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[Washington Nationals]

Alex Clemmey is the Federal Baseball Washington Nationals prospect of the year

It was a difficult year for the Washington Nationals farm system, much like it was for the MLB team. A lot of the top names in the Nationals system either struggled or got hurt. That made finding a standout prospect a bit tricky, but one name stood out. After all, there is a reason Baseball America gave the Nats farm a C- for the season.

However, left handed pitcher Alex Clemmey was the standout performer in the Nationals system. The combination of Clemmey’s youth, performance, stuff and resilience made him my pick for Washington Nationals prospect of the year. Clemmey just beat out Jake Bennett for the honor in my eyes. While Bennett had a lower ERA, Clemmey threw more than 40 more innings and was one of the youngest pitchers at each of the two levels he pitched in. Baseball America agreed, also making Clemmey the Nats prospect of the year.

Per Instagram, Middletown native and @HendrickenHawks alum Alex Clemmey has been named Baseball America’s Nationals Minor League Player of the Year.

He went 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 2025. We could see him in the big leagues soon. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/kqXrEIsDQp

— Sam Knox (@SamKnoxTV) September 25, 2025

For the season, Clemmey put up impressive numbers. In 116.2 innings, he posted a 3.47 ERA with 136 strikeouts and a .208 batting average against. Clemmey was particularly dominant in High-A, where he made 19 of his 25 starts. In those 19 starts, he posted a 2.47 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. He did most of that as a 19 year old pitcher.

Clemmey’s first three starts in Double-A were very challenging and inflated his ERA. He learned that he could not get away with as much at the new level. However, the youngster adjusted and it worked. In Clemmey’s last 3 starts of the season, he went 17.2 innings and only allowed four runs. The kid got taught a lesson in Double-A, but he figured out how to adapt.

Alex Clemmey turned in his best start (6.0 IP, H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) with @HbgSenators last night.

After a leadoff homer in the 2nd inning, he settled in and retired 15 out of the final 16 hitters he faced. pic.twitter.com/Lu2Iwm86Rz

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) September 4, 2025

Alex Clemmey’s success comes from his stuff and deception. At 6’6 and left handed, Clemmey creates weird angles for hitters. His stuff is hard to pick up. The fastball comes in anywhere from 93-96 MPH, but he can reach back for more if he really needs it. This year, Clemmey is throwing both a four-seamer and a sinker. His two fastballs make him less predictable.

Clemmey’s sweeping slider is also a plus pitch. It has big time movement and can be a big whiff generator for him. Another big development this season has been Clemmey’s changeup. It was not much of a weapon before, but he has gotten more comfortable using it. The changeup is a clear third pitch, but hitters need to pay attention to it now.

Alex Clemmey, LHP, Washington Nationals
After walking the first 2 batters of the game, Clemmey settled in nicely, pitching into the 6th and striking out 5 while allowing just 1 ER.
FB: 95-96 early, 93-94 later(but commanded better)
SW: 82-85
CH: 86-88 pic.twitter.com/IP53pQO7Rr

— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) June 16, 2025

For Clemmey to take the next step, he needs to throw more strikes. The walks have been Clemmey’s achilles heel. It was the reason the Guardians were willing to move on from him to acquire Lane Thomas. For the season, Clemmey walked 5.63 batters per 9 innings. That is simply too high for a starting pitcher.

If Clemmey’s control stagnates, a move to the bullpen would become necessary. As we have seen with Clayton Beeter, you can have success in the ‘pen with poor control. If the stuff is electric, you can get the job done with scattershot control in short bursts. However, there is still hope for Clemmey as a starter.

His strike throwing actually improved when he got to Double-A. The walk rate went from 6.18 BB/9 to 3.99 BB/9. However, his strikeout rate also went way down after his promotion. Clemmey also had a big home run problem in AA, allowing 8 in 29.1 innings. However, 4 of those came in his first start at the level.

Before his promotion, home runs had never been an issue. Clemmey had only allowed 8 homers his entire Minor League career before he got to Harrisburg. That makes me think that this was just a blip on the radar and that Clemmey will go back to limiting the long ball next season.

It is important to remember just how young Clemmey is. Despite being in the same high school class as Travis Sykora, Clemmey is over a year younger than him. He turned 20 on July 18th. This is very important to consider when talking about him.

There is still a lot of runway for improvement here. He was one of, if not the youngest pitcher at each level. 20 year old pitchers are not supposed to be in AA. Clemmey has already made it there and will start next year at the level while still being 20.

At this pace, Clemmey could be in the big leagues as a 21 year old. That is awfully impressive for a former second round pick who was seen as a raw project at the time of the draft.

Mike Rizzo made a lot of mistakes over the past few years, but picking up Clemmey and more for Lane Thomas was a great move. Given Thomas’ playoff heroics last year, I doubt Guardians fans are overly upset about the move right now, but it could become a huge win for the Nats.

If everything comes together for Clemmey, he could be a mid rotation arm or a lights out high leverage relief pitcher. Control is the big difference maker here. However, Clemmey needs to find a way to add the control without losing too much of the deception that makes him special.

Effectively wild is a good way to define Alex Clemmey. If everything goes right here, you could be looking at a Gio Gonzalez style starter, who can frustrate but gets the job done more often than not. It was not the best year for the Nats farm, but seeing Alex Clemmey take big steps in his development is something that should encourage all Nats fans.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...aseball-washington-nationals-prospect-of-year

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Close Season with Final Series Against Chicago White Sox

When two of the worst teams play each other at the end of the season, it is tough as a fan to get excited. The Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox are two of the worst teams in baseball, ranking near the bottom in every statistical category. For both sides, these teams are filled with young talent. However, they are many pieces away from being true contenders.

The Chicago White Sox are coming off a season where they finished with the worst record in MLB history. They improved in 2025, having the potential to win 60 games. Chicago is years away from becoming a true contender, but the rebuild is on the right path. With young stars such as Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel, this marks the first time since 2021 that the Chicago White Sox have a promising foundation.

With the 2025 season coming to an end, here is the last series preview, and it just so happens to be between the two worst teams in baseball.

Let’s dive into the Chicago White Sox’s 2025 season.

TEAM STATS

OFFENSE

As expected, the offense has been underwhelming once again. Surprisingly, Luis Robert Jr. remains in Chicago after a brutal start to the season, tanking any value he had along with his hefty contract. However, with some mid-season callups, this team is starting to build its foundation. With Colson Montgomery (.800 OPS) and Kyle Teel (.801 OPS) joining the team mid-season, they have provided a jolt, and we saw the Chicago White Sox play competitive baseball in the second half of the season. As a team, however, they rank near the bottom in almost every statistical category. They are batting .232 (27th), scored 621 runs (28th), hit 157 runs (23rd), have an on-base percentage of .301 (27th), and a slugging percentage of .371 (29th).

PITCHING

Along with the offense, this unit disappointed as expected. With a mostly unknown rotation as well as an uninspiring bullpen, this team was doomed before the season even started. However, there are some bright spots within the rotation. Shane Smith made his first All-Star game as a rookie, and Sean Burke has looked solid during stretches of this season. These two could be long-term arms while other prospects are making their way into the big leagues. As a team, they have a 4.25 ERA (21st), allowed 180 home runs (14th), 1.37 WHIP (27th), and teams are batting .248 against them (20th).

GAME ONE – Friday, 6:45 EDT

WAS: RHP Cade Cavalli (3-1) – 9 G, 4.23 ERA, 34 SO, 1.43 WHIP, 98 ERA+

CWS: RHP Yoendrys Gomez (3-3) *CWS Stats* – 11 G (8 GS), 4.46 ERA, 42 SO, 1.25 WHIP, 94 ERA+

Cavalli has thrown in just nine games this season, and after missing the past two and a half years, Cavalli has looked solid. After giving up seven earned runs against the New York Yankees on August 27, Cavalli has strung together four consecutive quality starts. His last start was stellar, throwing five innings and allowing zero runs on five hits in a victory against the New York Mets.

Yoendrys Gomez has bounced around the league this season, making appearances for three different teams. After spending the past two seasons with the Yankees, Gomez was scooped up by the Los Angeles Dodgers for just three games before making his way to the Windy City. Overall, for the 2025 season, Gomez has a 4.92 ERA in twenty games, eight of them being starts. In his last start, he threw a quality start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits in a loss against the San Diego Padres.

GAME TWO – Saturday, 4:05 EDT

WAS: RHP Jake Irvin (9-13) – 32 G, 5.69 ERA, 118 SO, 1.44 WHIP, 72 ERA+

CWS: RHP Sean Burke (4-11) – 27 G (22 GS), 4.29 ERA, 123 SO, 1.47 WHIP, 98 ERA+

Jake Irvin has been the No.2 behind MacKenzie Gore, and he has eaten innings all season long. Even though the production has gone down compared to last season, the ability to stay on the field and throw every fifth day shows signs of a pitcher with a long future in the MLB. He threw well in his last start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs on six hits in a win against the New York Mets.

Burke threw for the first time in the majors in 2024, and in just four games, he ended the season 2-0 with a 1.43 ERA. Succeeding in that short time span earned Burke an opportunity to start every fifth day for the Chicago White Sox, and the decision has not backfired. The numbers have regressed, but in twenty-two starts, Burke has a 4.29 ERA and an ERA+ of 98, making his season around average. In his last start, Burke threw a decent game, tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits in a loss to the San Diego Padres.

GAME THREE – Sunday, 3:05 EDT

WAS: TBD

CWS: RHP Shane Smith (6-8) – 28 G, 3.98 ERA, 137 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 105 ERA+

In just his rookie season, Shane Smith has become a star out of nowhere for the Chicago White Sox. In a season where Chicago didn’t expect much from their starting rotation, they have found a long-term gem. Smith made his first All-Star game this season and has pitched well throughout the entire season. In his last start, he threw five innings and allowed just one run on five hits in a loss against the New York Yankees.

This series serves as a moral boost for both squads as their disappointing seasons are coming to an end. Both teams have a foundation and could be solid in the future; however, there are many changes that need to happen to both squads. Washington has seen some bright spots throughout this long, dreary 2025 season. The off-season is looming ahead, and both teams should be desperate to improve their roster anyway they can.

