RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Can reliever Cionel Perez bounce back with the Washington Nationals?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 20: Cionel Pérez #58 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 20, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nationals finally made a free agent signing to their bullpen, bringing in Cionel Perez on a minor league deal. This is different from the other minor league deals they have signed, as Perez has a good chance of making the team. Before a disastrous 2025, Perez was a mainstay in the Orioles bullpen.

Sources: The Washington Nationals are in agreement to sign left-hander pitcher Cionel Pérez to a Minor League contract, including an invitation to MLB Spring Training.

Perez, 29, has a strong chance of making the Opening Day roster.

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 14, 2026

If Perez makes the team, he will make $1.9 million plus another $700,000 in potential incentives. As long as he does not look terrible this spring, Perez should make the team. From 2022-2024, Perez made at least 60 appearances in the O’s bullpen. He posted a combined 3.12 ERA in those three seasons.

So what made Perez such an effective reliever over those seasons and why did he fall off a cliff in 2025? Well, Perez is elite at generating ground balls with his heavy sinker. For his career, Perez has posted a 55.5% GB rate. Even in his horrible 2025 season, he still was great at keeping the ball on the ground, with a 58.2% GB rate.

However, Perez is not a big strikeout guy and has had control issues throughout his career. That makes him reliant on his defense and batted ball luck. Last season, he was a victim of terrible batted ball luck, with a .379 BABIP. This bad luck, combined with a 16.4% walk rate was why Perez posted an 8.31 ERA in 19 outings.

Despite some of these awful numbers, statcast was still bullish on him. Last season, his xERA was a respectable 3.93 despite his awful surface level numbers. His actual batting average against was .322 but his xBA was .213. I am not sure I have ever seen a gap that wide.

These discrepancies make him an interesting bounce back candidate for the Nats. If Perez can get his walk rate closer to 10% and he has better batted ball luck, Cionel Perez can be a solid piece in the bullpen. In a bullpen from January, he was already sitting 95-96, which is nice to see this early in the offseason.

Several teams have shown interest in left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez.

The former Oriole is training in Tampa as he does every offseason, and he looks noticeably sharp, sitting at 95–96 mph with his fastball. pic.twitter.com/Romiuuf5UK

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 10, 2026

His velocity has gone from 97 in 2022 to 95.6 last year, so hopefully he can recapture some of that old velo. There are a lot of if’s here, but Perez has the ceiling of a dependable middle reliever. On this team, that probably means looks at the back end of the bullpen.

Honestly, Perez does a lot of the same stuff that the traded Jose A. Ferrer did. Both are left handers who throw very hard but are ground ball oriented pitchers rather than strikeout guys. The biggest difference though is that Ferrer has much better control.

Another thing I am interested about here is if they will make any tweaks with Perez. Last season, he threw a sinker, a new slider, a slurve and a 4-seam. Despite being added before the worst year of his career, Perez’s new slider was actually very effective. It was a nice complement to his slurve, which had been his primary secondary pitch for years.

Cionel Pérez, Dirty Curveballs…and is fired up. pic.twitter.com/4yLxDEaRF6

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 2, 2024

Going back to Ferrer, he featured a really nice changeup. I wonder if the Nats will want to give Perez a changeup. Perez has been much more effective against lefties in his career. Lefties have hit just .211 against Perez, while righties have hit .270. A changeup could be a good weapon for him to have against right handed hitters.

Some pitchers just never have great feel for changeups, so that could be hard. However, the invention of the kick changeup has been helpful for those pitchers. The kick change does not require pronation like other changeups. It is the grip that is doing the work. Maybe that could be something Perez could learn.

Overall, this is a low risk, medium reward move. If Perez can’t hit the broadside of a barn in Spring Training, he just won’t make the team. However, if he looks like the guy he was before last season, he will be a reliable piece in the Nats bullpen.

Still only 29, Perez combines experience with at least some youth. He also could be a trade candidate if he performs well in the first half. This is an interesting flier that could work.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...l-perez-bounce-back-with-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals sign long time Mets reliever Drew Smith

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 19: Drew Smith #33 of the New York Mets pitches during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 19, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After signing Cionel Perez a couple days ago, the Nats picked up another veteran reliever on an incentive-laden minor league deal. This time Paul Toboni and the Nats picked up Drew Smith, who was a mainstay in the Mets bullpen for a few years. From 2021 to 2024, Smith featured prominently in the Mets bullpen, but missed last season recovering from Tommy John.

Former Met reliever Drew Smith stays in the NL East agreeing to a minor league deal with the Nats. $1.75M if he makes the team, with $1.25M in performance bonuses, according to sources

— Michelle Margaux (@mmargaux8) February 16, 2026

However, he should be ready to go right away. The surgery was back in July of 2024, so plenty of time has passed. This is Smith’s second Tommy John, so it is not a given that he looks like his old self. If he does bounce back, the $1.75 million price tag if he makes the team could be a steal.

Back when he was on the Mets, Smith was known for his swing and miss stuff. His fastball sat around 95 MPH and he had a strong feel for spin. Smith throws a cutter, a slider, a curveball and an occasional changeup to go with his lively heater. He can be susceptible to hard contact, but he makes up for it by getting swing and miss.

Nats sign reliever Drew Smith pic.twitter.com/qn38X4MUze

— Kev (@klwoodjr) February 16, 2026

Earlier this offseason, I actually brought up Smith as a potential under the radar target. His career 3.48 ERA and his ability to generate whiffs stuck out to me. It seems like Toboni was also impressed by those skills.

Spring Training will be huge for Smith though. He will need to prove that his stuff is still good after a second major surgery. There are examples of pitchers who have succeeded after a second Tommy John, but there are also plenty of guys who struggle to bounce back from that second surgery. Hopefully Smith can be part of the former group.

Importantly, he will be ready to go immediately. There was some optimism that he could return at the end of the Mets season, but he just could not quite make it. Given how far removed he is from the surgery, this offseason was probably relatively normal for Smith.

It's still far too early to know with any certainty, but Mets reliever Drew Smith (recovery from Tommy John surgery) has some optimism that he'll be able to return in late September or October. He's on track to begin throwing bullpen sessions next month — a good sign.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 26, 2025

Due to his injury status, Smith is less likely to break camp with the team than Cionel Perez. However, he might have more upside to his ability to generate whiffs. This is another worthwhile dart throw from Toboni. If Smith does not look like the same pitcher, he can just be a depth arm in Rochester. However, if the stuff does return, he could be an important veteran in the Nats bullpen.

At 32 years old, Smith should have gas in the tank if he is fully recovered from the injury. He also provides some experience and veteran leadership to a Nats bullpen that does not have much of that.

If Smith can pitch to a 3.48 ERA, which is his career mark, this would be a great pickup. There is also no risk because this is a minor league deal. I like these small bullpen moves Toboni has made in the last few days.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ngton-nationals-sign-mets-reliever-drew-smith

 

[Washington Nationals]

Julian Fernández Could Be A Sneaky Bullpen Weapon For the Washington Nationals

If this article is your first time hearing of Julian Fernández, I can’t blame you. The 30-year-old right-handed reliever was acquired in August off waivers from the Dodgers, and in 12.2 innings pitched with the Rochester Red Wings, he posted a 7.82 ERA and 5.47 FIP. He made his Nationals debut at the end of September in 2025, posting a 3.00 ERA and 5.80 FIP in 3 outings.

On the surface, Fernández’s Triple-A and major league numbers don’t suggest he is due for a major breakout in 2026. And yet, Fangraphs projects Fernández not only to be better in 2026, but to be one of the better rookie relievers in all of baseball, with Steamer projecting him to post a 3.72 ERA and 16 K-BB% in 59 innings.

Some other projection metrics, such as ZiPS and THE BAT, aren’t quite as high on Fernández, projecting him for an ERA in the low 4s, but the sentiment remains: Julian Fernández will be better in 2026 than his past performance dictates.

