Nats' non-roster arms aim to open eyes
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The Nationals have spots to fill in their pitching staff, and nine pitchers will head to Spring Training next week looking to make an impression as non-roster invitees. The group includes eight right-handers and one southpaw, four Top 30 prospects and several in their first big league camp.
Let¡¯s take a look at who will be vying for roster spots when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout on Feb. 12 in West Palm Beach, Fla.:
RHP Daison Acosta
Age: 26
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: No
Acosta pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester last season. He had a 2.61 ERA and 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 47 relief appearances (58 2/3 innings).
RHP Joan Adon
Age: 26
MLB experience: Four seasons
First Major League camp: No
A familiar face on the Nationals, Adon logged 132 1/3 big league frames from 2021-24. During that span, he was 3-16 with a 6.66 ERA in 35 games (26 starts). Adon was designated for assignment in early January when Washington signed Amed Rosario.
RHP Marquis Grissom Jr.
Age: 23
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
Grissom, the son of a former Expos All-Star, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Nationals¡¯ No. 27 prospect. He advanced from High-A Wilmington to Harrisburg last season. In 41 relief appearances (53 innings), he earned nine saves and posted a 2.21 ERA.
RHP Clay Helvey
Age: 27
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
Selected by the Giants in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Helvey spent his entire career in San Francisco¡¯s organization before signing a Minor League deal with the Nats in November. The reliever went 7-6 with a 5.17 ERA and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings rate across 71 1/3 innings (39 appearances) with Triple-A Sacramento last season.
RHP Brad Lord
Age: 24
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
After advancing from High-A to Triple-A in 2024, Lord was named a co-winner of the Nationals Way Award (along with outfielder Daylen Lile). Lord, the Nationals¡¯ No. 30 prospect, was 10-4 last year with a 2.43 ERA and 135 strikeouts. He was one of two pitchers in the Minors to record 10 wins, an ERA less than 2.50 and more than 100 strikeouts (135). (Twins No. 6 prospect Andrew Morris was the other.)
LHP Konnor Pilkington
Age: 27
MLB experience: Two seasons
First Major League camp: No
Pilkington made his Major League debut with Cleveland in 2022, and he pitched last season for Arizona¡¯s Triple-A affiliate. He had a 5.91 ERA across 77 2/3 frames in 33 outings, including 21 starts.
RHP Jack Sinclair
Age: 25
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
Sinclair pitched the 2024 season for Harrisburg. He had a 2.20 ERA and eight saves in 43 games (57 1/3 innings).
RHP Tyler Stuart
Age: 25
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
The former Mets prospect who was acquired in the Jesse Winker trade last summer will participate in his first Spring Training as a member of the Nats¡¯ organization. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Nationals¡¯ No. 19 prospect. At Double-A Binghamton, Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester last season, Stuart was 4-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 25 starts, including one complete game. He threw 122 1/3 innings.
RHP Jarlin Susana
Age: 20
MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes
Susana, the Nats¡¯ No. 4 prospect and No. 79 overall, offered a preview when he reached triple digits in the 2024 Spring Breakout. He led all Minor Leaguers with 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings (minimum 100 innings) while going 4-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 24 starts between Single-A Fredericksburg and Wilmington.