Nationals Sign No. 1 Pick Eli Willits For Record $8.2M Bonus
The Washington Nationals have officially signed first overall draft pick Eli Willits for $8.2 million, setting a new record for a high school draftee while staying under his assigned slot value of $11,075,900, according to MLB Pipeline.
The 17-year-old shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma becomes the youngest No. 1 pick in MLB Draft history as of June 30. Willits is the son of former major league outfielder Reggie Willits and won\'t turn 18 until December.
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Willits drew praise from scouts for his defensive abilities and contact skills. The switch-hitter projects as a plus defender at shortstop with room for improvement.
\"He\'s a darling of analytical models because of his age, position and propensity for making contact,\" wrote The Athletic\'s Keith Law. \"He\'s a plus defender at short already and might end up better than that, while his swing is short and compact, aimed at putting the ball in play.\"
\"His contact skills and overall feel for the game are separating tools,\" Law added, noting the wide range of opinions among scouts regarding Willits\' ultimate power potential.
Nationals Make Third No. 1 Selection
The signing comes despite recent organizational upheaval, with the Nationals firing president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez days before the draft. Interim GM Mike DeBartolo confirmed the team had long targeted Willits for the top selection.
Willits becomes the franchise\'s third No. 1 pick since relocating to Washington in 2005, joining Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010). The team used bonus pool savings from Willits\' below-slot signing to secure fourth-round pick Miguel Sime Jr. for $2 million, well above his $687,800 slot value.
The announcement came with a unique Washington twist, as Willits revealed his signing plans to CNN\'s Wolf Blitzer, a longtime Nationals fan, during a Friday interview.