So what exactly does Fernández do so well that has the projection systems so high on him? It starts with the swing and miss stuff, as he struck out over 11 batters per 9 innings in 54 innings at Triple A in 2025. Fernández has a very intriguing pitch arsenal, throwing only 2 pitches: a fastball about 60% of the time and a changeup about 40% of the time.

The fastball is loud, sitting 97 MPH with the pitch in 2025, but gets hit around quite a bit, with a 46% hard hit rate in Triple A. The changeup, on the other hand, is lethal, with a 43% whiff rate and .162 opponents’ expected batting average on the pitch in Triple A.

Fernández also does an excellent job of limiting free passes, with a 77th percentile walk rate in Triple-A in 2025. Not many pitchers are able to combine strikeout stuff with strike-throwing ability like Fernández, and that’s why he ranked 10th in K-BB% among all Triple-A pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched.

The key culprit to Fernández’s struggles in 2025 was his unbelievably high home run numbers. In his 54 Triple-A innings in 2025, Fernández had a home run to fly ball ratio of 14.5%, including an unreal 30.8% HR/FB ratio as a National.

For reference, the average HR/FB is generally around 10.5% league wide, far below where Fernández was last season. While some of that was his tendency to give up loud contact, with a 23rd percentile barrel rate in 2025, he’s bound to see some positive regression in the home run department in 2026, which will lead to better results overall.

If I were Simon Mathews, the Nationals’ new pitching coach for 2026, my main focus for developing Julian Fernández into a plus big league reliever would be to start throwing his nasty changeup much more often, as well as looking to add a third pitch to his arsenal to keep hitters guessing.

He’s shown that he can miss bats with his stuff at Triple-A, and the addition of a new pitch, such as a sinker (which he did tinker with at the end of 2025, throwing it just 0.3% of the time overall) to help induce more groundballs could help him take him from an “if” to a sure thing in a currently shaky Nationals bullpen.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...y-bullpen-weapon-for-the-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

James Wood has a point to prove entering the 2026 season

JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 12: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals throws the ball during Spring Training workout day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you have followed the Nats at all over the past couple years, you would know that James Wood is not the most emotional guy. He is not one of those players that wear their heart on their sleeves. Wood is what you would call a slow heartbeat guy. However, Wood wants to make it clear that he still has a fire that burns bright inside of him.

We are only a couple days into the spring, but it is obvious that is the message he wants to convey. After a breathtaking first half and a disappointing second half, Wood is far from satisfied. The Baltimore Banner just started Nats coverage after the collapse of the Washington Post, and their first story was about Wood’s internal fire.

Don’t let James Wood’s demeanor fool you. There’s a fire burning inside the Nationals star.

“He’s not close to being done in terms of achieving his ceiling."

From Nationals camp in West Palm Beach:https://t.co/eV08hYR9AT

— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) February 16, 2026

I love that Wood wants to make it known that he is a true competitor. There are times when you watch him play where he can look lackadaisical and lower energy. However, that is just his style of play rather than a lack of competitiveness. He is going to have to turn up the dial sometimes, and I think he understands that. You are never going to see the chest pumping intensity from Wood that you saw from guys like Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer.

Despite that, Wood is making it clear that he wants it just as bad as those guys. I was on a zoom call with him yesterday, and you can tell he wants to bounce back from that rough second half. Wood still has that casual, nonchalant demeanor, but he feels more present as well. The zoom call was with Wood and manager Blake Butera. Wood being the only player on the call tells me he wants to be heard, which is encouraging.

He got asked plenty of interesting questions including one about his offseason plan. Wood emphasized that he wanted his offseason to be a bit more organized this year after wearing down in the second half.

I got the chance to ask Wood a question about his approach at the plate and whether he wants to pull the ball in the air more. He gave me an interesting answer where he talked about how he is more comfortable letting the ball travel and taking that extra beat to make decisions. While Wood said he might make pulling the ball a bigger part of his game at some point, he has enough power to hit the ball out to any part of the park.

James Wood gave me an interesting and insightful answer about his hitting approach and whether he aims to pull the ball in the air more. My question starts at around 13:35 and his answer begins at around 13:50 https://t.co/jRWaycsjIz

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) February 16, 2026

Despite wanting to be seen as more of a competitor, Wood is not going to totally change who he is as a person. He is still just a 23 year old with crazy athletic gifts and a side of dry humor. Wood told us he has confused coaches for players a couple times already this spring.

On the field, the biggest key for Wood is keeping that strikeout rate under control. Due to his long levers and big strike zone, Wood will always strike out a decent amount, and that is okay. It is all about keeping that number in check though. In April, May and June, his K rate was consistently between 26 and 27%. That should be where he lives.

Wood was also walking around 14% of the time in the first half, which helped offset some of the strikeouts. Another thing that makes up for the whiffs is just how hard he hits the ball. Due to his 98th percentile hard hit rate, Wood’s batting average on balls in play will always be high. That is why he still hit a respectable .256 despite a 32.1% strikeout rate.

In his prime, I actually believe Wood has a chance to be a .300 hitter. It is similar to players like Judge and Ohtani. Both of them whiff a good amount, but hit the ball so hard their batting averages are high. Wood has that kind of horse power if he can put it all together.

We are already seeing some clips of Wood showing his power early this spring. He absolutely torched a ball off of Cole Henry yesterday. The ball just comes off his bat a little differently compared to most guys in the league. I got a reminder of that when I saw that video yesterday.

James Wood tagged Cole Henry in Live BP for what would surely be extra bases. pic.twitter.com/tS6pG1kMHC

— Ryan Shenker (@RyanShenker) February 16, 2026

As disappointing as his second half was, we cannot forget about the ceiling Wood has. He is still only 23 years old and has so much room for growth. A lot of these bigger players take a bit longer to establish themselves, but Wood was already an All-Star at 22. By contrast, Aaron Judge did not truly break out until he was 25 years old. Wood still has so much time ahead of him.

There is a lot of doom and gloom in Nats land, and it is understandable. However, Wood has a chance to be a true star player. The goal for Wood in 2026 is to prove he is a player worth building around. If he can do that, it will be on Paul Toboni and Mark Lerner to build a contender around their super sized star.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...mes-wood-has-point-prove-entering-2026-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

If you could sign one Washington National to an extension, who would it be?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Daylen Lile #51 of the Washington Nationals tosses his bat after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This time of year, there are always a few young players across the league that get contract extensions. Teams try to buy out a few free agent years at what they think will be cheaper costs, while players get long term security. Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Merrill, Kristian Campbell and Keibert Ruiz are all young players who have signed lucrative extensions right before a season over the last few years.

From that list, you can see this is a high risk, high reward approach. If you sign the right player, you will be getting these guys on huge bargains for most of their primes. However, extending the wrong guy could be an anchor on the franchise. Not only financially, but also from an opportunity cost standpoint.

Paul Toboni comes from a Red Sox organization that has extended several young players in the last few years. Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Ceddanne Rafaela, Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello have all signed extensions in Boston, with most taking place before those guys hit arbitrations. Could Toboni replicate this process with the Nats, and if he does, who should he extend?

In my opinion, Daylen Lile is the best and most obvious extension candidate on the roster. Unlike a few of the Nats other young players, he is not represented by Scott Boras, so that makes talks easier. He is not projected to hit free agency until 2032, which also means an extension will not be that pricey. As players accrue more service time, the price of their extension goes up.

Lile showed a phenomenal feel to hit in his first taste of MLB action in 2025. He hit .299 with an .845 OPS. The speedy outfielder also compiled an insane 11 triples in just 91 games. His speed and gap to gap power make him a constant threat for triples. He hit a ton in the minor leagues as well, so this is no fluke.

