| Nats Trade Harvey for Prospect, Pick, and Draft Pool Money Oh my! In a move that puts pragmatism over optimism, the Washington Nationals cashed out the first of their 2024 trade chips by dealing Hunter Harvey to Kansas City for the Royals’ #2 prospect 3B Cayden Wallace and the #39 pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft that began last night. As noted by our e-migo Todd Boss, the trade also nets Washington $2.3M in draft pool monies. GM Mike Rizzo remains on-brand by trading for an injured player, as Wallace was placed on the I.L. on May 22 and saw his MiLB rehab stinted ended by a fractured rib after just seven games in the Arizona Complex League. There is talk he could return to action in August, which seems likely as the FredNats will be on the road the last two weeks of that month. For now, Wallace has been added to the Harrisburg roster and inserted into Washington’s MLB Pipeline Top 30 at #6, ahead of strikeout machine Elijah Green at #7 and below |
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 5-0 | ALL-STAR BREAK | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Won, 6-1 | ALL-STAR BREAK | N/A |
| Wilmington | Lost, 5-0 | ALL-STAR BREAK | N/A |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 7-4 | ALL-STAR BREAK | N/A |
| FCL Nationals | OFF DAY | OFF DAY | |
| DSL Nationals | OFF DAY | @ DSL Cardinals, 11 a.m. |
Worcester 5 Rochester 0
• Herz (L, 3-3) 3⅓ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 2K
• Kieboom 1-2, 2BB
• Millas 1-4, PB(5)
The Red Wings were shut out, 5-0 on two hits to split the series with the (ugh) Woo Sox. DJ Herz didn’t make it out of the 4th as Worceester got to him for two runs on two hits and three walks over three and a 1/3rd innings. Drew Millas broke up the no-hitter with single in the 6th and Carter Kieboom got the final hit in the 9th while drawing two of Rochester’s three walks (Darren Baker). Roster moves: RHP Amos Willingham recalled to Washington; LHP Andrew Alvarez placed on the 7-Day I.L.; RHP Ty Tice reassigned from Harrisburg.
Harrisburg 6 Richmond 1
• Cuevas (W, 3-9) 5IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 4K, 2HBP, 2WP
• Brzykcy 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Arruda 3-5
• Wilson 2-3, 2R, 2BB, 2B, RBI
• Harris 2-5, R, 2B, RBI
Harrisburg broke out for five runs in the top of the 6th to put this one away, 6-1. That made a winnner out of Michael Cuevas, who let in the Richmond run on three hits and wone walk over five innings. He struck out four. J.T. Arruda singled three times while Cody Wilson cleared the bases with a three-run double and drew two walks to lead the Senators offense.
Brooklyn 5 Wilmington 0
• Cornelio (L, 6-8) 3IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 3K, HR
• Huff 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Glasser 2-4
• M. Romero 1-3, BB
The Blue Rocks couldn’t make it three straight, dropping the finale, 5-0 but taking the series, 4-2. Riley Cornelio lost for the eighth time as he was dinged for all five Cyclones runs on six hit (one HR) and a walk over three innings. He struck out three. Phillip Glasser (two singles), Viandel Peña (single, HBP) and Max Romero (single, walk) all reached base twice as Wilmington collected six hits and two walks total.
Carolina 7 Ferdericksburg 4
• Amaral (L, 1-1) 2⅓ IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K
• Hall 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Farmer 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Cooper 1-3, BB, 2B, 2RBI
Fredericksburg dropped the series finale with a bullpen game that didn’t work out, 7-4. Austin Amaral took the loss on two unearned runs allowed on three hits and two walks. He struck out two. The FredNats got RBI doubles from Everett Cooper and Caleb Farmer but couldn’t take advantage of the eight walks drawn as they left on 10 baserunners and hit into two doubles plays. Roster moves: RHP Christian Ciuffetelli released.
FCL Nationals, 22-25, 2nd Place FCL East, 14½ GB
The F-Nats split the four games they playes and were eliminated last week. They will be (officially) playing out the string over the next 10 days. It’s another four-game week, with one trip to Jupiter tomorrow, and three games in West Palm Beach on Wednesday through Friday.
DSL Nationals, 11-17, 6th place DSL Central, 11GB
Likewise, the DSL Nationals split the four games that were played and fell another game off the pace in the division. It’s road games Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; home games on Wednesday and Friday; and an off day on Saturday with the DSL All-Star Game on Sunday.
2024 DRAFT
Still, it would seem to me that there’s less enthusiasm because the Nats were “only” picking 10th, which they used to draft Seaver King (SS, Jr. Wake Forest). Washington then took Caleb Colavita (C, Jr. UC-Berkeley) at #39, and Luke Dickerson (SS, Morris Knolls HS, N.J.) at #44. Believe it or not, it’s the second time this decade (2021) the Nats took three position players with their first three picks. Even in 2022 and 2023, the Nats took position players in three of their first four picks.
As for the analysis, I again defer to Mr. Boss and point you to the WaPo story about the first draft under the new developmental team. I’ll just keep the lights on and see what you guys have to say in the comments.