{
  "id": 6368162,
  "title": "No.1 Overall Pick Earns Major Promotion Amid Torrid Season in Minors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/no-1-overall-pick-earns-major-promotion-amid-torrid-season-in-minors",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T01:56:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/no-1-overall-pick-earns-major-promotion-amid-torrid-season-in-minors-12418166"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Washington Nationals have promoted their 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, shortstop Eli Willits, to Double-A Harrisburg, according to Spencer Nusbaum. Willits, an 18-year-old from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, made his professional debut in Class-A last season, playing 15 games and posting a .757 OPS in 50 at-bats. He started the 2026 season in Class-A but played only 47 games after leading the league with a .918 OPS, six home runs, and 37 RBIs while swiping 29 bases. His OPS slipped to .812 in High-A, yet it remains very impressive. Willits also stole 31 bases in High-A. His plate discipline improved as well, walking nearly as often as he struck out in his final 64 games in A ball. The Nationals' No. 4 prospect ranks behind Jesus Made (Brewers), Leo De Vries (Athletics), and Franklin Arias (Red Sox) among shortstops, and MLB projects him to reach MLB by 2028. The Nationals have seen Willits play at both shortstop and second base, with All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams taking most of the reps this season. Abrams is under team control until 2028, while Willits could challenge for the shortstop position earlier. If Willits continues his upward trajectory, he could significantly impact the Nationals in the coming years.",
  "summary": "The Washington Nationals are promoting shortstop and 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Eli Willits to Double-A Harrisburg.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}