Nats Minor League FAQ: Prospects to watch, new faces & more

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where Washington’s Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Travis Sykora, RHP (MLB No. 68) -- Injured (hip surgery)
2. Jarlin Susana, RHP (MLB No. 77) -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
3. Brady House, 3B -- Rochester (Triple-A)
4. Seaver King, SS -- Wilmington (High-A)
5. Alex Clemmey, LHP -- Wilmington (High-A)
6. Luke Dickerson, SS -- Extended spring training
7. Cade Cavalli, RHP -- Washington (MLB) -- IL (Tommy John rehab)
8. Caleb Lomavita, C -- Wilmington (High-A)
9. Daylen Lile, OF -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
10. Cayden Wallace, 3B -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
11. Robert Hassell III, OF -- Rochester (Triple-A)
12. Yohandy Morales, 1B/3B -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
13. Kevin Bazzell, C -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
14. Tyler Stuart, RHP -- Rochester (Triple-A) -- IL (elbow)
15. Angel Feliz, SS -- Extended spring training
16. Andry Lara, RHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
17. Jake Bennett, LHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
18. Victor Hurtado, OF -- Extended spring training
19. Brayan Cortesia, SS -- Extended spring training
20. Jackson Kent, LHP -- Wilmington (High-A)
21. Zach Brzykcy, RHP -- Washington (MLB) -- IL (right quad)
22. Brad Lord, RHP -- Washington (MLB)
23. Marquis Grissom Jr., RHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
24. Elijah Green, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
25. Andrew Pinckney, OF -- Rochester (Triple-A)
26. Cristhian Vaquero, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
27. Kevin Made, SS -- Injured (oblique)
28. Sam Petersen, OF -- Injured (hamstring)
29. Orlando Ribalta, RHP -- Washington (MLB)
30. Brenner Cox, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)

Team to watch

There’s going to be plenty of intrigue around High-A Wilmington, beginning with King’s placement there to open his first full season. The 2024 first-rounder added good weight in the offseason and is sticking at shortstop (for now) after moving around plenty at Wake Forest. Clemmey has the ingredients in his plus fastball and 65-grade slider to be a big part of the Nats’ future pitching plans, and he still doesn’t turn 20 until late July. Lomavita, last year’s 39th overall pick, also has his fans as a catcher with above-average power and arm strength. In the outfield, Green and Cox come with plenty of offensive questions, but they’re skilled defenders in the grass who can find ways to contribute nightly even if their contact skills need ample development.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV

Triple-A Rochester
Double-A Harrisburg
High-A Wilmington
Single-A Fredericksburg

Players we could see in MLB in 2025

House has some serious work to do on his offensive approach at Triple-A after chasing with swings on 43 percent of pitches outside the zone with Rochester last year, but his power and improving defense have given the Nats hope he can still be the future at the hot corner in the capital. He’ll turn 22 in June and could be an option by the second half. Cavalli and Brzykcy both figure to play parts in Washington's rotation and bullpen once healthy. Speaking of health, Hassell -- now on the 40-man -- is looking to prove his hand/wrist issues are of the past and that he can muscle his way into the Nationals’ outfield plans alongside James Wood and the recently graduated Dylan Crews.

New faces

Two ranked members from Washington’s 2024 Draft class have still yet to make their official Minor League debuts. Kent (fourth round) joins the aforementioned High-A Wilmington group after a solid career at the University of Arizona. Dickerson (second round) is being held back in extended spring training as he builds up for the rigors of his first full season. The 19-year-old shortstop is expected to join Single-A Fredericksburg once deemed ready.

On the shelf

There are quite a few injuries affecting the Nats’ Top 30. Sykora underwent hip surgery in the offseason, and initial estimates from earlier this spring pegged him for a potential return in May. Stuart, who was picked up from the Mets in last year’s Jesse Winker trade, opened the season on the Triple-A IL with an elbow issue, but the organization is hopeful it isn’t a serious injury. The same can be said for Made’s oblique injury and Petersen’s hamstring injury, both picked up this spring. Vaquero underwent surgery after injuring his left shoulder on a dive back to the bag in the Carolina League Championship Series and is slated to return to Fredericksburg once cleared.