.400 — 10 for ’25

If you have to ask who’s pictured and why, please do not get behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle, use sharp implements, or operate power tools…

2025 may prove to be a watershed year for fans of the Nationals minors, as the following ten stories should demonstrate. There were debuts – both delayed and unexpected, a changing of leadership after more than 16 years, and the third 1-1 pick in franchise history.

Let’s dive in…

Another IFA spending spree

The Nationals spent heavily on three players in 2025: $3.5MM for LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara (the first Asian IFA in franchise history), $1.92MM for Brayan Cortesia, and $1.1MM for Daniel Hernandez. The 27-y.o. Ogasawara threw in-game BP for a 6.98 ERA over 23 appearances for the big club while the 17-y.o. Cortesia posted a .798 OPS while Hernandez struggled to a .552 mark. Before folks get too excited, it’s worth noting that the Nats also spent big on Yasel Antuna and Armando Cruz ($3.9MM for both) and $4.925MM on Cristhian Vaquero, with only Antuna making it to AA.

Brad Lord Makes Opening Day Roster

This may be notable only insofar as how reluctant the Nats have been to allow rookies to make the Opening Day roster. Dylan Crews also made the Opening Day roster, but that’s “Rock Star Dates Model” not “Man Bites Dog” as was the case for Lord. Riley Cornelio might be the next turn this trick, depending on how good a spring he has or if the new management prefers a rookie to mop up vs. a veteran (like Ogasawara).

Cade Cavalli Finally Sticks

After five seasons as the next great homegrown pitcher, Cade Cavalli finally made it back to The Show after missing all of 2023 and throwing just 8⅓ innings in 2024. This was very unexpected, given that he had just one quality start out of 17 in the minors, and just four outings with two runs or less and five innings or more.

Daylen Lile’s Unexpected Rise

If you had been told that three of the ’24 Harrisburg outfielders would play in D.C. in ’25 for a combined 315 games, you probably would not have included Daylen Lile along with Crews and Robert Hassell. You definitely would not have guessed that Like would end up playing the most games out of that trio at 130.

Travis Sykora Develops Nats Elbow

On the other hand, if you had been told that a top Nats pitching prospect would need Tommy John surgery, you probably would have guessed Sykora. And even if you had pegged Jarlin Susana, you’d only be half-wrong, given that Susana’s prognosis really isn’t any better, just different.

The End of the Rizzo Era

“The sun will come up tomorrow. That’s the job. I had a great run. Navigated that ownership group for almost 20 years.”

Those were the parting words of Mike Rizzo after he and Dave “It’s Never the Coaches’ Fault” Martinez were sent packing in early July. Rizzo was an instrumental part of rebuilding the franchise from rock-bottom in ’09 to six playoff appearances, four division titles, one N.L. title, and one World Series. The Nats were in the midst of a fifth rebuilding year when the Nats pulled the plug on the duo.

Washington Takes Eli Willits with the #1 Overall Pick in the First Year Player Draft

The smart money had the Nats taking IF Ethan Holliday (son of Matt, brother of Jackson) or one of the top collegiate pitchers (LHP Kade Anderson, LSU; LHP Kade Anderson, UTenn). Instead, the Nats took SS Eli Willits (son of Reggie), making the 17-y.o. the third-youngest #1 pick since the Draft began in 1965 (Tim Foli, 1968; Ken Griffey Jr., 1987). Perhaps even more surprising: Willits was not stashed in West Palm Beach for August and September and instead was sent to Low-A Fredericksburg for 15 games, where he posted a .300/.397/.360 line.

Lack of Hitting at AA and Below

Like a starlet turning 30, opposing teams were generally safe from Leo DiCaprio once they scored four or five runs against the Senators (4.14 R/G), Blue Rocks (3.28 R/G), and FredNats (4.10 R/G). This is also despite these teams having the oldest or second-oldest collection of bats in their respective leagues. While this is new for Fredericksburg, it’s been par for the course for Harrisburg and Wilmington for the past three seasons. Sorry, Dave, but maybe there is some blame to be put on the coaches.

Seaver King’s Resurgence in the AFL

While it’s true pitching in the AFL is generally poor (and gotten worse), and the usual SSS caveat, it’s hard not to be encouraged by Seaver King’s .359/.468/.563 line over 18 games. Especially when you add his September line of .341/.378/.439 over 11 games.

Bennett-for-Perales Trade

Prospect-for-prospect trades have become rare in the post-Moneyball era, so here’s to rooting that in three years or so, we can look back at this trade and have both teams get what they want. The Red Sox get a southpaw starter next year, the Nats get a Pedro-esque starter later, or if he proves to be less durable, a lights-out closer.