With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Nationals¡¯ Top 30 prospects are projected to start. (For more, check out Jessica Camerato's breakdown of hitting and pitching prospects to watch at each full-season level.)
1. Dylan Crews (MLB No. 7), OF -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
2. James Wood (MLB No. 14), OF -- Rochester (Triple-A)
3. Brady House (MLB No. 46), 3B -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
4. Cade Cavalli, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
5. Yohandy Morales, 3B -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
6. Elijah Green, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
7. Daylen Lile, OF -- Wilmington (High-A)
8. Robert Hassell III, OF -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
9. Cristhian Vaquero, OF -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
10. Jarlin Susana, RHP -- Fredericksburg (Single-A)
11. Travis Sykora, RHP -- Extended spring training
12. DJ Herz, LHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
13. Victor Hurtado, OF -- Extended spring training
14. Jake Bennett, LHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
15. Jackson Rutledge, RHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
16. Trey Lipscomb, INF -- Washington (MLB)
17. Andrew Pinckney, OF -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
18. Jacob Young, OF -- Rochester (Triple-A)
19. Nasim Nu?ez, SS/2B -- Washington (MLB)
20. Drew Millas, C -- Rochester (Triple-A)
21. Zach Brzykcy, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
22. Mitchell Parker, LHP -- Rochester (Triple-A)
23. Kevin Made, SS -- Wilmington (High-A)
24. Angel Feliz, SS/3B -- Extended spring training
25. Cole Henry, RHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
26. Israel Pineda, C -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
27. Darren Baker, 2B/OF -- Rochester (Triple-A)
28. Jeremy De La Rosa, OF ¨C Injured (shoulder)
29. Dustin Saenz, LHP -- Harrisburg (Double-A)
30. T.J. White, 1B -- Wilmington (High-A)
Team to watch
The Double-A Harrisburg lineup could be one of the most fun in all of the Minors, never mind in the Nationals¡¯ system. Crews and House give the Senators two Top 100 prospects, and Hassell and Pinckney round out a supremely talented outfield corps. Both 2023 Draft picks Pinckney and Morales open their first full seasons in the Eastern League ¨C a sign of how much the organization trusts their bats to adjust to the upper levels quickly. Morales and House create a good problem at third base, and the former is likely to see more time at first as he settles in with the Sens. Henry and Saenz give the club a couple arms to follow too.
Players we could see in 2024
Wood was one of the best Spring Training performers this year, slashing .364/.509/.705 with four homers and 11 walks in 22 games, and that performance likely bumped him from a Harrisburg return to a Triple-A Rochester debut. The 21-year-old has the plus-plus power and quick speed to be a first-half option for the Nats, should he keep his strikeout concerns in check. Last year¡¯s Golden Spikes Award winner Crews could similarly see the capital at an accelerated path because of his advanced bat and solid defensive skills in center. Lipscomb, a potential utility infielder, received an emergency callup last week when Nick Senzel hit the injured list. On the pitching side, Herz and Rutledge are already on the 40-man ¨C the latter made four MLB starts last year ¨C and will contribute to Washington¡¯s pitching depth at some point.
New faces
Nu?ez is the only full-season member of the Top 30 who was acquired by the Nationals this offseason. The Rule 5 pickup from the Marlins made Washington¡¯s Opening Day roster on the strength of his speed and plus-plus defense at the two middle-infield spots. He must stick with the big club this season or else be offered back to Miami.
On the shelf
The Nationals have three Tommy John rehabbers in their Top 30. Cavalli and Brzykcy should both be candidates to help out the Major League club as a starter and reliever respectively once they return at some point this summer. Bennett underwent his elbow procedure in September and is likely out for most, if not all, of the 2024 season. De La Rosa, who could use a bounceback year after being outrighted off the 40-man in November, will open the season on the IL with a shoulder injury.