Washington Nationals

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: One of the highest-profile international players available in the 2020-21 signing class, Cruz inked a $3.9 million deal with the Nationals one day before his 17th birthday, giving him the largest bonus awarded to a 16-year-old in the class. Cruz got his feet wet in the Dominican Summer League over the summer.

Scouting Report: Cruz is a high-end defensive player who had international scouts raving about his ability prior to his signing. He has great hands, extremely quick feet and a smooth transfer to his plus arm, which helps him make the flashy play look routine. He charges the ball well using speed that has improved from below-average to slightly above-average in recent years. Though he can dazzle with some of the tricks he can pull fielding the ball in practice, it’s not just physical tools that make him a top-of-the-scale defensive shortstop. He also gets fast reads off the bat and is an instinctive player. Offensively, he’s very much a work in progress, but the Nationals like his natural bat-to-ball skills and saw improvement at the plate as the summer wore on. He’ll undoubtedly add some strength as he matures, but power is not likely to be a part of his game in the end.

The Future: Cruz’s defensive prowess is such that evaluators project him to be a plus defender, with a ceiling as one of the elite defensive shortstops in baseball. That will be his ticket through the Nationals’ system, with his offensive value being the icing on the cake should he come into his own in that regard.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 55. Fielding: 65. Arm: 55.

Track Record: A third-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2017, Adams steadily hit his way to the big leagues over the course of four years. He debuted with the Blue Jays in June before being sent to Washington for Brad Hand just before the trade deadline. With the Nationals down the stretch, he hit .268/.422/.465 in 35 games.
Scouting Report: Adams has a power-based skill set, both defensively and at the plate, which matches his physical frame. As a hitter, he has plus or maybe even plus-plus raw power that comes with some swing and miss thanks to length in his swing, but not enough swing and miss that he can’t get to power during games. Defensively, he has plus arm strength, but issues in his release keep his arm from being as effective as it could be. In past minor league seasons, he nabbed greater than 40% of would-be base stealers, but those numbers eroded as the competition got better.
The Future: With the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark and limit the run game somewhat with his arm, Adams has value as a toolsy backup catcher, and with Keibert Ruiz ahead of him, that’s likely his immediate future. However, if he continues to produce as he did in a small sample in 2021, he could also elbow his way into at-bats at other positions.

Track Record: Ramirez signed with the Red Sox out of the Mexican League for $550,000 in 2018. He continued to pitch well against more mature competition, first in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 and later in the New York-Penn League in 2019. After starting 2021 off strong at Low-A Salem, Ramirez was sidelined with elbow tendonitis in June and was traded to Washington in exchange for Kyle Schwarber in July. After the trade, he made just a handful of appearances in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Ramirez has always stood out for the way his stuff plays up due to his good fastball command and feel for his secondary pitches. In recent years, his stuff has ticked up, however, with his fastball now touching 98, all while maintaining feel for a potential plus curveball with impressive movement and depth and a potential average changeup. His numbers in the FCL after the trade weren’t pretty, but some in the organization point to Ramirez perhaps trying to do too much in an effort to make a good first impression.
The Future: Being healthy through a full season workload at Low-A or High-A will be a good next step. If Ramirez can continue his mastery of the finer points of pitching while his stuff ticks up, a future as a back-of-the-rotation starter is in play.

Track Record: The Nationals signed de la Rosa for $300,000 in 2018 and started him stateside in the Gulf Coast League rather than Dominican Summer League. They continued to push him aggressively by making him part of the 60-man player pool in 2020 and having him compete at the alternate training site. He struggled in his first full minor league season with Fredericksburg, with a .595 OPS and a nearly 40% strikeout rate.
Scouting Report: De la Rosa has a well-rounded set of tools. He’s a plus runner underway, a good athlete, a potential future plus defender in the outfield, even if that future ends up at a corner, and is an intriguing offensive player. There is confidence that he will be at least an average hitter, as he has a preternatural ability to get in a good hitting position and hit the ball on a line with authority, but evaluators are more mixed on his power. He shows plus raw power in spurts, with some assuming a solid hit tool will help him continue to unlock that power as he matures and others unsure that he’ll ever have better than below-average power in-game.
The Future: The Nationals were aggressive in moving de la Rosa early, but he’s still a raw prospect. He simply needs to keep compiling at-bats in large numbers.

