The Nationals have spent this season looking a lot more interesting than expected, and their 48-46 record shows it. They’re seven games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves, which is still a sizable hole, but it’s a far better place to be than most people figured Washington would occupy by this point.
A huge part of that surprise has been the offense. The Nationals lead all teams in runs scored, and that kind of production naturally puts the spotlight on the 11th overall pick in the draft. On paper, it looks like a chance to add yet another impact bat to a lineup that has already carried so much of the load.
But Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer thinks Washington should at least pause and consider a different direction.
Over the past few years, the Nationals have been comfortable using first-round picks on position players. The last pitcher they took in the first round was Cade Cavalli, selected 22nd overall in 2020. With Paul Toboni set for his first draft as head of the Nationals, Rymer argues the club may want to use this opportunity to address a much thinner part of the organization.
“This will be Paul Toboni's first draft as the head of the Nationals, so there's no history to go off of. And as for best guesses, the draft is likely to see a run on hitters when the Nationals are on the board with the No. 11 pick.
Still, there's a non-zero chance of arms like Jackson Flora and prep lefty Gio Rojas being available at that point. Either could be the future No. 1 that the Nationals don't really have in their system, much less in a dismal major league rotation.”
Flora may not even make it that far, since he’s expected to be the first pitcher selected. If he does slip to No. 11, Washington would have a strong case to pounce.
If Flora is off the board, Rojas would be another appealing option. The high school left-hander has the traits of a future ace, though his path through the minors could take longer than a college arm’s.
In Other News...
Nationals Prospect Is Making This Decision Impossible To Ignore
Yohandy Morales has done enough at Triple-A to keep forcing the issue, and the numbers are starting to look like those of a hitter who is no longer just knocking on the door. The Nationals prospect is batting .303 with 21 home runs and a .930 OPS, production that stands out even with the usual caveats about contact rate and a ground-ball profile that still need watching.
What has made the conversation harder to ignore is that Morales has also shown signs of tightening up the parts of his game that had been holding him back. His recent strikeout rate has improved, his ball flight has trended in a better direction, and with his Rule 5 eligibility coming this offseason, Washington may soon have to decide how much longer it can keep waiting before making room for him. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Make Another Bullpen Move Fans Saw Coming
The Nationals are turning to another left-handed arm for the bullpen, selecting Tom Cosgroves contract and giving him a chance to join the active roster. The move comes after Brad Lord landed on the 15-day injured list, a shuffle that had been easy to anticipate once Washington needed another healthy option in the relief mix.
Cosgrove is a recent pickup from the Astros and has barely had time to settle in with the organization, making just one appearance for Triple-A Rochester since arriving. With the roster picture changing quickly, Washington is giving itself another look at a pitcher it brought in to provide depth and flexibility as the bullpen keeps evolving. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Made A Pitching Move That Could Reshape Their Depth Chart
The Nationals pitching pipeline took another turn this week, with the organization making a move that could ripple through the depth chart as the big league club keeps sorting out its relief picture. It comes against the backdrop of a busy minor league slate, where Rochester dropped a tight 8-7 game at Worcester, Harrisburg kept rolling with an 8-3 win over Erie, and Fredericksburg and the FCL Nationals also turned in wins that offered a snapshot of how much arms and bats are being tested across the system.
For Washington, the larger question is less about one box score than about how the club balances immediate needs with long-term depth. The minor league results show a system with some momentum in spots and some frustration in others, but the pitching shuffle is the part that matters most at the top level. However the next round of decisions plays out, it figures to say plenty about which arms the Nationals trust to help now and which ones they want to keep close for later. [Read more 🡒]