Willits is the rare player to be selected first overall by an interim general manager. The Nationals fired GM Mike Rizzo, as well as manager Dave Martinez, last Sunday and had Mike DeBartolo, previously Rizzo's assistant general manager, take over as interim GM.

One week before they select the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft, the Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, a rare housecleaning on the eve of arguably the most important time of year for baseball-operations departments.