RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals show defensive flaws in sloppy performance against the Yankees

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees forces out Joey Wiemer #21 of the Washington Nationals at first base in the fifth inning during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It had been a positive start to the spring for the Washington Nationals, but they got a reality check last night. They suffered their first defeat of the spring, losing 7-0 to the Yankees in a sloppy contest. The Nats were credited with three errors, but that is being generous. It really could have been five or six.

Last season, the Nats were one of the worst defensive teams in baseball. Even while the Nats were winning games early this spring, the defense looked suspect. Last night it ended up costing them. Blake Butera has already made defense an emphasis this spring, but clearly it needs to be an even bigger focus.

One thing Butera is going to really need to focus on is pitchers defense. It has been a consistent problem throughout camp, and it was on display again last night. Clayton Beeter and Andrew Alvarez both made throwing errors last night. In our piece yesterday, we mentioned pitcher defense as an area that had to improve.

The pitchers fielding has been horrific so far this spring

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) February 26, 2026

Yesterday the offense was very stagnant as well. The Nats only had one hit. However, offense is a secondary concern to me right now. It is still early in camp right now and guys are still finding their swings. As long as some of the big names on the team show life by the end of spring, it is not a big deal.

The Nats also faced some world class pitching last night. New Yankee Ryan Weathers looked absolutely electric in his spring debut with the team. He was pitching with a point to prove, showing a fastball that reached 100 MPH. Weathers’ stuff looked better than ever and he was hitting all of his spots. The Nats also saw some of the Yankees’ better relief pitchers such as David Bednar and Fernando Cruz.

Ryan Weathers first start as a Yankee:

3.2 IP
5 K
12 Whiffs
52% Whiff rate

Fastball topped out at 99.8 MPH, his career-high.pic.twitter.com/R5XzLixNHz

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) February 26, 2026

I care much more about the fielding problems than any offensive concerns. Fundamentals should be the focus of Spring Training, and those have been lacking so far for the Nats. It is still February, but the Nats have a long way to go on the defensive side of the ball.

Keibert Ruiz also had a rough night behind the plate. He was not credited with any errors, but his blocking did not look good and he misplayed a ball hit to him. In an open competition, that is not a great look for Ruiz, who has struggled defensively for years. The Nats traded for Harry Ford this offseason, and he should have a chance to win the job out of camp.

Another player who has really struggled to start camp is Dylan Crews. Last night, he struck out twice and made an ugly error where he just dropped the ball. Crews has not lived up to his pre-draft hype so far, making 2026 a massive year for him. He has not been making the kind of statement you would like to see so far this spring.

Dylan Crews drops the ball and the Yankees score another run pic.twitter.com/l8RrHIfkGp

— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) February 26, 2026

There is still a long way to go, but I do not think Crews has done enough to be above starting the season at AAA. If Crews continues to struggle and one of the Nats many outfielders outperforms him badly, there should be a conversation. Crews never truly mastered the AAA level, so maybe going down there would not be the worst thing.

Of course, it would take Crews really struggling and someone else really stepping up for that to happen. However, I do believe that is a conversation worth having. Paul Toboni should be able to start with a clean slate. He was not the guy who drafted these players, so he should not feel any loyalty to them. The best man should win. There is still almost a month of Spring Training left, so Crews has plenty of time to redeem himself.

It is still very early in the spring, and the Nats are 4-1 so far. There were some concerning things on display last night, but I do not want this to be all doom and gloom. We should expect some ugly performances from time to time. This is a young team that is not built to win this year.

The Nats getting shelled or shut out every once in a while is not a big deal to me. However, I want them to control the things they can control. That means cleaning up the defensive mistakes and playing smart baseball. You do not need to be the most talented team in the league to play clean baseball. Hopefully we see defensive improvement as we approach the regular season.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...sive-flaws-sloppy-performance-against-yankees

 

[Washington Nationals]

Are the Washington Nationals planning on moving James Wood to right field?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals catches a fly ball during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at the Nationals Park on September 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

One thing I have noticed this spring is that James Wood has been playing a lot of right field. Two of his three games this spring have been in right field. This is notable because Wood exclusively played left field last season. It is telling that the Nats new regime at least wants to get a look at Wood in right field.

Mark Zuckerman was on this right away, and pointed it out when he was playing there in his first game of the spring. He also talked about this in depth on the Nats Chat podcast with Al Galdi. They talked about why this may be happening, as well as what Wood’s eventual defensive home could be.

The #Nats are playing actual games in Florida and James Wood has seen action in RF.

Hear about Wood, Brady House, and more w/ @MarkZuckerman & @AlGaldi:https://t.co/r39ukvTojs

— Nats Chat Podcast (@Nats_Chat) February 27, 2026

I think this is notable because it could shake up the outfield dynamic. Right now the Nats have four outfielders for three spots with Wood, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young. Lile played both corner spots last year, while Crews played center field and right field. Young is only a center fielder, though I am sure he could play the other spots if you wanted. However, putting Young in a corner is a waste.

If Wood is in right field, that would likely shift Lile to left field, which I would like. Lile is a better fit for left field in my opinion. A few years ago, Lile underwent Tommy John Surgery and since coming back his arm strength has been fringy. He posted a -2 arm value last year.

While Lile’s all around defense was an issue, the arm is something that is tougher to fix. Lile made defense a focus this offseason, and came into camp with a point to prove on that side of the ball. He has elite athleticism, but his weak arm and poor reads made him a problem in the outfield. The reads should get better over time, but it is tough to project arm strength. That makes left field the most natural home for him.

