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The NationalsProspects.com Top 10 Pitchers

Two years ago, we were rejoicing with the re-signing of Stephen Strasburg, fresh off a World Series MVP run that was the first for a “1-1” pick. It would seem that he would be the anchor of the rotation for years to come, but alas, things change quickly in this game and now he’s just a sunk cost.

After swimming in that proverbial river in Egypt for all of 2022 and half of 2021, the Nats are now looking to rebuild and climb out of the N.L. East cellar. As everyone but MASN Commenters know, the game begins and ends with pitching. Here’s where the hopes for .500 or better in 2022 (or 2023) lie, according to you and your votes:

  1. Cade Cavalli
  2. Cole Henry
  3. Andry Lara
  4. Jackson Rutledge
  5. Matt Cronin
  6. Joan Adon
  7. Mitchell Parker
  8. Gerardo Carrillo
  9. Alfonso Hernández
  10. Jackson Tetreault

Others receiving votes, excluding honorable mentions: Aldo Ramirez, Mason Thompson, Tyler Dyson, Tim Cate, Gabe Klobosits.

Turns out that I was wrong about The Big Three—Jackson Rutledge, meet Mason Denaburg—and that makes me oddly proud. It’s one thing to be hopeful, but to steal from Will, we’ve had it with the helium – pass the Valium.

As I did expect, there were a couple of old favorites but also some newbies… but not as many as I might have thought. Among the “Rebuilds,” only Carrillo got enough votes to make the Top 10 and nobody voted for either Richard Gausch or Seth Shuman (nor should they have).

Ordinarily, here’s where I might comment on which of these pitchers might make it to DC in 2022, but it seems pretty clear that anything is possible… especially if the lockout drags past the start of spring training.

As noted in the comments, the MiLB Phase of the Rule 5 Draft will be held today, and, as usual, we have no idea who is and is not on the protected lists. If you’re interested in an edumacated guess as to who might be picked BA has you covered.

17 Commments

  1. Unlike the bats, we have quite a bit of depth among our arms. After the Big 4 (+ maybe Cronin) I see there to be a huge mess of almost interchangeable arms, any of whom after a quality 2022, could easily be #5 or 6 on next year’s list. Even players completely overlooked in the rating and honorable mentions, like Holden Powell or Michael Cuevas.

    Unfortunately, we’re going to need more than 4 legit pitching prospects, if we’re hoping to rebuild this franchise.

  2. The jury is still out in the “ New Kids in Town “ ( sing it , Eagles !)
    Especially Carillo plus , Shuman and the Cuban from A’s.
    Every discussion of a talent should have an asterisk next to them designating : the lost summer of development ..

    2. Taylor makes two former Arizona Hands scooped up by Nats
      Taylor can stand tall next to Rutledge

  3. Does one count the number of players @ each level off the Big Board or is there another list for AAA – AA respectively as we near the minor league portion 5 draft selection process , Luke ?

  4. I agree with a lot of this, with the exception of Rutledge being 8 or 9, and everyone else moving up a spot.

    1. I’d be a lot more down on Rutledge, but he had an excellent 2019 season, which demonstrates his stuff does translate, even if he’s not able to do it consistently. Also, he battled injuries (shoulder injury and blisters) in 2021, so I suspect that also played a role in his poor performance. If he’s as bad in 2022, then I’d consider a bigger drop, but not just yet.

      1. Pitchers his size almost always take a long time to get everything in sync. I think the only reason to place him higher than 8 or 9 is because of his potential down the road.
        His ETA for the show is 2023 or 2024.

        1. Another reminder of y’all pitchers taking a different path to the light switch flipping on
          Big Unit took off after huddling with Nolan Ryan .

  5. I said something similar re Rutledge when I posted my list. I’m not sure he was healthy/completely recovered all during 2021, so I’m willing to give him a one-year pass based on dominant numbers in 2019. Cate, however, seemed to be healthy in 2021, at least as far as we knew, so he didn’t get a pass. Someone asked about Cate on the last post. I’d be interested whether anyone who saw him at Harrisburg has any insights.

  6. There may be depth, but there’s also uneasiness. I said when I posted my list that I considered about 40 guys, so I guess that indicates depth. But how many of them actually blew me away with what they did in 2021? Very, very few. Only one is considered a top-100 prospect, and he really struggled at his last stop (albeit after an incredible three-level, one-season rise). Henry flashed some brilliance but has been unable to shake the oft-injured tag from college. Beyond them, is anyone else truly elite? Rutledge and Cronin looked in 2019 like they might be, and Cronin was good at A+ but struggled at AA. The gurus have never been as high on him as some of us here have been. Some think Ramirez could be special. Carrillo touches 100, but we’ve heard that one before!

    So we’ll see. Lara could be special. Denaburg still could be. Seth Romero, um, spent yet another year mostly in witness protection and turns 26 in April.

    I hope a whole bunch of them prove me wrong and go storming into the majors. But this crop just reminds me of so many from past years, where we were hoping more on projection than actual results.

  7. I have no problem with the final list although would much prefer Ramirez over Tetreault. I think I read where, at first, Boston fans didn’t like the trade for Schwarber. They were pretty high on Ramirez.
    Tetreault has been around a while now with respectable minor league stats but nothing to get too excited about.

    1. I agree on Ramirez. He was excellent (2.03) ERA, 1.13 WHIP) before getting hurt last summer, before the trade. He won’t turn 21 until May. He will, however, be Rule 5-eligible next December, so he may be in 40-man conversation by next fall.

  8. So far in the Rule V draft, minors division, the Nats have taken 3 players and none have been picked from their farm.

    2. Good! They desperately need to restock at the mid-levels, and there will be good opportunities for the players they’re acquiring.

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