RHPs

		Kyle McGowin Born: 11/27/91 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 195 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Something (finally) clicked after a trip to the AFL in ’17, as McGowin got the call to The Show in Sept. 2018 after four seasons of bouncing between AA and AAA. While scouts disagree on whether it was an improved slider or an improved mental approach, the now-27-y.o. would appear to be poised to be the team’s No. 6 starter for 2019.
		Austen Williams Born: 12/19/92 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 220 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Perhaps a bit more under the radar, Williams also had a resurgence after languishing in AA and a trip to the AFL in 2017, though there’s less doubt as to why: A switch to relief where he could throw harder and focus on his two best pitches (FB and CV). In 2018, Williams averaged 11.8K/9IP, though the bulk of his time was at AA (55⅓IP vs. 16⅓ @ AAA, 9⅔ @ MLB).
		James Bourque Born: 7/9/93 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Bourque (pronounced “Burke”) was the only player added to the 40-man prior to the Rule 5 deadline in Nov. 2018, as the 25-y.o. had a breakout season after making the switch to relief and dropping his slider in favor of FB/CH, the latter of which scouts note is more like a splitter as it plays 86-88 vs. a 92-96 heater. Between his limited time there and proximity to DC, a return to AA in ’19 seems most likely.
		Wil Crowe Born: 9/9/94 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 240 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Incumbency and reputation goes a long way with the 2019 BA #5 prospect who tied with Sterling Sharpe with 11 pitching wins, all of which came during his time at Potomac, where his teammates averaged more than six runs per appearance. The 2017 2nd Rd. Pick missed nearly a month in the midseason with forearm tightness—a red flag for a TJ guy—and was hammered for 25 runs in 26⅓ IP in five AA starts.
		Sterling Sharp Born: 5/30/95 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Sharp split time between A+ and AA in 2018, his third straight multi-level year and was second in the organization in IP (148⅓ in 27GS). Sharp doesn’t throw particularly hard (90-92) but keeps the ball down and gets a lot of GB outs (and gives up a lot of hits) to compensate for a below-average K rate. His SL is still a work in progress, according to scouts.
		Jackson Tetreault Born: 6/3/96 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	While player specs are often fudged, Tetreault can indeed hide behind a telephone pole if he stands sideways. But if he’s able to fill out, gain some velocity, and build stamina, the hope is that his stuff will grow along with him. In the meantime, he’ll work with a low-90s FB, high-80s CT, and continue to refine his below-avg. CH and CV.
		Malvin Peña Born: 6/24/97 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 180 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Since missing all of 2015 and most of 2016, the 21-y.o. has risen from the DSL to Low-A, where he won three of four starts in July and August… and then finished the season on the DL (though he did pitch in instrux). Throws in the mid-90s but his secondary pitches (CH, SL) are works in progress, which will be tested at the upper levels. Scouts already believe he may be better suited to relief.
		Brigham Hill Born: 7/8/95 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Hill made two starts in April before he was shelved for two months, which is a red flag for someone who has already come down with Nationals’ elbow. The 2017 5th Rd. pick’s overall production at Low-A was better in 2018 than 2017, but scouts say his control was weaker, which is shown by more BB’s and fewer K’s, and troubling given that he’s supposed to have a plus changeup.
		Angel Guillen Born: 1/24/97 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 150 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Guillen will be 22 this coming season and 2019 might just be his first in full-season ball. He was an NYPL All-Star as a swingman (all but one of his appearances were for multiple innings) and went 5-2 in 15G (2GS). Unfortunately, scouting reports are hard to find on the Venezuelan and his peripherals are good but not outstanding.
		Francys Peguero Born: 7/8/95 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	A former DSL Guy and a 2017 Watchlist RHP, Peguero returned action last summer after missing all of 2017 (presumably due to injury, though he’s not listed in the TJ database) and put together a strong season (5-3, 2.93/4.27/1.00) though his K rate fell dramatically (11.1 in ’16, 6.1 in ’18; that may explain the face). If the K’s come back in Low-A, he could be in High-A by mid-summer.
		Mason Denaburg Born: 8/8/99 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 195 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats	Denaburg is another classic gamble by the Nats on a pitcher who was had injury red flags prior to the draft. Picked #27 overall, Denaburg was assigned to the GCL but did not pitch against live competition until September. He did not flash the 96-97 FB from the summer of 2017 but scouts believe it may climb from the 90-94 range they saw in Instrux as he builds stamina. Where he starts 2019 is a mystery because his obvious draft comp (Lucas Giolito) had surgery by this time in his development curve.