Eli Willits made headlines as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, selected by the Washington Nationals straight out of high school. At just 17 years old, he became the youngest top pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.
The 6-foot-1 shortstop stands out for his switch-hitting ability, sharp plate discipline, and clean defense. Scouts have praised his bat control, and Willits knows exactly what he brings to the table. “I feel like I have good hittability and I’m going to take that to the next level,” he said. “And I feel like my power is up-and-coming, but I needed to get into an organization like the Nationals that can help develop that.”
Eli’s success didn’t come out of nowhere. His father once played in the majors, grinding through a tough career with limited pay. And his mother left her job as a guidance counselor to spend more time raising him and his siblings.
Now that his name is making national headlines, there’s even more interest in where he came from. Here’s a closer look at his parents, high school career, and everything leading up to draft night.
Who Is Eli Willits’ Father, Reggie Willits?
Eli’s dad, Reggie Willits, played in the big leagues before moving into coaching. He spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels as an outfielder. Known more for his speed and discipline than power, he never hit a single home run across 414 career games. What he lacked in size or flash, he made up for with effort, often spending extra time perfecting the little things like bunting and base running.
Drafted in the seventh round in 2003, Reggie worked his way through the minors before making his MLB debut in 2006. His best season came in 2007, when he played 136 games and hit .293 with 34 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. But his spot was never guaranteed.
He bounced between the majors and Triple-A nine times, grinding through the system on modest contracts—at one point earning $775,000 per season, or about $64,000 per month.
He once said to the Los Angeles Times: “When I get sent down, it’s not the Angels’ fault. It’s mine. In a sense, I’ve failed.”
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After stepping away from the field, Reggie turned to coaching. He led Binger-Oney High School in 2013, then joined the New York Yankees in 2015, where he eventually became the team’s first base coach. In 2021, he took on a volunteer coaching role at the University of Oklahoma, where Eli’s older brother, Jaxon, is now an infielder.
His Parents Built a Strong Foundation Through Every Move
Eli’s parents, Reggie and Amber Klugh, have known each other since childhood. They met in sixth grade, started dating in high school, and stayed together ever since. After graduating in a senior class of just 20 students, they both went on to the University of Oklahoma and got married in July 2001 during their sophomore year.
They raised three kids together—Eli, his older brother Jaxon, and their younger, Hunter—while juggling the ups and downs of Reggie’s baseball career. In the early years, they lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in Little Rock. Later, the family moved into a rental in Salt Lake City. Money was tight, and Reggie’s career was full of uncertainty, but Amber stood by him through every step, making sure their kids always had stability at home.
High School Career Set the Stage for No. 1
Willits, born on December 9, 2007, played high school ball at Fort Cobb-Broxton in Oklahoma, where his impact was hard to miss. Over three seasons, he helped lead the program to six state championships.
His senior year numbers were especially impressive: a .516 batting average, nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and 48 stolen bases. That performance earned him The Oklahoman’s 2025 All-State Player of the Year.
He had originally been part of the 2026 class but decided to reclassify to 2025, speeding up his draft eligibility. His dad, Reggie, wasn’t on board at first. “At first, I said ‘no chance,’” Reggie admitted. “It took some convincing.” But after watching Eli compete with older players and hold his own, he changed his mind. “I told my wife, ‘I feel like he could play for us as a 15-year-old, so I’m pretty sure as a 17-year-old, he’d be all right if he reclassified.’”
As his senior year wrapped up, Eli earned a spot on the USA Baseball 18U team. Around that time, scouts began comparing him to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, but with more size and physical upside.
He was just 17 years and 7 months old on Draft Day, making him the youngest prospect in the 2025 class. He had committed to play for the University of Oklahoma, but with the Nationals picking him first overall, it’s unlikely he’ll ever suit up in Norman.
