● 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.