Track Record: Cronin put up a 2.77 ERA in 64 relief appearances for powerhouse Arkansas over three college seasons before being drafted in the fourth round in 2019. He dominated in his debut in 2019 in Low-A, and after spending time at the alternate training site in 2020, picked up where he left off in 2021 with mostly dominant outings in the FCL and in High-A, which earned him a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg. He took some lumps and battled his command in his first look at Double-A, but still managed 18 strikeouts in 11.1 innings.
Scouting Report: There’s little ambiguity about Cronin’s profile as he moves through the system. He’s a reliever, and a good one at that. He works with a high-spin fastball that reaches the mid 90s and a 12-to-6 curveball that has good depth and late break. Both pitches show plus potential. He’ll also use a split changeup, but it’s a third offering at this point. Cronin has a back-end bullpen mentality and isn’t afraid to go after hitters. Some rival evaluators see Cronin as being a Sean Doolittle type of reliever at the big league level.
The Future: Cronin fits the archetype of the fast-moving college reliever, and with his move all the way up to Double-A in 2021, his big league debut is not that far off in the distance.

Track Record: Cluff had just one year, 2019, as a starter at Brigham Young, as he spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons on his Mormon mission, but it was strong enough for him to be selected in the sixth round that year. The Nationals have been aggressive with Cluff. He began at Low-A in 2019, spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and skipped High-A to spend much of the 2021 season at Double-A Harrisburg.
Scouting Report: Cluff is a player whose intangibles stand out. The organization raves about his makeup. From a skill standpoint, Cluff is an advanced defender with a strong arm who can handle second base or shortstop. Offensively, he has an aggressive approach at the plate, looking for his pitch early in counts. He uses all fields, he has some pop but isn’t a masher, and while he’s not a burner, he’s a willing base stealer. His performance at the plate in the Arizona Fall League this year turned heads as well.
The Future: After some growing pains in Harrisburg, Cluff started to get comfortable, only to have injuries slow him. A repeat of that level is likely. His maturity and defense give him a high floor as a utility infielder.

Track Record: A 20th-round draft pick out of Boston College in 2017, Casey has already provided outstanding pick value by riding a well-rounded skill set all the way to the upper levels of the minors. After hitting well in a repeat trip to Double-A Tulsa early in 2021, Casey was dealt to Washington as part of the Max Scherzer and Trea Turner blockbuster.
Scouting Report: After not hitting for much power at Boston College despite having above-average raw power, Casey has had no such problem hitting for power in the minor leagues. He has holes in his swing, which has at times led to a high strikeout rate, peaking at nearly 40% at Triple-A Rochester last season. He’s an outstanding defender with a rifle for an arm, excellent athleticism and good speed. While in Tulsa, opposing managers in Double-A Central voted him the best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the league.
The Future: By getting out of a loaded Dodgers system, the path to the big leagues, and regular playing time, has opened up a bit for Casey. He’ll be 26 on opening day next season, but he’s been productive at every stop so far and he provides tremendous defensive value. A big league debut in 2022 is on the table.

Track Record: Few high school hitters in the 2021 draft class had a long-term track record of hitting at a high level like Lile’s. That earned him a place on the high school All-America team in 2021 and a second-round selection by the Nationals, who were excited to add his polished bat to the system. He signed for $1.75 million, or $169,800 over the pick value. He spent his first season in the Florida Complex League, where he was primarily limited to DH duty due to an arm injury.
Scouting Report: Lile has a quiet setup at the plate with very little pre-pitch movement. His swing is easy and repeatable, and he leans on his hands to spray line drives to all fields. With a relatively light frame at present, some evaluators are dubious of his future power projection, but internally, there is hope power will come along later. Some evaluators see Lile as a potential center fielder down the line, but more likely, he ends up in left field thanks to fringy arm strength and average speed.
The Future: Because he doesn’t project to add much value defensively and power may never be part of his game, Lile is going to have to hit, hit and hit some more, as he did all throughout his prep days, in order to move up the ladder.