Daylen Lile in the lab working on his defense pic.twitter.com/Q9fvURuzyp

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) November 7, 2025

If Wood is in right and Lile is in left, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young will be battling for the center field role. There will be times where both play because either Wood or Lile will be DH’ing. However, the Nats are going to want Wood and Lile to get as many reps as possible in the outfield. That would mean either Young or Crews could be on the outside looking in.

Crews has gotten off to a shaky start this spring and Young has not played yet due to a minor injury. In an ideal world, you would want Crews to live up to his pedigree and grab that job from Young. Crews has a much higher ceiling, but Young’s elite defense gives him a solid floor. My plan would be for the two to share time in center field, while Crews occasionally plays right field when either Lile or Wood is at DH.

Even with these four, the outfield is crowded, but there are other candidates to make the roster too. Joey Wiemer, Christian Franklin and Robert Hassell III are all on the 40-man roster right now, but appear to be on the outside looking in. The Nats could carry five outfielders, but even if they do, the fifth guy will not get much playing time.

There are a lot of mouths to feed in the outfield and moving Wood to right field creates another wrinkle. Heading into the season, I figured the plan would be to have Wood in left, Crews in center and Lile in right. My other option would be to have Lile and Wood rotate between left and DH while Jacob Young plays center and Dylan Crews plays right.

This creates a new dynamic, and I do not think that is a bad thing. Wood did not seem like a natural fit in left field. He also has a far better arm than Daylen Lile, which is good for the right field spot. Wood may not have an 80 grade cannon like some right fielders, but it is an above average arm. There were a few times last year where he made really nice throws for outfield assists.

James Wood bullets one to the plate to keep a run off the board pic.twitter.com/XL494MCPQi

— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2025

Players swapping corner outfield spots is honestly pretty common. It seems like Juan Soto goes from right field to left field every other year. Jayson Werth was another player who played both right and left field pretty frequently. Usually right field is the more demanding position, but it really depends on the ballpark.

If Wood is more comfortable in right field, they should play him there. He did not look natural in left field. However, it is important to remember that Wood mostly played center field in the minors. He did not get exposed to the corners much until Triple-A, and when he did, he mostly played right field.

The outfield alignment is going to be something Blake Butera will have to juggle throughout the season. Having a DH spot makes things a bit easier, but you also do not want to make Lile or Wood a full time DH at such a young age. Hopefully three outfielders emerge and force their way onto the lineup card.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ionals-planning-moving-james-wood-right-field

 

[Washington Nationals]

Three breakout prospects in the Washington Nationals system

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Sam Petersen #2 of the Scottsdale Scorpions celebrates with teammates after scoring a run during an Arizona Fall League game against the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on October 31, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It has been a little while since I have talked about the Nats farm system, so I wanted to give it some love. There are plenty of breakout candidates in the system, but I settled on three picks to click. One rule I had was that none of these players could be in the top 10 of the most recent MLB Pipeline top 30.

That means Gavin Fien, Landon Harmon and Luke Dickerson are not eligible for this list. Instead, I am going for some deeper cuts. The three names I chose were Devin Fitz-Gerald, Yoel Tejada Jr., and Sam Petersen. All of these guys showed flashes in 2025, but the best is still yet to come.

Devin Fitz-Gerald is the highest ranked of these prospects. He is the 12th ranked prospect in the Nats system according to Pipeline and is 9th for Baseball America. Fitz-Gerald was a key part of the MacKenzie Gore return. He was picked in the 5th round of the 2024 draft by the Rangers, and had an outstanding first season as a pro.

Nationals SS Devin Fitz-Gerald posted a 143 wRC+ over 41 games across CPX + A ball w/ 6 HR, while walking (16.2%) more than he struck out (13.9%). He coupled that w/ an 80.6% Con% and a low 8.6% SwStr%. A polished LH swing w/ quick hands & generated plenty of pull contact (48.3%) pic.twitter.com/9Lmq3pGron

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) February 2, 2026

Fitz-Gerald dominated the competition in Rookie Ball before a promotion to Low-A. He only got to play 10 games in Low-A before a shoulder injury ended his season in early July. However, he held his own in A ball, walking more than he struck out. Polish is a key part of Fitz-Gerald’s game. The switch hitting infielder is a very advanced hitter for his age and has a high baseball IQ.

That high baseball IQ should come as no surprise. His dad is the coach at Stoneman Douglas High School, which has produced many MLB players including Anthony Rizzo, Jesus Luzardo and Roman Anthony. Fitz-Gerald played for his dad in high school and was an excellent player.

However, his pro debut went even better than expected. The switch hitter showed more power than expected, which elevated his stock. Everyone knew he was a polished hitter, but the extra power makes him a very complete hitter. Fitz-Gerald is not an elite athlete, so he is likely to move to second or third base. However, he has a good enough bat to do that. Out of the trio of prospects we will cover, Fitz-Gerald is easily the most likely to emerge as a top 100 guy.

He should start the season in a crowded Low-A infield. There is a chance we see Fitz-Gerald, Eli Willits, Angel Feliz, Gavin Fien and Luke Dickerson all start the year at Low-A. That could potentially move Dickerson to the outfield, but that is a conversation for another day. Devin Fitz-Gerald is a prospect whose trajectory is pointed upwards.

