Eli Willits, 17 and the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, made his professional debut with the Fredericksburg Nationals, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in a 10-6 win over Fayetteville. The slick-fielding, polished switch-hitting shortstop showed defensive range, aggressive baserunning, and confidence against professional pitching. Willits signed for an $8.2 million bonus, the largest ever for a high school player at the time. He is the youngest top overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. Willits aims to reach the major leagues by age 20 and was promoted to Single-A 39 days after being drafted.
I'm excited and ready to get to work,
I've set a goal to be in the big leagues by the time I'm 20, and that's something I'm really excited to do and hopefully, I get out there and start playing well and that can be something I can accomplish in the next few years.
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