Track Record: Connecticut’s career strikeout leader, Cate was selected in the second round in 2018. He had a big year in 2019, winning the Nationals’ minor league pitcher of the year. He spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 before stumbling at Double-A Harrisburg in 2021.
Scouting Report: Cate does a lot of things well to be effective despite being undersized and having something less than electric stuff across the board. He has an easy delivery, he moves the ball around the zone well and he can locate. His curveball is the one current plus pitch in his arsenal, and it’s a true hammer. His changeup shows signs of being a future above-average offering, but he was inconsistent with it in 2021. His fastball has fringy velocity in the high 80s and low 90s, but his ability to cut and sink it helps move it off barrels. Cate is capable of plus-plus command, and the reality is that he needs it, because he gets hit more than most when he misses spots, as was the case in Harrisburg.
The Future: There’s likely a place in the big leagues at some point for Cate just based on his durability, pitchability, moxie and his ability to use his curveball as a weapon at will.

Track Record: One of the top shortstops in the 2020 high school class, Infante was drafted 71st overall and signed for an over-slot $1 million bonus to buy him out of his college commitment to Miami. Later that summer, he worked at the Nationals’ alternate training site. He got his first taste of the minor leagues in the Florida Complex League in 2021.
Scouting Report: Infante struggled in his debut season as he learned what it takes to be a pro and the level of consistency that it requires to be successful. His maturity and level-headedness, which were repeatedly mentioned as among his strongest attributes during the draft process and at the alternate site, no doubt helped him push through. He embraced playing second base in the FCL in deference to his teammate Brady House, but he has the strong fundamentals, soft hands and strong arm needed to at least earn a shot to stick at shortstop. Moving forward, Infante will have to cut down on the whiffs, but there is confidence he can be at least an average hitter with occasional power.
The Future: Given that he will be two years removed the draft, the 2022 season will be big for Infante to take strides forward, even understanding that he’s still a long way from the big leagues.

Track Record: A $100,000 signing as a fifth-round pick in 2020, Parker was productive out of the gate in his debut season in 2021. He had a 4.08 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in Low-A before earning a promotion to High-A, where his 5.89 ERA doesn’t fully reflect how effective he was.
Scouting Report: Parker has a varied repertoire that could help him stick as a starter, even without plus stuff across the board. With a delivery that could use some refinement, his fastball typically sits in the low 90s with elite carry, and he maintains that velocity well into his starts. He also features a low-80s splitter that one rival evaluator described as having “crazy” movement similar to that of a cutter, a changeup with plus sink and a mid-70s curveball with good depth that is better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. None of those pitches are elite, but all have average or better potential. Parker has also proven to be a good competitor in his starts.
The Future: As long as Parker performs like he did in 2021, expect him to move. Without any setbacks, Double-A in 2022 should be in his sights.

Track Record: A 15th-round pick out of Arkansas as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2018, Lee has already wildly exceeded his draft position with his performance in the Nationals’ system. He excelled in the New York-Penn League in 2019, mostly as a reliever, putting up 2.65 ERA in 34 innings, and followed that up as a starter by striking out 104 batters in 77 innings in High-A in 2021.
Scouting Report: Lee gets good extension on a fastball that primarily sat 91-93 mph last season but has touched the mid 90s in the past. He also features a potential plus curveball with an 11-to-5 shape that is a real put-away pitch at times, a slider that has cutter-type action and a changeup that subtracts nearly 10 mph off his fastball velocity. Of the four, evaluators are least enthused with the changeup at present.
The Future: Lee began his time in the system in the bullpen, and perhaps that’s where he ends up if his fastball and curveball end up being his only two better-than-average pitches. He excelled as a starter in 2021, however, likely earning himself the chance to continue in that role for now.

