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Ben Braymer Born: 4/28/94 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 215 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Braymer spent all of 2019 in the rotation, but split time between AA and AAA. In the former, he was masterful (3.37 FIP); in the latter he was awful (7.98). His FB is usually in the low-90s but his best pitch is a high-70s CV which he mixes with a mid-80s CH. Because he was added to the 40-man, the guess here is that he’ll be shifted to the ‘pen in ’20. | |
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Carson Teel Born: 12/17/95 Ht. 6′ Wt. 160 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Teel started the season in the Suns bullpen and ended it as the Sens starter in Game 4 of the ELDS. The Nats used him mostly as a starter, though the feeling here is that the intent was to refine his pitches in preparation for his eventual usage as a reliever. Teel works in the low-90s and can hit 94-95 on occasion, and features a CV as his primary offspeed pitch while mixing in a SL and a CH. | |
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Nick Raquet Born: 10/9/96 Ht. 6′ Wt. 215 Bats: R Throws: L Career Stats |
Shorter and heavier than listed, if nothing else he is durable. Raquet repeated High-A in 2019 and showed little progress until about mid-July, when he reeled off seven QS in eight starts and won six of them. That—and his dexterity—earned him a trip to the AFL, where he was knocked around. His SL remains his best pitch, and his CV showed some improvement, but scouts feel he’s ready to shift to the ‘pen. | |
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Tim Cate Born: 9/30/97 Ht. 6′ Wt. 185 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Durability concerns continue to dog the former Huskie, despite 143⅔ IP without (unlike in 2018) a dramatic drop in velocity. Scouts believe he has no more physical projection, thus 89-91 is the top as a SP. Cate gets by on control, command, and a 70-grade, MLB-quality CV. His changeup and its development will be key to whether he can stick in the rotation. Fun fact: Cate is ambidextrous. | |
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Matt Cronin Born: 2/25/96 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 195 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
A ’19 4th Rd. pick, Cronin went straight to Hagerstown and dominated the Sally: 0.82/1.99/1.00 in 22IP across 17 appearances. Scouts have mixed opinions about his usage at the MLB level, but seem to agree that his high-90s heat and college pedigree could get him to DC very quickly. Also features a high-70s CV with a very tight break/high spin rate. Some concerns about command. | |
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Alex Troop Born: 7/23/96 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 210 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Troop presumably suffered an injury in 2018—but perhaps not Nationals elbow—that shelved him from May 2018 to June 2019. After tuning up in Auburn for three scoreless appearances, he returned Hagerstown and put up a strong line of 2.18/2.58/0.76 with 34K in 33IP across 11 appearances. Best bet for 2020: A trip to Fredericksburg. | |
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Gilberto Chu Born: 11/19/97 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 160 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Chu has languished in short-season ball for |
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Alfonso Hernandez Born: 8/3/99 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 162 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Hernandez was sent back to Auburn for his age-19 season and improved upon his 2018 numbers with 2.51/1.82/1.08 in 10G (1GS) over 32⅓ IP. That earned him a bump to Low-A, where he was humbled (10R, 17H, 18IP). Despite his youth, production, and IFA status, he remains unnoticed outside our little bubble. Still has not given up a HR in 167⅔ IP. | |
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Evan Lee Born: 6/18/97 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 200 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Like his northpaw surnamesake, Evan Lee was a two-way player at Arkansas but has only pitched since being drafted in 2018 (15th Rd). After barely appearing in the GCL in 2018 (1⅔ IP), he was sent to the NYPL in 2019. In 12 appearances—starting the last three—Lee posted a line of 2.65/3.34/1.38 but did not pitch over the last 3½ weeks of the season. If healthy, he should see Low-A in ’20. | |
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Lucas Knowles Born: 3/14/98 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 175 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Nationals elbow delayed Knowles’s collegiate career until his age-20 season. After one year at UW (2018) and no scholarship, he transferred to a JuCo in AZ and dominated (1.23 ERA, 83K, 73IP) last spring. The Nats drafted him away from another transfer (UKy). The 21-y.o. pitched at two levels in 2019. Works with a FB/SL/CT/CH arsenal, topping out at 91, but scouts praise his command. | |
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Bryan Peña Born: 1/10/00 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 175 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
A 2019 DSL Arm, Peña followed up a strong professional debut with a strong sophomore season: 0.92/2.62/1.19 in 29⅓ innings with 34K and 11BB. He only started twice in eleven appearances, but nine of his outings were for two or more innings. Thus, it’s possible that his usage was influence more by the Nats wanting to get looks at more players than his performance. | |
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José Ferrer Born: 3/3/00 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 180 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Another 2019 DSL Arm, Ferrer struck out an ungodly 53 DSL batters in 30IP in 2018 (15.9/9IP). However, this is not because he has high heat (87-93, sits ~90) or nasty stuff (secondary pitch is 2-8, low-70s CV). Instead, scouts say, he relies on his advanced-for-his-age command and feel for spin to miss bats. More polished hitters were able to wait him out (5.4BB/9 vs. 3.3) and strike out less (10.0). |