Eli Willits Surges to Double-A | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 9th, from the locker room to your ears, this is Washington Nationals News Today, powered by AI.
I'm Corey with the story. The Washington Nationals farm system is buzzing, and a big reason is Eli Willits.
This kid was their number one draft pick back in 2025, straight out of high school, and he's been proving everyone right. He started the season in Single-A, and now he's getting bumped up to Double-A. This promotion means he gets a taste of next level before the year is even over, which is huge for his development. He's only 18 years old, but he's already considered one of the top five prospects in all of baseball. His numbers have been solid, hitting over 300 in Single-A and showing some power in High-A with seven home runs. The Nationals new management has been talking about being patient with prospects, but Willits is showing them he's ready for more. Even though his batting average dipped a bit at the High-A level, they still decided to move him up.
This shows they're willing to push guys if they think they can handle it. With this move to Double-A, there's a real chance we could see Eli Willits in the Major Leagues as early as next season. He's on track to potentially debut before he even turns 20 years old, which would be a massive accomplishment. This off-season will be crucial for him to keep building his skills. But based on how he's progressing, the future looks incredibly bright for this young talent and the Nationals organization.