Daylen Lile is going to shock a lot of people this year! In 2025:

351 PA
.299 / 9 HR / 41 RBI / 8 SB

.302 xBA
.199 ISO
.348 xwOBA
16 K%

Power/speed potential going at ~200 ADP.
pic.twitter.com/HSEnkuO82t

— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) February 11, 2026

I also think Lile has room to grow, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Right now, he is not a good defensive outfielder. However, I think he has the athletic ability to be at least an average defender in a corner. His reads need sharpening, but he has been making a point of improving that. Lile’s reads could also improve when it comes to stealing bases. Despite 92nd percentile sprint speed, he was inefficient as a base stealer.

Lile’s combination of current production and upside make him the guy Toboni should approach. He is already a good player, but he has clear areas of improvement. Lile also has the athleticism to improve in those areas, which makes development possible.

Honestly, the Nats should try offering him an 8-year $65 million contract with a couple team options attached as well. It is a bit more than the 8-years $50 million that Keibert Ruiz got, but Lile has produced more than Ruiz ever has.

He is not the only guy the Nats should approach though. Dylan Crews and James Wood are Boras clients, which complicates things, but it is still worth asking. That is especially true in the case of Wood, who has shown super star upside when he is at his best.

ICYMI, Harry Ford made the switch from Boras to RocNation as his agents. With Gore gone, the Nats have James Wood and Dylan Crews as Boras guys. By our calculations, that's the lowest number since 2010 on the projected Opening Day roster. https://t.co/6rTcyDtGdG

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) January 31, 2026

Given how Wood has performed at his best and his agent, this extension will be pricey. If Scott Boras were even willing to listen, he would probably use the Julio Rodriguez contract as a point of comparison. That is a 12-year $209 million deal, but it has incentives that could take it up to $470 million. Boras would want more guaranteed money, but there would not be as much incentive based money.

A Wood extension is not very likely, but you never know. He is a local kid whose family has a lot of roots in DC. However, I do not see that happening unless the Nats absolutely blow him away. Given how they have been spending lately, I find that hard to envision.

One player who I certainly do not see the Nats extending is CJ Abrams. Despite not being a Boras client, it really seems like the extension window has closed with Abrams. He is much more likely to be traded in the next year than extended, at least in my opinion.

It is not just my opinion though. Those around the game see an Abrams trade as a matter of when not if. There was an Athletic article about potential Spring Training trade candidates, and Abrams was at the top of the list.

Will there be a good old-fashioned blockbuster deal this spring?

Never say never.

Our panel weighs in on the MLB players who could get traded, with Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams leading the pack.https://t.co/edo1yNGln2 pic.twitter.com/1jMv9nQdTu

— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) February 16, 2026

I do not think Abrams will be traded before the season, but a deadline deal seems like a real possibility. The piece on Abrams was actually quite interesting. They talked about how those Giants rumors had legs, even if the move did not come to be. It was also mentioned that the Nats goal right now is making the best farm system in baseball, and that they will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

Abrams only has three years of team control remaining and is on the trade block. Combine that with some of the maturity questions, I do not see an extension coming. If it does happen, I would be pleasantly surprised because I still think Abrams can be a long term piece for this group.

Now I am going to flip the question to you guys. Who would you want to extend and are there any guys you would stay away from? An extension this spring would be a good PR move from the Nats as well. With all the losing, there is apathy setting in. There is also a sense that ownership is checked out. An extension would not quell all of those concerns, but it would be a positive step. For me, I would be on the phone with Daylen Lile’s agent non-stop.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ne-washington-national-extension-who-would-be

 

[Washington Nationals]

Why are Washington Nationals pitchers wearing a black band on their elbow?

JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Josiah Gray #40 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the bullpen during Spring Training workout day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first piece of Nationals related content I saw was DJ Herz doing some throwing. This is great because it shows he is making progress in his Tommy John recovery. However, what interested me was the black band on his left elbow. Herz is not the only pitcher to be wearing one of these bands. In fact, it has been common this spring.

DJ Herz (recovering from Tommy John) has the black elbow band on, and is getting some work in this morning. pic.twitter.com/1llbUYS5G1

— Ryan Shenker (@RyanShenker) February 18, 2026

I wanted to learn more about this device and see why so many Nats pitchers are using this thing. What I found was very interesting. The device is a Pulse workload monitor made by Driveline. It costs $320 and is designed to help pitchers know their limits. Pulse measures arm speed and workload metrics. If a pitcher’s arm speed drops unexpectedly, you now know when to take a break.

This is a really cool device and is in line with the Nats new vision. We wrote about the Nats Driveline connection earlier this month, and this is just another example of that. While the Nats want to add stuff to their pitchers, they are also going to be aware of the potential injury risk that comes with that.

Seen this a lot in pictures this spring with Nats pitchers. They are driveline pulse sensors and they measure workload on the arms. More much needed tech added for the Nats! https://t.co/Eyoftg38J3

— Nationals Source (@NationalsSource) February 18, 2026

Based on my research, I think the implementation of this device is being driven by Pitching Coach Simon Mathews. Driveline mentions that the Reds were early adopters of this device. Kyle Boddy, the founder of Driveline actually worked for the Reds for a bit. There is an article from 2021 describing how the Reds had been implementing the Pulse device.

Mathews actually joined the Reds organization in 2021, and was involved in their rehab work for pitchers. That means he is very aware of this device and is likely a big proponent of it. It is no coincidence that it is all over Nats camp now. With that rehab background, Mathews is putting an emphasis on arm health.

However, this device is not just for pitchers with injuries. Healthy Nats arms have also been using it to track their workload. On one of the first days of camp, the Nats posted a photo of Brad Lord throwing, and he had the Pulse band on. It is easier to find a Nats pitcher wearing one than it is to see them without it.

baseball things are happening pic.twitter.com/PudV98hLsf

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 14, 2026

This is such a cool contraption and it is one of many pieces of new technology the Nats have. Pulse obviously helps you catch potential injuries, but it can also help you optimize throwing plans. It allows you to know how far you can push a player while not risking injury or overuse. Optimizing performance is so important for pitchers, and this is a great tool for that.

It is not just the big leaguers using these things though. I saw a video of Nats third round pick Landon Harmon throwing a bullpen, and the 19 year old had a Pulse band on his right elbow. Honestly, this tool might be even more important for young pitchers who do not totally understand their limits yet.

#Nationals 2025 3rd round pick Landon Harmon, 19, is throwing absolute gas for strikes this morning. pic.twitter.com/5o0mDWJIUh

— Ryan Shenker (@RyanShenker) February 17, 2026

That is not to say it can’t help veterans. There is a cool video from a couple years ago of Reds pitcher Nick Martinez talking about how much the Pulse band has helped him. For so long, the Nats were not taking part in these kinds of innovative practices. Now, with Paul Toboni at the wheel, the Nats are all in on innovating.

Honestly, keeping pitchers healthy might be the next great frontier for baseball minds. We know so much about how to optimize stuff, but it comes at the cost of pitchers’ elbows. If we can find a way to keep guys healthy while throwing nasty stuff, you can get an edge over the competition. The Pulse monitors are only the first step in that process, but it is cool that the Nats are trying this out.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ationals-pitchers-wearing-black-band-on-elbow

 

[Washington Nationals]

Fangraphs ranks three Washington Nationals prospects inside their top 100

JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Harry Ford #17 of the Washington Nationals is seen in the bullpen during Spring Training workout day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Yesterday, Fangraphs released their top 100 prospect rankings. It is always interesting to see their rankings because they are not afraid to go against the grain. Eric Longenhagen always does a great job over there. At least when it came to Nats prospects, there were not any massive surprises. Eli Willits was ranked as the 15th prospect, Jarlin Susana was 29th, Harry Ford was 74th and Travis Sykora was one of the next 10 at 109th.

2026 Top 100 Prospects https://t.co/SRSf58uzM0

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) February 16, 2026

I wanted to dive into his rankings and talk a bit about his writeups as well. Before I get started though, I wanted to mention that Longenhagen’s praise of number one prospect Konnor Griffin was unlike anything I have ever seen from him before. He said that Paul Skenes could be the Pirates second best player before too long and Griffin could leave a legacy like Mean Joe Greene in Pittsburgh if he sticks around. High praise from a publication that is usually on the conservative side when ranking prospects.

