Nationals interim GM explains why they made stunning No. 1 pick

Most experts didn't expect Willits to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. In his final mock draft, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel had the St. Louis Cardinals taking him with pick No. 5 and had the Nationals grabbing LSU pitcher Kade Anderson instead. 

Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, however, revealed Willits was their top target all along. 

"It's rare to get someone that we think is the best hitter in the draft and the best fielder in the draft," he said in an interview with MLB Network. "...There was agreement across the board, Eli was the No. 1 player on our board, and the guy we wanted, so that made things easier." 

According to MLB.com, he hit .473 with eight home runs and 34 RBI and scored 56 runs last season, helping his team win a state title. He also posted a 1.514 OPS in 128 plate appearances.

"The hardest thing is consistency in high school," Washington vice president of amateur scouting Danny Haas said, per The Athletic's Maria Torres. "And to have the consistency he has stands out."

Despite the solid numbers and consistent play, it's still fair to wonder if Willits — the son of former Los Angeles outfielder Reggie — has the tools to develop into an elite player.

"He does have room to fill out, especially in his lower half, and his contact quality should improve to the point that it can support higher batting averages, although I think he'll top out at 45 (below-average) power," wrote The Athletic's Keith Law, who ranked Eli Willits as his No. 8 prospect.

Taking Eli Willits is another huge risk for the Nationals, who seem to be trying to shake things up with their recent moves. Time will tell if that strategy succeeds or flops.