Washington Nationals Top 30 Prospects For Dynasty Leagues

The Washington Nationals have been building up the farm system for a couple of seasons, filling it with top-end talent. In this system breakdown, we will dive into the top 10 prospects of the Nationals system, this should help dynasty managers target top talent in shallow leagues and the rankings to 30 should help in deeper league formats. There are deeper rankings available on the Weekly Streamer Patreon for managers looking for rankings up to 71 for the Nationals system. Now let us dive into the Washington Nationals top 30 prospects for dynasty leagues.

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Top 10 Prospects

Dylan Crews, OF

(71 GP, .426/.567/.713, 18 HR, 100 R, 70 RBI, 6 SB At LSU)

The talk of the college baseball world this season was the two studs at LSU dueling it out for the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft. Dylan Crews was the early season favorite for that honor and despite “falling” second to the Nationals, make no mistake that Crews is still a generational talent. Crews projects as a true five-tool prospect that was a stud all three seasons at LSU. As a freshman, Crews slugged 18 home runs and stole 12 bases in 63 games played with the Tigers in a tough SEC division.

🥵📈 Dylan Crews comes in hot in the National’s Top 30 at number 1. With a .426/.567/.713 slash with 18 HR and 100 runs scored with the LSU Tigers. Nats fans have a lot to be excited for! #Natitude @__dc4__ @Nats_PlayerDev @Nationals @LSUbaseball https://t.co/9BnzTDzdJo

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) July 14, 2023

All the expectations leading up to the 2023 season ended with LSU winning the college world series with help from Dylan Crews’ amazing season. In 71 games, Crews slashed .426/.567/.713 with 18 home runs, 100 runs, 70 RBIs, and six stolen bases while only striking out 46 times in 258 at-bats. Now in the Nationals farm system Crews should move quickly once he is assigned and it would not surprise me if we see him make his debut at some point in 2024 with a strong start to his pro career.

James Wood, OF AA

(75 GP, .262/.360/.520, 14 HR, 50 R, 57 RBI, 13 SB)

One of the hottest names in dynasty leagues for the last year has been James Wood. Drafted by the Padres in the second round of the 2021 MLB draft out of high school, Wood has wowed with his double-plus raw power that has trickled into his in-game play. Starting the season with the High-A Blue Rocks, Wood slashed .293/.392/.580 with eight home runs, 32 runs scored, 36 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 42 games played. Wood showed excellent walk numbers in High-A, walking 14.4% of the time while the strikeout rate continued to plague him at 27.1%.

💥💣WSH OF James Wood shows off the plus power this season. Between A+ & AA Wood has 14 HR, 6 triples and 16 doubles in 75 GP. #Natitude @jwood_29 @Nats_PlayerDev https://t.co/Zjldkv6sYb

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) July 14, 2023

The Nationals promoted Wood to Double-A Harrisburg where he slashed .267/.356/.535 with five home runs, 15 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and five stolen bases in six attempts during the month of June. It seems that James Wood will be a player that will have high strikeout numbers leading up to and once in the major leagues but when he makes contact it’s big and loud. This season Wood has compiled 16 doubles, six triples, and 14 home runs in his 75 games played. It’s no surprise James Wood is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and could continue to climb rankings before making his major league debut possibly in 2024.

Brady House, 3B/SS A+

(50 GP, 304/.369/.521, 9 HR, 33 R, 34 RBI, 8 SB)

Adding to the Nationals’ high first-round draft picks, Brady House has had a steady rise through the system. Selected out of high school with the 11th overall pick, Brady House had projectable plus power in a big 6’4” frame and looked like he would likely move off or shortstop to third base as he filled out. After starting the season back in Low-A Fredricksburg, House went off, slashing .365/.468/.635 with 3 home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs, and one stolen base in 14 games in April.

