Jarlin Susana made his long-awaited return to Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday and wasted no time flashing the raw stuff that has him so highly regarded.
In his first start for the Senators since Aug. 30, 2025, Susana threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings against Chesapeake at FNB Field, striking out four and walking one while allowing one hit. He needed just 50 pitches before hitting his limit, but the brief outing still offered a clear look at why the Nationals view him as their No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 68 overall.
The fastball was the headline. Susana regularly pushed it into triple digits, and the early results followed.
He opened with a 1-2-3 first inning, punching out two of the three batters he faced. In the second, he allowed a one-out walk, then recovered with a groundout and another strikeout to keep Chesapeake off the board.
His final frame was just as efficient, if a little more abrupt. Susana got a groundout, then a strikeout, then gave up a single before beginning the next at-bat against Wehiwa Aloy. That was the end of the night for the right-hander, as Luke Young came on and finished the job by striking out Aloy.
The Senators still came away with the win, edging Chesapeake 5-4, and Susana’s line continued a strong run in his return from a right lat injury. Across four starts this season - including three with High-A Wilmington - the 22-year-old has struck out 17 of the 35 batters he’s faced and has yet to allow a run in three of those outings.
In Other News...
Nationals First Rounder Is Giving Fans A Reason To Dream Early
Chris Hacopian is off to a promising start in High-A Wilmington, and the early returns are exactly the sort of thing that can get a fan base thinking ahead. The Nationals 2026 first-round pick has already shown a mature approach at the plate, posting a .263/.391/.342 line through 12 games with eight walks, eight strikeouts and a pair of stolen bases, while also showing some pop with his first professional home run.
For Washington, the intrigue goes beyond a hot first month in the minors. Hacopian is still years from the majors, but his status matters in a broader roster picture because a possible 2027 MLB lockout has already become part of the conversation around player development and flexibility. Players outside the 40-man roster would remain in the minors, which is one reason young prospects like Hacopian are being watched so closely as the organization builds for the future. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Collapse Now Has CJ Abrams At The Center Of It
Since the trade deadline, the Nationals have drifted from competitive to ragged, with the rotation and the mood around the club both taking a hit. Outside of Cade Cavalli starts, the team has had a hard time finding much of anything to hang onto, and the slide has put a spotlight on the everyday core to set a better tone for a club that suddenly looks short on answers.
CJ Abrams has become one of the players at the center of that conversation, not because of one isolated issue but because the shortstop has been asked to adjust while the losses keep piling up. The larger concern in Washington is no longer just results on the field. It is whether the group can restore some edge and accountability before the season slips any further out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Rout Just Pushed A Slumping Team To A Public Breaking Point
An early lead quickly turned into another ugly afternoon for the Nationals, who were beaten by the Rockies and watched the game swing hard in the wrong direction. Washingtons August has been defined by inconsistency on the mound and a lineup thinned by injuries, and this one fit the pattern far too neatly after the club could not hold onto the opening momentum.
Blake Buteras postgame comments made clear how much the loss stood out even against that backdrop. The manager publicly questioned the teams effort and performance, a sharp acknowledgment from a club that has spent much of the month searching for something sturdier than flashes and frustration. With the skid continuing, the bigger concern is no longer just the score from one game but how quickly this group can stop the slide from becoming its identity. [Read more 🡒]
