Major League Baseball's amateur draft began its two-day, 20-plus-round sprint on Sunday night, when the Washington Nationals selected Oklahoma prep shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 pick. Willits,

With all the attention on Eli Willits, the No. 1 overall selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2025 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Sunday, two picks are flying under the radar.

It has been a disappointing first half of the season for the Washington Nationals, who came into the year with some expectations of improvement. Since winning

The Washington Nationals selected Fort Cobb-Broxton star infielder Eli Willits with the first overall pick during the MLB Draft on Sunday night.

The Colorado Rockies picked shortstop Ethan Holliday at No. 4, landing the son of longtime Rockies star Matt Holliday. Ethan, from Stillwater, Oklahoma, was a candidate to go first overall, just like brother Jackson Holliday with did with Baltimore in 2022. They would have been the first brothers to be drafted with the first overall pick.

Willits is the third No. 1 pick in Nationals franchise history. Washington chose atop the draft in both 2009 and 2010, selecting ace Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper. He's also the youngest No. 1 overall pick in MLB Draft history and the youngest player in the draft overall.

Switch-hitting shortstop Eli Willits is lauded as exceedingly polished at the plate, but the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft says he plans to improve as a power hitter while with the Washington Nationals.

The Washington Nationals surprised some prognosticators when the franchise made shortstop Eli Willits the No. 1 selection in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday.

Jack Moroknek, a Butler outfielder, was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round (321st overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft.

Puyallup's ace pitcher opens a new chapter: The Washington Nationals selected Mason Pike in the 19th round (No. 561 overall) of Monday's 2025 MLB Draft. Pike is a local two-way standout and was a cornerstone of Puyallup High's nationally-ranked program this spring.