For my pitcher, I am going to choose a real deep cut. Yoel Tejada Jr. is the 27th ranked prospect according to Pipeline and the 29th ranked prospect according to Baseball America. However, he has some unique attributes that excite me.

Tejada was taken in the 14th round of the 2024 draft by the Nats. He was not good at all in college, with a career ERA of 5.74. Tejada also had more walks than strikeouts in his college career that only lasted 42.1 innings over three seasons. However, the Nats still drafted him because he is 6’8 and threw in the mid-90’s.

That gamble looks like a smart one. After some mechanical tweaks, he looked like a different pitcher as a pro. Tejada was more in the 91-94 MPH range, but was throwing way more strikes and showed a good feel for spin. His fastball plays up due to his massive extension down the mound as well. There is also a chance he can gain some more velocity.

I’d like to know who listed Yoel Tejada Jr as their pick to click. He’s a deeper cut than most other names on that list.

Tejada Jr is part of a trio of Nats pitching prospects I’m high on, Jose Feliz and Jackson Kent being the other two.

I wrote this about him in January: https://t.co/bHitAv2q9y pic.twitter.com/0f1v23dZl3

— George (@georgerlewis) February 20, 2026

In Low-A, Tejada posted a 3.43 ERA in 78.2 innings. He struck out nearly a batter per inning and walked just 2.4 hitters per nine. His two starts in High-A did not go as well, but that was a small sample size. The improvement in his command is what makes me very intrigued.

At 6’8, he is going to be a weird look for hitters. If he continues to pound the zone like he did last year, Tejada’s stock is only going to rise. I wonder if he can show the velocity he did in college while still pounding the zone. If he can do that, his stock could really take off. Tejada should start the season at High-A, but if he does well there, he could get to Double-A at some point this season.

He could be the next Brad Lord or Riley Cornelio type of arm, who seemingly comes out of nowhere. Both of those guys had velocity spikes as they rose through the minors, so that makes me confident that Tejada could sit in the 94-95 range before too long.

Another pitcher who is in a similar position to Tejada that I want to shout out as an honorable mention is Davian Garcia. He was also part of that 2024 class, and had a similar season to Tejada. Garcia was excellent in Low-A, but struggled in High-A. He got into a Spring Training game a few days ago, where his stuff looked excellent. Look for Garcia to rise into the Nats top 30 list soon.

The last player I want to talk about is Sam Petersen. In a way, he has already broken out, as he had an excellent year mostly in High-A. However, he only played in 57 minor league games due to a couple injuries. If he can stay healthy, Petersen could be yet another candidate to play in the Nats outfield by the end of the season.

While MLB Pipeline has Petersen as their 28th ranked prospect in the system, Baseball America is much higher on him. They have him ranked 14th, sandwiched between Landon Harmon and Ethan Petry. Baseball America put a 55 grade on his hitting, his power and his speed. That is a very impressive combination.

Sam Petersen was one of the top performers in the South Atlantic League while healthy last season.

The Nationals prospect hits the ball with authority to all fields with a line-drive approach, and has the potential for above-average power

He's a potential breakout prospect… pic.twitter.com/jhgZ4KUjm7

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 29, 2026

With the numbers he put up, that makes sense. Wilmington is a notoriously difficult place to hit, but Petersen made it look easy. He hit .297 with an .888 OPS in 44 games at High-A. Those are numbers you do not often see in Wilmington.

Petersen had a good career at Iowa, but fell to the 8th round due to an injury. When he was on the field last year, Petersen’s power and hitting ability looked improved. His max exit velocity improved from college despite switching from metal to wood bats. BA noted that he has an all-field approach, but has become more comfortable pulling the ball in the air.

If Petersen can stay healthy, he has an outside chance of making the big leagues this year. At this time last year, Daylen Lile was on the outside looking in, but he forced his way into the lineup. Petersen has the chance to do something similar if he performs and stays healthy.

It is clear the new regime likes what they are seeing because he has gotten a lot of run early in Spring Training. He has looked good when he has played as well, going 3/6 to start the spring. Despite only playing 44 games at High-A, the 23 year old Petersen should start the year in Double-A.

With a new regime coming in, there are plenty of prospects who could break out. There are obvious names like Eli Willits and Gavin Fien, but there are also some more under the radar picks. Even beyond these three players, there are other sleepers like Marconi German, Angel Feliz and Jackson Kent that I like. The Nats system is deeper than it has been in a long time, and it will be very exciting to follow this season.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...kout-prospects-in-washington-nationals-system

 

[Washington Nationals]

Riley Cornelio looks like 2026’s version of Brad Lord for the Washington Nationals

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27, 2025: Riley Cornelio #29 of the Harrisburg Senators pitches during an Eastern League game against the Akron RubberDucks at FNB Field on July 27, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Senators beat the RubberDucks, 7-0. (Photo by Thom Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Last year the Washington Nationals had one pitcher who was the story of camp, and that was Brad Lord. After a breakout year in 2025, Lord showed up to camp with increased velocity and earned a spot on the big league roster. It looks like lightning may have struck twice because Riley Cornelio is following a very similar path.

Like Lord, Riley Cornelio was drafted in the 2022 class. He was taken in the 7th round, while Lord was selected in the 18th round. However, Cornelio’s breakout came a year after Lord. He gained three ticks of velocity according to Baseball America, averaging 94 on his heater.

