I write profiles throughout the year, and then, as part of putting out the organizational Top 20s, I rework them based on their overall season, my scouting reports, and what other evaluators are saying. I spent more time editing the Nationals system than any other system. It wasn’t close.
I found myself constantly downshifting on players. Robert Hassell, Jarlin Susana, and Elijah Green had terrible seasons. I would rank them, write more, re-rank them lower, write more, and then lower them further. It was rather remarkable. You can even throw Brady House into that equation. He was better, but in the end, he’s a guy you are betting will hit for considerable power, but he’s a well-below hitter.
Two guys that I felt great about were Dylan Crews and James Wood. Crews feels like Jackson Holliday 2.0. High Floor with great tools that should make him an excellent Major Leaguer. Not Ronald Acuna, but more Gunnar Henderson. Wood could be Ronald Acuna if he can make enough contact. His swing is fighting his length; unfortunately, the length is winning. But athleticism like he has doesn’t grow on trees, and he could be special.
I’m not going to lie, it was a struggle to write. But, also fun. There’s a TON of talent here, and with some better contact here and there, the Nationals should be on the right path.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Dylan Crews
- Biggest Mover: Cristhian Vaquero
- Biggest Disappointment: Robert Hassell and Elijah Green
- Emerging Prospect: Travis Sykora
1. Dylan Crews (OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 OF
- Tools Summary: He has an advanced approach at the plate with high-end exit velocities.
Dylan Crews had the best combination of safety and upside in the 2023 Draft. He’s incredibly talented with an advanced approach with high-end exit velocities. I’ve compared him to Jackson Holliday in my previous updates and discussions.
Why? Like Holliday, he will move through the minor leagues quickly because of his approach and likely will be ready sometime next season for the Major Leagues. Does he have the kind of upside of Tatis Jr. or Ronald Acuna? No, but, as with Holliday, the floor is exceptionally high with low risk. Are there players with higher upsides in the FYPD next spring? Yes, but it’s hard to go wrong picking him 1:1 in a draft. It just depends on how you want to play the game.
2. James Wood (OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2024-25 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 OF
- Tools Summary: He’s athletic with significant power and speed potential. There is significant swing-and-miss in his game.
Shortly after Elly De La Cruz was promoted to the Major Leagues, James Wood became the next tooled-up and very tall (6-foot-6) potential superstar. He might not have Cruz’s two 80-grade skills, but you can hang a 70 on both his power and speed. I do worry about his length and how much swing-and-miss he’ll have in his game. I was reminded of that when he posted a scary 34% K-Rate in 87 games in Double-A (not a small sample size). But he just turned 21 on September 17, and with his explosive tools, there’s a lot to be excited about.
The upside is a 30-20 type player but with pressure on his batting average. While he’s a Top 50 prospect for me, there is more risk than most high-end prospects because of his contact issues.
3. Brady House (3B)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025-26 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 3B with upside
- Tools Summary: After a difficult 2022, he played better but fell into the same poor habits that led to problems in 2022. There is still significant future power potential.
Brady House had a difficult 2022 season. He spent much of the season on the IL, and when he did play, he showed little power, too many strikeouts, and an aggressive approach. He started the 2023 season back in Low-A, where he showed better control of the strike zone (21.5% K-Rate and a 10.1% BB-Rate). After 36 games, he was promoted to High-A, where he fell back to his old habits – swinging at everything. However, he hit .317 (fueled by .362 BABIP) and was promoted to Double-A, posting a 28% K-Rate and a 4.7% BB-Rate.
He still feels like the same guy to me. There is great bat speed with high-end exit velocity that could translate into 30+ home run pop – if, and it’s a big if, he hits enough.
So…will he hit? I’ve only seen one game of him, and the bat speed is impressive, but he swings hard and does expand the strike zone. Because of how hard he swings, he could live off a high BABIP for years and hit .250 to .270. But as we’ve seen with Tim Anderson and Javier Baez, the wheels usually fall off quickly when the bat slows. Know your parameters if you decide to invest.
4. Cristhian Vaquero (OF)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF with upside
- Tools Summary: An exciting package of tools with 70-grade speed and a feel to hit. He needs to get stronger and likely will.
Cristhian Vaquero was the Top 2021 International talent and signed with the Nationals for nearly $5 million. Born in Cuba, he has a natural feel for the game. He’s a burner with 70-grade speed and enough bat speed to project future power as he fills out. However, the power is currently more singles and doubles as the swing is flat, and his lack of power is evident. The best news is that he’s showing a feel to hit with an excellent understanding of the plate.
