Checking in on the 2025 Draft Class

After an exciting 2025 MLB Draft in which the Nationals added a deep group of intriguing players, several draftees have already made their professional debuts. Five hitters from the latest class are now playing for the Fredericksburg Nationals, with one even earning a quick promotion to High-A Wilmington. While these small sample sizes aren’t enough to judge a career trajectory, they often give an early glimpse into strengths worth celebrating—or areas that may need attention. Below, we break down the first wave of performances from the Nationals’ 2025 draft class.

The No. 1 overall pick has started his career strong. In 10 games with Low-A Fredericksburg, the 17-year-old is hitting .371/.450/.400 with a 7:4 K/BB ratio and an impressive 156 wRC+. Power has yet to show up (just one double in 40 plate appearances), but his plate discipline and contact skills are already advanced.

Eli Willits swings less often than many Nationals prospects, with a 46% swing rate—roughly league average. That approach has led to strong swing decisions, with an excellent 73% zone swing rate and only 19% outside swings. Even more encouraging is his contact consistency: a 93% zone contact rate and 87.5% contact on pitches outside the zone. At just 17, these metrics suggest a potentially elite hit tool. Power development will be a long-term project, but for now, Nationals fans should be thrilled.

The 21-year-old first baseman is off to a solid statistical start with a 129 wRC+, but there are reasons for caution. Ethan Petry is currently hitting 52% of his batted balls on the ground—an issue for a player expected to generate over-the-fence power. Additionally, he’s struggling with contact, particularly in the zone, where he sits at only 73%.

While his 14% walk rate is encouraging (thanks to respectable chase rates), Petry’s swing-and-miss tendencies stand out, especially considering his advanced age for the level and SEC background. With limited defensive value, Petry’s bat has to carry him—meaning adjustments at the plate will be crucial moving forward.

The 24-year-old infielder, drafted out of Penn and Texas A&M, has already jumped from Fredericksburg to High-A Wilmington. During his 10 games in Low-A, Wyatt Henseler hit well, posting a 186 wRC+. However, small-sample struggles have hit him in Wilmington: across 8 games, he’s striking out nearly 44% of the time without a single walk, producing just a 38 wRC+.

Given his older age compared to most Low-A and High-A competition, Henseler will need to establish whether he can adapt quickly to higher-level pitching. While Wilmington’s early results are concerning, the sample size is too small to draw firm conclusions.

Catcher has long been a thin position in the Nationals’ system, so Nick Hollifield’s start is a welcome sight. Through 14 games with Fredericksburg, the 22-year-old is slashing .288/.397/.308 with a 117 wRC+. His plate discipline has stood out, posting near-identical strikeout and walk rates at 15.9% apiece, as well as a low chase rate (19%).

While power isn’t currently part of his game, Hollifield’s steady approach and defensive skills behind the plate provide a strong foundation. If this continues, he profiles as a valuable depth catcher with potential backup upside.

Taken in the 15th round as a developmental bat, TJ Walsh has had a rocky start. With a wRC+ of just 47, he’s been hampered by poor contact rates (sub-70% in-zone contact) and a hefty 33% strikeout rate. His 17.2% walk rate shows an eye for the strike zone, but the lack of consistent contact is limiting results.

His pull-heavy, fly-ball approach could one day translate into power production, but at the moment, the hit tool lags behind. As a classic lottery-ticket type of pick, Walsh will need significant development before he can be considered a likely contributor.

The Nationals’ 2025 draft class is still extremely young, but the early debuts already provide plenty to analyze. Eli Willits is showing the makings of an advanced offensive prospect, while Petry and Walsh will need to cut down on swing-and-miss issues. Hollifield offers promise at a position of need, and Henseler’s quick promotion shows confidence from the front office despite struggles. Ultimately, it’s a class with upside—but also one that will require patience.