The velocity gain led to much better results, with Cornelio posting a 3.28 ERA in 134.1 innings across three levels. It looks like the right hander has added even more velocity this spring, averaging over 96 MPH in his first outing of the spring. In his first inning of work, Cornelio averaged over 97, but he was sitting more in the 95-96 range in his second inning.

Woah. Riley Cornelio enters the game touching upper 90s. A velo bump could go a long way towards helping him make the same leap Brad Lord did last year, which ultimately earned him an OD roster spot. 1-2-3 inning with a K

— Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) February 25, 2026

That velocity led to dominant results. In two innings of work, Cornelio allowed one hit, walked nobody and struck out three batters. He looked really sharp and could challenge for a roster spot. Cornelio was actually added to the 40-man roster this offseason, so the prospect of the righty winning a bullpen spot is on the table.

This story really is so similar to Brad Lord. Both came into camp coming off breakout years, but were on the outside looking in. Last year Lord showed up with better stuff and won a roster spot. Based on his first outing, it looks like Cornelio could do the same.

Lord himself actually had high praise for Cornelio in an interview with Grant Paulsen. He called Cornelio the most underrated player in Nats camp. I think Lord might be on to something there because Cornelio looked like a big leaguer in his outing last night.

I asked Brad Lord what player at Nats camp is the most underrated. He said RHP Riley Cornelio.

Cornelio shined in his spring debut tonight. He struck out three over two scoreless innings, retiring 6 of 7 batters faced. Touched 97, got 9 whiffs on 23 swings. Exciting outing. pic.twitter.com/RRbBxAv9Dc

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) February 25, 2026

While the added velocity is the headliner for Cornelio, his fastball just sets the table for his best pitch. Riley Cornelio has always been known for his wipeout slider and he showcased that last night. He got five whiffs on the slider and threw it just as much as his fastball. Despite added velocity, Cornelio seems to be moving away from his fastball, a common trend in Nats camp.

Like Lord, Cornelio can pitch in multiple different roles, but I think he would be best suited to the bullpen. His fastball tends to lose steam as the game goes on and he is mostly a fastball-slider guy. That feels like a bullpen arm to me, but he can also start. Cornelio has proven to be durable in the minors, so he can serve as an innings eating starter.

If the Nats wanted to be creative, Lord and Cornelio could be a tandem. Both are at their best in two to three innings spurts. Maybe they could piggy back each other and each go three or four innings. Instead of having one person take up a rotation spot, it could be a duo.

Cornelio still has to keep up the strong performances if he wants to make the team. There are guys ahead of him in the pecking order, so he will have to out-perform them. He also was not totally perfect last night. Cornelio made a fielding error, which probably frustrated manager Blake Butera. So far this spring, Nats pitchers have been shaky defensively.

Two impressive innings from RHP Riley Cornelio, who struck out 3 with a fastball that averaged 97 mph. He did, however, commit the latest in a string of E1's by the Nats pitching staff. All the PFP's apparently can't simulate real game situations.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) February 25, 2026

With that in mind, Blake Butera is probably going to amp up the PFP work. The Nats already have defensive question marks, so they need their pitchers to be able to field their position. That is a secondary concern though.

Overall, it is great to see an arm really impress early in camp. In this new regime, there are going to be some unexpected pitchers who find lightning in a bottle. We are already seeing a new pitching philosophy from the Nats. The team is dialing back fastball usage in a big way.

Even with the team moving away from fastballs, velocity remains important. It is still very helpful. Fastballs are not the only pitch that benefits from extra velocity. Adding velocity to breaking balls also helps improve those pitches. Riley Cornelio has added velocity, and that added heat could win him a roster spot.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...26s-version-of-brad-lord-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals advances to third base during the first inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Philliesat BayCare Ballpark on February 26, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a tie with the Astros last night, the Nats are back in action this afternoon against the Mets. They are headed to Fort St. Lucie to face a stacked Mets lineup. It will be a good test for this young Nats team who has shown some sloppiness in the last couple games this spring.

The Nats who did not play last night will be in action this afternoon. That means we will see the likes of James Wood, Daylen Lile, Brady House and Harry Ford, among others. Wood and Lile have had slow starts to the spring, so it would be nice to see them make a statement. Jake Irvin will be on the mound, facing a very strong Mets lineup.

hey another lineup pic.twitter.com/4YfzKUm5me

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 28, 2026

As we have mentioned a couple times now, the Mets are rolling out a lineup that should be pretty similar to their Opening Day lineup. New additions Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette are in the lineup. Juan Soto will be hitting between them in the two hole. Long time Mets like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will also be in the lineup. Tobias Myers was part of the Freddie Peralta trade, and he will be on the mound for the Mets.

Saturday’s lineup #LGM pic.twitter.com/DMmn1PZFUD

— New York Mets (@Mets) February 28, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: Clover Park

Time: 1:10 PM EST

TV: SNY/MLB TV

Radio: N/A

This should be a good test for the Nats. Jake Irvin will have to work his way through a big league lineup and Tobias Myers is no scrub on the mound either. There have been some slow starters for the Nats this spring, so hopefully they can wake up. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-new-york-mets-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Three most impressive Washington Nationals so far in Spring Training

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Brady House #55 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Now that the calendar has turned to March, we are heading into the meat of the Spring Training schedule. However, I wanted to shout out three players who have really impressed me so far this spring. The three players I have been most impressed with have been Brady House, Riley Cornelio and Nasim Nunez.

