After seeing numerous farm system prospects make their way to the majors, the Washington Nationals may be close to seeing more join them. The Nationals have seen six former top 100 prospects make their way to the big leagues over the past few seasons. They have continued to stockpile a top farm system in the MLB and come in at number six on the list.
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Top Prospects in the Washington Nationals Farm System
OF Dylan Crews
The number two pick in the 2023 draft, Crews could have been the number one pick were it not for LSU teammate Paul Skenes. Crews was the top-ranked player in the 2023 draft class leading up to the draft. This comes after a season with LSU where he put together a .426 batting average. He also tied for the Division I lead with 71 walks drawn.
Crews possesses above-average power at the plate, thanks to a quick swing and being selectively aggressive. He did have some problems with swings and misses, but he was able to improve upon that this last season (hence the 71 walks). On the base paths and in center field, he has shown above-average speed as well. This has led to Crews becoming the fourth-ranked prospect in baseball and the top prospect in the Washington Nationals farm system.
Defensively, Crews has solid arm strength and has improved on his fielding as well. He should be able to stick to his current position in center field.
Since being drafted, he has already made the jump from Rookie ball to Single-A ball. In 11 total games, Crews has put up a .388 average with four home runs. He should be knocking on the door for a spot on the big-league roster in the 2024 season.
OF James Wood
Originally a San Diego Padres second-round pick in 2021, Wood was acquired in the Juan Soto trade. Wood has a large frame, standing at 6’7″. But despite being such a big-bodied outfielder, he possesses above-average speed on the base paths. He has worked himself up to the number seven spot among the top 100 prospects in baseball.
He has garnered rave reviews from Nationals management for the patience he shows at the plate for a 20-year-old player. This combined with his hitting has set him up well as one of the top farm system prospects for Washington. One note of caution is that so far in the 2023 season, he has struck out 132 times in 102 games. However, his home run total is up from 12 last year to 22 this season.
First pitch… home run 🪵
James Wood (WSH No. 2, MLB No. 7) goes deep for the 14th time as a Senator! pic.twitter.com/sESl161RtM
— Nats Farm (@NatsFarm) August 15, 2023
In many people’s eyes, the only thing keeping Wood from being a five-tool player is his fielding. He will need to improve in this area, but it is still seen as an above-average asset in his game. If he can continue his development in the outfield and at the plate, Wood could be another prospect knocking on the door for an MLB roster spot in 2024.
3B Brady House
Another top 100 prospect in the Washington Nationals farm system, House checks in at number 43 on the list. The 6’4″ House was a first-round pick in the 2021 draft by the Nationals. He is a player who has raw power and was able to improve his contact ability this season, which was a struggle for him last year. As a result, House has been able to put himself in a position as a top prospect in the Nationals farm system.
Defensively, House has routinely shown off his above-average arm at the third base position. The degree of his improvement at the plate and in the field will ultimately determine his spot in the Nationals’ future.
So far in 2023, he has improved his batting average to .310 from .278 in 2022. He has also shown more extra-base potential to go with his raw power. He has compiled 19 doubles, a triple, and nine home runs in 70 games between three minor league levels.
RHP Cade Cavalli
After being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, Cavalli managed to jump through three minor league levels in his first professional season. This quickly made him the top pitcher in the Nationals farm system. In 2022, Cavalli made his MLB debut. He was on his way to making the club out of camp in 2023 before a season-ending injury led to Tommy John surgery.
Before his injury, Cavalli was able to throw his fastball in the upper 90s, touching 100. He had no trouble with his fastball speed, but occasionally struggled with command. Along with this concern is his upper 80s changeup, which is still a work in progress. The go-to pitch in his arsenal is his mid-80s curveball. He also possesses an upper 80s slider. If Cavalli can come back from the injury and prove he can be himself again, he could very well entrench himself in the Nationals rotation.
OF Elijah Green
Ranked as the third-best prospect in the 2022 draft, the Nationals selected Green fifth overall in the first round. He is another Nationals prospect who possesses raw power at the plate. This season, though, he has only been able to scratch across three home runs. He will need to improve on his swing and miss numbers as well. In 64 games this season, he has struck out a total of 114 times.
The biggest asset of Green’s game is his speed, both on the base paths and in the field. His speed has been on display this season, stealing 23 bases between Rookie ball and A-ball. Defensively, his speed and athleticism should help him stick around in center field, along with his above-average arm. Green will have to face more pitching to prove his bat can keep up before he can continue progressing through the Nationals’ farm system.
These prospects combined with Washington’s recently promoted prospects should help give the Nationals a bright future.
Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
