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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Charles Odum

Nationals take high school shortstop Eli Willits, son of ex-MLBer Reggie, with No. 1 pick in draft

MLB Draft Baseball - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The Washington Nationals selected Oklahoma high school shortstop Eli Willits on Sunday night with the No. 1 pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft in a selection seen by some as a surprise.

The 17-year-old Willits is the youngest player ever taken No. 1 overall. He's the son of ex-big leaguer Reggie Willits, who played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

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