LYNCHBURG, VA - The Fredericksburg Nationals now have a two-game lead in the North Division of the Carolina League following a 6-0 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Saturday evening.
Seven of nine FredNats batters recorded a hit in the win, including multi-hit games from Washington Nationals No. 14 prospect Angel Feliz and No. 1 prospect Eli Willits.
Willits now has a nine-game hitting streak to start his professional career, seemingly getting better with each game played as he’s now hitting .419 with a .952 OPS.
Eli Willits: 9-game hitting streak to begin his pro career 💥
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft (@Nationals) has a .419 AVG with a .500 OBP for the Single-A @FXBGNats at just 17 years old.
— #MLB Pipeline (#@MLBPipeline)
1:36 AM • Aug 31, 2025
Fredericksburg (61-60, 31-25) starter Bryan Polanco was spectacular on the mound, tossing six innings of shutout baseball, allowing three hits and three walks. Reliever Merrick Baldo continued his red hot summer, lowering his season earned-run average (ERA) to 3.58 after a scoreless ninth inning.
Just eight games remain for the FredNats, who are in the drivers seat to win the second half and secure a place in the Carolina League playoffs for the second-straight season. Clinching a playoff spot would keep their hopes of repeating as league champions alive.
Sunday’s series finale between Fredericksburg and Lynchburg begins at 2 p.m. EST.