Back to the Nats, Eli Willits was unsurprisingly the team’s top prospect according to Fangraphs. He was the number one overall pick in the 2025 draft and had a very impressive pro debut as a 17 year old.

the moment @EliWillits became the youngest #1 pick in MLB history pic.twitter.com/gKwJbhUQZi

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 13, 2025

Longenhagen gave Willits 60 grades for his hit tool, his defense and his running. That is a very strong foundation to build on. Despite Willits not hitting for power in his pro debut, Fangraphs still projects him to have fringe average power. Longenhagen said it is easy to project that Willits will add strength to his frame. Based on the photos we have seen this spring, it looks like he has already done that.

However, Longenhagen also does not want Willits to get too big because his fluidity is a big part of his game. Interestingly, he said that Willits’ swing reminds him of Colt Emerson’s coming out of the draft. Now, Emerson is Fangraphs 11th ranked prospect and is the shortstop of the future for the Mariners. Willits is the highest ranked player from the 2025 class, and 32 spots ahead of Ethan Holliday.

Fangraphs and Longenhagen have been high on Jarlin Susana for years now. With that in mind, it is not surprising to see him rank 29th on their list. Logenhagen just can’t quit Susana’s off the charts stuff. Even with control questions and an injury that will keep him out until midseason, Susana is still in the top 30.

He has always gushed about Susana’s slider. In this write-up, he called it one of the nastiest pitches on the planet. Longenhagen compared it to Brad Lidge’s slider, only Susana’s is harder. He gave the pitch an 80 grade. Here is a look at that slider in action against a stacked Double-A Erie lineup.

13 STRIKEOUTS for Jarlin Susana in just 5.0 innings of work (2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB) pic.twitter.com/VH3viG25Xj

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 20, 2025

While Fangraphs views the slider as Susana’s best pitch, let’s not forget that this guy sits at 100 MPH. He can even touch 104 MPH on the heater. Before Susana got hurt last year, the command was showing signs of improvement. If that is even average, Susana can be an ace.

As long as he is healthy, the worst case for Susana seems to be him becoming a lights out bullpen arm. The fastball-slider combination is reminiscent of Mason Miller. I would love for Susana to be a starter, but a dominant closer is not a bad contingency plan.

Harry Ford is the only prospect the Nats acquired this offseason in Fangraphs top 100, and he ranks 75th. The Nats picked him up from the Mariners in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer. Ford has been known for a long time, but was blocked in Seattle due to Cal Raleigh.

harry ford season 1 teaser trailer pic.twitter.com/hYx4m3zhJv

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 13, 2026

Longenhagen gave all five of Ford’s tools an average grade. However, he noted that Ford’s excellent plate discipline could allow his average power and hitting ability to play up. Some scouts are low on Ford’s defense, but Fangraphs projects it to become average.

They noted that Ford has slowly but steadily improved his defensive game over the years. His framing went from bad to mediocre. He has also gotten better controlling the running game over the years. Ford’s athletic ability has always made him very good at things like popping out of his stance for dribblers and other quick reaction plays. He also totally eliminated his passed ball problem.

Overall, Fangraphs views Ford as a solid prospect, but not an elite one. They think he is a very smart pickup for the Nats and has a good shot of being a quality starting catcher. However, the lack of a clear above average tool does worry them a bit.

While Travis Sykora is not in the top 100, Fangraphs did rank an additional 10 prospects and had him at 109th. If not for the Tommy John Surgery that will cost him this season, Sykora would have likely been a top 50 prospect. He is already on the road to recovery though and has started doing some light throwing this spring.

Looks like Washington Nationals Pitching prospect Travis Sykora is working his way back from TJ and he is at long tossing! @RyanShenker | @TheFutureNats pic.twitter.com/12tDBAThmj

— TheNatsReport (@TheNatsReport) February 17, 2026

Longenhagen’s assessment of Sykora was pretty glowing. He mentioned that Sykora’s velocity was up from 2024 to 2025. That was probably due to him feeling better after his hip surgery in the 2024 offseason. He was averaging 96 MPH on his heater and could run it up to triple digits.

Fangraphs sees Sykora as a complete pitcher, not just a flamethrower. They project his slider and splitter to be plus pitches. Also, they gave his command an above average projection. Sykora’s funky release traits, feel for pitching and raw power just overwhelmed lower level hitters.

Longenhagen also described Sykora as an articulate kid who wants to know the ‘why’ not just the what. That mental game could help Sykora reach that top of the rotation upside once he gets back on the mound.

Based on the writeup, Sykora seems like a prospect you can fast-track once he gets back from injury, assuming the health checks out. He already has a coherent arsenal, top tier velocity and a feel for pitching. At the end, he noted this injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Nats because Sykora’s service time window will now line up perfectly with the Nats new contention window.

Gavin Fien did not make the list, which was not overly surprising to me. Longenhagen really values swing mechanics, and Fien does not have the cleanest looking swing. However, if Fien performs to start the year, he will force his way on to the list.

The Nats are a farm system on the rise, and I think Fangraphs is starting to realize that. Right now the Nats may only have three players in the top 100. However, I think there could be double the number next year.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...washington-nationals-prospects-inside-top-100

 

[Washington Nationals]

Landon Harmon is one of several breakout candidates in the Washington Nationals farm system

In 2026, the Nats are not likely to make a ton of progress at the MLB level, at least when it comes to wins and losses. However, we should see Paul Toboni’s new plan lead to quick results at the minor league level. The Nats have several breakout candidates in their system. One of them is 19 year old RHP Landon Harmon, and I wanted to chat about him today.

Harmon was selected in the third round of the 2025 draft, but was given a $2.5 million signing bonus. That is way above slot value, and shows the Nats valued Harmon like an early second round talent. The industry also viewed him that way, with MLB Pipeline ranking Harmon as number 48 prospect in his class.

After getting drafted last year, Harmon did not appear in any professional games, which is very common for high school pitchers. That means this will truly be his first pro season. Heading into this year, he has a lot of buzz behind his name. Fangraphs mentioned him as a guy who could be a top 100 prospect a year from now. MLB Pipeline also ranked him in the top 10 of the Nats system.

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

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) February 19, 2026

Now that we know the level of hype he has, let’s dive into what makes the Mississippi high school righty such an intriguing arm. His bread and butter is his fastball, which consistently gets plus grades. Pipeline has it as a 65 grade pitch and BA put a 70 on his heater. That makes it easily a plus pitch, with plus-plus upside.

The heater has everything you want. Harmon throws very hard, sitting in the mid-90’s. However, he can run that heater up to 98 or 99 MPH when he wants to reach back. When you look at his slender 6’5 frame, there is also more velocity to dream on. He could be a pitcher who touches triple digits one day.

However, it is more than just the velocity that makes Harmon’s fastball great. The pitch also has explosive life and comes from a flat approach angle. This makes his heater look even quicker than it is. It also has a bit of cutting action at the end as a little cherry on top. He was able to blow the fastball by even good high school hitters like Ethan Holliday at showcase events.

Possibly the best pick of the 3rd round in the 2025 MLB draft, the Nationals signing RHP Landon Harmon.

65-grade Fastball
55-grade Slider

Changeup could use some improvement, but at 6-ft-5, the 19-y/o's ceiling is incredibly high.

Here's him vs. the No. 4 pick Ethan Holliday… pic.twitter.com/pF9EvlwAzC

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) December 25, 2025

The heater gives him a strong foundation to build on, but there are also some interesting breaking ball shapes here. He throws both a sweeper and a harder slider. Neither are outstanding right now, but they both have above average potential. The fact he already has the ability to spin multiple different breaking ball shapes is also a positive indicator. It indicates a feel for spin and an ability to experiment.

The changeup is admittedly a work in progress right now. He did not need to use it much as a high schooler because he could overwhelm hitters with his fastball and sliders. When he did throw it, the pitch was not anything special. However, at 19 years old, Harmon has plenty of time to find an off-speed pitch.

