The BA Prospect Handbook, Part One
The digital copy of the 2023 Baseball America Prospect Handbook has arrived, which is a sign that the offseason is starting to ebb (because it sure as hell ain’t flowing).
Unlike a year ago, there’s no group of guys that people so desperately want to be prospects but have exceeded the thresholds of 130 AB, 50IP, or 30G. Also, the “More Prospects to Know” (Nos. 31-40) feature appears to have been an outlier for 2022 vs. a new feature.
However, the haul from the Juan Soto trade has improved the system’s ranking much more dramatically (as it should, given Soto’s generational talent) – #7 overall up from #26. That’s behind the Orioles, Diamondbacks [insert Rizzo envy joke here], Dodgers, Guardians, Mets, and Rays.
In the prospects-by-position rankings, the Nats fared much better as well:
Brady House – #24 shortstop
Robert Hassell – #7 centerfielder
Elijah Green – #8 centerfielder
James Wood – #1 corner outfielder
Cade Cavalli – #10 RHP
Jarlin Susana – #33 RHP
Now, for our annual look at how the previous year’s Top 30 panned out:
| GRADUATED | Keibert Ruiz, Mason Thompson, Riley Adams, Tres Barrera |
| TRADED | None |
| RELEASED | Seth Romero (hold for applause) |
| RULE 5 DRAFT | None |
| DROPPED OUT | Yasel Antuna, Joan Adon, Jackson Cluff, Donovan Casey, Daniel Marte, Mason Denaburg, Jordy Barley |
That’s one less than a year ago, and I’m sure many of you may argue some of these removals were long overdue.
Unfortunately, my prediction that we’d see the streak of 25-or-older guys stop at five years, but thanks to BA’s fetish with incumbency some guys in the back end of the Top 30, it’s still eight for the sixth consecutive year.
As the headline says, this is part one of two posts this year, so I’ll close with the Top 15 with last year’s Washington ranking in parentheses:
| 1. OF James Wood | 6. OF Christian Vaquero | 11. LHP Jake Bennett |
| 2. OF Robert Hassell | 7. RHP Jarlin Susana | 12. SS Armando Cruz (10) |
| 3. OF Elijah Green | 8. OF Jeremy De La Rosa (14) | 13. RHP Cole Henry (6) |
| 4. RHP Cade Cavalli (2) | 9. RHP Jackson Rutledge (9) | 14. LHP Mitchell Parker (21) |
| 5. SS Brady House (3) | 10. OF T.J. White (34) | 15. RHP Andry Lara (5) |
Next post: Nos. 16-30 and tidbits from the handbook.
2023 looks to be the most exciting year in a long time for us.
exciting for sure and also unprecedented in Nats history
Prolly the closest analogs are 2011 before the Gio Gonzalez trade or 2008 after Leatherpants went hog-wild on HS picks in June 2007.
What’s a Prolly?
That’s short for probably.
Think 2024 will be even more exciting. Beyond Cavalli and maybe Hassell, we’ll have the exact same list next year, but with the addition of the #2 overall pick and others from the ’23 class and maybe a couple fringe prospects picked up in trades for the likes of Candelario or Dickerson at the deadline.
Also, some of the current guys could blow up. Any of Green, Vaquero, House, or Susana could easily take off. Some of the 22 draft picks showed very well early and could rise. Plus Jorgelys Mota is very young and could potentially light up the FCL.
Adon counts as a graduation as well. He is not prospect eligible any longer..
Get ready for another worst MLB last place finish a of another Martinez led team NATS fans.
Given the roster, I don’t think that Davey Martinez being manager will have much to do with their finish. I’m not certain that [insert name here of someone that you regard as a managerial genius] would get the Nats out of last place in 2023 unless the Marlins crash and burn.