Hopefully, when next season rolls around, the Washington Nationals can be playing competitive baseball, and with the young talent they have, they are not as far off from success as people may think.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...season-final-series-against-chicago-white-sox

 

[Washington Nationals]

Bob Carpenter says good night to his wife and the Washington Nationals

It was around 9:20 PM when I received a call I had been expecting. The call was from soon to be retiring Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter. My heart was racing, eager to get started asking questions. However, Bob gave me a heads up before we got going. His wife Debbie would be calling him at some point. He would have to get off the call because he wanted to talk to her before she went to bed.

So, 15 minutes into our conversation, Bob said it was time to take a pause so he could talk to his wife. About 20 minutes later, he called me back and we resumed our conversation. Honestly, this sort of charm is on brand for the Nationals long time announcer. That wholesome, familial vibe he has on the broadcast comes through even more when you talk to him in person. You can tell a lot about a person from their priorities, and Bob Carpenter has his priorities straight.

Surrounded by Sports

Growing up in St. Louis Carpenter was surrounded by sports. When asked, Carpenter said, “I just grew up in an environment where there was always sports to watch, to listen to on the radio or to play”. Having grown up in a house on the grounds of his parish, there was always something for a young Bob Carpenter to do.

However, Carpenter got his start in the baseball world due to his older sister Judy. She worked with the Cardinals for over 50 years and her little brother idolizes her. Carpenter said that his sister was a “baseball mentor” to him. He said that Judy helped him get a grasp of the inner workings of a front office, which helped him understand the game at a deeper level. Carpenter told me that he is very proud that he and his sister will have combined for 94 years in the big leagues.

Eventually, he would get a job at the ballpark. However, his young mind was set on bigger and better things. He told me that “during the breaks, I used to go on the ramp in center field where nobody could see me and stand there for 15 or 20 minutes and announce the game out loud to myself and pretend I was Jack Buck”.

Working with his Idols and living the Dream

As fate would have it, Carpenter would be working with his hero 15 years later. On Opening Day of 1984, Carpenter called his first MLB game. The Dodgers were playing the Cardinals and the 31 year old Carpenter was surrounded by legends. As he put it, “It was a beautiful day at Dodgers Stadium, 56,000 people there. Jack Buck is sitting 20 feet to my left and I’ve got Vin Scully sitting on the other side of the wall to my right. I am 31 years old and I am sitting there thinking “what the hell am I doing here with these guys”.

Carpenter actually kept the scorebook from that game and was nice enough to share a picture of it with me. The Cardinals ended up winning the game 11-7. It was the start of what became a long and prosperous career for Bob Carpenter.

If you have followed Bob for long enough, his passion for the scorebook has become a big part of his identity. Carpenter told me this passion for scorekeeping came from his father, who took him to see Cardinals games.

However, as he rose through the ranks, the softball scorebooks he was using just were not getting the job done. He felt like he needed to act and create a better scorebook. Carpenter told me that after a couple months of his first season, he went to Whitey Herzog’s office and asked for a lineup card. From there, he went to his hotel room and laid out the grid that would become the signature Bob Carpenter scorebook.

Bob Carpenter stayed on the broadcast scene for a while after that. He was not just a baseball guy though. One of the things Carpenter said he was most proud of in his career was the fact he “did a lot of sports at the major league level”. In addition to baseball, Carpenter broadcasted two World Cups, NFL games, March Madness games, the Masters and the US Open in Tennis. That is a lot to do in one career!

However, baseball has always been his true love. Throughout the call, Bob was adamant about how intelligent baseball fans are. He told me, “You cannot fool baseball fans. There’s thousands of announcers out there that can call a pretty good football game or basketball game”. Carpenter added that, “Baseball is so different from those other sports because you have these long down times and then you have these bursts of action. In football, something happens every 30 seconds”.

Baseball has always meant something a bit extra to Bob and you can tell that when you talk to him. He loves all the other sports, but he truly honors the game of baseball. That leads us right into his time with the Nats.

The Voice of a New Club

When the Washington Nationals came to DC in 2005, Bob Carpenter was not the play-by-play guy yet. However, he came shortly after in 2006. He had bounced around a lot in the last few years before coming, so he wanted to settle down.

As he put it, “The Nationals gave me an opportunity in 2006 to really sink my teeth into a city, into the city’s team, get to know people in the organization and really see what it was like to work some place other than St. Louis”. It has been an experience that Carpenter has loved, calling it “fantastic”.

In his time with the Nats, he has become a mainstay inside the homes of countless people across the DMV, including my own. However, as you would expect if you have ever listened to him, Bob has a much more grounded perspective. He does not see himself as some sort of hero.

When he talked about the recognition he would receive on the 27th, he said, “Whatever happens on the 27th, whether it lasts half an hour or two minutes, I will be the happiest guy in town. It is so nice of them to recognize me, and it is kind of weird because I am being recognized for doing my job”.

Carpenter quickly pointed out that there are people in DC doing much more important work than he is. That is just the kind of guy Bob is. He is immensely proud of his achievements and does not downplay them to be humble, but he also just has a midwest humility to him as well.

Bob called so many memorable Nationals games, so I had to ask him what some of the most memorable ones were. He pointed to the no-hitters as the ones he will always remember, as well as Stephen Strasburg’s debut.

While that answer was predictable, his answer about the World Series team surprised me. Carpenter did not see the 2019 run coming at all. When I asked him if he saw the World Series coming, Carpenter told me, “In 2019, I don’t think I thought about the World Series until we were on the plane to the World Series”.

He added that, “To be honest with you, I never thought about the World Series at all until we won game 4 against the Cardinals. I was like, “Holy crap we are going to the World Series and I am going to get a ring because you get a ring whether you win the World Series or not”. That caught me off guard and made me chuckle because I figured there would be a moment earlier on when he thought this was a team of destiny.

Wrapping Up

As Carpenter wraps up his career that has lasted over 40 years, he is full of pride. He was very happy and thankful to the organization that he could go out on his own terms. Carpenter is acutely aware that this is not always how it ends. He had been laid off before and has had plenty of friends in the industry that have as well.

He told me that he had “joked about the fact I had done my last game for a network, but didn’t know it was my last game”. This time it truly is Bob Carpenter’s last game. For that, he is very grateful to the Nats organization. He said that going out like this is exactly what he and his wife had dreamed about.

As Bob Carpenter signs off for one last time this weekend, Nationals fans should be eternally grateful. Not only for the broadcaster, but the man. After doing this call, I was struck by Bob’s kindness and thoughtful nature. He is truly a legend in this town. See you later Bob!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...-says-good-night-to-wife-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Chicago White Sox Game Thread

The Nationals had a dramatic comeback attempt last night. They actually got the lead, but gave it up in the 9th inning, losing 10-9. The Nats could not out-slug their 4 errors last night. Today, they will look to play clean baseball in the penultimate game of the season.

After slugging three homers last night, Luis Garcia Jr. will be playing a sluggers position over at first base. It is something the Nats are experimenting with. Dylan Crews is out of the lineup, which moves Daylen Lile to right field and Josh Bell to DH. Brady House, Nasim Nunez and Jacob Young will come into the lineup. Jorge Alfaro will do the catching for Jake Irvin, who is wrapping up a season to forget.

one hundred sixty one. pic.twitter.com/GixQt4FY55

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 27, 2025

The White Sox are making a couple changes. Last night Edgar Quero caught and Kyle Teel DH’d. This afternoon that will be flipped. Former Nat Derek Hill will be the starter out in center field today. The White Sox are going with an opener today. It will be left hander Tyler Gilbert.

Our Saturday plans pic.twitter.com/Tc9EnRkZLI

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 27, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 4:05 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7
Before the game, there will be a ceremony for Bob Carpenter, who is retiring. We did a great piece on Bob that you guys should check out. He had such a great run calling Nats games and is forever a legend. The team should be inspired by that and try to win for him. Follow along and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-vs-chicago-white-sox-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Chicago White Sox Game Thread

So this is it, the Washington Nationals season ends today. While it has not been the most successful season, it has been a lot of fun getting to cover this season. Even with the lows, there have also been some fun times as well. Now it is time to do it one more time.

Miguel Cairo is putting out a strong lineup to end the season. James Wood will lead off and DH. CJ Abrams is behind him as is usually the case. Dylan Crews will be back in the lineup after a day off yesterday. After playing first base yesterday, Luis Garcia Jr. is back at his natural second base position. Riley Adams will be back behind the plate. Brad Lord will pitch one last time to close out a strong rookie year.

one hundred sixty two. pic.twitter.com/3eqFZDbBa2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

For the White Sox, old friend Michael A. Taylor will be in the lineup. Today he announced that he will be retiring. So hopefully he gets a warm reception. Otherwise, it is a mostly unchanged lineup for the White Sox. Shane Smith has gone from a Rule 5 pick to a very good starter for the White Sox. He will look to finish his season on a high.

Today's starting lineup: pic.twitter.com/uCxTVNIJQc

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 28, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 3:05 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

As we close out the season, the Nats will look to finish it out on a high note. It has not gone according to plan, as the Nats have regressed in the win column. However, the emergence of guys like Lile and Wood have been positives. Now let’s do it one more time. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-vs-chicago-white-sox-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals go down with a whimper as Bob Carpenter signs off one last time

In a season that has kicked Nationals fans in the teeth so many times, it is only appropriate that the team closed things out with an 8-0 loss. They could only muster one hit against the 102-loss White Sox. However, this game was still special, but not for the putrid play on the field.

Nationals long time broadcaster Bob Carpenter said ‘see you later’ one last time, as he called his final Nats game. The tributes that came in for Carpenter were fantastic. The Nats put together a tribute that had some heavy hitters such as Joe Buck congratulate Bob on a wonderful career. Carpenter had the chance to work with Joe Buck, as well as his legendary father Jack Buck.

the master, Carpenter pic.twitter.com/WmyFyJ9fRr

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

Throughout the game, there were a lot of great moments for Bob. One thing that I really loved is when the team saluted him after they took the field in the first inning. It was a super cool moment and a classy recognition. Carpenter is a Nationals icon and it is cool to see him be recognized as such.

