The race for the number one pick in the 2025 MLB Draft is as wide as ever. People like Jamie Arnold, Seth Hernandez, Ethan Holiday and Iva Arquette are all getting 1-1 talk. But high school shortstop Eli Willit is also beginning to get hype.
recently Baseball American workshe was listed as one of eight prospects who could be number one overall. Among them, he was praised for his rounded skill set and Polish.
Thinking about Oklahoma high school students as father and former MLB players, your mind will quickly turn to Ethan Holiday. However, the description also fits Eli Willits. His father, Reggie, played six seasons for the Angels from 2006 to 2011.
One thing that stands out about Eli is how young he is. Willit will not turn 18 until December and will likely be the youngest player in his class. He’s been reclassified from the 2026 class and is so young for the draft.
Despite his younger age, Willit stands out in his Polish. He is a switch hitter with a plus-hit tool and a good approach. The young man is not expected to have a ton of power, but how young he is could have more people in the tank.
Willit is also a good athlete who plays a good shortstop. Unlike Ethan Holiday, who is expected to move to 3 base, Willit is definitely a shortstop. Willit has no Holiday power or physicality. He has a more rounded skill set.
As the son of the Big Leaguer, Willit is praised for his instincts and non-stop motors. That’s a bit of a strange profile, as Willit is more like the floor than the guy on the ceiling compared to other high school outlooks.
He’s a good shortstop, but not a potential gold glove-level wizard that Billy Carlson is. Willit is a good hitter, but there is no increase in Monster Power from Ethan Holiday. But it is difficult to find Willit and obvious weaknesses. His age also gives him many developmental benefits.
Willit isn’t his favorite to go to number one overall, but he certainly places himself in the conversation. The team loves the very young, sophisticated high school shortstops, and Willit fits the bill. In a draft where there is so much uncertainty at the top, Eli Willitz is a notable name.
Seaver King was not on our radar at 10 last year, so the public showed they were willing to go outside the box with a high pick. Eli Willitz may be the number one dark horse overall.
