MLB Draft 2021: Washington Nationals select shortstop Brady House with 11th overall pick

With their top pick in this year’s draft, the Washington Nationals selected high school shortstop Brady House.

Before the start of tonight’s 2021 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals’ first first round pick, Ryan Zimmerman, was asked what his advice would be for the players who are going to be drafted tonight. Zimmerman, now 36, in his 16th season in the majors, said he hopes they’ll all take the time to enjoy the moment with their families and take it all in.

“It’s an exciting day,” the 2005 1st Round pick (4th overall) told reporters. “Obviously I think a lot of these kids have been playing baseball ever since they were really young, and most of them never thought they would be in this position, or be even close to getting drafted or things like that.

‘It’s a fun day for them and their families. A lot of people help and a lot of people are part of kind of this dream that’s going to come true for a lot of these kids today.

“So it’s a special day for the player, and it’s also a special day for their families, and just enjoy it, don’t get caught up in too much of all the hoopla and just kind of sit back and enjoy the day.

“And enjoy the draft with whoever is special to you and it should be a fun day for those guys.”

With their top pick of the 2021 Draft, No. 11 overall, the Nationals selected Brady House, a shortstop out of Winder, Georgia and Winder Barrow High School.

House is a 6’4’’, 215-pound shortstop. Who saw that coming. Where’s the right-handed power arm?

More information on the Nationals’ top pick later tonight:

MLB.com’s write-up on House before the draft noted that he, “… entered the summer as the consensus top prospect and most famous player in the 2021 high school class,” but then he struggled at the plate, leaving scouts with, “a bunch of question marks.”

MLB’s Pipeline scouts predict a move to third base for House in pro ball, while noting that, “… may be athletic enough to stay at shortstop.”

He does have a commitment to the University of Tennessee. Will a $4.55M signing bonus (slot value) convince him to sign on in Washington?