Tidbits from the 2026 BA Prospect Handbook
● As I suspected, the additions of Eli Willits, Harry Ford, and Luis Perales buoyed Washington’s ranking to #19, which is down from #15 last year.
● Ford is the #8 catcher, Willits is the #12 shortstop, Jarlin Susana is the #11 RHP, followed by Travis Sykora at #27 and Perales at #27.
● Willits is projected to spend 2026 and 2027 in the minors and make his debut in 2028 at the age of 20
● BA is projecting Susana to return to action as early as mid-year. He’s also now listed at 6’7″ and 283 lbs. While being an inch taller is not a surprise, if you’re of a mind that those extra 50 lbs are all muscle, you may want to check the setting on that dryer that’s shrinking your pants.
● Ford and Perales are both projected to have a shot at making the OD roster, with the implication that Ford’s chances are higher even with Keibert Ruiz’s contract. Perales meanwhile seems ticketed for the Red Wings rotation.
● Luke Dickerson battled through a wrist injury—wait, the Nationals kept that on the down-low. They never do that!—and should thus see improved results in 2026, where he may eventually slide over to 2B.
● Have you ever heard of a SS who can’t run well? Angel Feliz is your guy, according to BA.
● Sam Petersen likewise could be shifted to LF when he makes his AA debut.
● Yoyo Morales may stick at 1B because (a) his hands work better there (b) the Nats are hurting at 1B at the MLB level.
● Marconi German could be bumped to the FCL even with only one season in the DSL and the bevy of SS prospects.
● Ronny Cruz could move up to at Low-A despite the presence of Willits and Feliz or the lack of IF prospects at High-A.
With the prospect book in hand, I can now plow ahead on the watchlist reports, which I doubt will be done as early as they were last year… but then again, if things slow to the usual January sludge that’s marked this decade…
Thanks again Luke for the deeper insight here.
Unlike the ordinal rankings, there’s some kind of surprising remarks in this part.
Good to hear some authority remark on Susana’s timeline, and glad to hear he’s not expected to miss the entire season, like Sykora.
Yet another mysterious injury. What is the possible reason for the Nats NOT to put out there that Dickerson was dealing with an injury? For better or worse, these prospect lists actually have a real, concrete impact on MLB now. These prospect lists are used to determine the “Prospect Promotion Incentive”, where if a top prospect wins the ROTY, they get an extra draft pick. It is now in the interest of clubs to make sure their players feature well on this list. Dickerson, at one point at least, was a fringe top 100 pick. The Nats need to make sure he doesn’t drop because of a lack of reporting about an injury. Just be up front, and maybe prospect watchers won’t dock him too much for his massive 2nd half drop off. I expect Toboni’s new regime, given its emphasis on player development, won’t make these sorts of careless mistakes of the previous regime.
On Morales, was the comment that he could be moved back to 3B? Or was it in reference to him being used as a DH? While 1B is totally wide open, House’s hold on 3B is anything but secure. Having a corner infielder who can play both positions would be a huge asset to the Nats.
On German, is this the standard now to keep guys in the DSL for two seasons? I remember (recently) when the talk was whether the DSL was even necessary at all for top IFAs.
I still have doubts Ronny Cruz actually exists. Browm Martinez too.
Re: Morales – his fielding skills are more suited to 1B than 3B. Under Rizzo, that would have meant little, but we don’t have a read on the NWO yet.
DSL – Repeating the level is more common as are one-and-dones from what I can tell. The FCL does seem to be more geared towards DR guys than draft picks (collegiate at least). It would seem to me there’s no way to have R. Cruz, Willits, and A. Feliz in Low-A at the same time, unless one of them is ready for High-A. Same caveat regarding the FO: will they be conservative or aggressive when combined the trio is what, 65 years old?
Delino might have an interesting outfield by July 2026
As Artie Johnson as creepy Nazi on laugh – in
: very interesting
Sgt Schultz
Will Butera say to Paxton ever ? I see nothing I hear nothing ?
Credit the new hire from PITT for referring the new Rochester IF Pichardo .
Another Bronx tale
Luke where did you get those readers for bulldog
We could call “ Winston “?
Three last arms released
Determined damaged wings ??
Nats latest acquisition as reported by Mark Zuckerman:
Nationals announce they’ve claimed RHP Paxton Schultz off waivers from Blue Jays. 28-year-old made 13 appearances for Toronto last season (4.38 ERA, 1.419 WHIP). Originally a starter, has been mostly multi-inning reliever last few years at AAA.
40-man roster is once again full.
Sauryn Lao becomes a Nippon-Ham Fighter
Pardon me while I scratch my head about Susana being ranked ahead of Sykora. There’s no statistical category that bears this out, unless you’re doing it by the pound.
Also, not sure what they’re smoking to think that Perales might make the opening-day roster, all the more since the Racing Presidents will already be in serious danger from McGarry.
Ham fighter or Foo Fighters
Blame the 712 vodka
Google that , chaps !
January comment
Post draft 2026 we will all say that there is truly a new philosophy and viewpoint in player drafting cultivation and instruction