MLB 2025 Draft Profile: Eli Willits

MLB 2025 Draft Profile: Eli Willits

Next up is the first in a series of shortstops we will cover. Getting us started at the position is Eli Willits with a dad who played for the Yankees and a brother starring at Oklahoma. Baseball was never not an option for Eli Willits. Seeing as he’s a surefire top 10 pick, I’d say it’s working out quite nicely.

Let’s get the very good out of the way early. Eli Willits may have the best pure bat-to-ball skills of any player coming out of this class. He uses a quick, compact swing and line drive approach to spray the ball all over the field.

Seriously, the bat control this kid has at just 17 years old is frankly scary. He has a great eye and approach, using the two to swing at pitches he can drive every at-bat.

Just look at how quickly he gets his hands through the zone. From both sides! Insane work for a 17-year-old kid.

Ohh yeah, did I mention he’s also a switch hitter. He does yield better results from the left side and could permanently switch to that side, like many players before him. The swing also looks a bit more natural from that side and could generate him a bit more pop.

While the power may never be more than average, his line drive approach and overall bat skills could see him be a 15-20 HR guy.

For this reason, I get serious Jacob Wilson vibes when I watch Eli Willits play. Elite bat-to-ball skills with just enough power to keep defenses on their toes. It’s not the kind of contact guys like Luis Arraez make. Willits hits the ball hard, it just may never be for elite home run power, and for a shortstop, that’s okay.

Willits currently grades as an above-average defender, but with his motor and instincts, scouts expect that to be an area of his game that sees some improvement. He also moves quite well, which should give him some elite range at the position and give him the ability to be an effective base stealer.

Guys like Jacob Wilson and Jeremy Pena come to mind when I think about Willits. Wilson for the elite bat-to-ball skills and clear command of the Strike Zone. Meanwhile, Pena represents the speed and sneaky power he could unlock.

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I do think this is going to end up being a slam-dunk pick for whoever gets him. There isn’t anything Eli Willits isn’t good at baseball-related, at only 17 years old. Marcelo Mayer exhibited many similar traits after high school. Look at him now.

Eli Willitis is going to be the starting shortstop for a team for many years. The question now becomes which team can already see that. An elite bat with plus speed and glove? What more could you want?

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