Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players

Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players
Last week, we discussed which Nationals pitching prospects could make their major league debuts this season, aside from Cade Cavalli. This week, we're pivoting our attention to the position players on the farm. Amy Jennings and I wondered, during this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast," when we might see them in Washington. But for the purposes of this post, this exercise is going to be more of an appreciation of the restocking of the Nats farm system with position players...

Was Cluff's strong showing in AFL a sign of things to come?

Was Cluff's strong showing in AFL a sign of things to come?
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with a recent riser within the organization ... SS JACKSON CLUFF Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 185 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 25 How acquired: Sixth-round pick, 2019 draft, BYU 2021 stats (Double-A...

Henry deserves place alongside Nats' top pitching prospects

Henry deserves place alongside Nats' top pitching prospects
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with the organization's No. 7 prospect ... RHP COLE HENRY Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 22 How acquired: Second-round pick, 2020 draft, LSU 2021 stats (High Single-A...

After rocky 2021, Rutledge needs smooth 2022 on the mound

After rocky 2021, Rutledge needs smooth 2022 on the mound
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with the organization's No. 3 prospect ... RHP JACKSON RUTLEDGE Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 245 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 23 How acquired: First-round pick, 2019 draft, San Jacinto Junior...

Important 2022 season awaits top 2021 draft pick House

Important 2022 season awaits top 2021 draft pick House
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with the organization's No. 2 prospect ... SS BRADY HOUSE Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 18 How acquired: First-round pick, 2021 draft, Winder-Barrow (Ga.) High...

What's a realistic expectation for Cavalli's arrival in D.C.?

What's a realistic expectation for Cavalli's arrival in D.C.?
We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We'll start this weekly series with the organization's No. 1 prospect ... RHP CADE CAVALLI Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 230 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 23 How acquired: First-round pick, 2020 draft, University of Oklahoma 2021...

AFL season ends for Nats prospects with loss in championship

AFL season ends for Nats prospects with loss in championship
The Arizona Fall League came to a close Saturday night, with several Nationals prospects in the spotlight for the developmental league's championship game. The Surprise Saguaros, who had eight Nats on a roster managed by Single-A Fredericksburg's Mario Lisson, lost the championship to the Mesa Solar Sox, who pitched a combined one-hitter during a 6-0 victory in Scottsdale. Final game results aside, the last month proved valuable for many of the young players the Nationals sent to Arizona,...

Updates on Nats prospects in Arizona Fall League

Updates on Nats prospects in Arizona Fall League
The development of prospects is a vital part of any rebuilding team and the Arizona Fall League presents teams with an opportunity to send a handful of their minor league players to continue that process after the conclusions of their regular seasons. Whether they missed time due to injuries or coaches want to see them play more, the AFL is a great chance for prospects to accumulate more innings or more at-bats against other top prospects across the sport. The Nationals have eight players...

Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut

Cavalli gives up five runs in brief Triple-A debut
The Nationals promoted Cade Cavalli to Triple-A this week because they wanted to see how their top pitching prospect would handle more experienced hitters with a better sense of the strike zone. And in his debut Saturday night for Rochester, the young right-hander got a taste of what's still in store for him before he's ready to pitch in the big leagues. Cavalli was pulled after giving up five runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the third during what ended up a 5-3 loss to the Syracuse...

Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?

Is September promotion in the cards for Ruiz?
Keibert Ruiz is making the Nationals take notice, but even a sizzling start at Triple-A Rochester since arriving in a trade deadline deal with the Dodgers might not be enough to earn the 23-year-old catcher a look-see in D.C. in September. Ruiz is slashing .314/.360/.614 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 18 games since joining the Red Wings, including back-to-back two-homer games on Aug. 24 and 25. Both MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America rank him as the organization's top prospect. But with...

Top pitching prospect Cavalli getting promoted to Triple-A

Top pitching prospect Cavalli getting promoted to Triple-A
The Nationals are promoting Cade Cavalli to Triple-A Rochester, bringing their top pitching prospect one step closer to the big leagues, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Cavalli, the organization's 2020 first-round pick, made 11 starts at Double-A Harrisburg, producing a 2.79 ERA, 1.276 WHIP and 80 strikeouts in only 58 innings. At times, the right-hander dominated the competition, though he continues to have some command issues, which led to 35 walks and five wild pitches in his...