Classy from the Nationals — the whole team came out of the dugout to tip their cap to Bob Carpenter before first pitch: pic.twitter.com/ULNKaTDyfp

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 28, 2025

To the game itself, things were pretty ugly. Darnell Coles’ reign as Nationals hitting coach ended in fitting fashion. The offensive unit only mustered one hit against a last place White Sox team at home. For a while, it looked like White Sox starter Shane Smith could throw a perfect game.

The Nationals only base runner of the game came when Brady House hit a single to the right fielder in the bottom of the 6th. Other than that, nobody reached the entire game for the Nats.

On the pitching side, Brad Lord looked worn down by the long season. His fastball velocity was down 2 ticks this afternoon. It was a very successful rookie season for Lord, but you could tell today that he was out of gas. A few of the Nats younger pitchers that pitched well for most of the season began to run out of gas in September.

Bob Carpenter was not the only one to announce that this was it for him. Former Nat Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement this morning after 10 seasons in the big leagues. Taylor got to go out in the place where it all started for him. Despite never truly grabbing on to a starting gig with the Nats, Taylor was a fan favorite due to his playoff heroics and wholesome personality.

He got a few tributes throughout the game. The Nats crowd was really eager to show their love to the center fielder. Even when he got an RBI groundout to bring home another run for the White Sox, Nats fans showered him with applause.

one last SEE. YOU. TATER, Michael A. pic.twitter.com/q7VQ8RbvZf

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

Despite the loss, it was an emotional day that made me proud to be a Nats fan. Sure, the game was not great and the season was not much better, but hey, there is always next year.

After the game was over, the attention turned to Carpenter once more. An emotional Bob Carpenter got to sign off for one last time. The 42 year veteran of the MLB broadcast game got to go out on his terms, with his wife right by his side. Thank you Bob, you will always be the voice of Nationals baseball to me.

The voice of the Washington Nationals, Bob Carpenter, signs off for the final time. #ThankYouBob pic.twitter.com/nqHoDZOj6y

— Bennett Lehmann (@DCBerk) September 28, 2025

This closed out the 2025 season. With the loss, the Nationals final record is a disappointing 66-96. There will be big changes coming this offseason. We know that Paul Toboni will be the new POBO, but there are still a lot of things up in the air.

Who will be the GM who reports to Toboni? Who will be the manager and what will his staff look like? These are all questions that need to be answered quickly. Hopefully those changes can breathe new life into a franchise that has really struggled since the World Series in 2019. Nationals fans are really hoping that 2026 can be a year where the team finally shows some progression because 2025 certainly was not that year.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ith-whimper-bob-carpenter-signs-off-last-time

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Grades: Evaluating CJ Abrams up and down season

Now that we are officially in the offseason, we will be trying some new things here at Federal Baseball. One thing we will do this offseason is evaluate and grade the players on the 2025 team. We will look at what went right, what went wrong and how these guys can look to improve this offseason. The first player we will evaluate is shortstop CJ Abrams.

Overall, this was another up and down season for Abrams. He was very good in the first half before fading down the stretch. This has been a problem for a lot of the Nats best players. At this point, it is tough to tell if this is a player issue or an organizational issue. It is tough to watch MacKenzie Gore and Abrams start so well before going off the rails.

When you zoom out, Abrams offensive numbers were almost identical to last year. Last season, Abrams hit .246 with a .314 OBP, a .433 slugging percentage and a .747 OPS. This year he hit .257 with a .315 OBP, a .433 slugging percentage and a .748 OPS. Even his advanced numbers like xwOBA and wOBA were virtually identical.

However, his fWAR actually improved quite a bit, though his bWAR was mostly unchanged. Abrams fWAR went from 1.9 in 2024 to 3.1 in 2025. This improvement comes from slight defensive improvements and his base running returning to elite levels. In early September, Abrams fWAR was actually at 3.3 before a tough month to end the season.

I feel like CJ Abrams season is flying under the radar. 123 G, 17 HR, 28 SB, 3.3 fWAR, 115 OPS+. pic.twitter.com/OZ9EPcy4ZI

— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) September 5, 2025

To his credit, the numbers suggest Abrams improved a bit on defense, even if it still is not great. His OAA went from -18 to -9 and his fielding run value went from -14 to -7. Is Abrams a shortstop long term, I am not so sure. His arm is still light for the position, his range is average at best and he makes more errors than you would like. I think second base would be a good home for him long term, but for now Abrams is the shortstop. Hopefully he can continue to improve on the defensive side of the ball.

One thing I like about Abrams is that he always comes into seasons well prepared and improved. He comes in with a plan and executes it. That is why he always gets off to fast starts. However, as the season goes along, Abrams has a tough time finding the necessary adjustments to keep up his strong work.

As we mentioned briefly, another reason why Abrams fWAR went up is that his base running returned to form. In 2023, Abrams was one of the best base runners in the sport. He had a base running run value of 8 and a BsR of 9.2, both among the best in the league. Abrams was also 47/51 stealing that season. In 2024, his base running regressed to merely above average levels. He only stole 31 bases while being caught 12 times. His base running run value was also only 4.

However, he returned to form this season. Sure, he did not get back to the 40 steal level he was at in 2023, but he swiped 31 bags while only being caught 3 times. Abrams posted 7 base running run value and 7.4 BsR. His BsR was 7th in baseball.

To take the next step, Abrams needs to have a full season’s worth of good offense. For a second straight year, he really fell off in the second half. Before the All-Star break, Abrams hit .287 with an .836 OPS. In the second half, he really tailed off with a .217 average and .634 OPS.

The home run power was in line with last season. While he did not reach the 20 homer milestone, he did get to 19, only one off of last season. Abrams became a real doubles machine this year, with his 35 two baggers being a career high and 12th in all of baseball.

ohh look at me im cj abrams I crush baseballs pic.twitter.com/qsJvlQ4mC2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 10, 2025

Abrams speed also allows him to hit a good amount of triples. In 2023 and 2024, he hit six triples. This year that went down to five, which is still a healthy amount. He is no Daylen Lile, but three baggers are a part of Abrams’ game.

A two-run triple from CJ Abrams puts the @Nationals up 3 in the 11th! pic.twitter.com/nYgWoJZd4x

— MLB (@MLB) June 29, 2025

I am confident that Abrams will make the adjustments heading into the season. He has done that in each of the last two seasons. However, can he make the appropriate in-season adjustments? That is what he needs to do if he wants to take that next step.

Overall, Abrams had a decent season, but he did not take that leap Nats fans were hoping for. The improved defense and base running helped out his WAR, but his offense was remarkably similar to 2024 both in the numbers and how he got to those numbers.

You cannot complain too much about a 3 wins season, but Abrams left me wanting more. Can he finally finish a season strong in 2026? I really hope he can because he is great to watch when he is on his game.

Season Grade: B-

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ls-grades-evaluating-cj-abrams-up-down-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

Where do the Washington Nationals go from here?

As Nasim Nunez stared at a well placed sinker, it really hit me that this Nationals season is over. The 2025 Washington Nationals are now part of the history books. It will not be a chapter that is looked back on fondly, but if the team plays their cards right, it could be the year where the first needed changes were made.

Heading into the season, expectations for the Nationals were higher than they had been the last few years. After back to back 71-91 seasons, the goal was to push towards .500 and be in the mix deep into the season. That was the message both Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez sent in Spring Training.

Sure, the Nats did not break the bank in the offseason, but they made some moves to help improve the team. Most notably, the Nats traded for Nathaniel Lowe to be their first baseman. Lowe had been one of the most consistent players in baseball the previous four seasons, but he was just not a fit in DC.

He posted a .665 OPS in DC before getting released on August 14th. To add insult to injury, Lowe rebounded and went back to his Texas levels once he joined the Red Sox. It was just that kind of year for the Washington Nationals.

That is why they finished 66-96 and fired Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez. Let’s talk about those firings because those are the most important things to come out of this season. Davey Martinez and especially Mike Rizzo had become ever presents for Nationals fans. It became tough to imagine life without them.

However, life without them has come. They were both fired in early July after an absolutely miserable June. Mike DeBartolo and Miguel Cairo held down the fort for the rest of the season, but further changes are coming.

The arrival of Paul Toboni should change everything. As a 35 year old who has immersed himself in the modern game, Toboni will be a very different voice to Mike Rizzo, who was an old school guy. In the 2020’s, Rizzo struggled to adapt to the game, but Toboni is right on the cutting edge. With the Lerner’s closing up the check books, the Nats will need to be on the cutting edge to survive. It is possible to win with a smaller budget, but you need to use analytics heavily to do that.

Toboni should bring that to the Nationals. He will also bring much needed scouting acumen. Over the past decade, the Nationals have struggled mightily in the draft. Rizzo has whiffed on first round pick after first round pick. Given his drafting track record in Boston, it is easy to envision Toboni turning around the Nats drafting. It is critical to reversing the losing culture that has set in over the past half decade.

Given the state of the team, fans should not expect a quick turnaround in 2026. The team finished 29th in ERA and 24th in OPS. Spending alone will not get you out of that kind of hole. The organization needs to do a better job developing talent and that is why they brought in Toboni.

However, it is not all bad. There are a few pieces to build around here. One of the big surprises of 2025 was the emergence of Daylen Lile. He had a September for the ages and the 22 year old established himself as a piece of the Nationals core. For the season, he hit .299 with an .845 OPS. Lile hit 9 homers, 15 doubles and an insane 11 triples. He was my favorite part of a disappointing campaign.

The only player with both a higher wRC+ and fWAR than Daylen Lile in September? Aaron Judge.

What a breakout for the Nationals rookie! pic.twitter.com/xauORJDAVl

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 28, 2025

Despite tailing off in the second half, James Wood also established himself as a foundational piece. He hit 31 homers with 94 RBI’s in his first full season. His batting average was .256 and his OPS was .825. Some of the opposite field homers he hit were downright ridiculous.

This swing is why no one should be worried about James Wood. pic.twitter.com/lUG5PdDlFQ

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) September 27, 2025

Sure, the strikeouts are an issue he needs to fix. Wood will always be a high strikeout guy, but his flirtation with the all time strikeout record at the end of the year was a bit embarrassing. For the season, Wood struck out 221 times. To reach that star level we know he can get to, that needs to come down.