The ceiling is a dynamic leadoff bat with 30+ stolen base potential with a chance to develop double-digit home run pop.
5. Robert Hassell (OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2024-25 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 OF
- Tools Summary: It was a poor season for Robert Hassell. The hope is that his problems are health-related, but it’s enough to give fantasy managers pause.
I saw Robert Hassell in late May in a day game in Reading. He was ok. He didn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but I still liked the swing and assumed he was still recovering from the hamate surgery he had the previous fall.
But the 32% strikeout rate he posted in Double-A early in the season never got any better. He has a 21% career strikeout rate, and when you combine that with his simple swing, the expectation is that he’ll hit. The power will likely be a low .400 SLG with 8 to 10 home runs and 15+ stolen bases. That should be enough to make him a full-time regular, but unfortunately, it’s looking more like a Top 60 outfielder than the Top 30 outfielder I initially thought he could become. Of course, if he doesn’t cut down on his strikeouts, he’s likely not a Major Leaguer.
To say I’m disappointed in how this is going is an understatement. Candidly, I don’t understand it. I think he’s better than what he showed in 2023, but until he shows it, he is what his record shows.
6. Cade Cavalli (RHP)
- Highest Level: DNP ETA: 2022 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP with risk
- Tools Summary: He spent the entire season recovering from TJS. When healthy, it’s the stuff of a mid-rotation starter.
Cade Cavalli spent the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John Surgery. If he returns to form, it’s solid stuff with a fastball that sits 95 to 96 with above-average spin, a hard change-up that gets plenty of whiffs, and a solid curveball. He’s never been a strike thrower, but if he can get to average control (3.0 BB/9), he could be a solid mid-rotation starter.
7. Yohandy Morales (3B, #40)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF with contact risk
- Tools Summary: He has high exit velocities, but there is swing-and-miss in his game.
Yoyo Morales is 6-foot-4, chiseled with huge raw power. He has some of the best exit velocities in the Nationals system. While he hit 20 home runs at the University of Miami in his draft year, he didn’t go yard in his 42-game professional debut. Instead, he controlled the strike zone, posting a 19% K-Rate and a 10% BB-Rate.
I don’t believe he’s a contact hitter with doubles power. Instead, I think he’s a 25+ home run player. However, any improvement in his contact will only make him a better baseball player and lower the risk for Dynasty League managers who want to make an investment. I’m cautiously optimistic.
8. Elijah Green (OF)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026+ Fantasy Ceiling: Too wide to predict
- Tools Summary: He has two 80 tools in his speed and raw power, but he’s striking out in bunches early in his career.
In our Dynasty Leagues, Elijah Green was selected as a Top 5 player in FYPDs and as high as #2 overall. I totally got it. The tools are crazy with 80-grade speed and power, but from what we saw in 2022 and again in 2023, the strikeout rate is scary. It’s hard to say not to worry about it, as players with a 30%+ K-Rate in the lower level of the minors have a history of not being impact players. But few have the raw talent of Green. I’ve been told by evaluators everything thing from Byron Buxton type of player to a bust. I have no idea, and I guess no one else does either.
9. Jarlin Susana (RHP)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP or more likely High-Leveraged Reliever
- Tools Summary: Big arm strength kid who is still learning to pitch. If it all comes together, he could be an impact arm. However, fantasy managers need to be patient.
Jarlin Susana continues to be a project for the Nationals to solve. Few pitchers at any level throw harder than he does (reportedly up to 103 MPH in 2022). However, he currently lacks a plus secondary pitch and can not throw strikes. The Nationals will continue to develop him as a starter, but I would not be surprised to see him move to the bullpen.
10. Travis Sykora (RHP, #71)
- Highest Level: DNP ETA: 2027+ Fantasy Ceiling: Top 40 SP with extreme risk
- Tools Summary: He has the size and big fastball teams seek, but he has a long way to go.
With the first pick in the third round, the Nationals drafted Travis Sykora, a 6-foot-6, hard-throwing teenager (fastball has reportedly been up to triple-digits). He’s sushi raw and is primarily a fastball-only pitcher, but the size and velocity are something to get excited about.
You must be patient if you decide to invest in Sykora in FYPDs. This includes a high probability of an arm injury. History has not been kind to teenagers who throw 100 MPH, making it through the process without getting hurt.
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