Nationals No. 1 overall pick has ambitious goal for his MLB debut

Washington Nationals No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits is setting a very ambitious target for when he wants to make his MLB debut.

Willits officially signed with the Nationals on Saturday, receiving an $8.2 million signing bonus. In a news conference Monday, the 17-year-old revealed that he had set himself the goal of making it to the MLB level before he turns 20.

“I’ve set a goal to be in the big leagues by the time I’m 20, and that’s something I’m really excited to do,” Willits said, via Patrick Stevens of NBC 4 Washington. “Hopefully, I get out there and start playing well and that can be something I can accomplish in the next few years.”

Willits turns 18 on Dec. 9, so he would have to make his MLB debut before the end of the 2027 season to reach that goal. It is quite rare for a 19-year-old to be promoted to the Majors, but Bryce Harper and Juan Soto both did so with the Nationals.

Willits is already the youngest No. 1 overall pick in the history of the MLB Draft, and was not necessarily the expected choice. The switch-hitting shortstop had been committed to play collegiately at Oklahoma before being drafted.