There are also more pieces that should interest Paul Toboni. While MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams tailed off in the second half, they had solid seasons on the whole. Brad Lord and Cade Cavalli also showed flashes in the rotation. Jose A. Ferrer, Cole Henry and Clayton Beeter did the same in the bullpen.

However, Toboni will be looking to unlock more out of some other Nats youngsters. Dylan Crews and Brady House struggled pretty badly at the MLB level. Crews showed some flashes, but has yet to put it all together offensively. House looked overmatched in his first taste of MLB action. His power needs to show up.

I am very curious to see what Toboni does with the coaching staff. This much maligned 2025 staff is as good as gone, but I am interested to see what kind of manager comes in. Will Toboni go with a fresh young manager to relate to a young team, or an older manager that can instill some discipline in a team that has gotten too loose. Dylan Crews’ comments about accountability were really telling.

A very good, very insightful quote from Dylan Crews after Game No. 162 about how the Nationals can turn these raw emotions into a successful 2026: pic.twitter.com/ULKhb5M1tE

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 28, 2025

Nailing the hires for the hitting and pitching coach positions is also paramount. Darnell Coles and Jim Hickey/Sean Doolittle were not getting the most out of these guys. Especially on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of meat was being left on the bone. When Nats hitters went on slumps, things spiraled out of control. On the pitching side, they threw too many fastballs, though a lot of their struggles just come down to a lack of talent.

Paul Toboni is going to have to determine the direction of a franchise that has been rudderless since the 2019 World Series. While this was a highly disappointing season, it is one of the most important ones in recent memory.

It was the year where the Mike Rizzo rebuild officially failed. He was failed by ownership, but he also did not deliver in the draft like he needed to. Now it is time to see what Paul Toboni can do. The first step to solve a problem is recognizing the problem exists.

The Lerner family realized that things were not going well and finally acted. Now it is time for them to back Paul Toboni. That backing goes beyond just Free Agent signings. They need to let him enact his vision and modernize this organization.

Honestly, it is going to be tough to attract big name free agents this offseason. If Pete Alonso has similar offers from the Nats and the Mets, why would he join the Nats. Right now, they are a losing franchise. Paul Toboni needs to get things going in the right direction with mid-level free agent signings and shrewd trades. Once the team shows they are headed in the right direction, the big name free agents will be attracted if the money is right.

2025 was one of the more painful Nats seasons I can remember. It was supposed to be a year where the team went forwards. Instead they regressed and played a painful brand of baseball. However, the organization finally got shaken up. If Paul Toboni can turn around this ship, the suffering from this season could all be worth it in the end.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86583/where-do-washington-nationals-go-from-here

 

[Washington Nationals]

Daylen Lile wins NL Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month

Daylen Lile’s bonkers month of September is being rewarded with plenty of hardware. Today, it was announced that Lile is both the NL Rookie of the Month and the NL Player of the Month. Both awards are well deserved as well. Lile had one of the best months I’ve ever seen from a National and there have been some good months over the years.

Daylen Lile is your NL Player of the Month for September presented by @Chevrolet! pic.twitter.com/PtNcZ9r8Gt

— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2025

The numbers Lile put up were outrageous. He hit an absurd .391 with a 1.212 OPS. Those hits were not just singles either. Lile hit 6 homers, smacked 3 doubles and hit an outrageous 7 triples. Every time you looked up, it seemed like Lile was just flying around the bases.

He led the National League in so many offensive categories, including batting average, OPS and of course triples. Lile was playing well and impressing before September, but nobody could have seen this coming.

Daylen Lile was named National League Player AND Rookie of the Month for September. He led the NL in OPS, slugging percentage, batting average and triples.

Lile is the 11th player to win both rookie and player awards in the same calendar month.

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) September 30, 2025

Lile was a downright force of nature who just never stopped hitting. It is crazy to look back at where he was before the season. People knew Lile had talent, but he was behind a lot of outfielders in the pecking order. He was not bad in 2024, but a .262 average with a .735 OPS in High-A and Double-A is nothing to write home about. James Wood, Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, Robert Hassell III and maybe even Andrew Pinckney were ahead of Lile in the outfield pecking order.

However, Lile mashed in the Minor Leagues to start the season and forced the Nationals hand. He started the year in AA, and raked. Then he got to Triple-A and somehow started hitting even better. When Dylan Crews went down in May, Lile got the call.

It was a slow start for Lile in the MLB. You could see the hitting ability, but the numbers just were not there. Prior to the All-Star break, Lile was hitting just .234 with a .634 OPS. The defense was also very bad, which made him a negative WAR player.

However, his underlying offensive data was strong and eventually his real stats caught up to that. With this insane September, Lile finished the season with a .299 average and an .845 OPS with 9 homers, 15 doubles and 11 triples. At just 22 years old, that guy is a piece of the Nationals core and a potential star.

My favorite Lile moment of the month was of course his insane inside the park home run. It was an insane game against the Mets that was deep into extra innings. In the 11th, Lile crushed a ball to the wall and the Mets center fielder couldn’t make a play. Lile was just flying around those bases. I thought it would be another triple for him, but he got even more. It was an insane moment that cost the Mets a playoff spot in the end.

Just in: Daylen Lile is the NL player AND rookie of the monthpic.twitter.com/3oB8TC71oE

— Kev (@klwoodjr) September 30, 2025

Daylen Lile is just one of those players that is easy to fall in love with. His swing is so easy on the eye and he just flies around the bases. Sure, he has some things to clean up defensively, but his defensive woes come from a lack of understanding rather than a lack of effort. As he gets more reps out there and learns to trust his athleticism, I think he will be a decent defender.

This month was just insane beyond belief. I am not even sure Lile himself could have seen this coming. Shohei Ohtani had one of his better months of the season, but it was not enough to beat out Lile.

he is now one of our ELITE employees pic.twitter.com/akEwZqxAAd

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 30, 2025

I am so curious to see what is next for him in 2026. Obviously, he won’t hit nearly .400 every month, but I think he can be a .300 hitter. His line drive based approach just leads to so many hits. He also does not sacrifice his extra base hit ability as well. If a pitcher makes a mistake, Lile can make them pay dearly. I love that about him.

In the beginning of the season, Lile was a bit of an afterthought in a crowded outfield picture. Now, he is one of the Nationals foundational pieces as they enter the Paul Toboni era. A lot of things are uncertain, but we know that Daylen Lile has a starting spot. Congrats to Daylen on a month he will never forget!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ns-nl-player-of-the-month-rookie-of-the-month

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Grades: Looking at Brad Lord’s successful rookie year

Last offseason, Brad Lord was working at Home Depot to make some extra cash. As a former 18th round pick, who spent multiple seasons in the Minor Leagues, he was not raking in the cash, so he had to make ends meet. After a successful rookie season, Lord will not need to work on the side anymore.

Lord rose from obscurity and has become a rare success story for a Nationals system that has not had too many hidden gems lately. Drafted in the 18th round out of South Florida, Lord was supposed to just be an organizational depth piece. However, after posting a 2.43 ERA in 129.2 minor league innings last season, he became a factor.

He became even more intriguing this spring when he showed up to camp throwing in the mid-90’s. That exciting spring and a weak Nats bullpen led to Lord winning a roster spot out of camp. It was a spot he never gave back, spending the whole season with the team.

That'll be it for Brad Lord's season. Asked to do a ton as a rookie, with 19 starts and 29 outings in relief. Finishes the year with a 4.34 ERA.

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 28, 2025

Throughout the year, Lord was thrown into a number of roles. He started the season in the bullpen before quickly moving to the rotation after a Michael Soroka injury. When Soroka returned, Lord went back into the bullpen, where he flourished. Then, when Trevor Williams went down, Lord moved back to the rotation where he finished the season.

I'm really excited to see Brad Lord get the opportunity every 5 days, he has showed so much out of the bullpen this season.

Big success story so far for this team since he was a 18th round pick back in 2022.

Prioritizing the future for the 25 year old!

— Ryan Clary (@Ryanclary11) July 18, 2025

He did an admirable job in both roles, but was better out of the bullpen. Lord showed flashes in the rotation, but really seemed to fade towards the end of the season. For Lord to be a starter long term, he needs to refine and maybe add to his arsenal of secondary pitches. If he does not, I am scared that we could see what happened to Parker and Irvin happen to Lord.

In the bullpen, Lord’s fastball had some extra steam on it in short bursts. It sat 95-96 MPH which really helped out the offering. Lord’s low arm slot and big time fastball movement already makes the pitch effective, but the more velocity the better. That is why he posted a 2.79 ERA in 29 relief appearances.

This fastball from Brad Lord had over a foot of “rise” and 20 inches of arm side run, and it’s why he’s been one of the most effective pitchers for the Nationals in 2025 (article coming soon) pic.twitter.com/oTQFJS2e5l

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) August 2, 2025

As a starter, things were bumpier, especially down the stretch. In Lord’s 19 starts, he posted a 4.99 ERA. By 2025 Nationals standards, that is pretty good, but overall that is not too great. At 25, Lord has time to sharpen his craft in the rotation, but he also has the chance to fall back into a relief role.

I am interested to see how Toboni views Lord. Does he see him as a bullpen guy, a starter or a swingman? There is a case for any of these options and I am interested to see how things play out.

Lord is also a pitcher that I think would benefit from pitch design. Places like Driveline and Tread Athletics really optimize pitchers’ arsenals and help them improve. Lord has a very good fastball and a funky arm slot to build around. However, his secondary pitches are just underwhelming.

His slider gave up a ton of damage and barely generated more whiffs than the fastball. Lord’s changeup flashed, but a 19% whiff rate on a changeup just is not very good. We know so much about pitch design these days, so I think Lord can benefit from that. Maybe if he goes to Driveline instead of Home Depot, he can find another level to his game. I’ve always thought a sweeper would make sense for him given his lower slot and heavy arm-side fastball.

Even if he does not become more than a solid swingman, Lord was a good find for the Nats. To survive a 162 game season, you need guys like Lord who can eat innings effectively in a variety of roles. Just look at a team like the Brewers. They have so many unsung pitching heroes who can just log innings effectively. The role is TBD, but Brad Lord has a spot on this pitching staff.

Season Grade: A-

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ades-looking-brad-lord-successful-rookie-year

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Do The Washington Nationals Do At Catcher In 2026?

