{"id":102372,"date":"2025-06-18T21:35:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T01:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=102372"},"modified":"2025-06-18T21:35:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T01:35:08","slug":"nationals-no-1-pick-leaves-big-decisions-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/06\/18\/nationals-no-1-pick-leaves-big-decisions-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationals\u2019 No. 1 Pick Leaves Big Decisions in Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luck. <\/span>It\u2019s what gave the Washington Nationals the #1 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft this past December. <\/span>Now, a few weeks from the draft, D.C.’s home team will look to get lucky again and turn that lottery ball into a golden ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think they have to take the best player available. Right now, the Nats are lacking a lot of different things,\u201d Nationals media member Ryan Clary said. \u201cBut with the way the owners are operating, they won’t be signing any superstars anytime soon. I expect them to take a big swing in this draft.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Nationals Have Options with No. 1 Draft Pick<\/h2>\n

The past six seasons have been a swing and a miss for Washington, ever since winning a championship in 2019. The turn of the decade has been deemed a \u201crebuilding period,\u201d but the progress has yet to be seen, with the team coming off three straight seasons of 90 losses or more.<\/span><\/p>\n

But with seven of the Nationals\u2019 top ten prospects projected to be ready for the show within the next two seasons, and a chance at another top talent coming soon, it leaves the question: when will the rebuild finally take structure?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis might be the most pressure (General Manager) Mike Rizzo<\/a> has on him. The big knock on Rizzo has been that he can’t draft the right guys in the first round.\u201d Clary said. \u201cThe Nats have had a development issue for nearly a decade. The pressure is on this front office to hit this first-round pick, and hit it out of the park.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most mock drafts have Washington taking SS\/3B Ethan Holliday, a high schooler from Oklahoma and son of MLB All-Star Matt Holliday<\/a>. Holliday<\/a> ranks as the top prospect in this draft class by MLB, Baseball America, Perfect Game, and many more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side of the coin: a plethora of talented college arms fill up this year\u2019s draft pool. Five of the projected top ten picks are pitchers, including big names like Tennessee\u2019s Liam Doyle<\/a> and LSU\u2019s Kade Anderson<\/a>, who are currently taking over this year\u2019s College World Series.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Stillwater’s Ethan Holliday throws to first for an out during the high school baseball game between Fort Cobb-Broxton and Stillwater at Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Okla., Friday, April, 18, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Teenage Talent or College Experience?<\/h3>\n

The Nationals are no strangers to taking teen talent #1 overall, famously drafting Bryce Harper<\/a> with the top pick back in 2010. But now, 15 years later, will Rizzo opt for the same blueprint or opt for proven college names?<\/span><\/p>\n

“You can never have enough starting pitching,” Rizzo told 106.7 The Fan. “Do you have these pieces that you think you can fill these spots [from] the minor league system, or do you have to go externally to get them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nats May Rely on Trades Moving Forward<\/h3>\n

Externally obtaining talent has been a touchy subject inside the nation\u2019s capital, with many speaking about the lack of spending by ownership. Owner Mark Lerner told The Washington Post this past February<\/span> that their commitment is \u201cto continue to go forward\u201d following sale rumors, but these comments haven\u2019t held off the criticism, including MLB insider Ken Rosenthal labeling the Nationals \u201ca bottom-feeder\u201d of the league in The New York Times.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lacking a budget and free agency appeal, acquisitions may have to come only via trade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet on them moving off any of the top talent. But, I would not be totally surprised to see them kick the tires on landing a veteran pitcher, or outfielder, and move on from some young prospects,\u201d Clary said. \u201cI certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it if the Nats can find themselves a good deal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jayson Werth<\/a> on the 2025 Nats:
\n\u201cWhen you look at the Nationals now, there\u2019s a lot of young talent.. But I think what they\u2019re lacking right now is that Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche<\/a> type signing and have some veteran leadership in that clubhouse\u201d<\/p>\n

Clip belowhttps:\/\/t.co\/oWUueVDVK8<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Hmep6scAQa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Clary (@Ryanclary11) April 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n