The Washington Nationals surprised the baseball world Sunday by selecting high school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft, bypassing widely expected choices Ethan Holliday and LSU\'s Kade Anderson.
Interim general manager Mike DeBartolo cited Willits\' exceptional hitting and fielding abilities as the deciding factors. The 17-year-old switch-hitter from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma led his team to three consecutive state titles and had previously committed to Oklahoma.
The Los Angeles Angels selected UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner with the No. 2 pick, their first top-five selection since 1997. Anderson went third to the Seattle Mariners, while Holliday landed with the Colorado Rockies at No. 4.
Draft Highlights Shortstop Depth
At 17 years and 216 days old, Willits becomes the youngest player taken No. 1 overall since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. The 6-foot-1 prospect draws comparisons to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and projects as a potential 20-homer, 20-steal player at a premium position.
\"He makes the routine plays about as easy as anybody you can see, much less a 17-year-old,\" Nationals vice president of amateur scouting Danny Haas said.
The selection came just one week after Washington fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez. Willits\' slot value stands at a record $11,075,900 for the top pick.
Bremner\'s selection carries emotional significance, coming one month after his mother died of breast cancer. The right-hander posted a 3.49 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 77⅓ innings this season.
\"I know she\'s out there watching, and in a weird way, I went to the Angels,\" Bremner said. \"It\'s weird how life works. So it\'s special moment for sure.\"
Holliday Brothers Make History
Ethan Holliday becomes the first top-five pick ever drafted by the same team his father played for. Matt Holliday made three All-Star teams with Colorado in the 2000s after being drafted by the Rockies in 1998.
The draft featured unprecedented shortstop depth, with nine selected in the first 15 picks. Six of the top 10 selections were high school players, marking the first time since 2002 that trend occurred.