Brady House not feeling extra pressure with rebuild

Brady House not feeling extra pressure with rebuild
All rebuilds have a face attached to them. Usually one of a young, up and coming player - whether a high draft pick or fast-rising prospect - that signifies the hope of what's to come. The light at the end of the tunnel. The success of the future. I know Nationals manager Davey Martinez said he doesn't like the term "rebuild," but for our purposes, let's just stick to calling it that, even if this new direction for the franchise is more of a retooling or reloading. Whatever "re-" you...

Rizzo's plan for Cavalli doesn't appear to include D.C. in 2021

Rizzo's plan for Cavalli doesn't appear to include D.C. in 2021
There may no prospect in baseball, certainly no pitching prospect, whose stock has risen around the sport this season more than Cade Cavalli. The Nationals felt all along they had something special in their 2020 first-round draft pick. Now the rest of the industry is catching on and recognizing the right-hander's immense talent and potential, which was on full display during the All-Star Futures Game in Colorado last week. Cavalli is not, however, a finished product yet. Not even close, given...

Cavalli flashes some heat in All-Star Futures Game (updated)

Cavalli flashes some heat in All-Star Futures Game (updated)
Double-A Harrisburg's Cade Cavalli flashed a little of the triple-digit velocity that made him a first-round pick by the Nationals in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft during a one-inning relief stint in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver. Relieving the Pirates' Quinn Priester to start the fifth inning with his National League team ahead 6-0, Cavalli struck out two and walked two during a 29-pitch inning. He threw 15 pitches for strikes and twice hit 100 mph on the radar...

Cade Cavalli selected to All-Star Futures Game

Cade Cavalli selected to All-Star Futures Game
One of the hottest pitchers in all of baseball resides in the Nationals farm system and is going to be in the national spotlight a couple of weeks from now during Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities, testing his talents with the best prospects the sport has to offer. Cade Cavalli has been selected to represent the organization in the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. The announcement was made earlier Wednesday morning on MLB Network's "MLB Central." Cavalli, 22, leads all of...

Cavalli, Cronin promoted to Double-A; first All-Star votes revealed

Cavalli, Cronin promoted to Double-A; first All-Star votes revealed
Cade Cavalli's dominant first six weeks of professional baseball have earned the Nationals' top prospect a quick promotion to Double-A. The Nats are moving Cavalli and Matt Cronin from high Single-A Wilmington up to Harrisburg, rewarding both pitchers for their impressive starts to the minor league season, a source familiar with the promotions confirmed. Cavalli, the organization's first-round draft pick last summer, has quickly rocketed up prospect lists by overwhelming the competition at...

Checking in on the Nationals farm system

Checking in on the Nationals farm system
The minor league season is now in full swing. Teams have played five series, each of them lasting six games (with a few postponements along the way). So we're starting to get a better sample size to evaluate players' performances. The Nationals farm system, as has been well documented, is a work in progress. But there have been signs of life in recent weeks, with some familiar names beginning to perform as hoped and a few newcomers beginning to make a name for themselves. Here's a rundown of...

Nats add to minor league pitching depth by signing lefty Rogers

Nats add to minor league pitching depth by signing lefty Rogers
The Nationals made a small, yet not totally insignificant move Friday in an effort to replenish their minor league pitching depth. The organization signed left-hander Josh Rogers to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester. The Red Wings announced the signing Friday afternoon. Rogers was released by the Orioles on Monday after four appearances (two starts) with Triple-A Norfolk. He went 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA, 1.558 WHIP and 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his short time...

Cavalli's pro career off to a rousing start in Wilmington

Cavalli's pro career off to a rousing start in Wilmington
If you're in need of a little pick-me-up following Wednesday night's extra-inning loss to the Phillies, here's one that might do the trick: Cade Cavalli's professional career is off to a fantastic start. The Nationals' 2020 first-round pick authored another impressive outing Wednesday for high Single-A Wilmington, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out eight during an eventual 1-0 win over Jersey Shore. Cavalli surrendered only one hit, a third-inning single by Jonathan Guzman,...

Rounding up the first week of the minor league season

Rounding up the first week of the minor league season
The first week of the minor league season is complete, and for the first time in two years, we actually have some box scores and stats to pore through and get a sense of the state of the Nationals farm system. The Nats' four full-season affiliates are off to a rough start record-wise, but there have been some notable individual performances so far. Let's run through each of the clubs, with some notable developments from the last week. Keep in mind that with COVID-19 protocols, the schedule...