The No. 1 pick in this year's Draft took care of an awful lot of firsts in his professional debut. And he wasn't particularly bothered by the one that didn't go his way.
Eli Willits -- the third-youngest player ever drafted in that spot -- got to flash a lot of his tools during his first appearance with the Nationals' Single-A affiliate on Thursday. Willits went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, a pair of RBIs and a run scored in Fredericksburg's 10-6 win over Fayetteville at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
"It went good ... just to get out there, get my feet wet, start playing professional baseball," Willits said after the game. "Everything went well, especially (since) we came out with the win. That's all that matters."
After driving in his first run on a forceout to second base in the bottom of the second inning, MLB's No. 18 prospect quickly put his 60-grade run tool to the test, sneaking into second on a botched attempt to throw him out.
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"I had to time him up pretty well. He's fast to the play, so I had to make sure I got my good jump," Willits said of Woodpeckers starter Javier Perez (Astros). "And then the first-base coach over there [FredNats development coach Luis Ordaz], he was helping me a lot, just giving me times and information I needed to know. So I give credit to him, and I just do what I do on the bases."
After preparing with Washington's player development staff at the club's Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., the 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop felt confident about stepping into the batter's box for the first time as a pro.
On his first professional knock in the fourth off Perez, Willits grounded a single to left field, rounding first and bolting for second. The Nationals' top prospect saw Woodpeckers left fielder Chase Call drop to one knee to make the play. He decided to test the fellow 2025 draftee's arm with two outs and try to put himself into scoring position, but he was thrown out at second.
"I'm an aggressive baserunner," Willits said. "I'm always looking to take the extra base. So when he did that, it was a no-brainer for me. I felt like I still made the right decision. I just stuttered it at first a little bit and that's what cost me.
"It felt like a good mistake for me. … I gotta go with the read. I can't second-guess myself. I gotta keep going, keep playing hard, as I always do, and just play with my hair on fire."
Willits drove in his second run on a line-drive single to right and crossed the plate for the first time on a double by Angel Feliz (WSH No. 14). The 60-grade hitter capped his night by beating out a ground ball to first base.
Although Willits only stepped into the box from the left side against all right-handers in his debut, the switch-hitter plans to continue to take batting practice as a righty too, noting he "wouldn't be where (he is) today without it."
Although his family -- including his father, former big leaguer Reggie Willits -- was unable to make it to Virginia for his debut, Eli's excited about adding his own chapter to his family's history in the game.
"I'm just thankful for the opportunity that they've given me to come down here and play," he said. "Not a lot of kids get to do that, so I'm excited for this opportunity."