Tuesday’s News & Notes; Day 2 Draft Results/Discussion
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| FCL Nationals | OFF DAY | @ FCL Marlins, 12 p.m. | |
| DSL Nationals | Lost, 8-4 | @ DSL Arizona Red, 11 a.m. |
DSL Cardinals 8 DSL Nationals 4
• J. Feliz 5IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, HR
• Familia (L, 4-1) 2IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, 1BB, 0K, HR
• Tavarez 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI
• Requena 2-3, SB
The DSL Cardinals took the lead with two in the 6th and put the game away with four in the 7th as they doubled the DSL Nationals, 8-4. Starter Jose Feliz turned in five innings of two-run ball on three hits (one HR) and two walk. He struck out four in the no-decision. Jeffrey Familia gave up the aforementioned six runs on five hits (one HR) to lose for the first time in ’24. The D-Nats marched to an 11-hit parade, led by Feldi Tavarez with a single and a homer while the Angels (Feliz and Requena) both singled twice.
More pitchers showed up in Day Two, but what’s more noticeable—at least to me, a draft-agnostic prospect follower—are the bevy of college juniors…
| Round | Player | Position | Dimensions | School |
| 3 (79) | Kevin Bazzell | C | 6’1″, 205 | Texas Tech (Jr.) |
| 4 (108) | Jackson Kent | LHP | 6’3″, 219 | Univ. of Arizona (Jr.) |
| 5 (141) | Randal Diaz | SS | 6′, 205 | Indiana St. (Jr.) |
| 6 (170) | Davian Garcia | RHP | 6’2″, 190 | Fla. Gulf Coast Univ. (Jr.) |
| 7 (200) | Robert Cranz | RHP | 6’3″, 207 | Okla. St. (Jr.) |
| 8 (225) | Sam Petersen | OF | 6′, 200 | Univ. of Iowa (Jr.) |
| 9 (260) | Jackson Ross | UT | 6’2″, 210 | Ole Miss. (Grad.) |
| 10 (290) | Luke Johnson | RHP | 6’1″, 195 | UMBC (Sr.) |
A year ago, I made the remark that the organization needed more pitching prospects. While that’s still true, between the resurgence of guys like Andry Lara and the emergence of guys like Brad Lord, perhaps Washington feels like it might be better off developing the guys they already have than to pick from another pitching-thin crop.
Of course, what’s also true is that outside of the top prospects, the hitting is horrible. Two of the affiliates (Harrisburg, Wilmington) are dead last in the league on offense. A third is more than half a run below average (DSL). Two of three that are above the league average for runs scored have players that are among the league’s oldest (FCL, Fredericksburg).
Something to think about for Day 3…
Another subject attached to a draft with thin pitching prospect pool is that a Kyle Finnegan trade could command several young pitching prospects whose starting pedigree is more pronounced than several trade deadlines ago with Oakland and LAD .
Kent seems like a guy Danny Hass would have stil drafted if with Arizona to this day
So Andrew Pinkney must be familiar with Colby Shelton from their time at Bama before the transfer to UF
Good job Luke. You and Todd really are on top of everything.
It was a historically bad draft year for pitching. I’m not sure why. Maybe Todd or someone else who follows college baseball more closely has some ideas. Of the pitchers the Nats have taken, the most impressive, at least on paper, is Robert Cranz, the reliever from OK State (which gave us the comet known as Koda Glover).
Interesting points from Luke on offensive futility. The drafting of King, Dickerson, and Diaz and the trade acquisition of Wallace is certainly a shot across the bow of the scuffling infielders currently in the system.
And with the guys the Nats are (reportedly) making available for trade, it wouldn’t be surprising if they add maybe 10-12 more minor leaguers to the mix by the end of the month. Because of the lack of pitching in the draft, the Nats may target pitching in the trade returns.
If they get 10 more minor leaguers, they’re going to have to really unload a lot of former prospects to make room for them.
Unfortunately, the comet that was Glover never reached the lofty heights. Injuries have derailed many a promising career.
Let’s see how many of these college arms drafted plateau @ Fred or never leave the complex except for a pink slip .