All three had different things to prove this spring. For House, he has the third base job locked up, but after a poor offensive rookie year, Nats fans wanted to see more life with the bat. So far, that is exactly what we have gotten from Brady House. He is absolutely smoking the ball and has four extra base hits.

In his first game of the spring, House made a statement, hitting two homers, including one off of Sandy Alcantara. He has continued to swing a hot bat in his first few games, going 5/11. House is consistently hitting the ball over 100 MPH, even when he is getting out. Yesterday, he hit a double that was 111 MPH off the bat.

Brady House has hit more Home Runs than singles this Spring.

Spring Training EV’s of his hits:

110.7
109.4
106.8

Spring Training EV’s of his outs:

102.5
98.2
94.6
91.3
88.9
84.1

He’s not even 23 yet.

pic.twitter.com/0BkmeLv58Z

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) March 1, 2026

Brady House is a flawed hitter, but he has tremendous raw power to all fields. The approach is questionable, but House has the ability to slug his way out of some of those concerns. House has been consistently hitting line drives and flyballs, which I love to see. He will always strike out a decent bit and doesn’t take a ton of walks, but his quality of contact has looked outstanding.

House can be one of those hitters who has the ability to sustain high BABIP numbers because he hits the ball so hard and at good angles to get hits. He will need to show at least 20-25 home run power to be a productive hitter, but the signs of that are there so far this spring. After last season, I was a bit bearish about House, but it looks like he may have taken a leap.

The lone pitcher I will discuss today is Riley Cornelio. I wrote a piece about him a few days ago where I went in depth. However, I wanted to talk a little more about the 25 year old pitcher. His stuff looked absolutely outstanding in his first outing of the spring.

The velocity was better than ever, averaging over 96 MPH. Cornelio’s signature slider was also very sharp. That led to two dominant innings where he struck out three. Cornelio also lit up stuff models. His 110 stuff+ rating is in the top 20 of all pitchers who have tossed at least 20 pitches this spring.

Spring Training tjStuff+ Leaders pic.twitter.com/YEo3fy0LHI

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) March 1, 2026

That raw stuff makes Cornelio a very interesting prospect for me. He is unlikely to make the team out of camp, but if he keeps throwing the ball like this, he will have a shot. At this time last year, we did not think Brad Lord would make the team, but he gave the team no choice.

I think Cornelio could do the same thing. He had a breakout season in the minors last year and looks like he took another step. I can’t wait to see him pitch again and I am really rooting for the former 7th round pick.

The last player I want to discuss is Nasim Nunez. Going into camp, he was the favorite to win a bench role. It seems like he has a roster spot locked up after a strong start. Now, the only question is how much will Nasim Nunez play.

Last September, Nunez showed much improved power. For most of his career, Nunez was a defensive specialist who could not provide much with the bat. However, it seems like something has clicked. He is driving the ball with authority on a consistent basis.

Nunez’s bat speed improved a lot last season, and it looks like he has kept those gains. He is hitting .300 with a .962 OPS so far this spring. The quality of contact impresses me more than the raw numbers though. Nunez is driving the ball to the pull side and that is leading to extra base hits.

Nasim Nunez’s trademark defense is still there as well. He is such a joy to watch at shortstop. His actions are incredibly smooth and he has such a great arm, especially for a smaller guy. Watching Nunez at short vs CJ Abrams is really jarring because it is clear how much better Nunez is defensively. He has already made some really nice plays this spring.

Nasim Nuñez backhand stop into a double play.

That glove work is ridiculous. Smooth does not even cover it.

Defense like that wins games. pic.twitter.com/t9zXs3XqFo

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) February 28, 2026

At this point, Nunez will absolutely be on the roster. However, I want him to be playing on a fairly regular basis. I would also love to see the Nats play Nunez at shortstop and CJ Abrams at second base. You could also put Luis Garcia Jr. at first base on those days as well. This should be an alignment the Nats turn to at least occasionally.

After last season, I was still skeptical about Nunez as a hitter, and I still have questions. However, it looks like the improvements he made are sticking. If that is the case, Nunez can be an incredibly valuable player. Even as an average or slightly below average hitter, Nunez has the glove to bring value to the team.

It is still early in spring, but Brady House, Riley Cornelio and Nasim Nunez have really impressed me. Hopefully they can sustain this level of success through the spring and into the regular season. If they can be real contributors, it would really help the Nats outlook. I do not want to overreact, but I like what I am seeing from those three players.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ssive-washington-nationals-in-spring-training

 

[Washington Nationals]

Rule 5 pick Griff McGarry could be a steal for the Washington Nationals

RICHMOND, VA - JUNE 25: Griff McGarry #48 of the Reading Fightin Phils pitching during the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

When the Nats selected Griff McGarry in the Rule 5 Draft, I was cautiously optimistic. He possesses some of the best stuff in the minor leagues, but has had trouble throwing strikes over the years. Last year, we saw a similar story with Evan Reifert. He had a nasty slider but was nowhere near the zone in Spring Training.

That meant the Nats returned Reifert to the Rays before he ever played a regular season game. There is a chance the same thing could happen with McGarry. However, McGarry had a dominant first outing of Spring Training where he pounded the zone and struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning.

In a wide open bullpen, McGarry probably has the best pure stuff. However, he walked almost 14% of hitters in AA last year as a starter. The crazy thing is that was a big improvement from 2024, when he walked an insane 24% of hitters. With not much to lose, the Nats took a shot on McGarry because his pure stuff grades out as some of the best in the minors.

