If you were to drive through Caddo County, Oklahoma, you might miss Fort Cobb. It's a small town. The kind of place where high school sports aren't just a Friday night distraction—they're the pulse of the community. But in the spring of 2025, this tiny town became the center of the baseball universe because of one kid.
Eli Willits.
Actually, let's be real. Calling him "one kid" feels like a massive understatement. By the time he was seventeen, he wasn't just playing Eli Willits high school ball; he was rewriting the rules of how a prospect reaches the big leagues. Most teenagers are stressing over prom or SAT scores. Eli was busy deciding whether to stay in school or become the youngest No. 1 overall MLB draft pick since Ken Griffey Jr.
He chose the latter. And honestly? It was the right move.
The Fort Cobb-Broxton Legend
You've probably heard of "baseball factories" in Florida or California. Fort Cobb-Broxton High School doesn't usually get that label, but maybe it should. Under the Oklahoma sun, Willits led the Mustangs to a staggering six consecutive OSSAA Class B state titles (counting both fall and spring seasons).
The numbers he put up during the 2025 Eli Willits high school season look like something out of a video game. I'm not even kidding. He hit .473. He had a .602 on-base percentage. He stole 47 bases and only struck out four times in 128 plate appearances.
Think about that. Four strikeouts. In an entire season.
Most scouts will tell you that high school stats are "inflated" or "conditional." Sure, okay. But when a 17-year-old is slugging .912 and making the routine plays look like he's bored, you stop looking at the level of competition and start looking at the hands. The feet. The internal clock.
Willits has "it."
Reclassifying: The Boldest Move of 2025
The biggest story wasn't just his batting average. It was his decision in May 2024 to reclassify. Originally a member of the 2026 graduating class, Eli decided he was ready. He moved up a year. This meant he would be entering the MLB Draft as a 17-year-old, competing against college juniors who were 21 or 22.
It was a gamble. If he struggled against older pitching in the showcase circuit, his draft stock could have cratered. Instead, he joined the USA Baseball 18U team and proved he belonged. He wasn't just a "good for his age" player. He was just... good.
Scouting the Switch-Hitter: What the Nationals Saw
When the Washington Nationals took Eli Willits with the first overall pick in July 2025, people were shocked. Not because he wasn't talented—he was ranked as a top-five prospect by nearly everyone—but because the Nats bypassed "safer" college arms for a kid who wasn't even old enough to buy a lottery ticket.
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Mike DeBartolo, the Nationals' acting GM at the time, was pretty clear about it. He loved the makeup. He loved the work ethic.
Here is what makes his game special:
- The Switch-Hitting: He is naturally smoother from the left side, but his right-handed swing has a bit more "pop" and bat speed. It’s rare to see a high schooler with such a balanced approach from both sides of the plate.
- The "Volpe" Comparison: Scouts kept comparing him to Anthony Volpe. He has that same compact build (6'1", 175 lbs) and a "non-stop motor." He’s a high-IQ player who understands the geometry of the field.
- Speed and Defense: He’s a plus runner. Not just "fast," but "baserunning-fast." He reads hops better than almost any prep shortstop in the last decade.
The $8.2 million signing bonus he eventually landed was actually below the slot value for the No. 1 pick, which gave the Nationals more money to play with later in the draft. But don't let the "discount" talk fool you. He signed for the largest bonus ever given to a high school player, barely edging out Jackson Holliday’s record from a few years prior.
The Family Business
It's hard to talk about Eli Willits high school success without mentioning his dad, Reggie Willits. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Reggie spent six years in the big leagues with the Angels. He was a grinder. A guy who knew how to bunt, run, and play the game the right way.
Reggie eventually moved into coaching, serving as the first base coach for the Yankees before returning to Oklahoma to be the associate head coach for the Sooners.
That "pro-style" upbringing is evident in everything Eli does. He doesn't flip his bat. He doesn't take plays off. He carries himself like a veteran because he's been around clubhouses since he was in diapers.
His brother, Jaxon Willits, is also a star shortstop at the University of Oklahoma. For a while, the dream for Sooners fans was seeing the Willits brothers manning the middle infield together in Norman. Eli was committed to OU, but once the Nationals called his name at 1-1, that dream died.
Professional baseball wait for no one. Especially not for a talent like this.
Why Most People Underestimate Oklahoma Baseball
There is a weird bias in scouting. If you aren't playing in a massive metropolitan area, people assume you haven't seen "real" pitching. Willits faced that skepticism his whole career at Fort Cobb-Broxton.
But look at the track record. Oklahoma has been churning out elite talent lately. You’ve got the Hollidays in Stillwater, and then you have Willits. These kids aren't just "good athletes"; they are fundamentally sound.
Eli’s 2025 season wasn't just a fluke against "small-school" pitching. When he went to the Perfect Game National Showcase and the Area Code Games, he hit. When he put on the Team USA jersey, he hit.
The kid has a 60-grade hit tool. In scout-speak, that means he’s projected to be a consistent .280 to .300 hitter at the highest level.
What’s Next for Eli Willits?
Now that the high school chapter is officially closed, Eli is moving through the Nationals' system. He made his pro debut with the Fredericksburg Nationals in late 2024 and looked remarkably comfortable.
He’s set a goal to make the Major Leagues by the time he’s 20. Given how he fast-tracked his high school career, I wouldn't bet against him.
If you’re following his journey, here is what you should watch for in the coming months:
- Physical Growth: He’s 175 pounds right now. As he adds "man strength" in a professional strength and conditioning program, that line-drive power could easily turn into 15-20 home run potential.
- Defensive Consistency: There’s some debate about whether he stays at shortstop or moves to center field because of his speed. Watch where the Nationals play him in High-A.
- Plate Discipline: Pro pitchers will test him with better breaking balls than he saw in Oklahoma Class B. If he keeps that low strikeout rate, he’ll be in D.C. sooner than anyone expects.
Check the minor league box scores for the Wilmington Blue Rocks or Harrisburg Senators this summer. That's where the next phase of the Eli Willits story is being written.