📈💪Brady House has put together a strong season so far in Low-A and now with A+ Wilmington. In 50 GP House is slashing .304/.369/.521 with 9 HR, 34 RBI and 8 SB. Tack on a appearance in the Futures Game ✅#natitude @Brady_house7 https://t.co/p3QJcOXdXC

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) July 14, 2023

With his improved 10.1% walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate over the season prior, the Nationals promoted House to High-A Wilmington. Since the promotion House has been solid, slashing .321/.367/.571 with three home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 14 games. As I alluded to prior, I project House as a third baseman long-term who should hit between 20-25 home runs with solid OBP numbers between .250-.265 and a manageable 25% strikeout rate. Hopefully, as House continues to put on muscle the power will come around making him an interesting prospect at the hot corner.

Jarlin Susana, RHP A-

(13 GS, 49.2 IP, 52 K, .203 AVG, 3.81 ERA)

One of the “low-key” prospects that came over from the Padres was Jarlin Susana who showed massive strikeout numbers in the complex league prior to the Juan Soto trade. Susana features a plus fastball that sits in the mid 90’s with a devastating slider that gets a ton of swing and miss when located properly. For Susana locating his pitches has been the area for improvement and was a major factor in his rough start to the 2023 season. Across three starts in April Susana had a 4.66 ERA with 10 walks across 9.2 Innings pitched.

Since April though Susana has right the ship posting a 3.86 ERA in May and a stellar 1.08 ERA in four starts in June. With the strikeout rate at 9.42 K/9 and a 5.44 BB/9 there is still room for improvement but heading in the right direction for an arm that I project as a high-end SP3 long-term for fantasy purposes.

Robert Hassell, OF AA

(67 GP, .219/.336/.309, 4 HR, 36 R, 21 RBI, 11 SB)

Coming to the Nationals as one of the key pieces of the Juan Soto trade with the Padres, Robert Hassell has had a tough go of things in his new organization. The 21-year-old outfielder started the season down in Low-A Fredricksburg where he showed solid plate discipline but just couldn’t get the bat going. In 15 games played Hassell slashed .189/.377/.302 with one home run, 12 runs scored, four RBIs, and two stolen bases before being promoted to Double-A Harrisburg.

Once in Harrisburg Hassell’s strikeout rate climbed to 32.2% as he continued to struggle with the counting stats. In 52 games played Hassell is only slashing .227/.323/.310 with three home runs, 24 runs, 17 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. This is a far cry from the top 50 prospect Hassell was projected out to be and started to show while with the Padres. I am hopeful that the power will come back around for Hassell and he can get his average back up to the .275-.290 range but for now, it’s just time to wait and see.

Elijah Green, OF A-

(58 GP, .218/.327/.318, 3 HR, 26, 29, 22 SB)

Going into the 2022 MLB draft Elijah Green was one of the headlining high school talents that would be selected in the first ten picks. The Nationals selected Green fifth overall and was surely excited to get a projectable five-tool talent. So far the early results are mixed for Elijah Green who is in the middle of his first full season in the Nationals organization. When it comes to the positives this season you can’t overlook Green’s excellent 13.7% walk rate and 22 stolen bases in 26 attempts.

Unfortunately, you also can’t overlook the 42.7% strikeout rate and insanely high BABIP at .413. The power and counting stats have been low for Green who has just looked overmatched at the plate since his hot start in April. In fact, Green has only one home run in 40 games. Regardless the potential for Green is still extremely high but it’s probably going to be a slower climb than what was originally expected.

Daylen Lile, OF A-

(64 GP, .288/.381/.502, 7 HR, 48 R, 48 RBI, 21 SB)

The Nationals selected Daylen Lile out of high school with the 47 overall pick in 2021 and praised his advanced approach at the plate and saw the potential to get to above-average power. Unfortunately, Lile missed all of the 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery delaying his first full professional season until this season. So far the 20-year-old has been fantastic at Low-A Fredricksburg showing off the advanced plate approach walking 12.6% of the time while only striking out 19.6%.