Here where Griff McGarry ranked on @BaseballAmerica's list of minor leaguers Stuff+ this season: https://t.co/z2xmL0f7t8 pic.twitter.com/9AAx9gO5Y8

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 10, 2025

Last night, we saw what happens when McGarry is throwing strikes. He has an upper 90’s fastball, but that served as a table setter for his insane breaking balls. McGarry has a natural feel for spin and he showed that last night.

He threw two separate breaking balls, a slider and a sweeper. Out of his 10 pitches, 8 of them were breaking balls. The sweeper has a ton of spin, averaging over 3,000 RPM’s last night. However, he threw his harder slider half the time and it got excellent results. McGarry was able to land the pitch in the zone and get whiffs.

Nasty first outing from Griff McGarry who struck out two. Breaking ball heavy attack from the Rule 5 pick

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) February 28, 2026

It is worth noting that McGarry faced non big leaguers, but if he is around the zone, he can get anyone out. McGarry’s biggest nemesis is his own control rather than the hitters at the plate. Out of all pitchers that threw last night, McGarry had the third highest Stuff+ rating. Stuff+ measures the velocity and movement of a pitch and puts a grade on it, with 100 being average.

Daily tjStuff+ Leaders
2026-02-27
Min. 10 Pitches

1) Carlos Lagrange – 118
2) Mason Montgomery – 114
3) Griff McGarry – 113 pic.twitter.com/vRSPrlJRzK

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) February 28, 2026

Again, McGarry is still a high variance arm. I would not be surprised if he finds his way into a high leverage role, but I also would not be surprised if he was returned to the Phillies pretty quickly. It is all about finding the zone for McGarry.

Last year McGarry found the zone enough to have success. In 21 starts, he posted a 3.44 ERA despite shaky control. McGarry is similar to Clayton Beeter, with both only needing fringy control to have success.

When McGarry goes on heaters, he is totally unhittable. There was a time last season when he struck out 23 batters in two starts. Crucially, he only walked one batter in 11 innings in those two starts. It is so tantalizing to see what McGarry can do when he is throwing strikes.

Griff McGarry has struck out TWENTY-THREE batters in his last two starts pic.twitter.com/rPNAGsm3Ws

— Milb Central (@milb_central) August 14, 2025

One thing I have a minor question about is how he will transition to the bullpen. The Phillies moved him to the bullpen in 2024, and he had his worst year as a pro, with his walks getting out of control. When he went back to starting last year, the results got better. Was that due to mechanical tweaks or is McGarry more comfortable starting?

If he is more comfortable starting, that could be problematic. He profiles much better as a reliever due to his strike-throwing issues and breaking ball heavy approach. The Nats are going to have to help him learn to prepare as a reliever because that is the role he will be filling this year.

McGarry seemed comfortable in the bullpen last night, but this will be something worth monitoring. He turns 27 in June, so now is the time for Griff McGarry to be unleashed. As a Rule 5 pick, he is going to have to stick in the big leagues for the entire season if the Nats want to hold on to him. Given the Nats are not going to be a contender, there will be room for growing pains here.

In Boston, Paul Toboni actually had a lot of success finding value in the Rule-5 Draft. Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock were both Rule 5 picks and are now key pieces to the Red Sox bullpen. Hopefully, McGarry can do the same thing in DC. He certainly has the raw stuff to be a big leaguer, which we saw last night. For McGarry, it will be all about finding the zone.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...garry-could-be-steal-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

MLB Pipeline drops their new Washington Nationals top 30 prospect list

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Alex Clemmey #30 of the Washington Nationals pitches during the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

This morning, MLB Pipeline released their updated top 30 prospect list for the Washington Nationals. There were some interesting risers and fallers, as well as some useful tidbits in their write-ups. The new rankings give us a better understanding of how the system is viewed at the current moment. Unsurprisingly, Eli Willits ranks number one, but there are some unique rankings down the board.

Our rollout of the 2026 Top 30 Prospects lists begins!

Here are the brand-new lists for all AL & NL East clubs: https://t.co/KcSvpihlcJ pic.twitter.com/OEBxk9wsB9

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 2, 2026

MLB Pipeline does a good job keeping their rankings relatively up to date, so there were not any insane changes. However, there were some new rankings that intrigued me. We will dive into a few of them here. Everyone knows about the top five of Willits, Travis Sykora, Harry Ford, Jarlin Susana and Gavin Fien. The stuff down the board honestly interests me more.

One ranking that stood out to me was Yoel Tejada at 13. That is higher than most outlets have him and is much higher than Pipeline had him before. We wrote about Tejada the other day and mentioned that he was 29th on Pipeline’s old list. The folks over at Pipeline must have come away very impressed by the right-hander’s first pro season.

They mentioned that Tejada has been sitting in the mid-90’s this spring according to club sources. This both intrigues me, but also is not surprising. That is where he sat in college, but in his first pro season, Tejada was in the 91-94 range because he was emphasizing his control. If Tejada can get his old velocity with his new found control, he could truly break out this year.

He gets a crazy amount of extension down the mound and was throwing a lot of strikes last year. Fangraphs gave him a shoutout as a pitcher who could be a sneaky top 100 candidate in a year. If his stuff and command are both there this year, that is possible. His height makes him very unique and he has a good slider to go with that. Look out for Yoel Tejada this year.

