Owners of a top-10 pick for the first time in 11 years, the Nationals tonight drafted Elijah Green, making the 18-year-old outfielder the first high schooler they’ve selected this low in their history.
Green, of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound athletic force who profiles as a center fielder with right-handed power and a strong arm. The son of former NFL tight end Eric Green, he was considered by many experts to have the biggest upside of any player in this draft, though his young age and raw skills also make him less of a sure thing than some of the college prospects who were also under consideration.
A right-handed hitter, Green batted .462 (36-for-78) with 11 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 32 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, a .592 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage during his senior year at IMG Academy.
“This was always one of the goals of my life,” he said in a Zoom call with D.C. reporters. “To be called by the Washington Nationals is truly a blessing. I’m going to go out there, work hard and hopefully bring a championship back to Washington.”
Owners of the No. 5 pick, the Nationals found themselves with the unexpected option of drafting either Green or Georgia Tech catcher Kevin Parada, only one of which figured to be available when their turn came up. But when the Rangers surprisingly drafted right-hander Kumar Rocker (one year after the Mets chose not to sign the former Vanderbilt ace) with the third pick, the Nats suddenly were in an advantageous position.