get out there, build relationships with new coaches and new players, and get out there and get to work. Was it a surprise to you, or were you expecting this? It was definitely a surprise. I was just excited and ready for the opportunity, and the Nationals gave me a chance, and I'm just grateful for that. I know your dad is a former professional player, now coaches at Oklahoma. What has the reaction been like amongst your family? Just super grateful for the opportunity. We got to fly the whole family out to D.C., so we're just excited, taking the moment in, and enjoying this last three days as a complete family together. You said that you wrote down this goal to become the first overall pick two years ago. What was it like to actually see this come to life? I think it's just the power that God possesses. He's just grateful that He can do that for people. I wrote down in my Bible that I want to be the first overall pick, and to see that come true is just the power of Him. Give me some advice for young boys who are watching right now. What should they be doing to become a major league player? Forget about being number one draft pick, but a major league player. Just be who they are. Just continue to work hard, continue to play, enjoy the game, have fun. At the end of the day, it's just a game, and you're there to have fun. So I just want to follow up with you, because in the break before this, you were talking about how ever since you could stand, you've been playing baseball. Tell us about being a little boy, playing, and then getting to this point in your life, this dream. Yeah, I've grown up around the game. My dad's had the privilege to play and then coach in a great organization, so just being around such great players and enjoying the work and how I go about my business, I enjoy doing that, and I'm just grateful for this opportunity. What was the phone call like from the Washington Nationals? What did they say to you? They just told me I was gonna be a National, and I couldn't help but cry, and I was there with my family, so it was just a never-forgetting moment, so I'm just excited and thankful for the opportunity. So what happens next? Walk us through the next few weeks and months. So I'll sign my contract tomorrow. I'll officially become a National, and then Sunday, I fly down to Florida and start getting to work and building a relationship with coaches and start meeting new players. Spring training. Yep. Did you ever think you'd be doing spring training in Florida? It was always a goal of mine. When my dad was down there in Florida, he was in Tampa, so to see what he did and the players down there is always a goal to go down there and play. I wanna just ask you more about your dad because he's been such a big role model for you. Tell us more about that. Yeah, my dad, I wouldn't be here without him. He's taught me how to work hard. He's showed me how to play the game the right way. I'm just thankful and grateful for him to be here and helping me throughout the whole situation. What position did you play in high school and what position do you hope to play for the Washington Nationals? In high school, I played shortstop, and I see myself as a shortstop and I hope to see myself playing in Nationals Park as a shortstop as well. What about your hitting? How's your hitting? I'd say my hitting's pretty good. I feel like my power's up and coming. I'm still a 17-year-old kid, so I'm still maturing and getting stronger, so I feel like getting into a great organization like the Nationals, they're gonna help change that and take that to the next level. Have you been over to Nats Park yet? I was there earlier this summer, but we go tomorrow and get everything finalized and get to hit BP on the field, so it'll be good. You're gonna love this. This is gonna be great, and we're all so excited for you. As a role model for a lot of young boys out there who are playing baseball, they're seven, eight, nine, 10 years old, and they're thinking about you. Yeah, yeah, I'm just thankful that I have such a support system, that they've showed me how to play the game the right way and how to carry myself off the field. It's just, I'm very grateful for that and thankful for the opportunity I've got from the Washington Nationals. Eli, I'll leave you with these words. Go Nats. Absolutely. All right, I'm with you. Thank you. I'll be watching all those games. Thank you. I'm a huge fan. Good. You're a huge fan too, right, Pebble? That's a block, Eli. Huge fan, and I know your grandson, Ruben, my son, Benny, love baseball. We all love baseball, yeah. They're big fans too, so. Awesome. Best of luck. Thank you. And to our viewers.

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