Picks to Click: Who We Expect to Make the 2027 Top 100 https://t.co/NAkmngu426

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) February 19, 2026

Interestingly, Alex Clemmey fell out of the Nats top 10 and sits at 11 now. Some of that is due to new players coming in, but he also slipped a bit. We know the deal with Clemmey, he has nasty stuff, but the strikethrowing is a work in progress. Despite walking a lot of hitters, he still managed to be productive last year.

However, Pipeline mentioned that his slider was not quite as sharp in 2025 and his velocity settled more in the 92-96 MPH range. His weird release traits help his stuff play up and his changeup was much better in 2025. Clemmey is still only 20 years old and is already in Double-A. He is an interesting prospect because he is productive, but it seems like he needs to make pretty big changes to fully convince scouts.

The highest ranked prospect I will dive into here is Gavin Fien. He was the headliner in the MacKenzie Gore trade and ranks fifth in the system. Fien is a bat first infielder, but some scouts have questions about his swing. Despite an unorthodox swing, he hit at a very high level against the best high school opponents he saw.

"To have that level of talent that you can train with, I think it only enhances you and makes you better."

Gavin Fien has gotten in work with a fellow 2025 first-rounder since joining the #Nats — No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits: https://t.co/navH4fZw9Q pic.twitter.com/jTdZM6JfPm

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 25, 2026

One thing that stood out in his writeup was the Nats plans for him defensively. It seems like they are going to have him split time between shortstop, third base and second base. Most scouts viewed him as a third baseman despite the fact he played shortstop in high school. It is no surprise he is getting action there, but the second base part is interesting.

The bat will always be the best part of Fien’s game, but the Nats seem like they want to make him a versatile player. Over the last few years, we have seen more big guys play second base. Max Muncy playing second for the Dodgers a few years ago is the best example of that.

The Nats have a ton of young infield prospects, so giving Fien exposure to multiple positions gives him more paths to playing time. I like that plan by the Nats. Fien will always be a bat first prospect, but versatility would give him more defensive value.

One player who moved up the list despite not throwing a pitch is Miguel Sime. That must mean Pipeline is getting good reports about him from their sources. He is ranked 16th in the system and moved past Coy James. While Sime was drafted higher, James got a bigger bonus.

Sime is known for his fastball which can reach triple digits. However, he has some control questions and his secondary pitches could use some development. Based on the write-up, it seems like the Nats are developing those secondary pitches already. Sime already has a curveball, but is reportedly toying with a harder slider.

Miguel Sime. pic.twitter.com/aKCEfkZhWm

— Nationals Source (@NationalsSource) January 15, 2026

Sime’s pure velocity makes him a very interesting prospect. It gives him a bigger margin for error. He does not need pinpoint command, it just has to be decent. If starting fails, Sime also has the arm to be an electric reliever. I am interested to follow his progress this year.

These are some of the most notable notes, but there are other rankings that interest me. Pipeline still seems to be bearish on Sam Petersen, only moving him up to 22nd on their list despite his production. It seems like they are worried about his bat to ball skills as he climbs up the minors.

Their rankings of the Nats 2024 draft picks were interesting too. Seaver King and Luke Dickerson were not very productive, but still rank 7th and 8th in the system. Caleb Lomavita had better production, but slipped to 28th on the list. They did not sound overly excited in the writeup.

Marconi German rose to 21st on the list, but they are not all in on him yet. He was very productive in the DSL, but Pipeline wants to see what he can do when he comes stateside. German is a smaller player, at just 5’10 and does not have much physical projection. However, he has a good approach, solid power and nice speed and defense. He could be a riser if he continues to produce.
If you want to look at the whole top 30 list and the writeups, the link is here. Pipeline is a great resource for fans and it is free. The folks over there do a great job and I really enjoyed their writeups this year.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...new-washington-nationals-top-30-prospect-list

 

[Washington Nationals]

Could We See Seaver King In The Major Leagues In 2026?

Seaver King’s first full professional season went a bit rocky in 2025, posting an 88 wRC+ in 125 games, including a 78 wRC+ at Double A. While he flashed some incredible tools, such as plus defensive ability at shortstop and elite speed, his lack of plate discipline and struggle to tap into his power limited his offensive upside.

Coupled with the fact that seemingly every player selected before and after King in the 2024 MLB Draft is now a top prospect in the sport or already a big leaguer, it’s understandable why the fanbase has had some frustrations with King’s development.

While the regular season didn’t go quite as many hoped it would for King in 2025, his performance in the Arizona Fall League was certainly worth tuning in for. In 18 games and 79 plate appearances, he hit .359 with 2 home runs and a 1.030 OPS. The sample size was small, but the underlying metrics backed up his strong performance, as he posted a 93rd percentile average exit velocity, 96th percentile hard hit rate, and 72nd percentile strikeout rate in the AFL.

King has taken the improvements he made in the AFL and, so far, applied them to Spring Training, as he is 4-8 with 4 singles and a walk so far this spring, good for a 180 wRC+. Perhaps most importantly, he has yet to strike out, a pleasing sight after he ran a 21% strikeout rate in the minors last year.

The sample is once again way, way too small to draw any meaningful conclusions from, but the fact that King has been able to perform well against upper-minor-league and big league pitching is very reassuring for his future as a big league hitter.

King will almost certainly begin his 2026 regular season campaign in Double A, playing Shortstop everyday. While he struggled at the level in his 80 games there in 2025, his strong AFL performance, coupled with the new coaching staff around him, has me more confident this time around in his ability to handle the pitching at that level. If he goes out and performs well in the first few months of 2026, he should see a promotion to Rochester, putting him on the doorstep of the big leagues. If his breakout continues there, could we see Seaver King in DC by the end of the year?