You can teach that, but you cannot teach Harmon’s size and fastball quality. Those building blocks make him a strong candidate to be a top 100 prospect in a year. They have some differences, but Harmon reminds me of Travis Sykora after he got drafted. Both have outstanding stuff and a better feel for pitching than most kids their age.

Sykora obviously had a massive year in 2024, becoming a top 100 prospect. He was on his way to being one of the premier pitching prospects in the game before having to go under the knife in 2025. Harmon could be on a similar trajectory given his talent level.

There is already footage of Harmon at Spring Training throwing a bullpen. I do think it is a bit notable that we have seen him, but not guys like Miguel Sime or Coy James yet. It may mean the Nats are more comfortable letting Harmon be seen by the public due to feeling he is more advanced.

#Nationals 2025 3rd round pick Landon Harmon, 19, is throwing absolute gas for strikes this morning. pic.twitter.com/5o0mDWJIUh

— Ryan Shenker (@RyanShenker) February 17, 2026

Another indicator to see what the Nats think of Harmon is how they assign him. If they send him straight to Low-A, that means they have a high level of confidence in him to produce right away. If they think he is a bit raw, they will have him make starts in the FCL.

Harmon should spend most of the season in Low-A, but he might get a taste of High-A if he dominates with the Fred Nats. I think that is in the cards due to the quality of his stuff. He is also a guy who should be helped by the Nats new development team. Harmon is a big ball of clay for those pitching gurus to work with. Hopefully, they can turn him into a high end prospect.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...andidates-in-washington-nationals-farm-system

 

[Washington Nationals]

Which Washington Nationals waiver claim will make the biggest impact this season?

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox pitcher Gus Varland (37) pitches in the seventh inning during the Detroit Tigers versus the Chicago White Sox game on Wednesday September 29, 2024 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Towards the end of the offseason, Paul Toboni went on a spree of waiver claims. In particular, he added quite a few bullpen arms to the mix. With the number of guys he got, odds are that at least one of them hits and makes an impact for the team. I took a look at my three favorite claims he made.

My favorite pitcher Toboni acquired from this process is Andre Granillo. While he technically was not a waiver claim, he came to the Nats as part of the waiver process. The Nats claimed pitcher George Soriano from the Braves on January 30th, then quickly DFA’d him on February 5th.

However, the Cardinals wanted to cut the waiver line to get Soriano. To do that, they just traded reliever Andre Granillo to the Nats in exchange for Soriano. Honestly, I do not really get this move from the Cardinals perspective because I think Granillo is the much better pitcher. In his first taste of MLB action last year, Granillo posted a 4.74 ERA, much better than Soriano’s 8.35 ERA. Granillo is also the younger pitcher.

In addition to mostly holding his own at the MLB level, Granillo was dominant in AAA. He posted a 1.29 ERA in 42 innings at the Triple-A level. Granillo’s bread and butter is a wipeout slider he throws well over half the time. At the MLB level, Granillo threw the slider 65% of the time. Despite the heavy usage, the pitch was still effective and got whiffs almost 35% of the time in the MLB.

Nats trade George Soriano to the Cardinals for Andre Granillo pic.twitter.com/wM0mCpLx2n

— Kev (@klwoodjr) February 10, 2026

While Granillo’s fastball sits at about 95 MPH, the quality of the pitch is not great, so he has to rely on that slider. However, that slider is good enough to make him a solid middle reliever. Granillo also showed an occasional changeup to lefties which had some promise. If that can become a real weapon, there could be higher leverage upside for the 25 year old.

I just think Granillo has everything you want in a waiver claim reliever. He dominated in the minors, is still young, has intriguing stuff, has minor league options and held his own at the MLB level. At worst, Granillo will be a solid up and down relief arm. However, I think he is fully capable of grabbing a full time spot in the bullpen.

Another pitcher who has the talent to grab a full time bullpen spot is Gus Varland. He looked like he was on his way to doing that with the White Sox back in 2024. That season, he posted a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings with 27 strikeouts. However, Varland’s 2025 was ravaged by injuries.

He did not appear in the MLB and only made 8 appearances in the minors. If he can get back to what he was in 2024, that is a big league reliever though. Unlike Granillo, Varland’s bread and butter is the fastball. He sits 95-96 MPH and the pitch has great shape. It has explosive life at the top of the zone at its best.

Gus Varland – first appearance on the mound. First strikeout. #ThisIsMyCrew | @GusBusVarland pic.twitter.com/z8j7KoPoXK

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 30, 2023

Varland’s heater gets both run and ride. It has 18 inches of ride and 11 inches of run. Both of those numbers are above average. That life is why he was able to throw his heater 55.6% of the time and still get quality results. To go with the heater, Varland has a hard slider that is a bit inconsistent. It can be good at times, but is also susceptible to damage.

Like Granillo, Varland has experimented with a changeup, and making that a consistent third pitch would be helpful. I just think Varland has the ability to be a solid middle reliever who can make 60 appearances in a season and put up an ERA around 3.50. That is nothing flashy, but the Nats need guys like that.

The last potentially impactful waiver claim I want to talk about is a slightly different profile. Paxton Schultz, who the Nats claimed from the Blue Jays, is more of a multi-inning relief arm. He is even able to make some spot starts if needed.

The 28 year old was solid when called upon for the Blue Jays last year. He posted a decent 4.38 ERA in 24.2 innings. Schultz struck out 28 batters and only walked 8 in that time as well. He does not have elite stuff, so he got hit at times, but he always competed out there.

Schultz also performed in multiple roles. He made 13 appearances for the Jays last year, with two of them being starts. Schultz went at least two innings in 6 of his 13 outings. Like Varland, Schultz has a fastball with good carry. He does not get as much ride as Varland, but he also throws from a lower slot. The lower slot and still good ride makes his fastball shape strong.

Recently-DFA'd RHP Paxton Schultz could be worth a #Padres waiver claim.

In 2025 at the MLB level:
– 25.5% K | 7.3% BB
– 27.4% Whiff & Chase (32.7% vs FC)
– 1.46 HR/9, .333 BABIP can indicate positive regression

Has 2 MiLB options left, solid swingman addition? pic.twitter.com/fTZ3531TtD

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) January 5, 2026

The heater averages just under 94 MPH, but that shape helps it play up. As someone who goes multiple innings, Schultz has a deeper pitch mix than most relievers. In addition to the heater, Schultz throws a cutter, a changeup and a slider. None of them are elite, but the cutter and changeup are good pitches.

Schultz is a bit like Brad Lord. He can just do whatever you need him to in a bullpen and can even make starts. Lord is more of a real starter than Schultz, but you get the point. The Nats have quite a few pitchers who can fill that long relief role, so Schultz needs to pitch well to make the team.

Even if he does not make the team out of camp, I have a hard time believing he will not make an impact at some point. Schultz is a very valuable optionable arm to have. When the bullpen is tired, you can call him up and he can absorb innings for you.

In a sea of waiver claims this offseason, I think Andre Granillo, Gus Varland and Paxton Schultz will be the most impactful. They all have a history at the MLB level and do not require much projection. None are likely to be stars, but all of them are capable of being solid contributors.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...onals-waiver-claim-make-biggest-impact-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

New Fangraphs Prospect List Has 8 Washington Nationals In The Top 100

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Luis Perales #91 of the Salt River Rafters throws a pitch during an Arizona Fall League game against the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on November 1, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fangraphs recently released its top 100 prospects list for the 2026 season, with 3 Nationals appearing on the list, Eli Willits at 15, Jarlin Susana at 29, and Harry Ford at 74, with Travis Sykora just missing the list and being in their next 10 off at 109. Yesterday, they released another prospect ranking, this one via their projection system OOPSY, which relies heavily on a prospect’s peak performance in the minor leagues rather than their most recent performance, and it had a lot of love to show towards the prospects in the Nationals farm system, with a stunning 8 Nats making the top 100.