📈📝MAJOR RISER! WSH OF Daylen Lile has to be climbing closer to the top 100 with his performance this season. .288/.381/.502 with 7 HR, 48 RBIs and 21 SB in 64 GP at Low-A at 20 years old. 12.6% BB and a 19.6% K. #Natitude @DaylenLile @Nats_PlayerDev @Fantrax https://t.co/zZspDHbmK2

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) July 14, 2023

The power seems to coming around for Lile as he has slugged seven home runs this season while crushing 19 doubles and six triples in 64 games played. When it comes to speed Lile has a ton and has been effective on the base paths swiping 21 bases in 23 attempts. With Lile’s domination of Low-A expect the Nationals to bump him to High-A Wilmington shortly after the All-Star break.

Yohandy Morales, 3B

(61 GP, .408/.475/.713, 20 HR, 58 R, 70 RBI, 7 SB At Miami)

Coming out of the University of Miami Yohandy Morales has big power and big upside for the future Nationals infield. Morales played full-time as a freshman in Miami and showed solid bat-to-ball skills and power slugging 11 home runs in 53 games played in 2021. After a short stint in the Cape Cod League Morales came back to Miami and continued to improve the plate approach hitting .329 with a .411 OBP with 18 home runs in 60 games played.

Once in the Nationals organization, I project Morales to be a .260-.270 hitter with a solid OBP in the .340-.350 range. Currently, 6’4” and 225 pounds Morales is pretty maxed out of the body so power could rest in the 20-30 range long term. Prior to college, Morales was a power-over-hit profile but with the success at Miami with maintaining a solid average and OBP Morales could be a pick that set the Nationals up for years to come at third base.

Cade Cavalli, RHP MLB

(Out For Season With Tommy John)

The news came in hard for Cade Cavalli during spring training as he would require Tommy John Surgery and would miss the entire 2023 season. Cavalli was in the running to secure a rotational spot for the Nationals when he went down. Last season was a challenge for Cade who skyrocketed up the Nationals organizational ladder in 2021. Once he got to Triple-A Cavalli struggled on the mound for the first half of the season struggling to attack batters and getting to fine with his location. Improvements towards the end of the 2022 season saw Cavalli’s season stats look a lot better.

The right-hander struck out 104 batters in 97 innings pitched with a 3.71 ERA across 20 games started. Cavalli improved the walk rate towards the end of the season finishing with a 3.62 walks per nine. The Nationals called Cavalli up for one start to finish the 2022 season and the results were tepid. Once Cavalli recovers from Tommy John he should have a rehab assignment back in Triple-A before getting another opportunity to stake his claim on a rotational spot in the Nationals rotation. Cade Cavalli profiles as a low-end SP-2 when he’s right and a back-end SP-5 when he is not.

Jake Bennett, LHP A+

(12 GS, 56 IP, 70 K, .218 AVG, 1.77 ERA)

Taken in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Oklahoma Jake Bennett has been quietly effective this season and should be on more dynasty manager’s radars. The 22-year-old left-hander started the season in Low-A Fredricksburg where he dominated batters with a 11.57 K/9 while limiting the walks to 1.71 BB/9. Bennett’s success stemmed from the ability to work his mid 90’s fastball up in the zone while inducing groundballs with his plus change-up and pinpoint control. After posting a 1.93 ERA in nine starts for the Fred Nats, Washington promoted Bennett to the Wilmington Blue Rocks in High-A.

📈⬆️WSH LHP Jake Bennett has been steadily climbing my SP rankings all season. In 12 starts in Low-A and now High-A Wilmington Bennett has 70 Ks in 56 IP with a .218 Avg and a 1.77 ERA. Get your shares now as he will continue to climb! #natitude @OU_Baseball @Fantrax https://t.co/3DWiO0nYf0

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) July 14, 2023

So far Bennett has picked up where he left off in Low-A striking out 16 batters in 14 innings pitched with a .200 average against and a 1.29 ERA across 3 starts. In this short sample size at High-A, the walks ticked back up as it’s currently at a 3.21 BB/9. Bennett continues to do a good job keeping the ball on the ground against opposing batters while keeping the strikeout rate at a solid 10.29 K/9. It’s been a solid season so far for Jake Bennett who profiles as a solid SP-3 option long-term with the ceiling of a back-end SP-2 if the slider improves.

Top 30 Washington Nationals Prospect Rankings