It’s no secret that the catcher position was an absolute travesty for the Washington Nationals in 2025. Led by Keibert Ruiz, they were easily the worst unit in baseball for half the season, posting a nightmareish -1.2 fWAR through June 30th (2nd worst in the league was only at -0.5). In fact, it was so bad that they were actually on pace to break the record for the worst fWAR by a catching unit in baseball history.

After Ruiz went down with his first of several head injuries, they actually improved as a unit, as with Riley Adams and Drew Millas splitting the reps, they posted the 14th-best fWAR among catching units in baseball from July 1st to August 27th. After Millas suffered a season-ending finger injury on August 27th, however, it all went downhill again, as with Riley Adams getting the majority of the reps, they once again were the worst unit in the league, posting a -1.0 fWAR from August 28th to the end of the season.

So, where do the Nats go from here regarding the catcher position? They are financially tied to Keibert Ruiz until 2030, but the mix of poor performance, injuries, and the man who extended him being out of the organization leaves his future murky. The current backups, Riley Adams and Drew Millas, each excel in different areas, but their weaknesses lead me to believe they won’t be much more than backups in their careers. Down on the farm, Caleb Lomavita showed promise at High-A and in his brief time at Double-A, but he needs to work on his approach at the plate and tapping into his power more consistently.

If the Nationals choose to look externally for catching options, they have a variety of interesting options. The free agent catching class (excluding those with options, as we don’t know yet if they’ll be available) is led at the top by JT Realmuto, long-time Phillies backstop and once highly coveted by Mike Rizzo and his staff. Realmuto has been one of the most consistent catchers in the sport for years, posting at least 2 fWAR in 9 consecutive full seasons, but dipped below average offensively this season for the first time since his rookie year, and he will be 35 in 2026.

The next best option after Realmuto in the free agent catcher class is Gary Sanchez, once a big-name youngster who has become more of a journeyman now in his career. Sanchez played only 30 games for the Orioles in 2025 due to injury, 22 behind the dish, and performed roughly how you would expect, posting a 100 wRC+ and hitting 5 home runs while playing subpar defense behind the dish. The appeal of a Sanchez signing is that with the new ABS system coming in 2026, which will allow 2 challenges per game to teams on balls and strikes, his defense will become less of an issue, and his bat will make him a net positive for the club.

The problem, however, is that Sanchez is not a bad framer, grading roughly league average usually; his problem is blocking, where he consistently grades out very poorly. Sanchez would provide the Nats with a stronger bat than they’ve had behind the dish in years, but his defense would likely hurt them just as much as his bat helps.

Another free agent catcher who could be an interesting stopgap option for the Nats is Victor Caratini, who is in many ways the antithesis of a ballplayer to Gary Sanchez. While Sanchez excels with his power and decent framing and struggles with consistent contact and blocking, Caratini’s strong suits are his bat-to-ball skills and blocking, while he struggles with framing. Not many catchers will benefit from the ABS system more than Caratini, who ranked in the 38th percentile in Framing Runs Above Average in just 49 games caught in 2025. The bat should play, as he’s posted a 113 and 104 wRC+ the last 2 seasons. The question will be his ability to catch 100+ games, and if he’d need to share the role with another catcher similar to the Yan Gomes/Kurt Suzuki tandem of old.

I would also like the Nationals to keep their eyes on the trade block for available catchers, although it is rather rare that teams are just giving away young and controllable catching. The Nats’ best chance to strike is with a contending team undergoing a roster crunch to their 40-man and cannot afford to add a young backstop to it. The Nats give up some younger prospects of their own, and in exchange get a possible solution at a block hole of a position for them. They should also look at catching prospects on teams that already have their long-term catcher, such as Dalton Rushing from the Dodgers or Harry Ford from the Mariners.

There are a few more viable catching options on the market, but none that would be much of an upgrade over the Nationals’ in-house options. While building the catcher position back up to being at least a league-average unit year after year will take time, there are options out there to at least improve the short-term outlook of the position. Personally, my preference would be signing one of the 3 free agent options listed above, with Caratini being my favorite of the trio due to his strong bat and chance to improve defensively.

Backing him up, I would like it to be Drew Millas, as he is the strongest defender of the current Nationals catchers and has shown some ability with the bat as well. Riley Adams should get the majority of the reps in Triple-A until Caleb Lomavita is ready for a promotion, and Keibert Ruiz, health permitting, should spend a season at Triple-A finding himself and his swing, as he has just continued to decline year after year. Ruiz is out of options and would need to pass through waivers to go to the minors, but that should not be a problem, as the odds of a team claiming Ruiz and taking on his contract are practically zero.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86623/what-do-washington-nationals-do-at-catcher-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

Evaluating Paul Toboni’s first press conference as Washington Nationals POBO

Paul Toboni just wrapped up his opening press conference as President of Baseball Operations for the Washington Nationals. After watching the event, I had a few takeaways I wanted to write about. There was a lot to be excited about, as well as some ownership weirdness. If you want to watch the press conference, it is down here.

LIVE Paul Toboni Introductory Press Conference https://t.co/W7Iw7DUt4O

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 1, 2025

My first takeaway is that Paul Toboni is a highly impressive guy. It is easy to see how ownership was blown away when they interviewed him. Toboni said all the right things and made me believe in him and his process.

He opened by saying he wanted to create a “scouting and player development monster” that would make the Nationals the envy of not just the baseball world, but the entire sports world. Toboni is clearly a guy who is interested in sports as a whole, not just baseball. He mentioned his love for basketball a number of times and also quoted the great football coach Bill Walsh.

Paul Toboni, the new President of baseball ops for the Washington Nationals. Alongside principal owner Mark Lerner, Ed Cohen & Bob Tannebaum.

Super impressive intro presser conference, Nats fans will love him. pic.twitter.com/cKYuH3We5F

— Ryan Clary (@Ryanclary11) October 1, 2025

When Nats fans hear this guy talk, whether they watched the presser or will listen to it later, they will be blown away. There were a number of things he said that really stuck out. He mentioned multiple times that you win with people and that is something he has learned over the years. Toboni talked about how he loves the analytics side, he has learned to implement the human side of things as well.

While he is an eloquent guy, Toboni is also very clearly a competitor. He talked about how he wants there to be a culture where there are winners and losers. Toboni also talked about bringing accountability as well. He is a young, personable guy, but you can also see the cutthroat side to him as well. I love that he has that combination.

On constructing a team "placing focus on creating a winning culture, create an environment where our players themselves accountable but holding each other accountable." – Paul Toboni, Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations pic.twitter.com/Q8mVktA8S0

— TheNatsReport (@TheNatsReport) October 1, 2025

One answer I found interesting is when he talked about coaching. He mentioned that there are two sides of coaching that are needed. There is a technical side of coaching, as well as something he called the art of coaching. For Toboni, both are needed. If you don’t have that art of coaching, the sound technical advice you give will not be taken to heart. However, he also emphasized that these coaches need to have the most up to date, analytical advice to give as well.

Overall, there is not much bad I can say about Toboni. He seems like a real winner, as well as a young family man who really cares about his community. This is a guy you can win with if the right pieces are put around him.

" Want to create an environment where not just my kids, but kids around Washington DC [and] around the greater region to come to the game." – Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni pic.twitter.com/sZ2Y5IAVuD

— TheNatsReport (@TheNatsReport) October 1, 2025

Putting the right pieces around him is where I get nervous though. The ownership side of this press conference was pretty awkward. Mark Lerner, Ed Cohen and Robert Tannenbaum were all on stage, but only Lerner talked. It seemed like Lerner wanted one of the other guys to talk at one point, but then Toboni stepped in.

When Toboni and Lerner were asked about any specific assurances, both skated around the question. Toboni talked about how there is a reason he was on the stage and how he could have stayed in Boston, but did not dive into any specifics. Lerner dodged the question much less artfully, talking about how he wanted to get the team back to where it was but did not go into specifics.

Lerner sounded pretty defensive throughout the press conference. Some of that is understandable, there has been a target on his back and he is feeling the heat. However, it was a bit odd at times. The disparity between Toboni’s charisma and his demeanor did not help that look either.

However, I find it hard to believe that Toboni took the job without any assurances. He was the favorite to be the GM under Craig Breslow in Boston and is viewed as one of the best up and coming minds in baseball. This is a guy who had some options. It is very possible that they just did not want to dive into specifics.

On the whole, I was impressed with the event despite the ownership weirdness. It looks like they have hired a real sharp and charismatic guy. Toboni has the potential to become one of baseball’s elite executives, at least based on how he presents himself. He is young, hungry and eager to win. The question now is whether ownership will back Paul Toboni properly. If they do, I think he can build a winner in DC sooner rather than later.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...st-press-conference-washington-nationals-pobo

 

[Washington Nationals]

Could the Washington Nationals go after a recently fired manager?

Now that Paul Toboni is in place as the President of Baseball Operations, the attention now turns to the managerial job. Davey Martinez was a World Champion and the club’s longest serving manager, so nailing his replacement is crucial. With a few firings around the league, there are a couple new candidates I wanted to explore.

The first name I wanted to touch on is a veteran of the game in Bob Melvin. A few days ago, the San Francisco Giants decided to fire Melvin after two seasons on the job. Melvin had been unable to lift the Giants out of the mediocrity that has become a pattern for the club since their magical 2021 season.

However, according to local sources, he was fired due to Buster Posey wanting to shake things up and bring in his own guy rather than losing the clubhouse. Melvin is a veteran manager who knows how to control a clubhouse, but is also not overly friendly with the players.

"I was disappointed. Because I think Melvin had the clubhouse… I simply think it comes down to one thing. Buster wanted his own guy."

Mike Krukow on Bob Melvin's firing with @knbrmurph & @MarkusBoucher. pic.twitter.com/JeDS8gqse9

— KNBR (@KNBR) October 1, 2025

One thing that Davey Martinez struggled with at the end of his tenure was bringing accountability to a young clubhouse. The young players developed too many bad habits. While Martinez preached about ‘the little things’, the Nats did not do those things well.

While Melvin has had mediocre results in his last two stops, he has a strong overall track record. He did his best work with the A’s, where he managed for a decade. The A’s were constant overachievers during his tenure, with Melvin constantly doing more with less. Melvin won two manager of the year awards in Oakland and has three overall.