List is absolutely littered with Nats
Travis Sykora #8 !
Alejandro Rosario #24 !!!
Jarlin Susana #34
Harry Ford #45
Eli Willits #59
Luis Perales #73
Devin Fitz-Gerald #96 https://t.co/xKjlrGZdKK

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) February 18, 2026

The first shocker on the list is Travis Sykora at 8, making him their third-highest-ranked pitching prospect, right behind Trey Yesavage and Jonah Tong and ahead of highly acclaimed pitchers such as Bubba Chandler and Nolan McLean.

Players are ranked by their projected peak season fWAR, and OOPSY projects that number to be 4.0 for Sykora at his peak, which would have made him a borderline top 10 pitcher in MLB in 2025. While I expect the ranking is only accounting for Sykora’s performance and doesn’t factor in his current injury, it’s still exciting to see a projection system be so high on the Nats top pitching prospect.

Another shocker on the list is Alejandro Rosario coming in at 24, making him their 7th-highest-rated pitching prospect with a peak fWAR projection of 3.5, which would put him in top-20 starting pitcher territory in 2025. It’s unsurprising that a list that values a player’s performance so heavily would rank Rosario highly, as his 2024 minor league season was one of the best by a prospect in recent memory. Like Sykora, I expect this ranking isn’t accounting for Rosario’s current injury, but it’s exciting nonetheless to see him so high on a prospect list.

Not far behind Rosario is Jarlin Susana, coming in as the 8th highest rated pitching prospect and 34th overall, with a peak fWAR of 3.3. While it’s a high rating for the big righty, it’s actually lower than his 29th overall ranking on Fangraphs main top 100 list, as the site has always been higher than most others on him.

Harry Ford checks in on the list at 45, a strong ranking for the Nats’ newly acquired backstop. OOPSY projects the bat to be above average, but also is a believer that he can be a positive defender behind the dish in the bigs, a sentiment not all rankings share.

The wildest ranking on this list, which I missed the first time I looked because I didn’t even think to look for him (and he was still labeled as a Ranger), has to be Yeremy Cabrera at 53rd overall, with a peak fWAR projection of 2.9, which would make him a top 10 centerfielder in baseball in 2025. While the projection sees the bat just slightly above average, it believes his speed and defense will be both well above average and make him an impactful everyday player.

Willits appears on the list at 59, much lower than his 15th overall ranking on the main Fangraphs list, but still the highest of all 2025 MLB draft prospects. To be expected, a list that values minor league performance will be lower than usual on prospects who haven’t debuted professionally or have very little time there, and it’s a testament to Willits performance in his short time in Low A in 2025 that he’s even this high on the rankings.

Luis Perales makes the list at 73rd overall, giving the Nationals 4 of the top 16 pitching prospects in the sport, according to OOPSY. It’s clear that whatever numbers and formulas are used to create OOPSY’s rankings, Paul Toboni has a very similar model he uses to make his moves.

Rounding out the list for the Nats is Devin Fitz-Gerald at 96, his first appearance on any top 100 list to my knowledge. He is listed as a third baseman, interestingly enough, and OOPSY projects him to be an above average defender there with a slightly above average bat.

Overall, while this list shouldn’t be treated as gospel, it’s exciting to see so many Nationals make an appearance, as lists like this in the past have been scarce when it came to Nats prospects.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ct-list-has-8-washington-nationals-in-top-100

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals Game Thread

JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 12: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals takes batting practice during Spring Training workout day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, February 12, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Baseball is back, which means it is time for game threads. Here at Federal Baseball, we do game threads for every regular season game and will do some for Spring Training as well. It is a space for you guys to follow the games and comment your thoughts. Last year, we got hundreds of comments on some of these.

It is also a place where you can get some information on the game and where to watch. So let’s get right into it. The Nats will have two games this afternoon, both at 1:05 PM EST. However, only the game against the Astros will be televised.

That also happens to be the game where the Nats are fielding a stronger team. CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz are among the players featuring in that contest. Jake Eder will be on the mound in that game. In the other game, notable players include Harry Ford, Matt Mervis and prospect Sam Petersen. Shinnosuke Ogasawara is on the mound in that contest.

wake up, we have LINEUPS

→ split squad vs. astros live (and free) on https://t.co/iUBDqlACVs pic.twitter.com/Jty7ejUSwA

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 21, 2026

Now let’s get to the opposition. The Astros will not be playing most of their veteran stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. However, some promising youngsters like Cam Smith and Brice Matthews will be playing in this contest. Colton Gordon will be on the mound for the Astros.

Baseball is here.

️: 12:05 PM CST | 1:05 PM EST
: @SpaceCityHN
: @SportsTalk790 #ChaseTheFight x @PalmBeachesFL pic.twitter.com/bbo8KXyp9f

— Houston Astros (@astros) February 21, 2026

The Cardinals will be fielding a strong lineup this afternoon. Starters like Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman will be playing. JJ Wetherholdt, their top prospect who should win a job out of camp, is also in the lineup. Matthew Liberatore, one of the Cardinals best pitchers will be on the mound.

FIRST LINEUP GRAPHIC OF 2026 ️ pic.twitter.com/3Xru1J3G5L

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 21, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: CACTI Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

Time: 1:05 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: WSH Audio

Baseball is officially here and we have two contests. While the Astros game is the only one on TV, you will be able to follow both on Statcast or the MLB App. Even if there are not big expectations for the season, it is awesome to have baseball back in our lives. Follow along in the comments and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...houston-astros-st-louis-cardinals-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals win both games in their return to action

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Baseball is back and the Washington Nationals have come out on top not once, but twice. The team had a split squad double header today, where half the group went to Jupiter to face the Cardinals, while the rest of the team stayed in West Palm Beach to play the Astros. Both teams won, with the Nats edging the Astros 2-1 and beating the Cardinals 6-2.

It was an impressive start to the Paul Toboni and Blake Butera era. The pitching was mostly solid and the boys were able to get enough timely hits to get the job done. There are still things to clean up, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but they were good enough to win today. Also, these mistakes are only natural in the first games of Spring Training.

The Astros game was the one that was televised, so I was following that much more closely. It was a hotly contested game, where the Nats were let off the hook a few times by the Astros inability to hit with runners in scoring position. While there were some defensive miscues, there was also some brilliance. In the top of the 1st inning, prospect Andrew Pinckney made an outstanding throw to gun down a runner.

andrew pinckney mid-season form pic.twitter.com/OIYsd93Zls

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 21, 2026

We were able to see the whole package with Pinckney today. As we saw, Pinckney’s arm is a major asset. Baseball America gave his arm a rare 80 grade. They noted that out of the 22 Triple-A outfield throws that were at least 100 mph, Pinckney made 8 of them. After seeing the rocket he unleashed today, that is easy to believe.

His skillset at the plate was also on display. In his first at bat, Pinckney looked overmatched and struck out. Those ugly strikeouts will always be a part of his game, it is all about limiting them. However, in his second plate appearance, he hit a 114 MPH rocket for a double in the gap. Pinckney has a 4th outfielder skillset. He has big power, elite speed, good defense and an elite arm, but has whiff concerns.

Speaking of elite power, we saw that from Jorgelys Mota this afternoon. His home run gave the Nats a lead they never relinquished. The 20 year old got all of that ball as well, hitting it 434 feet and 115 MPH. Power has never been an issue for Mota, his big concerns come from his hit tool and propensity to chase. Maybe the new development team can unlock his potential and help him get to the next level.

jorgelys mota going from @FXBGNats to crushing spring home runs pic.twitter.com/BN93FM7rUF

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) February 21, 2026

Mota has not fully broken out yet, and has holes in his game, but Baseball America still has him as the Nats 25th ranked prospect. He showed why he was put on the top 30 with his monster blast today. Mota is an intimidating presence in the box and is likely to start this season at High-A.

