MLB Draft Prospect Profile: Eli Willits Among the Youngest But Among the Best
This is one in a series of breakdowns of the top prospects available in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Shortstop Eli Willits has a lot going for him headed into the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday. Youth is certainly on his side after reclassifying from 2026 to this year.
Willits, from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, doesn’t turn 18 years old until December, meaning his professional career will begin before he’s legally allowed to vote in this country.
The 17-year-old is almost guaranteed to hear his name called in the first 10 picks of the draft and will be among the handful of players in play for the Pittsburgh Pirates with the sixth pick.
Willits is at least above-average in several areas of his game. He’s considered a plus hitter with plus speed and is a better than average defender with a strong arm. The only knock on Willits is his power potential, which some would argue limits his ceiling.
A switch-hitter who measures 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Willits hit .516 with nine home runs, 33 RBI and 49 stolen bases during his senior season.
In addition to what he’s done on the field and what scouts have seen, Willits has good genes. He’s the son of former big-leaguer Reggie Willits, who played in 414 games across six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels from 2006-11 before coaching for the New York Yankees.
Four years ago, Reggie accepted a volunteer coaching position with the Oklahoma Sooners, where Eli is committed to play collegiately. As cool as it would be for the father-son duo to team up together, the chances of him ever playing a game of college baseball are virtually none.
Willits has all the makings of one day becoming an everyday shortstop. If he’s able to prove he’s capable of hitting for more power as a pro, his ceiling is among the highest of anyone in the draft.
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