Ethan Holliday fielding the new nook for Stillwater, CCed by Liscense 2.0
It’s probably the most thrilling time of the yr with the draft lower than every week away. That is an thrilling time frame for organizations, gamers, and followers alike because the 2025 class are about to start their skilled baseball careers. Right now, we’ll be catering to any followers of the Nationals as we have a look at 5 potential 1.1 picks, the case for his or her choice, and a few transient scouting reviews. The category has had quite a lot of shifting round this spring, however there’s but to be a participant that has clearly separated themselves because the clear decide at 1.1. Given the current firings of each Supervisor Dave Martinez and Common Supervisor Mike Rizzo, the probabilities of the place the Nationals go together with this decide has by no means been extra extensive open. With the purpose of a brand new method in administration, this leaves Washington in a really fascinating place to say the least, however one which they could be having fun with as they are going to have their decide of some extraordinarily gifted gamers.
Earlier than we dive in, I need to go over some gamers that simply missed the lower for my prime 5 1.1 candidates. Aiva Arquette is among the most gifted gamers within the nation out of Oregon State with a top quality glove within the center infield and a extremely intriguing offensive profile. If the Nationals elect to go together with a school bat, Arquette may very well be the primary participant off the board. Billy Carlson is among the prime prep shortstops out of California with an uber-impressive glove and a gifted arm. There are some issues for me over the bat to ball expertise which finally pushed him slightly below the opposite 2 prep infielders which are included within the prime 5. The ultimate participant to say is one more prep shortstop, a place that has a big quantity of depth on this yr’s draft, Joseph “Jojo” Parker. The left-handed hitting shortstop from Mississippi ballooned up boards along with his stellar efficiency on the summer time circuit in 2024 and appears to be picked within the prime 10 this yr. Now, let’s dive into the 5 potential 1.1 picks and the case for every.
Ethan Holliday, OK, SS/3B, Prep
The son of Matt and youthful brother to Jackson, Ethan Holliday has among the greatest bloodlines you’ll come throughout, some extent which may push the Nationals to pick him in a yr the place there’s minimal separation on the prime of the category. There’s a very actual probability that we see one more Holliday be taken with the primary general decide. Ethan has a big measurement benefit on his older brother, and the 2 have barely completely different offensive profiles as nicely. Ethan, all through the summer time circuit in 2024 and the highschool season this spring, has proven flashes of actually superior uncooked energy. The bat to ball and general hit software might be one or two grades beneath the place Jackson’s was on the similar time in his profession, however the intriguing uncooked energy and well-leveraged swing that is ready to entry the pull-side within the air permits for a extra engaging general profile for Ethan than what Jackson had. Defensively, there’s a sturdy probability that he finally ends up sticking at third base long run. The glove works with good rhythm and really feel, however the vary could show to be a limiting issue for him to stay at shortstop all through his profession. He does have the arm power and a powerful sufficient offensive profile to be an affect participant on the place. Holliday is my private decide to be chosen by the Nationals, however once more it’s actually powerful to say at this level with the congestion on the prime of the board.
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
There are two faculty southpaws on this listing, and for good purpose. First is Jamie Arnold from FSU. The ACC standout incorporates a plus sweeping slider and a double plus fastball that he throws within the low-mid 90s with unicorn VAA traits from an unconventional arm angle. He additionally incorporates a changeup with tons of depth, though he doesn’t appear to have a ton of really feel for the strike zone with it. There are some issues in regards to the potential to command the baseball basically, however the stuff he affords is tremendous distinctive given the low launch top, funky arm angle, and outlier pitch motion. He has the potential to be a frontline ace. Whereas there are some issues in regards to the threat that he poses to probably be a reliever given the principally 2 pitch combine he employs, that threat is finally inherent for any prep or collegiate arm. The individuality of Arnold makes him the highest collegiate pitcher within the class, and he needs to be in heavy consideration for the primary general decide.
Anderson simply wrapped a fully marvelous run via Omaha with masterful pitching performances in his two video games there. The recency bias, and the standard of pitcher that he’s, could also be sufficient to vault him into the 1.1 slot. He stands at 6’2” with a lean, athletic body and a clear, clean supply. He incorporates a various pitch combine with 4 pitches grading out above-average. The fastball sits within the low-mid 90s with some life to the highest of the zone. He pairs this with a pointy slider, downer curveball, and a stable changeup. The power to supply a number of seems to the hitter paints an fascinating dichotomy when in comparison with a pitcher like Arnold. Each are profitable in their very own methods with Arnold bringing distinctive choices to the desk whereas Anderson depends on a holistic mixture of high quality choices. There’s not a lot separating the 2 collegiate arms on the prime of the board for me, and it will likely be fascinating to see how the Nationals, or the remainder of the league, views the 2.
Seth Hernandez, RHP, California, Prep
Hernandez, a RHP from Corona HS in California and teammates with Billy Carlson, appears to be the consensus prime prep pitcher and an actual candidate for the 1.1 decide. Whereas the primary decide of the draft has not been a prep arm since 2014, Hernandez has a tremendous mixture of athleticism, current stuff, polish, and projectability which have compelled him into the dialog. He stands at a slender however athletic and powerful 6’4” with an 190 lb body. He incorporates a energy fastball that has flirted intently with triple digits, a pointy slider, energy curveball, and a stable fading changeup. Hernandez was uber spectacular all through the summer time circuit in 2024 and put collectively a top quality finish to his highschool baseball profession which finally earned him the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr. He has proven some potential and uncooked energy with the bat as nicely, one other indicator of the explosiveness and athleticism that he possesses. Hernandez will nearly definitely be the primary prep pitcher off the board, and it might occur with the primary decide of the night time.
Eli Willits, SS, Oklahoma, Prep
Willits is one more prep shortstop from Oklahoma with baseball bloodlines that has seen his inventory rise over the past yr. Now, he’s able to be thought-about for the primary general decide. The change hitter will nonetheless be 17 on draft day, making him one of many youthful gamers within the draft which is a trait that some fashions deployed by groups actually worth. Willits has a lean body at 6’1” and 180 lbs. He can decide it on the filth and has the defensive toolset to stay at brief long run. It’s positively a success over energy sort of offensive toolset, however there needs to be sufficient juice accessible as soon as the body fills out a bit extra to supply an affect and well-rounded offensive profile. Willits could supply the most secure ground of the prep gamers listed right here in consideration for the 1.1. The ceiling could also be extra restricted than his fellow Oklahoma native Ethan Holliday, however the mixture of age, hit software, and an general well-rounded profile could also be simply sufficient for the Nationals to fall in love with him and take him with the primary decide.
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