If I were Paul Toboni, I would at least give him a call. The idea of a no nonsense, veteran manager in tandem with a young, fresh POBO is an interesting thing to think about. However, there are some drawbacks here.

As mentioned, Melvin has been mediocre in each of his last two stops. In San Diego, he led the Padres to the NLCS in his first season. However, the 2023 Padres are one of the biggest underachievers of any team in recent memory. They had so much talent, but Melvin could not get them to gel.

Another factor is the fact that Melvin has only ever worked on the west coast. He is from California and has only ever managed for west coast teams. Does Melvin want to go all the way across the country and is he the right culture fit for DC? Overall, Melvin would be a steady hand, but not a game changing appointment.

The other fired manager to discuss is Rocco Baldelli. For me, he would be a more exciting appointment. He has a great combination of youth and experience. At 44 years old, he would be able to connect with players while also having 7 seasons of managerial experience to fall back on.

Baldelli was the Twins manager from 2019-2025. He won Manager of the Year in his first season and has led a competitive Twins team for most of his tenure. Twins fans are actually upset with his firing and see it as the front office and ownership throwing him under the bus.

Gleeman: Rocco Baldelli's final act as fired Twins manager is shielding the front officehttps://t.co/oqtMPiaqxJ

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) October 1, 2025

Baldelli guided the Twins to success despite a dysfunctional ownership group that flirted with a sale but decided not to. Things went south for the Twins this season after a fire sale at the deadline and Baldelli took the fall.

Only 2.5% of Twins fans considered Baldelli the main problem in a recent poll done in the Athletic. From what I have seen, most Twins fans did not like the decision. It takes a lot to be widely liked by a fanbase as a manager in 2025.

In our recent survey of 6,000 fans, just 2.5% named Rocco Baldelli as most to blame for the Twins' struggles.https://t.co/Sbxv59ZE1J

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 29, 2025

For these reasons, Baldelli is my top candidate right now. Melvin is also someone to consider, but he feels stale for me and I am not sure he would want to leave the west coast. The fact he has managed for 22 seasons and for 5 teams and the furthest east he has gone is Arizona makes me uncertain.

Of course, there are other candidates besides those two. Former O’s manager Brandon Hyde knows what it takes to work in the area and turn around a rebuilding team. Paul Toboni could also work his connections on the Red Sox staff as well.

However, while researching, I have fallen in love with the idea of Rocco Baldelli. He did a good job in Minnesota in a tough environment and I think he can do the same in DC. Baldelli has a fantastic mix of youth and experience. On paper, he checks all of the boxes I am looking for in the next Nationals manager.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ton-nationals-go-after-recently-fired-manager

 

[Washington Nationals]

Taking a look at how former Washington Nationals are performing in the playoffs

Despite the Nationals missing the playoffs yet again, there are some familiar faces for Nats fans to watch this October. With the Wild Card series wrapped up, I wanted to check in and see how some former Nats are playing. While the heavy hitters on the Phillies have not played yet, some former Nats have made big impacts.

Amed Rosario Took Center Stage:

In the series between the Yankees and the Red Sox, Amed Rosario played a weirdly big role, not only on the field but in the discourse. Aaron Boone played Rosario at second base over Jazz Chisholm Jr. in game one due to his big numbers against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.

Rosario went 0/3 and Yankees fans were outraged by Boone’s decision to bench his 30/30 second baseman. The decision led to a big conversation about platooning and analytics. Nats fans know that Rosario hammers left-handed pitching, but in that game the decision back-fired.

In game 3, Boone went back to Rosario with a lefty on the mound. However, he played him at third base this time so Chisholm could get into the lineup. Boone’s decision paid off this time, as Rosario delivered in the 4th inning. His RBI single opened the scoring and was the opening salvo of what became a big inning for the Yankees.

Amed Rosario drives in the first run of Game 3! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/wA8cexzJbK

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

Amed Rosario was a good Nat who is very good at a specific role. He also got the club Clayton Beeter, who became one of the Nats best relievers in the second half. As the playoffs go on, Rosario will continue to get looks against lefties. Good luck to Amed!

Lowe Caps Off a Miserable Season:

2025 was just not Nathaniel Lowe’s year. This offseason, Lowe was the Nats big acquisition. For years, he had been one of the most consistent first baseman in the game. His on base skills and defense made up for mediocre power for the position. That is why the Nats traded Robert Garcia for the veteran.

However, Lowe’s production tanked this season. He was so bad in DC that Mike DeBartolo was unable to trade him. The defense and plate discipline both fell off a cliff for Lowe. In August, the Nats cut bait with Lowe, designating him for assignment.

Needing a first baseman, the Red Sox picked him up after he was released by the Nationals. In the regular season, Lowe provided a spark for the Red Sox, hitting .280 for them.

However, he had a post-season to forget. At the plate, he went 1-7, including making the final out that sent the Red Sox home. In the field, Lowe made a critical error that cost the Red Sox two runs.

Yankees make it 4-0 on a Nathaniel Lowe error! pic.twitter.com/rUBGxR1AjR

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 3, 2025

After the performances Lowe provided for the Nats, I can’t say I am too heartbroken about him struggling. He did not exactly endear himself to Nats fans with his effort this season. Lowe will hope to bounce back in 2026.

Finnegan’s Magical Run Continues:

On a more positive note, Kyle Finnegan’s lights out run in Detroit has continued into the playoffs. He pitched in the final two games of the series against the Guardians and gave the Tigers exactly what they needed. Finnegan got 5 outs in game 2, before the Tigers bullpen collapsed after he left.

In game 3, the long-time closer came in during the 5th inning after Jack Flaherty issued a walk. He got out of that inning and then fired a scoreless frame in the 6th. After the Tigers exploded in the top of the 7th, Finnegan actually picked up the win.

Finnegan is one of the Tigers big guns in the bullpen alongside Will Vest and Tyler Holton. Those three relievers were a massive part of how the Tigers advanced to the ALDS.

Key bullpen contributors in the wild card series

Tyler Holton – 3.1 IP 0 ER
Kyle Finnegan – 3 IP 0 ER
Will Vest – 3 IP 0 ER

3 headed monster pic.twitter.com/625YLFfKXU

— T’s Tigers (@TannersTigers) October 3, 2025

Given his heavy workload over the years with the Nats, Finnegan is ready to be relied on heavily in the playoffs. Other than Tarik Skubal, the Tigers tend to have a quick hook with starters. That means Finnegan will play a big role in the Tigers run. He will face off against Victor Robles and the Mariners in the ALDS.

Others of Note:

Those three former Nats have made the biggest impression so far, but there are a few others still in the playoffs. Of course, the Philly trio of Harper, Turner and Schwarber will take centerstage. Those guys provide the real star power of this group.

They will be facing a Dodgers team that has a former Nats fan favorite in Alex Call. While Call only had one at bat in the Wild Card series, he could play a big role in the NLDS with the Phillies left handed starters. It has been a while, but once upon a time Blake Treinen was also a Nat.

For the Cubs, Michael Soroka was only called upon once in the Wild Card round. He fired 0.2 scoreless frames. As the big guns in the Cubs bullpen get tired, Soroka might need to step up in a big spot. He will be facing the Brewers, who have a resurgent Erick Fedde. Fedde had a rough season, but has found a role as a multi-inning reliever for the Brewers.

As mentioned, Victor Robles is also going to be a part of the Mariners squad. He has had a lot of memorable moments for them and has become a bit of a cult hero out in the Pacific Northwest.

While the Nats are not in the playoffs, there are still a lot of familiar faces to watch. Regardless of who wins the World Series at this point, at least one former Nat will be getting a ring. I am excited to keep following this as we get deeper in the playoffs.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...r-washington-nationals-performing-in-playoffs

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Grades: Dylan Crews endured a difficult rookie season

There was a lot of hype for Dylan Crews heading into the season. He was a consensus top 10 prospect in the sport and was second in Rookie of the Year odds behind Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. However, things did not click for Crews at the plate this year, which led to a very disappointing season.

Between an injury that cost him nearly half the season and a lot of growing pains at the plate, this is not what Nats fans envisioned for Dylan Crews. Coming out of LSU, Crews was one of the most hyped draft prospects in years. Most years he would have been a slam dunk number one pick, but in 2023 a kid named Paul Skenes popped onto the scene.

So when the Nats took Crews second overall, it was seen as a franchise altering pick. However, Crews has not hit the heights he was expected to so far in his pro career. Last season, Crews was good in the Minor Leagues, but he did not put up jaw dropping numbers either. His OPS was right around .800 at both Double-A and Triple-A.

After he got called up to the big leagues last August, Crews showed flashes of potential, but only hit .218 with a .641 OPS in 31 games. Crews was expected to take the next step and build on his MLB debut. However, that did not happen for him.

His numbers were very similar to 2024 in the MLB, but slightly worse. In 85 games, Crews hit .208 with a .632 OPS. He slugged 10 homers while swiping 17 bases. There were stretches where Crews looked like he was figuring it out, but those only lasted a couple weeks at most. After that, Crews would go back to struggling badly.

We have now seen 412 at bats from Dylan Crews, and he is hitting .211 with a .634 OPS. I would not say it is time to panic, but it is time to be a bit concerned. At this point, I find it unlikely that Crews will be the star player he was expected to be when he was at LSU. Most star players show more flashes 116 games into their career than Crews has to this point. You cannot rule it out, but it feels unlikely.

However, I still think there is a very good chance of Crews being an impactful starter. His secondary tools are excellent. He is a very good defender, who can make great plays out in right field and center field when given the chance. The former LSU star compiled 3 outs above average this season. Crews is also a good base runner and a smart player.

What a throw by Dylan Crews pic.twitter.com/ItWuhkZlLC

— MLB (@MLB) August 17, 2025

If he can figure out the bat, there is a lot to like here. Despite the poor numbers, there are some signs of life with the bat. Crews got pretty unlucky this year. His wOBA of .279 is far lower than his xWOBA of .320. That .320 xWOBA is right around league average. If Crews can be a league average hitter next year, he will be an impactful hitter.