While the young guys were the story, another player who looked good was CJ Abrams. He went 1 for 2 with a walk today. His hit was a double he ripped down the line. Abrams looked very composed in the box and was seeing pitches well. His bases loaded walk also drove in a run.

On the mound, it was a mixed bag. While the Nats only allowed one run, they did walk 11 batters. However, I thought PJ Poulin and Paxton Schultz looked sharp. Jake Eder also had his moments, but was inconsistent.

The winning pitcher Seth Shuman got bailed out by his defense right away. Minor league free agent signing Leandro Pineda robbed a home run with a fantastic catch. I can’t say I had heard of him until today, but it was a good way to make a first impression.

oh HELLO leandro pineda pic.twitter.com/0hHUIk2J1s

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) February 21, 2026

Holden Powell survived three walks to close the door, and the Nats got their 2-1 win. It was not their only curly W of the day though. Over in Jupiter, the Nats defeated the Cardinals 6-2.

Maxwell Romero’s three run homer was the decider in that one. Harry Ford also had a solid first game in the organization, with a walk and an RBI base hit. The other piece of the Jose A. Ferrer package Isaac Lyon also fired two scoreless innings. Marquis Grissom Jr. was also sharp in his two innings of work.

Overall, you can’t ask for a much better first day of Spring Training contests. The Nats got two wins and some of the young guys impressed. Hopefully the Nats can build on that and have a strong spring. Who knows, maybe they can surprise people this season, you never know. The boys are back in action tomorrow at 1:10 against the Marlins.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ton-nationals-win-both-games-in-return-action

 

[Washington Nationals]

What to expect from the first Washington Nationals Spring Training games

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Washington Nationals baseball is back folks. After six long months, the boys are back in town. It will be a much different vibe from the last time we saw the Nats play though. At the end of September, they were at the end of a long and unsuccessful slog. Now, they are at the start of a new era.

Everyone will have chances to prove themselves and roster spots will be up for grabs. I cannot remember a Spring Training where so much is up in the air. That is only natural because there is a new POBO, a new GM and a new manager. They are going to want to get close looks at these players.

Today, the new braintrust will have a chance to see a lot of different players, as the Nats are playing two games. There is a split-squad, with one group playing the Astros on Nationals TV, while the rest of the team is playing against the Cardinals in Jupiter.

wake up, we have LINEUPS

→ split squad vs. astros live (and free) on https://t.co/iUBDqlACVs pic.twitter.com/Jty7ejUSwA

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 21, 2026

Based on the lineups, the team in West Palm Beach is the stronger one. That team will feature the likes of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz. The Jupiter team has Harry Ford and other roster contenders like Joey Wiemer and Matt Mervis. Sam Petersen is an interesting prospect at the bottom of that lineup.

We are not going to see much in the way of well known pitching, at least to start. Jake Eder and Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be the starters today. Both are long shots to make the roster, but could get looks at some point this season. The reason they are the ones pitching today just has to do with their throwing schedules. I would not read much into that.

Spring starters set.

Jake Eder opens Grapefruit League play. Shinnosuke Ogasawara starts the split squad game in Jupiter.

More about schedules than roster locks, but baseball is back

Info via @MarkZuckerman. pic.twitter.com/TfmQwWZJ5c

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) February 18, 2026

However, it is still fun to see the team back on the field. This is the first time we will see the boys back in action in the Paul Toboni era. I am curious to see if we will be able to see any notable changes today. It is much easier to spot changes in pitchers than hitters in Spring Training though.

It is easier to identify changes with pitchers right away. You can see the velocity on the radar gun and the shapes of the new pitches. Speaking of the radar gun, we will have a better read on that this year. Every Spring Training site now has statcast, so we will be able to see all of that data. That is very helpful and it will be something I will follow.

It allows us to track things like the progress of Cade Cavalli’s new sweeper and whether Robert Hassell’s added muscle is allowing him to hit the ball harder. Shoutout to the MLB for adding statcast to all the spring sites.

Another thing statcast allows for is the ABS challenge system. With the challenge system coming to the MLB this season, catchers are going to need to learn what to challenge. Spring Training will give the Nats catchers important reps. Since it is so early, there are no main strategies for challenging. Spring Training will give catchers trial and error opportunities.

Most importantly, baseball is back. I am so excited to watch the first Nats game on Nationals TV. Some people say Ground Hogs day can be the start of spring, but in my opinion, the first game of Spring Training is when spring truly gets underway.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...st-washington-nationals-spring-training-games

 

[Washington Nationals]

Harry Ford should be the frontrunner for the Nationals starting catcher job

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Harry Ford #17 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

One of the biggest competitions we will see this spring is behind the plate. Top prospect and new Nat Harry Ford will be battling it out against Keibert Ruiz at camp. We will see who comes out on top, but for my sanity, I really hope it is Harry Ford. It would be the best outcome for Ford to win the job because he has more upside.

Keibert Ruiz has gotten chance after chance in his four plus seasons with the Nationals. However, he has never been able to put it together and has been regressing over the past couple of years. The bat first catcher is only hitting .235 with a .610 OPS over the last two seasons. When you combine that with awful defense, you get one of the worst regulars in baseball.

If it weren’t for his contract extension, Ruiz would probably have been non-tendered or DFA’d by now. However, he has that contract, so he is going to be on the team. His contract is not big enough to just promise him a starting role despite poor production. Ruiz is only making $5.375 million this year.

Meanwhile, Ford has proven everything he has needed to in the minors. He hit .283 with an .868 OPS in Triple-A last year. Ford also showed increased power production and slightly improved defense. The only reason he did not see more time in the MLB was because of how good Cal Raleigh is. In other organizations, Ford would have been a starter for at least part of last season.

Catchers that could win a roster spot in Spring Training:

Harry Ford
Sam Huff
Daniel Susac
Carlos Perez
Rodolfo Duran
Jason Delay
Jhonny Pereda

pic.twitter.com/5rktNTii5J

— Kick Dirt Baseball (@KickDirtBB) February 21, 2026

Ford is 23 years old with four full seasons in the minor leagues now. The Mariners brought him along slowly and developed him nicely. Now, it is time for the Nats to reap the rewards and unleash him. If Ruiz and Ford are playing at the same level this spring, the tie should go to Ford not Ruiz.

We have seen Ruiz get the benefit of the doubt for so many years now. He has lost that right, and Harry Ford now has the title of catcher of the future in DC. Ford has a level of athleticism and plate discipline Ruiz could only dream of. We saw some of that plate discipline yesterday when Ford walked and got an RBI base hit.

Harry Ford delivers under pressure with a slick RBI single, showing exactly why he's a top-tier prospect. #RisingStar #ClutchHithttps://t.co/8tGvWLlGqS pic.twitter.com/2SLNhFXMJN

— Wes Hughes (@ProspectsOnWes) February 22, 2026

The whole reason the Mariners traded Ford was because they knew he was basically big league ready but they did not have regular playing time for him. Rather than letting him rot on the bench or AAA, they wanted to flip the asset while he still had value. For the Nats to see that and decide to roll with Ruiz over Ford would be silly. It would kind of defeat the point of the trade. Why trade for a blocked big league ready catcher if you are not going to play him?

This is not to say there should not be competition. If Ruiz looks way better than Ford, he should get the job. However, in this battle, the tie should go to Harry Ford. Back a few years ago, Ruiz was the high upside catcher the Nats were developing, now Ford is that guy. At this point, Ruiz’s development is a secondary concern to Ford’s.

There is going to be one twist in this competition though. At the start of March, Ford will be leaving camp to play for Great Britain. He is one of the stars of that team and is a co-captain. His parents are British, so this is a great honor for him, but it could give Ruiz an upper hand.

With a name like Harrison Ford, you're destined to play the lead

Happy Birthday to @GB_Baseball captain and @WBCBaseball hero Harry Ford pic.twitter.com/p0wOA5rPUa

— MLB Europe (@MLBEurope) February 21, 2026

The time away from camp gives Ruiz more reps and opportunities. If he takes advantage of that, Ruiz could be in the driver’s seat of the competition. As a fan though, I am really rooting for Ford to win this competition.