King’s big league fate this season would depend not only on his own production, but the production and future of those ahead of him already. 4 shortstops sit ahead of Seaver King in the Nationals organization currently: Sergio Alcantara, Levi Jordan, Nasim Nunez, and CJ Abrams.

The 29-year-old Alcantara and 30-year-old Jordan are more organizational depth than anything, not making them major hurdles for King if he has an offensive breakout, but Nunez could prove difficult to overtake for King, as he has the benefit of already being a big leaguer and sharing many similar skills to King, as both are speedsters with plus defense at shortstop and questions with their bats.

Then, of course, there is CJ Abrams, the Nats’ star shortstop, who is leaps and bounds better offensively than King at the moment, but lacking on the defensive side of the ball. While it’s hard to envision King outright taking the shortstop position from Abrams anytime soon, there is the potential for Abrams moving off it to open the spot for him, whether that be from Abrams moving to another position, such as second base, or Abrams being traded to another ballclub.

In a world where King has the breakout 2026 campaign fans are hoping for, and Abrams is moved at the deadline for more prospects to strengthen the farm system, I believe there is the potential for Seaver King to be playing middle infield for the Nationals in the backend of the 2026 season. Thanks to his great versatility, his path to big league playing time is increased, as he could come up and play any number of positions the Nats need him to.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ould-see-seaver-king-in-major-leagues-in-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Washington Nationals fans learned from Josiah Gray’s return to action

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Josiah Gray #40 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Nationals Park on April 04, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Josiah Gray made his long awaited return to action after missing most of the last two seasons due to Tommy John Surgery. He was solid, but not spectacular in his return. Gray went 1.2 innings, but he would have completed two if not for a dropped third strike. His stuff was crisp, especially in the first inning.

Like a lot of Nationals pitchers, Gray is really backing off his fastball usage. This is not very surprising for him because we saw him moving away from his heater back in 2023 when we saw him last. Gray’s fastball has always been his achilles heel, as it has gotten crushed when hitters make contact. He only threw 9 fastballs in 38 pitches yesterday.

Josiah Gray threw 38 pitches (25 strikes) over 1 2/3 innings in his first MLB game in nearly 2 years. Only threw 9 fastballs, but averaged 92.5 mph and topped out at 94 mph. Struck out 3 (all on breaking balls).

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 2, 2026

I do not think that will be an outlier in terms of usage for Gray. He has a few different breaking ball shapes he can throw. Yesterday, Gray’s two most used pitches were his slider and curveball. He also mixed in a sweeper a few times. There are other breaking ball shapes we know he can throw too. Back in 2023, he threw a cutter 18% of the time, so maybe that could be a pitch he brings into the fold as well.

The velocity was a bit of a mixed bag, which is not overly surprising. In the first inning, Gray was sitting 94 on his fastball, which really excited me. That is harder than he was throwing in 2023. However, the velocity was down in the 91-92 range in his second inning of work.

He does not really rely on his fastball, so that is not the end of the world. However, secondary pitches are also helped by power and having to respect the fastball. Those secondary pitches were pretty sharp for Gray yesterday. I really loved how he used his curveball as a weapon against lefties. Against left handers, he threw the pitch 61% of the time. Righties saw a heavy dose of sliders.

The grades of those secondary pitches were strong, at least according to the Pitch Profiler model. All of Gray’s breaking balls graded out as above average according to their model. The fastball was a bit below average, which is not much of a surprise.

Josiah Gray returned to the mound today!

He leaned heavily on his secondaries and punched out three over 1.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/HmTExEL4k5

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) March 2, 2026

However, there was another model by TJ Stats that was more bearish on Gray’s stuff. All four of Gray’s pitches graded out as below average. Thomas Nestico, the founder of TJ Stats pointed out that Gray’s low release height may help the stuff play up. It is interesting to see how different models can see pitchers’ stuff slightly differently.

Josiah Gray made his debut!

After a couple of injured riddled seasons, Gray is lined up to start 2026 in the Nationals rotation. It was an encouraging outing. While the fastball grade is low, its combination of ride and flat VAA makes it a pitch to follow this Spring pic.twitter.com/dL17lfXTQl

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) March 2, 2026

That is an example of why you can’t just blindly trust these models. They are great resources, but you have to look at the full picture. If a pitcher with great Stuff+ numbers gets lit up, you have to ask why that could be. Also, pitchers like Ranger Suarez can overperform models due to command and deception.

While that is an interesting side bar, the main thing about yesterday is that Josiah Gray was healthy and throwing the ball well. He has missed a lot of time, so hopefully as he gets more innings under his belt, he can sustain that velocity he showed in the first inning.

Overall, he made a strong first impression in his battle to win a rotation spot. If he continues to pitch like this, he should grab a spot in the Nats rotation. He has more interesting traits than the likes of Mitchell Parker and Andrew Alvarez. I also think Brad Lord’s best role is in the bullpen, so Gray winning a spot could help with that.

It is great to see Josiah Gray healthy. Back in 2023, I was a bit of a skeptic. I did not think his results were sustainable. However, after last season, I would kill for a reliable mid to back of the rotation starter who can give you league average production. That is what I think Josiah Gray could provide for the Nats.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...onals-fans-learned-josiah-grays-return-action