Don’t Pass on Season:

Nats To Watch

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

03/03/2023

The Washington Nationals have finished in last place the last two seasons, which includes a 107-loss campaign in 2022. This has left many Nats fans wondering what future is there to look forward to. Well to inform you, there is quite a lot to still get excited for as a Nats fan. Specifically, as they embark upon their rebuild, they're several young players to follow in terms of development. Players that can be key foundational pieces of the next successful era of Nationals baseball. The Unheralded Sports View is here to highlight a few Nats players worth keeping an eye on this coming year.

The first player to keep a watchful eye on is starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. The 24-year-old left-hander was one of the key pieces acquired in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres last season. He will be looked to as a vital building block for a young Nationals rotation for years to come. He did get valuable big-league experience last season in San Diego before the trade and showed flashes. Posting a 4-4 record and 4.50 ERA over 70 innings pitched with 72 strikeouts. This included allowing 3 or fewer runs in each of his first eight career starts. Now he also went through some growing pains allowing 6 or more runs 3 times over his last five starts before going on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Due to this injury, he never pitched for the Nats after his acquisition, but that should not dampen the excitement for his eventual debut in 2023. Gore brings an intriguing repertoire of a mid to high 90s fastball, 12-6 curveball, and what scouts deem a hard changeup and slider that help him generate groundball outs. Now coming into spring training fully healthy Gore will look to prepare for his first full season at the big-league level. It is unclear if he will be on an innings limit, but if he can throw north of 150 innings this season for Washington that would be welcome. The hope is that he will establish himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm or even ace for the club.

The next player to discuss also comes from the pitching staff but he falls in the reliever category. This is right-handed reliever Mason Thompson who has flashed electric stuff and immense back-end-of-the-bullpen potential since his acquisition in 2021. The 25-year-old Thompson was acquired from San Diego as well, but in a separate trade that sent closer Daniel Hudson to the Padres. Now initially talking about a reliever with a 5.03 career minor league ERA does not seem enticing, but his early returns with the Nats have been promising. At 6'6" the hard-throwing right-hander last season in 24 games for Washington went 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA, 1 save, and 15 K's. He only threw 24 games because of a right biceps strain that kept him out most of the year, but he flashed his potential. He not only started the season with 7 straight scoreless outings but also accumulated scoreless outings in 20 of 24 appearances last year. He showcased an electric combination of pitches led by his high 90s sinker and developing wipeout slider. Add in a four-seam fastball and changeup and he still has more growing to do despite having two strong weapons. The biggest thing the Nationals organization would love to see is Thompson fully harness command of his pitches, specifically his secondary pitches to go along with his heavy sinker. If he can find consistency in his command and establish his slider as a consistent strikeout pitch, he can become a key late-game reliever. With his stuff his ceiling could be becoming a closer, but if he even turns into a strong 7th or 8th-inning reliever that is still a huge piece going forward to build.

On the position player side, one of the main players to track the development of this year is starting catcher Keibert Ruiz. The 24-year-old is coming off his first full season at the big-league level with the Nationals. This after coming over in the huge trade that sent Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to LA and brought him back as a centerpiece acquisition. He has been productive in the 135 games he has played since joining the Nats, posting a .257 average, 25 doubles, 9 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. His minor-league numbers would tell you though there is still more to come with the bat. With his .301 career average, .356 on-base percentage, and 50 homers, Ruiz still has much to unleash on the offensive side that will make him a force in the Nats lineup. The main thing the organization hopes he does this season is adding more power to his offensive game, by hitting 15-20 home runs this year. On the defensive side, he displayed major upside posting a .992 fielding percentage and throwing out 20 base stealers in 2022. The Nats hope he also takes a big leadership role with a young pitching staff, guiding through this 162-game journey. If Ruiz can take the next step this season and establish himself as a top 10 to 12 catcher in the league this coming season that would be a tremendous success.

The final player worth keeping track of this season is a bit of a wild card pick in that he may not make the club out of spring training camp. This player is 27-year-old outfielder Stone Garrett who is looking to make the ballclub as a fourth outfielder this spring. He is in a competition that features others like Derek Hill and Alex Call and it may take all spring to determine who will take this spot. Garrett presents an intriguing combination of raw power and athleticism that displays great upside. In 27 games last season for Arizona, he hit .276 with 4 home runs, 8 doubles, 10 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. He showed off flashes of great talent but still has some areas of his game to fine-tune like cutting down strikeouts. It is hard to not be intrigued by a player who has hit 25 and 28 home runs over his last two minor league seasons. With him signing as a free agent it was a worthy flyer to take on a young player hoping for an opportunity. There is hope he will be a late bloomer the Nats can unlock. Now in a perfect world, he turns into a possible starting-caliber outfielder that can play a corner outfield spot and hit for power. But if he turns into an above-average fourth outfielder I think the Nats will be incredibly happy with that result as well.

Even though the Nationals are likely to miss the postseason for the fourth straight season there is much to look forward to this coming season. This quartet of players is just some of the names that will be looking to make a name for themselves this season. And we as Nats fans hope the next Nationals core will begin to take shape with players like these leading the way.