Sunday, August 16

NEW YORK – While the Nationals compete at the Major League level, a strong focus remains on building up the farm system. 

Weeks after the 2026 Draft, first-year president of baseball operations Paul Toboni made several moves at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline that sent away key contributors for packages of prospects. The outlook was beyond this docket of 162 games. 

“If the goal here is to be good for a long period of time, you only have so many opportunities to make this foundation really strong, so to speak,” Toboni said at the time. “That's going to be our goal, and we're going to try and do it. 

“But if we pass up those opportunities to create this really strong foundation, for a second metaphor, basically we'll be moving into the house without the foundation being totally strong. And it might turn out that two, three years down the line, we might have to move out of the house because the foundation is cracked.”

In the latest MLB Pipeline update, the Nationals' Minor League system includes four top-100 prospects. Take a comprehensive look at the in-season re-ranks. 

Here’s a look at the Nationals top prospects:

Eli Willits, SS (MLB No. 4)

Travis Sykora, RHP (MLB No. 52)

Jarlin Susana, RHP (MLB No. 68)

Seaver King, SS/2B (MLB No. 71)

Devin Fitz-Gerald, INF 

Complete Top 30 list » 

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Ronny Cruz, INF (Preseason: 25 | Midseason: 7) 

Cruz, who was acquired from the Cubs last season in the Michael Soroka trade, garnered a lot of buzz during Spring Training. He was promoted to High-A Wilmington after just 14 games at Single-A Fredericksburg, where he had a 1.087 OPS. Cruz has struggled offensively this season with the Blue Rocks, but he’s only 19 years old and shows exciting potential. He still boasts above-average scouting grades for four of the five tools. 

Fall: Luke Dickerson, INF (Preseason: 8 | Midseason: 22) 

Between trades, the Draft and player development, there was a lot of movement at the top of the Nationals' rankings this season. Dickerson, a 2024 second-round pick out of high school, had the biggest drop in the top 30 update. Working on swing-and-miss, he spent most of this season in Single-A Fredericksburg for the second year in a row. He was promoted to High-A Wilmington on Aug. 8. 

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

No. 6 Chris Hacopian, 2B: Draft (first round)

No. 13 Chase Brunson, OF: Draft (second round)

No. 23 Luke Williams, SS: Draft (third round)

No. 24 Cooper Harris, RHP: Draft (fourth round) 

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 60 – Willits (Hacopian)

Power: 60 – Abimelec Ortiz (Ethan Petry)

Run: 70 – Dickerson (King, Williams)

Arm: 60 – Gavin Fien (Cruz, Williams)

Defense: 60 – Willits (Yeremy Cabrera)

Fastball: 70 – Jarlin Susana (Miguel Sime Jr., Luis Perales, Ben Grable)

Curveball: 55 – Sime

Slider: 70 – Susana

Changeup: 60 – Jackson Kent

Control: 60 – Alejandro Rosario

Lefty DJ Herz was efficient in the second start of his rehab assignment. On Friday, Herz delivered two scoreless frames on 23 pitches with the Double-A Senators. 

“Really good,” said manager Blake Butera. “...  Happy to see him get out of there the way he did and make easy work of his two innings.”

Herz underwent Tommy John surgery last April. 

The Nationals are linking up with the Washington Spirit of the NWSL to celebrate Women’s Night at Nationals Park. On Aug. 28, the two organizations will highlight women in sports, from players to front office execs to fans. 

Those who purchase a special Women’s Night ticket for the 6:45 p.m. ET game against the Marlins will receive a Nationals x Spirit co-branded sweatshirt. Tickets can be purchased here.

Pregame festivities are slated to include a DIY craft station to make clear bags and decorate claw clips, mural making and a mini wellness workshop. 

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