'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King.

Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization, with House at third base and King at shortstop working toward their shared goal.

¡°We did a lot of road trips together,¡± House, 21, said. ¡°We went to Cooperstown together. His dad and my dad are really good friends, and so we ended up us four traveling a lot.¡±

House, the Nationals¡¯ No. 4 prospect (per MLB Pipeline), was selected as the 11th overall Draft pick in 2021 out of Winder-Barrow High School (Ga.). King attended House¡¯s Draft party. Three years later, the Nats picked King 10th overall out of Wake Forest. He is ranked as their No. 5 prospect.

¡°We¡¯ve always played with a good group of guys to be around,¡± King, 21, said. ¡°Some of our friends are still playing college ball and pro ball, so it¡¯s cool that we¡¯re on the same team.¡±

House finished last season in Triple-A Rochester; King played with Single-A Fredericksburg after the Draft. They reported to West Palm Beach, Fla., for Spring Training, where House was invited to Major League camp for the second year in a row.

¡°I saw him for the first time [this spring], it¡¯s like we never lost a step,¡± King said.

The Spring Breakout, an annual exhibition between prospects, reunited the childhood friends. They were both in the starting lineup on Friday, and Seaver started in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Mets' prospects.

¡°It was super fun,¡± House said. ¡°Especially being on the same side of the field.¡±

Over a decade later, the infield pairing provided a sense of familiarity to House and King.

¡°It brings a level of comfortability,¡± King said. ¡°Playing with guys you¡¯ve played with in the past, you don¡¯t feel like you¡¯re proving anything to anybody.¡±

Their dynamic during game action has stayed strong, too. As they¡¯ve developed to the professional level, their different skills and personalities complement one another.

¡°I think someone being a shortstop, letting them take the lead and I kind of just listen to what they have to say,¡± House said.

Echoed King, ¡°He¡¯s got the arm and I¡¯m flying around the field, hopefully making plays, as well. I think our left side -- if me and him are on the same side of the field -- is one of the best.¡±

The fact they have spent their lives pursuing baseball is evident in their approach to the game. Manager Dave Martinez has noticed their spark on the field.

¡°They¡¯re both very aggressive,¡± Martinez said. ¡°What I¡¯ve seen from Seaver, he¡¯s a go-getter and I love that about him. House, quiet but same. ¡­ He plays with a lot of passion, he loves the game. They both do.¡±

The Spring Breakout was a highlight of camp for House and King -- a reminder of the past and a glimpse into what the future could hold.

¡°[My dad] said, ¡®What are you looking forward to today?¡¯¡± King recalled. ¡°I said, ¡®Me and Brady on the dirt again.¡¯ It¡¯s been a while.¡±

19-year-old hurler fans six
Nationals No. 6 prospect Alex Clemmey got the start on Sunday, less than a year after the left-hander was acquired from Cleveland in the Lane Thomas trade.

Clemmey, 19, recorded six strikeouts in three innings. He allowed one run off three hits (including a home run to Mets No. 14 prospect Boston Baro) and one walk.

¡°It¡¯s great,¡± Clemmey said of facing top prospects from another organization. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of different guys, a lot of different swings. It¡¯s seeing how my stuff plays in different counts against different hitters at different levels.¡±

Caleb Lomavita (Washington's No. 9 prospect), who caught Clemmey in Single-A Fredericksburg last season, was behind the plate with him on Sunday.

¡°He¡¯s that guy,¡± said Lomavita. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be in the box when he¡¯s trying to get you out.¡±

Jersey swap tradition
The jersey swap featured a pair of Oklahoma State alumni. Nationals right-hander Robert Cranz and Mets outfielder Carson Benge (MLB Pipeline's No. 100-ranked prospect) shared a Cowboys bond after the game.

Views from the dugout