Another thing to like about Crews is his mentality. He is one of those guys who clearly gets it and is desperate to win. His quote to Spencer Nusbaum about accountability is an example of his getting it.

A very good, very insightful quote from Dylan Crews after Game No. 162 about how the Nationals can turn these raw emotions into a successful 2026: pic.twitter.com/ULKhb5M1tE

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 28, 2025

However, it is tough to lead when you aren’t producing. You can say all the right things, but it is tough to set the tone in the locker room when you are hitting .208. If Crews can figure at the plate, he can be a huge part of this core.

I think Dylan Crews could really matter for the long-term culture of the Nationals. Just a different level of competitiveness and focus. The kind that makes the people around you match it.

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) August 17, 2025

So what exactly does Crews need to get better at doing at the plate? Well, there are a few things. Before the season, Crews was known as a guy who hammered fastballs but struggled with spin. In his brief stint last year, Crews hit .299 against fastballs but just .098 against breaking balls.

This year he hit a poor, but less outrageous .180 against breaking balls, but his production against heaters dipped. Crews hit all 10 of his homers against fastballs, but only hit .220 against the pitch. His whiff rate on fastballs went from under 10% to over 25%.

He actually handled sinkers quite well, but 4-seamers gave him problems, especially at the top of the zone. Crews whiffed over 30% of the time against 4-seamers in 2025, compared to 9% in 2024. When watching him, Crews often looked uncomfortable in the box and his timing looked off. That led to him not being on time against fastballs. For Crews to succeed, he needs to be a great fastball hitter. That is what he has been his entire career and it is something he needs to get back to doing.

The other big problem he needs to solve is something that has been an issue for a while, his ground ball rate. Crews has put the ball on the ground over 50% of the time in 2024 and 2025. Those ground balls are a big reason why his BABIP is so low at just .246.

Sure, some of that could be bad luck, but it is also due to a poor spray chart. Crews is not getting the ball in the air enough, especially to the pull side. In an age where pulled fly balls are king, Crews’ air pull numbers are well below average. To reach his ceiling, Crews needs to optimize his batted ball profile.

Overall, 2025 left us with more questions than answers regarding Dylan Crews. 2026 is going to be a massive year for his development. I am not sure it is a make or break year, but it is going to tell us a lot about whether Crews is part of this core or not.

It is important to remember that Paul Toboni is not as attached to Dylan Crews as Mike Rizzo was. He was not the guy who drafted Crews second overall, so the leash is shorter now than it would have been with Rizzo. James Wood and Daylen Lile entrenched themselves in two of the Nats out three Nationals outfield spots. Can Dylan Crews claim the third one for himself in 2026? We will see, but he did not do that in 2025.

Season Grade: D

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ls-grades-dylan-crews-difficult-rookie-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

Three Washington Nationals prospects who flourished in 2025

It was not the easiest year for the Nats farm system, but I wanted to show love to a few under the radar prospects who had solid years. Alex Clemmey was our Nats prospect of the year, but these three players also showed a lot of promise. Those players are Jake Bennett, Sam Petersen and Jackson Kent.

First, I wanted to start with Bennett because he put up the best statistics and is the most highly regarded of the trio. He was probably the runner up for Nats prospect of the year. Bennett was coming back from Tommy John Surgery, which cost him all of 2024.

Bennett has come back better than ever in 2025. In 75.2 innings, the 24 year old posted a 2.27 ERA in High-A and Double-A. His velocity was better than ever, settling in the mid-90’s. Bennett also has a very good changeup and a decent breaking ball.

Jake Bennett tossed 5.0 innings no-hit innings with three strikeouts and no walks on Saturday.

He has 15 strikeouts and one walk over his last four starts.

His 1.41 ERA (6 ER/33.1 IP) since Aug. 1 ranks third in the Eastern League (min. 30.0 IP). pic.twitter.com/Y3UTVyLZjQ

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) September 14, 2025

However, at his core, Bennett is a command based pitcher. Strikeouts are not a massive part of his game. In High-A, he struck out 9.13 batters per 9 innings, but that was mostly due to how much more advanced he was than the competition. Once he got to Double-A, the strikeouts were tougher to come by. He only struck out 6.5 batters per 9 in AA, but still pitched to a 2.56 ERA and 3.20 FIP.

Bennett did this by keeping the ball on the ground and in the yard. His 48.1% ground ball rate in AA was very solid and he only allowed 3 homers all season. Moving forward, the lack of strikeouts gives me some pause. MLB hitters will probably hit more homers off of him and it is tough to pitch to contact in 2025.

That limits his ceiling to probably that of a number 4 starter. However, Bennett has a high probability of reaching that ceiling. He turns 25 in December and dominated AA. Bennett should probably start next season in Triple-A and get a shot at the big leagues at some point in 2026.

The next guy I am going to talk about is the only hitter of the three in Sam Petersen. He struggled with injuries this year, but he was fantastic when he was on the field. Due to his stop and start season, Petersen will be getting more reps in the Arizona Fall League and he will be a player to watch down there.

Drafted out of Iowa in the 8th round of the 2024 draft, Petersen has outperformed players picked much higher than him by the Nats. High-A Wilmington is well known as a tough place to hit, so when a player puts up numbers there, it catches my attention.

That is exactly what Petersen did this season. Overall, he played 57 games this season, with 44 being in Wilmington. In his High-A action, Petersen hit .297 with an .888 OPS. He also smashed 6 homers while stealing 18 bases. That power/speed combination Petersen possesses is very exciting.

Nationals No. 29 prospect Sam Petersen Over The Last 30 Days:

17 G
54 AB
.370 AVG
.469 OBP
.648 SLG
1.117 OPS
20 H
4 HR
13 R
11 RBI

He has a 165 wRC+ on the year between three levels

: @milb_central #Natitude pic.twitter.com/5TJcL7sYtd

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) August 5, 2025

Petersen also did not strike out too much at the level. In High-A, he only struck out 18% of the time while walking at an 11.6% clip. His wRC+ was at a staggering 161, meaning he was 61% better than league average.

Unfortunately, injuries cost him the chance to have a true breakout year. However, if he has a big AFL, he could be a prospect with big helium entering 2026. Out of all the hitters in the 2024 draft class, Petersen was the most impressive. He will start next season in AA and if he can stay healthy, Sam Petersen will have a big year.

The last player on my list is an unusual one because his surface level numbers don’t look too great. However, when you dive into Jackson Kent’s underlying data, there are some things to be excited by.

Kent was drafted in the 4th round out of the University of Arizona in 2024. The left handed pitcher put up a pedestrian 4.61 ERA in 123 innings during his first pro season. He pitched at the High-A and Double-A levels this season.

However, there is more than what meets the eye here. For the season, Kent’s FIP sat at a very respectable 3.75 and his xFIP was sparkling at 3.30. So why do these advanced numbers like Kent so much?

Well, he gets a lot of strikeouts and does not walk many guys. For the season, Kent had a 25.9% K rate and a 7.5% walk rate. Those are both very strong numbers and point to future success. Kent’s ERA was elevated by a high BABIP and bad luck with runners on base.

The strikeout rate and the walk rate point to Kent breaking out next year. His stuff is not anything special, but Kent is a deceptive lefty with a very good changeup. Clearly, he is tough for guys to pick up and he gets a lot of whiffs.

Jackson Kent struck out through 6.0 innings of work on Tuesday!

He ranks 2nd in the system with 65 strikeouts in his first professional season. pic.twitter.com/VgzL5F9QBk

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) June 12, 2025

I think he can be 2026’s version of Jake Bennett. Both are control oriented lefties with good, not great stuff. Kent is more of a strikeout guy, while Bennett suppresses contact better. However, there are some similarities here.

If Bennett can have the same process he did this year, the results will be better next year. His best starts were dominant, but he also had a few blowup outings. Kent will need to limit those as much as he can. I actually think Kent has the potential to be a back end of the rotation piece.

Sure, a lot of the heavy hitters in the Nats system either struggled or got hurt, but it was not all bad. The Nats found three diamonds in the rough that can go on to do even better things in 2026. I am excited to see how the farm does now that Paul Toboni is running the show. In my opinion, there will be a lot of breakouts in 2026.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ashington-nationals-prospects-flourished-2025

 

[Washington Nationals]

Breaking Down Paul Toboni’s Draft Philosophy

A new president of baseball operations means changes to everything in how the Nationals operate, including scouting and the amateur draft. The new man in charge, Paul Toboni, is coming from an organization that has excelled in the draft process the last few seasons, with their current young position player core of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell all being draft selections by the club, with Anthony and Campbell being picked up after the 1st round.

Despite the 66-96 record, the Nationals, like in 2024, cannot pick higher than 10th in the 2026 MLB Draft due to anti-tanking rules put in place. This time around, they’ll be picking 11th, as the Rockies, who are facing the same consequences of being bad repeatedly, will pick 10th. Luckily for the Nats, the 2026 draft class is a deep class, boasting some impressive prep and college talents. Using the Red Sox’s recent draft classes as a reference, let’s take a look at the philosophy Paul Toboni is likely to be bringing to the Nationals organization when it comes to the amateur draft.

Hitter Heavy, But Not To A Fault

Before the 2025 MLB Draft, the Red Sox had selected a position player with their past 6 first-round picks. I was banking on this trend to continue when I put together my mock drafts leading up to draft day, but to my surprise, they broke that trend, selecting right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon from Oklahoma with the 15th overall pick instead. I, along with many analysts, considered Witherspoon a top 10 talent in the class, so I believe the Red Sox got excellent value selecting him.

What this told me, which elevates my opinion on Toboni and the staff he worked with, was that they were willing to be flexible in their plan and adjust on the spot, taking a swing on a prospect they really liked when a hitter they could have been targeting did not fall to them. Entering 2026, I will be keeping my eye on primarily hitters when it comes to the Nationals’ first round pick, but don’t discount Toboni’s willingness to pounce on a pitcher that slides down the board.

Up The Middle Position Players

Like many other analytically minded ball clubs, the Red Sox have targeted almost exclusively position players who play the up-the-middle positions, those being catcher, shortstop, second base, and center field, in the draft. So much so that over the past 3 amateur drafts, they have not selected a player who wasn’t a pitcher or one of those positions. The basic reasoning for this is that teams believe if you are athletic enough to play one of those positions, you are athletic enough to play anywhere on the diamond, letting them get creative with how they develop their prospects.

