The Nationals’ farm system got a fresh midseason shake-up, and the headline is less about promotions than about movement. Washington did not graduate anyone from its prospect list, but there were plenty of names worth tracking - from a new power arm in the lower minors to a few bats whose stock is moving in opposite directions.
The newest addition is Marlon De La Cruz, a right-hander who lands at No. 30 after climbing from the Dominican Summer League to Low-A this season. Washington signed him for $40,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, and after two seasons in the DSL, he made five Florida Complex League appearances before the jump stateside. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 155 pounds, though the scouting report paints him as a bigger presence on the mound than that frame suggests.
De La Cruz works from a semi-windup with a rocker step, then a high leg lift, staying tall through his delivery and releasing from a low three-quarters slot. The arsenal is built around a two-seam fastball, slider and changeup.
His fastball sits 96-98 mph and reaches 99, with heavy armside run and moderate vertical movement. The pitch he leans on most is an 81-83 mph sweeper that averages more than a foot of horizontal break.
The changeup is there, but only in flashes. The issue is command, which grades below average.
If he can get that into even 40-grade territory, the stuff gives him a chance to become a high-octane closer - but he’ll have to throw more strikes to get there.
There were also several internal stock movers. Coy James, a shortstop, stands out in a system loaded with infield talent and may be the most overlooked player in that group. He’s shown he can handle multiple spots, while also bringing good power and improving plate skills.
Jackson Kent, the 2024 fourth-round pick, has made a strong impression on the Nationals’ new front office with his mix of strikes and swing-and-miss ability. The lefty has four pitches he can land for strikes, solid velocity from the left side and a changeup that produces both whiffs and ground balls.
Yohandy Morales has put together a breakout at Triple-A Rochester. The third baseman has shown plus-plus power and a real feel for barreling the ball, even though the swing-and-miss is still very much part of the package. His profile, according to the report, looks a lot like Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
Cayden Wallace is also trending up after a third straight season at Double-A. That kind of long stay naturally invites skepticism, but Wallace has made gains across the board in the first half and those improvements have produced the best numbers of his career.
Not everyone is moving in the right direction. Harry Ford, once a Top 100 prospect, has seen his stock drop after a rough start at Triple-A. He’s still only 23, but the bat has been below average at the level and there are still questions about his work behind the plate.
Yeremy Cabrera opened the year with a strong 30-game run at Low-A Fredericksburg, then ran into trouble after moving up to High-A. Through his first 35 games there, he owns just a .594 OPS. There’s still upside in the profile, but the step up in pitching has been a problem.
Marconi German is another player with surface numbers that look acceptable in the Florida Complex League, but the underlying picture is less encouraging. He has well-below-average bat-to-ball skills, though his swing decisions help keep him afloat.
The power is also fringe, even considering his age and level, and that leaves real questions about how much impact he’ll eventually provide. For a player in Rookie ball, the contact concerns are enough to push him down the list.
On the injury front, righthander Jarlin Susana is back on the mound for the first time since early June as he continues his recovery from lat surgery last September.
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