The Nats catching situation has been such a disaster the last couple years, and Ruiz has been the biggest problem. He has not been the player Nats fans thought they were getting when he was a headliner in the Scherzer/Turner trade. Rather than establishing himself as a star, Ruiz has struggled on both sides of the ball and has not stayed healthy.

There is a reason trading for Ford was Paul Toboni’s first major move. He knew the catching situation was not good enough. Toboni bet on Ford to be the answer. If Harry Ford has a comparable or better spring than Ruiz, unleash the young man and give him his shot.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...rontrunner-for-nationals-starting-catcher-job

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals Anti-Fastball Revolution Has Begun

For years, league wide fastball usage has been on the decline, as after decades of being used over 60% of the time by pitchers, it dropped below 50% in 2022, and even lower to 47% by 2023. The biggest proprietor of the change in fastball usage has been the introduction of Statcast to Major League Baseball, as in 2015, the first year of Statcast’s usage, all 30 MLB teams threw fastballs over 50% of the time, and now just 7 MLB teams remain who throw fastballs over 50% of the time.

Under Davey Martinez and his coaching staff, the Nationals were one of the last teams holding onto the fastball, being in the top 2 in fastball usage each of the last 4 seasons. While the higher heater usage than most certainly wasn’t the sole reason for the pitching staffs bad results over the last few years, it showed the lack in forward thinking the organization had, sticking to tradition and ignoring trends that could have had benefits for them.

With Blake Butera and his staff running the show, we knew things were going to look different in 2026, but not the full extent, as Butera, POBO Paul Toboni, and pitching coach Simon Mathews were all coming from organizations which ranked between 10th and 20th in fastball usage in 2026.

Would the club overcorrect and throw fastballs at a much lower rate in 2026, or would they stick to the status quo and cut down the teams fastball usage only a little? Although we’re just 3 games into Spring Training, I believe we have our answer.

So far, the Nationals have used 24 different pitchers in Spring Training over the course of 3 games. Of those 24 pitchers, only 5 of them have used their fastball as their primary pitch, those pitchers being Gus Varland, Zach Penrod, Tucker Biven, Sandy Gaston, and Erik Tolman. Compare this to the 2025 Nats’ pitching staff, where of the 25 pitchers to throw at least 10 innings in the big leagues last season, ALL of them threw their fastball as their primary pitch.

Perhaps the most notable example of a pitcher moving away from their fastball this spring has been Mitchell Parker, who, in a 43 pitch outing yesterday, threw his fastball just 27.9% of the time, well below his 55% usage rate in 2025. Instead, he favored his slider and curveball much more, throwing both pitches 30.2% of the time. The results: 2 scoreless innings with 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and plenty of soft contact.

Mitchell Parker only threw 4 fastballs in 18 pitches in the 1st inning. Will be interesting to monitor for a guy who threw 55% 4-seam fastball last year

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) February 22, 2026

Of the 5 pitchers who did throw their fastball primarily in their outings, they all had one thing in common; they throw it really hard. Varland, Gaston, and Tolman all sat above 95 with their heaters in their outings, with Penrod and Biven not too far behind at just below 95. While there are more variables that make a fastball good than its velocity, it’s still clear that the new coaching staffs focus is having its pitchers focus on their strengths on the mound, even if it means using an unorthodox pitch the most often.

Spring Training is a time for players to tinker with new approaches and ideas since the results won’t count against them, so I wouldn’t expect the number of Nationals pitcher who throw a heater primarily to remain this low in the regular season, but it’s still new and exciting to see the coaching staff having the pitchers trying something new with their approach. Hopefully, this new approach will help some pitchers, such as Mitchell Parker, have newfound success in 2026.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...gton-nationals-anti-fastball-revolution-begun

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals 3B Brady House shows off his big power in Spring Training debut

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Brady House #55 of the Washington Nationals bats in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2026 is a massive year for Brady House’s development. He is entering the season as the undisputed starter at third base. For that to be the case again next year, he is going to have to make big improvements with the bat. His first game of Spring Training was a major statement, with the 22 year old clubbing two home runs.

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BRADY pic.twitter.com/vXVrPEsgk0

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 22, 2026

That power is great to see from House, and it is something that was missing in his first taste of the MLB. He only hit 4 homers in 73 games last year, and two of them came in one contest against the Brewers. That is not what you want to see from a guy who is supposed to be a power hitter. House’s chase and whiff issues will limit his on base numbers, so he will have to slug.

Anyone who has followed House knows he is capable of hitting for power. His exit velocities in Triple-A were elite last season and he even hit the ball pretty hard in the majors. The former first rounder translated that into game power in AAA last year. He hit 13 homers in 65 Triple-A games and had a slugging percentage over .500.

With his strong defense at third base, House does not need to be an elite hitter, but he needs to be much better than he was last year. A .574 OPS simply will not cut it at the MLB level. I think hitting for more power is the best way for him to improve. His approach will have to get better as well, but I don’t see House suddenly developing a strong eye at the plate.

That is one of those skills that is more innate. Tapping into more game power is something you can coach, especially when the player has the raw power. Hopefully today marks the start of a big year for House. His first homer actually came off of former Cy Young Sandy Alcantara, so at least one of his bombs came off of big league competition as well.

EXCLUSIVE: The Brady House 3-Run home run off of Sandy Alcantara pic.twitter.com/0MCEk7rdVM

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) February 22, 2026

So how can Brady House consistently hit for power? We know he has the horsepower to be a 25 homer bat. Well, he is going to have to get the ball in the air more consistently. Last season, House’s ground ball rate was higher than average at 46.3%. He is going to have to develop into a line drive and flyball hitter to make it at the MLB level.

The whiff and chase give him a smaller margin for error when it comes to the quality of his contact. His well struck balls are going to need to be elevated for House to have big league success at the plate. Another thing I would like to see, but is not as necessary is for House to pull the ball in the air more. Last season, his air pull percentage was well below average at just 10.6%. For context, the league average is 16.7%.

House has enough raw power to hit balls out to all fields. Both of his homers yesterday actually went to right center. If House is not comfortable selling out for air pull, he can stick to just hitting line drives and flyballs all over the yard. However, pulling the ball in the air is the easiest way to compile extra base hit damage. House has enough juice where he just needs to elevate to have success though.

Mood because the Brady House breakout season is a month away:

#Natitude pic.twitter.com/Ue7ZlhHJqi

— SleeperNationals (@SleeperNats) February 22, 2026

We saw that on display yesterday. Hopefully this can continue deeper into Spring Training and into the regular season. If House can even be an average bat this season, that would change a lot for the Nats. It would make the lineup a lot deeper and more powerful.

One thing about Brady House is that he tends to get better in his second try at a new level. In 2024, House struggled with AAA after a midseason promotion. While he hit .250, he only posted a .655 OPS due to a lack of plate discipline and an inability to translate his raw power into games. That should sound familiar to Nats fans because that is what we saw from House last year.

However, he put in some important offseason work and was ready to go for the 2025 season. He hit .304 with an .872 OPS in AAA last season. That earned him a big league call up, but just like 2024, he struggled at the new level. Hopefully this first taste of the big leagues was a learning experience and House can come back looking much better.

Despite his whiff and chase issues, House has always been able to post higher batting averages than you would expect in the minors. He hits the ball so hard that he is able to sneak a lot of hits through. Even in his disastrous big league debut, his average was not horrible at .234. However, he needs that average to be fairly high because he is not going to walk much.

My dream outcome for House is for him to hit about .260-.265 with 25 homers, a .310 OBP and an OPS in the mid-.700’s. With his defense, that would be an excellent player. However, it requires quite a bit of projection to get to that point. The biggest goal for House this year should be to find a way to turn his tremendous raw power into good game power. Hitting two homers in your first game of the spring is not a bad start in achieving that goal.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...y-house-shows-big-power-spring-training-debut