Take, for example, the young Marcelo Mayer, who they drafted and developed as a shortstop, but have used at third base since his call up to the big leagues, which he has handled admirably. Same with Kristian Campbell, who they brought up as a second baseman but have experimented with at different spots in pro ball, even giving him reps at first base when Tristan Casas suffered a season-ending injury. Selecting great athletes at valuable positions allows clubs to become extremely versatile in how they build out their roster, and Toboni and the Red Sox understood that well.

Big Strikeout Stuff

When the Red Sox are selecting pitchers, they favor arms with big-time strikeout stuff, and it’s worked out well for them in recent classes. Take, for example, Payton Tolle, their 2nd-round pick in the 2024 draft, who rose from High A all the way to the big leagues in 2025, including making a big-time relief appearance for the Sox in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card. Tolle pitched for Wichita State for 2 years before transferring to TCU in his draft year, and his stuff continued to improve, striking out over 13 batters per 9 innings in 2024. He didn’t throw the hardest, and walks were still an issue for him, but the Red Sox took a chance on him in the 2nd-round, and their reward for their faith is one of the best young left-handed pitching prospects in baseball.

With the 50th pick, the Sox take Payton Tolle, LHP/TCU.

Personally, I’m a fan of this pick. MASSIVE human being, 6’6/250 and he’s a lefty. Doesn’t throw too hard but projects to be a solid multi inning reliever. Great extension, and metrics are great. pic.twitter.com/joL73hZrUt

— Seamus (@SeamusTaylor50) July 15, 2024

Consider also Connerly Early, their 5th-round pick in the 2023 draft, who started game three of the AL Wild Card for them. Early transferred to UVA from Army in his draft year and struck out over 10 batters per 9 innings, and the Red Sox believed there was even more room for improvement. They were correct, as Early struck out over 11 batters per 9 innings over 100 innings in the minors in 2025. Strikeout stuff doesn’t always come from the hardest throwers, but rather sometimes those with the best command or breaking balls, and Toboni and the Red Sox organization understood that well.

2026 Names To Watch

While it is entirely too early to be looking ahead at the 2026 draft, as so much will change from today to mid-July of next year, it’s still fun to look ahead at the potential names that fit the new Nationals president’s draft philosophy. Who knows, maybe one of these players will be the selection and you learned about them before anyone else did.

SS Tyler Bell Kentucky

It’s too early to tell, but Bell checks a lot of boxes that Toboni and his staff will be looking for when the draft rolls around next year. Bell is a switch-hitting shortstop who is a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2026 class, meaning he only just completed his freshman year at Kentucky.

There is room to grow, but Bell performed very admirably in his first year of collegiate ball, posting a 100 wRC+ and playing excellent defense at shortstop in the toughest conference in the sport. If he breaks out with his bat in his sophomore season, then it is unlikely he will even be available 11th overall for the Nats to scoop up, but with such a deep class, anything can happen.

Tyler Bell was a key piece in Kentucky's lineup this year.

The shortstop hit .296/.385/.522 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs and earned a spot with Team USA.

We think he'll continue to be a standout player in his sophomore season. pic.twitter.com/vrpX05oaw2

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) September 10, 2025

C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech

Lackey is an extremely polished defender behind the dish, with excellent athleticism to go along with it. The bat is still developing, but has shown promise, posting a 110 wRC+ in his sophomore season at Georgia Tech. The power isn’t quite there yet, but is coming along, as he’s posted solid exit velocities. His speed is excellent even among non-catchers, as he swiped 18 bags in 2025 and has room for more. Lackey is a lock to stick at catcher, and if the bat continues to blossom, he will likely be gone before the Nats pick next year.

OF Drew Burress Georgia Tech

Burress is a bigger stretch than the other 2 because he seems to me unlikely to fall out of the top 10 in next year’s draft, but nothing is ever set in stone in regards to the draft, especially this far out, so I’ll include him anyway. Burress is a beast at the plate, posting a 173 wRC+ his freshman season and a 151 wRC+ his sophomore season at Georgia Tech.

He stands at only 5’9”, but is so efficient at generating power with his body and his swing that it doesn’t really matter. He also has a great hit tool, taking a healthy amount of walks and making lots of contact when he does swing. He plays center field currently and does so well, but could be better suited for a corner outfield spot in pro ball. Wherever he does end up defensively, he is going to hit so well that it will not matter.

RHP Liam Peterson Florida

There are a couple of pitchers at the top of this class that could end up being available at the Nationals pick, but for today, I will highlight the best power conference pitcher in the draft, as that is where most of the Red Sox pitching success stories have come from. The results haven’t quite been there for Peterson yet in his time at Florida, posting a 6.43 and 4.28 ERA in his first 2 seasons in Gainesville, but the signs of a breakout are all there, as his FIP and strikeout numbers are those of a first-round pick.

He sits mid-90s with his fastball, touching 99 a few times as well, and he has a strong slider and changeup to go along with it. His command has continually improved, and if he can bring the walk numbers down again in 2026, he is due for a breakout. Paul Toboni himself has said he wants to target guys who throw hard and strike guys out, and Peterson checks both of those boxes off in a big way.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86652/breaking-down-paul-toboni-draft-philosophy

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals were unable to solve their long term first base problem in 2025

When the Washington Nationals traded for Nathaniel Lowe, they thought the team’s multi-year first base crisis had been solved. He had posted a wRC+ of at least 114 and an fWAR of at least 2 in each of the last four seasons. However, as we know, Lowe fell off a cliff in 2025 and that means the Nats are still looking for a long term first baseman.

Nats DFA Nathaniel Lowe to open a spot for Dylan Crews. Struggled all year (-0.7 fWAR) & was a likely non-tender. Now on waivers — likely to be claimed. #Nats pic.twitter.com/ydQ0yZS6JE

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) August 14, 2025

Going into the season, I and many others were very confident that Nathaniel Lowe would be a stabilizing presence for the position. After all, he had been the definition of consistent. Sure, he did not have the power of most elite first baseman, but he got on base at a high clip and played good defense.

However, those strengths vanished in 2025. He still walked at a decent clip, but less than he had in the previous two seasons. His strikeout rate went from 22.1% to 26.5% with the Nats. Lowe had a really tough time getting to high fastballs. His issues catching up to heat also made him more vulnerable to off speed pitches outside the zone because he was pressing to catch up to the heater. This at bat is a good example of that.

With a non-tender imminent, it might be time to pull the plug on the Nathaniel Lowe experiment and roll with some younger guys pic.twitter.com/k1UZpoLxkS

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) August 9, 2025

Lowe was also a liability in the field. He came with a gold glove and a big reputation as a defender. However, his lack of movement skills were exposed in the field. Lowe’s OAA went from 7 to -5, a massive drop off. His fielding woes also cost the Red Sox in the playoffs.

So clearly, Lowe was not the answer, he is not even on the team anymore. However, Josh Bell performed well after he replaced Lowe at first base. For most of the season, Bell was the DH, but after Lowe’s August DFA, he played first base.

His defense at the cold corner was pretty rough. Bell does not seem comfortable throwing the ball and he is not as good at picking balls in the dirt as Lowe. However, I did feel like his range and effort were better.

With first base though, the bat is what matters, and Bell was hitting for most of the season. After a miserable April where he tried to sell out for power, Bell went back to his old approach. That worked like a charm. From May 1st onwards, Bell hit .265 with a .351 OBP and an .807 OPS. He also hit 18 homers and drove in 50 in that time.

Those are the kinds of numbers you want from a first baseman. Bell is also a good guy to have in a young clubhouse. If I were Paul Toboni, I would consider bringing him back either as a DH or 1B, if you strike out on a bigger name.

Bell actually had his best offensive season since 2022 and he did so while being one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball. Despite being 33 years old, Bell clearly still has some gas left in the tank. With his age and well known inconsistency, Bell is not the long term option at first base, but he can be a stop gap.

With the regular season wrapping up this week, I thought it would be fun to look at over/underachievers:

Starting with the Unluckiest hitters by xwOBA in 2025, does anything stand out to you? pic.twitter.com/d6CUI3vavI

— The Dugout Dispatch (@HuckyCorp) September 22, 2025

If the Nats want to go into the free agent market to get their answer at the cold corner, there are some options. The two big prizes are Pete Alonso and Josh Naylor. Alonso would be the dream, but I would be surprised if the Lerner’s spent that kind of money. Even if they did, I am not sure an analytically minded guy like Toboni would splash the cash on a first baseman over 30.

Naylor seems more realistic. He is only 28 years old and would be cheaper than Alonso. Naylor is coming off a big year where he hit close to .300 while hitting 20 homers and stealing 30 bases despite his 2nd percentile sprint speed. There will be a lot of suitors for Naylor, but the Nats should be in the market.

If they can’t get the big fish, guys like Bell, Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt and Ty France are other options. Not the sexiest choices, but all are fine as stop gap options.

However, the thing about stop gaps is that they need to be holding the spot for somebody. Who are these guys holding the spot for though? On the farm, there are a couple interesting 1B options, but no stud prospect.

I like Yohandy Morales, but I do not love him. He struck out over 30% of the time in AAA, while hitting the ball on the ground over 50% of the time. I don’t love that combination. Morales has big power upside though.

The Nats drafted Ethan Petry in the second round of this past draft. He is a hulking slugger who I think has a chance to be the long term answer. However, he is a couple years away and far from a sure thing.

So what do the Nats do next year at first base? They tried Luis Garcia Jr. over there a couple times, but I am unconvinced by that experiment. For me, they should go after some sort of stop gap option or get a big fish if they can.

Try to land Naylor, but if that does not happen, Josh Bell or Rhys Hoskins would be at the top of my list. Not everything is going to be fixed in 2026. Despite the rebuild lasting for many years now, there is still a long way to go. That is why Mike Rizzo got fired.

Hopefully the Nats get more production out of the first base position next year. However, the future of the position is still hazy. Nathaniel Lowe was supposed to be the guy, but that did not work out. That failure has left the Nats searching for answers at a position they have been unable to solve for years.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nable-solve-long-term-first-base-problem-2025