Track Record: Originally a $450,000 signing out of Venezuela in 2016, Pineda impressed in his first two seasons in the system before taking a step back in his first full season in Low-A in 2019. After spending time at the alternate training site and instructional league in 2020, he spent 2021 at High-A, where he hit just .208 but showed off his power with 14 home runs.
Scouting Report: Offensively, Pineda has a quick swing and impressive raw power, but he has an active setup and appears fidgety at times in the box, as if he’s tinkering with his setup in real time. His plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone is still a work in progress. Defensively, his mobility is sufficient but not exemplary, and he has a strong arm, which has helped him put up caught stealing rates of 40% or better in each of his minor league seasons.
The Future: Pineda has taken a step back since he was named a New York-Penn League all-star in 2018 as a young player in the league. He has loud tools that give him an intriguing ceiling, but there’s refinement to be made for him to reach it.

Track Record: After signing for $300,000 in 2018, Marte played well in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, at one point putting together a 17-game hitting streak near the end of the season. He continued that momentum by impressing at instructs in 2020. The 2021 season in the Florida Complex League was more of a challenge for him, but he showed enough to keep hopes high for his future.
Scouting Report: Marte hit just .204 in the FCL in 2021, but some in the organization who observed his play saw him as the most consistent player in the lineup day to day, and he still managed a .363 on-base percentage. From a skill standpoint, he is brimming with plus tools. He’s a good runner with an excellent arm, giving him potential plus defensive ability in center field. He also has potential plus power. But plate discipline is a major issue at this point, as he struck out 59 times in 137 at-bats last season, and the holes in his swing got exploited in the FCL schedule, where everyone plays the same small handful of teams repeatedly.
The Future: Marte has all of the raw tools to be a big leaguer, but the lack of plate discipline threatens to hold him back. That’s the development to watch as the 2022 season unfolds.

Track Record: Quintana signed with the Nationals for $820,000 in 2019, and although his debut was delayed by the pandemic, he impressed in instructional league late in 2020. He got on the field in 2021 in the Florida Complex League, but a hamstring injury kept him out of action from early July to early September. He ended up with just 13 at-bats for the season, but he managed three extra-base hits in that small window, two doubles and a home run.
Scouting Report: Quintana’s bat stands out. He has good feel to hit, keeps his barrel in the zone for a long time, and in a testament to the way he has developed his body since signing, plus raw power to all fields from a sturdy frame. He has impressive plate discipline for a player of his age, but at times he’s too passive at the plate for a player of his strength. Defensively, Quintana is likely a corner outfielder in the future.
The Future: Health is paramount for Quintana as he goes into the 2022 season after he missed time at instructs in 2020 and just about all of the 2021 season. In a small sample, he’s shown to be one of the most exciting young hitters in the system, but he just hasn’t had many chances yet.

Track Record: Barrera moved steadily through the Nationals’ system, eventually breaking through to the big leagues in 2019. He likely would have graduated from prospect status by now had he not been suspended for 80 games after a positive test for Oral Turinabol, which cost him the 2020 season. That particular drug is controversial in MLB, because Barrera and others who have tested positive for it maintain their innocence and suggest that there are flaws in the testing for it. He returned to Washington in 2021, hitting .264/.374/.385 in 91 at-bats.
Scouting Report: Barrera checks all the boxes of a solid all-around defensive catcher. He receives well, has a quick release with a strong arm and works well with his pitching staff. He’s also a very good athlete. He’s not a middle-of-the-order bat, but he hit fairly well in the big leagues in 2021 and he’s performed at every stop along the way thanks to sound mechanics and good plate discipline.
The Future: Barrera has proven himself as a solid backup catcher in MLB, and he has nothing left to prove in the minors. With Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams both in the organization and on the roster, however, he will have to fight to stay in the big leagues with Washington.

