While numerous outlets are releasing their latest top prospects rankings leading up to the start of spring training, it’s easy to keep track of how the Nationals farm system is improving on paper. But a lot of work needs to continue throughout this rebuild behind the scenes. Improvements under the surface that won’t show up in any prospect rankings.

The Nationals announced on Wednesday their minor league player development staff for the 2023 season. The roster includes some familiar faces, new names and new positions. Overseeing all of it are president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo, entering this 15th season as the head man, and director of player development De Jon Watson, entering his second season in this position after spending five seasons as a special assistant to the GM.

The familiar names include Matt LeCroy (Triple-A Rochester), Mario Lisson (High-A Wilmington) and Jake Lowery (Single-A Fredericksburg) returning to manage their respective affiliates. Field coordinator Bob Henley, pitching coordinator Sam Narron and catching coordinator Randy Knorr continue their long careers with the organization. And fan favorite Gerardo Parra enters his first full season as special assistant to Rizzo after being named to the position last year.

A lot of new names are taking over the staff at Double-A Harrisburg, headlined by manager Delino DeShields replacing Tripp Keister, who was fired this offseason after 11 years with the organization. A first-round pick by the Expos in the 1987 draft, DeShields joins the Nats after spending the last 14 seasons in various roles in the Reds organization. Joel Hanrahan also joins Harrisburg as the pitching coach after flipping spots with Justin Lord, who now holds the same position at Fredericksburg.

Among the new roles added to the player development department this year are an assistant director of player development technology and strategy (Patrick Coghlan), a player development analyst (Allen Ho), a senior biomechanist (Bill Johnson), a biomechanist (Brittany Mills) and a performance analyst at each minor league affiliate. The performance analysts will help use data from the Hawk-Eye machines tracking players at Nationals Park, all of the organization's minor league stadiums and their facility in West Palm Beach.

We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2022. We begin the series today with something taking place away from D.C.: The rebuilding of the organization’s farm system …

The Nationals knew a successful 2022 season was going to be less about what happened in the major leagues and more about what happened in the minor leagues. In the first full year of an organization-wide rebuild, progress was more likely to be found in places like Fredericksburg, Wilmington and West Palm Beach than in Washington.

And in some regards, that’s exactly what happened. While the big league club slogged its way through a 107-loss campaign, two of the franchise’s lower-level affiliates finished atop their respective divisions: Single-A Fredericksburg went 75-55 to win the Carolina League’s North division before falling in the playoffs, while the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Nats tied with the Mets atop the East division with a 33-22 record.

For years, general manager Mike Rizzo and his lieutenants downplayed the significance of won-loss records in the minors. This year, they were more apt to mention it, insisting team success on the farm does carry some weight.

“I think it’s important,” director of player development De Jon Watson said last month. “Because we’re trying to teach kids to play the game the right way, and teach them how to win.”

PHILADELPHIA – With the worst record in the major leagues at 36-72, the Nationals are already looking ahead to these next two months of 2022 and the 2023 season.

It’s a difficult time of year for teams, like the Nationals, who chose to sell at the trade deadline. They traded away their best major league players for unproven prospects and journeyman veterans, as the Nats did with Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Ehire Adrianza.

But it’s also an interesting time of year for those teams to keep a close eye on the waiver wire. The teams that bought at the deadline, and to a lesser extent other teams that sold, sometimes have to make roster cuts at the big league level to make room for their newly acquired talent.

That’s where teams like the Nationals can bite.

A benefit of having the worst record in the majors is that the Nationals get first dibs on the waiver wire. Any player that becomes available has to go through Washington before any of the 29 other teams can make a claim. That gives the Nats an advantage on taking some chances on bounceback candidates who can help them over these last 54 games and possibly beyond.

They've been assembled in West Palm Beach, Fla., for the last week, wearing Nationals uniforms, taking the fields outside The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, throwing bullpen sessions, taking batting practice, having fielding and defensive fundamentals pounded into their heads. They're just not big leaguers. Or, more specifically, part of big league camp. As the lockout drags on and owners and players careen towards a do-or-die moment Monday that could result in the postponement of opening...

The Nationals announced their 2022 minor league player development staff on Tuesday, with 14 new roles and more than 20 new members. This completes the process this offseason of completely revamping the department as the Nationals focus more on the growth of their minor league players during the first year of what is hoped to be a quick rebuild. General manager Mike Rizzo hinted at these changes coming to the organization during his press conference on the last day of the regular season. "We...

The Nationals officially named De Jon Watson as their new director of player development this afternoon, promoting one of general manager Mike Rizzo's many lieutenants to the position that oversees the organization's minor league system. A veteran of 37 years in professional baseball, Watson had been a special assistant to the GM the last five seasons, during which time he was one of Rizzo's top scouts and talent evaluators. Watson now returns to a role he previously held elsewhere: He led...

Ryan Mountcastle is inching up the Rookie of the Year voting. Just in time to no longer qualify for the award next season. Mountcastle finished sixth in the American League, receiving two second-place votes and four third place. His 10 points left him one behind Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase. The Rays' Randy Arozarena was first with 124 points, followed by the Astros' Luis Garcia (63), the Rays' Wander Franco (30) and the Rangers' Adolis García (27). The Rays' Shane McClanahan was...

The Nationals have made an addition to their pro scouting staff, hiring De Jon Watson as a special assistant to the general manager. Watson spent the last two seasons as senior vice president of baseball operations for the Diamondbacks, overseeing the club's scouting and player development programs. Arizona let him go in September, electing not to pick up his contract option for 2017, one of several moves the franchise made in a front office shakeup. A veteran of 31 seasons in professional...

The idea of Orioles fans being held hostage may soon be over. If Dan Duquette gets the general manager's job, the club will have its new top executive and you can get on with your lives, not to mention the rest of the offseason. Personally, I was and remain a big fan of De Jon Watson of the Dodgers. I think this guy is going to be a top GM for someone soon and hope the Orioles didn't miss out on a guy that shows leadership, the ability to produce a solid player development system and...

The Orioles will interview Dodgers assistant general manager De Jon Watson on Wednesday for the position of president of baseball operations. Watson will fly into Baltimore tomorrow night and become the third candidate to interview for the job vacated by Andy MacPhail, whose contract expires Oct. 31. Watson, 45, is responsible for the Dodgers' player development and oversees Latin American player development. He served previously as scouting director with the Reds and Indians. I talked to...

The Dodgers granted permission today for the Orioles to interview assistant general manager De Jon Watson for the position of president of baseball operations. Watson will be the third candidate interviewed, following the Diamondbacks' Jerry Dipoto and the Blue Jays' Tony LaCava. The Marlins denied the Orioles permission to interview Dan Jennings. I wrote about Watson yesterday and passed along this report from mlbtraderumors. Watson's background in player development and scouting make...

Here's a quick update on the Orioles' search for a new GM/president of baseball operations: Nothing has changed. I told you it was going to be quick (that's what ... never mind.) I'm told that the Orioles don't have any other interviews scheduled at the present time, but they're not going to stop at two candidates. Other executives will be brought in, though I don't expect a stampede to the warehouse. The Orioles are still expected to seek permission from the Dodgers to interview...