LHPs

Ben Braymer   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.
Carson Teel   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.
Nick Raquet   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.
Tim Cate   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.
Matt Cronin   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.
Alex Troop   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.
Gilberto Chu   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 four five seasons now and has been on our radar for putting up good-but-not-great numbers. This is a testament to his age and dexterity, but at some point he needs to break camp in April – especially after working exclusively in relief the past two three summers.
Alfonso Hernandez   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.
Evan Lee   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.
Lucas Knowles   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.
Bryan Peña   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.
Jose Ferrer   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).