Over the past couple of weeks various baseball experts and sources have been releasing their new prospect lists for the 2023 season. Nationals fans, desperate for some positive news, have been thrilled to see some immediate impact from the prospects acquired from trading Juan Soto to the Padres.
Whether it is MLB Pipeline, Baseball America or Baseball Prospectus, the same four prospects and the same order show up each time and the Nationals officially, have a new #1 Prospect – James Woods.
Woods is a towering 6’7’’ outfielder who was originally drafted in the 2nd round by San Diego in 2021. He was part of the trade package for Juan Soto and finished the season with the Fredericksburg Nationals last year. He is still only 20 years old. He is ranked the 17th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, 11thby Baseball America and all the way up to 3rd by Baseball Prospectus.
Next is Robert Hassell III, a 6’2’’ outfielder drafted in the 1st round by San Diego, also part of the Juan Soto trade. He started off hot for the Wilmington Blueclaws but battled injuries and slowed down when he was promoted to the Harrisburg Senators. He is a pure hitter who will look to be a little more consistent and add power in 2023. He is ranked the 35th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, 57th by Baseball America and 66th by Baseball Prospectus.
The third outfielder on the list is Elijah Green, who the Nationals drafted with their first pick this past season. The strong highschooler impressed with his power and quick hands with limited at bats in Rookie ball. I am hopeful to see him play for Fredericksburg at some point in 2023. Green is ranked the 46thoverall prospect by MLB Pipeline, 58th by Baseball America and 68th by Baseball Prospectus.
The last prospect that is a consensus top 100 prospect for the Nationals in Cade Cavalli (pictured above). This power right hander from Oklahoma was the Nationals top pick in 2020. He shot through the minor league system and even saw some MLB action in 2022. I expect him to spend the majority of 2023 in DC and he will graduate from this list going into 2024. But for 2023 Cade is ranked the 58th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, 61th by Baseball America and 71th by Baseball Prospectus.
Out of the top 100 propsects listed by MLB, 37 of them are predicted to graduate from this list during the season and that will create new openings for players ranked just outside of the top 100. But new draftees and international signings will take their spots as well.
Here are a couple of names to keep an eye out for and my predictions for this year:
Brady House (pictured above) – a mystery injury limited House to only 176 at bats in 2022. He was the Nationals top draft pick in 2021 and I expect a healthy House to quickly get added to the top 100 list but it might take a full season of at bats for him to be recognized as a top 50 prospect again. I think he will end the year around the 80 range but anything above 75 would be best case scenario.
Cristhian Vaquero and Jarlin Susana – both top ranked international prospects when they signed with the Nationals and Padres, respectively. Now ready to take on a full season of milb ball I think both will get recognized by these prospect lists by the end of the year. I suspect Susana will get more traction because of his commanding fastball and time in Fredericksburg last year finishing just behind House at around the 85 range and Vaquero in the 95 range. With both of these players being just 18 years old, I think getting on the list at all would be best case scenario.
Next is our mysterious first round pick in 2023. The Nationals will select #2 overall and have great talent to pick from. Who the Nationals should pick will be up for debate until (and after) and after the draft. Currently some of the top picks could be Dylan Crews (OF) from LSU, Chase Dollander (RHP) from Tennessee, Wyatt Langford (OF) from Florida, and Paul Skenes (RHP) from LSU. The hope is that whoever the Nationals pick they will be ranked similar to how last year’s picks were ranked. The Oriole’s Jackson Holliday is currently ranked #12 by MLB and Dback’s Druw Jones is ranked #15.
There are also a couple of other prospects that I want to mention, because I will be watching them closely during the 2023 season:
Cole Henry, Jake Bennett, and Jackson Rutledge (pictured above) – all three of these pitchers are 22 or 23 years old and have yet to pitch for DC. Jake Bennett was drafted last year with the Nationals 2nd round pick, but hopes to follow his Oklahoma teammate – Cavalli to a quick path to the majors. Henry, also a 2ndround pick but in 2020, is looking to bounce back from surgery and pitch quality innings in 2023. Lastly is the Nationals first round pick in 2019 -Jackson Rutledge. 2023 will be a huge year for him to prove his draft stock and progress far in the minor leagues. He was added to the 40 man roster, so expect him to be available if the Nationals need a spot start. I have hopes that their development and effort will get them recognized by a top 100 ranking but these lists favor young players, but that does not mean they will not important building blocks for Rizzo and the Nationals.
Speaking of younger players, Armando Cruz -INF and Jeremy De La Rosa -OF (Pictured Above), are two players to watch this season. Cruz is only 19 and his bat has been improving each year and I would love to see him play in Wilmington and prove that he can keep that momentum. De La Rosa still only 21 already made a huge jump last year and the Nationals recognized that adding him to the 40 man roster. He will get a unique opportunity to prove his stock before the younger outfielders get to the majors.
All in all, there are a lot of intriguing players to watch in 2023 and I will keep you updated on their progress!
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