Eli Willits and inside-the-park home runs will always have something of a connection, considering that’s how MLB’s No. 4 prospect collected his first professional roundtripper back on April 15.
In the more than two months since, the first overall pick from the 2025 Draft swatted 10 homers over various fences across the Single-A Carolina League and High-A South Atlantic League. But Willits, the Nationals' No. 1 prospect, went back to his roots Saturday, ripping a leadoff inside-the-parker for High-A Wilmington in their eventual 4-3 defeat to Frederick at Frawley Stadium.
Whereas Willits’ first inside-the-park shot came from the left side of the batter’s box, this one was of the righty variety as he battled hard-throwing southpaw Boston Bateman (BAL No. 9). The 6-foot-8 hurler pumped his fastball up to 98 mph earlier in the at-bat, but Willits timed up another heater in a 2-1 count, hitting it just in front of right fielder RJ Austin, who missed on his headlong attempt to catch it. It was eerily reminiscent of his earlier foray, ironically also against an Orioles affiliate.
From there, it was off to the races.
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The homer -- for as unique as it was -- marked Willits' sixth in 14 games since being bumped up to High-A on June 9. That matches his total from 47 contests with Fredericksburg to begin the year, and in addition to walking more than he’s struck out against the elevated competition, both his OPS (1.050) and total bases (35) are top 10 on the circuit since he arrived.
It was almost exactly one year ago that the Nationals were a few weeks away from picking first overall in the 2025 Draft. If there was a knock on Willits coming out of Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) High School, it was that his power game was a bit underdeveloped, even if evaluators believed he would grow into it in time. But even this has been fast.
COMPLETE NATIONALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Willits leads all players in the Minors yet to turn 19 in home runs (12), RBIs (50), total bases (130) and steals (35). Just seven players at his age or younger hit a dozen or more roundtrippers in 2025 -- and six of them are fellow Top 100 prospects, all coming from the international ranks (Leo De Vries, Emil Morales, Eduardo Tait, Edward Florentino, Rainiel Rodriguez, Jhonny Level).
He will spend the entirety of this season at 18 years old, currently the youngest player seeing everyday reps in the batter’s box at High-A. Despite all the attention and gameplanning from opposing pitchers that comes with his prospect pedigree, nights like Saturday are a reminder that Willits’ speed is something you can’t corral.