Track Record: Romero’s career got off to a slow start, with just 14 total appearances to his name over his first three seasons in the system, none of them above Low-A, but he made up for lost time in 2020, when he arrived at the Nationals alternate training site and then debuted in the big leagues later that year. A rib injury slowed him for the first few months of 2021, which he spent primarily in Double-A.
Scouting Report: Romero’s fastball sits in the low 90s, touching the mid 90s, and it’s easy velocity from the left side. His best offspeed offering is a plus slider that helped make him a natural fit for the big league bullpen in 2020. His changeup is a quality third pitch in his arsenal and he can throw all three pitches for strikes.
The Future: The rib injury in 2021 was just the latest in a long line of injuries Romero has suffered in his career, which has in part allowed him to throw just 85.2 total innings in five seasons. His brief big league experience is exclusively as a reliever, but the organization wants to continue giving him the chance to prove he can start.

Track Record: With Denaburg, the trouble is that he doesn’t have much track record as a professional due to injuries. Since he was taken 27th overall and signed for $3 million after battling biceps tendonitis as a senior in high school, Denaburg has thrown just 20.1 innings in the system, all in 2019. He had shoulder surgery after the 2019 season and then dealt with tenderness early in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown. In March 2021, he had Tommy John surgery, costing him another season.
Scouting Report: It remains to be seen what Denaburg will look like when he gets back on the mound, but he typically works with a fastball that touches as high as 97 mph, a high-spin curveball in the upper-70s and a changeup that was making strides toward being an average pitch. In his debut in 2019, he struggled with control, walking 14 in his 20.1 innings, and that will need improvement moving forward.
The Future: Step one for Denaburg is getting healthy and back on the mound in games. Everything else is secondary at this point. At 22 years old next opening day, he has some catching up to do, but he still has time to get back on track.

Track Record: A $1 million signing for the Padres in 2016, Barley has been inconsistent in his first few seasons as he’s worked to turn his readily apparent speed and athleticism into production. He spent all of the 2021 season at Low-A, coming over to the Nationals’ system in July as part of the trade that sent Daniel Hudson to San Diego.
Scouting Report: Barley has an impressive collection of tools but he’s not yet a complete player. He has game-breaking speed, and as he’s moved up, he’s become a more efficient base stealer. He also has power that projects as average down the line. Defensively, he has the hands and arm for shortstop, and he recently made a change to throw from more of a three-quarters slot to improve his accuracy, but he still makes errors in bunches, including 46 miscues last season. Some evaluators have noted that the errors seem to be more of the careless or mental variety rather than physical. He has primarily played shortstop but has also played plenty of second base, and some have seen center field as a potential landing place.
The Future: Barley has come a long way in his development, but he still has a long way to go. His tools are endlessly intriguing, even if they still require a lot of refinement.

Track Record: Millas’ professional career was delayed two seasons, first by a UCL injury and a blood clotting issue after he was drafted in 2019 and later by the pandemic. He finally took the field and was productive at High-A in 2021. He came to Washington in the trade that sent Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison to Oakland in July.
Scouting Report: Defense is Millas’ calling card. An excellent athlete behind the plate, he receives the ball well, is nimble in getting down to block the ball, has an easy plus arm and plays the position with energy. He’s athletic and toolsy enough, in fact, that some evaluators see him as a possible fit as a utility player who could also play second and third base. He was productive offensively in 2021, and he has good bat-to-ball skills and excellent plate discipline, but his bat is light in general. He posts below-average exit velocities, and when batting from the left side, he has noticeable length in his load.
The Future: As an athletic, defense-minded catcher who also takes good at-bats, Millas has a fairly high floor that should help him progress through the system fairly quickly. How well he develops into someone who can impact the baseball would seem to hold the key to unlocking a higher ceiling.