After deep diving on all 30 teams this offseason during the From The Dish Podcast Preview Series (listen here), I became increasingly fascinated by young, up-and-coming talent. I already enjoy projecting future stars, so I said, hell, why not double down? So here I am again -- prepared to look like a genius or ready to whiff and look like a fool.
During my film analysis for the NL East portion of the Preview Series, I couldn't help but notice the potential brewing in the Nationals' farm system. While the DC baseball team might be a few years away from contention, the top of their farm system is teeming with a handful of exciting players, promising a bright future for the team.
Image by From The Dish
But before we move to the prospects, we'll start with someone who is already a mainstay in the Major League lineup. His name is Lane Thomas.
Still just 28 years old, Lane established himself as the Nationals' best hitter last season with a slash line of .268/.315/.468, good for a .783 OPS. To put this into perspective, the league average OPS in 2023 was .734, making Lane about 50 points better than average. If he can increase his low walk rate of 5.3% (bottom 10% of all hitters), expect his OPS to rise.
Lane consistently takes advantage of mistake pitches, typically pulling them to left field with his quick right-handed swing. He also proves to be a reliable hitter in high-leverage situations with clutch extra-base hits. His 86 RBIs were the second most on the Nationals, even with nearly half of his at-bats (42.5%) coming from the leadoff spot.
In situations with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, he slugged a consistent .494 across 79 at-bats. The Nationals heavily relied on his production, and he delivered time and time again.
His defensive prowess in the outfield adds another tool to his package, as you'll see him leap into walls or routinely throw the ball into the infield quickly with strong throws.
In 2023, he joined the 20-20 club, banging 28 home runs and stealing 20 bags. With his free agency looming in 2026, he is becoming an extension candidate. One more productive season makes you wonder how he fits into the organization's plans.
And I'm glad to show you how enticing that future can look.
You know there's hype around a guy when milestones in exhibition games are tweet-worthy. Dylan Crews could be the National League's version of Wyatt Langford. Both are 22 years old. Both are top-ten prospects. Both played in the College World Series Finals last summer. Only one could be the champion, though.
And Dylan prevailed. The LSU graduate is a fast-rising prospect who should eventually reach the Majors at some point this summer. He's displayed his extraordinary hitting ability from college to his brief professional career. There's evidence of this through the Nationals' aggressive promotions that catapulted him from Rookie Ball to Double-A in only 35 games. For real. He played just one game in Rookie Ball.
He'll start the season in Double-A after appearing overmatched for the first time during Spring Training. He's human, after all.
Still, there is little doubt that with more seasoning down in the Minors, he should be ready for MLB sooner rather than later. Remember, he's only one year removed from college baseball, and as time passes, he is getting bigger, faster, and stronger to fill out his 6'0" frame.
His incredible .355/.423/.645 slash line (1.068 OPS) for the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals makes it easier to understand DC's enthusiasm for moving him up to Double-A. However, 14 games are just too small of a sample size, even with a five-hit game during his debut weekend for Fredericksburg.
He can hit to all fields, has high on-base skills, and generates power with his explosive lower half. He plays centerfield and is likely to stay there, but he can also play above-average right field if necessary. It all depends on his counterpart, who is also on the come-up.
That would be James Wood.
Wood is an imposing 6'7" left-handed hitter who came to DC as a prospect in the Juan Soto trade with San Diego. Although he is the youngest of the Nationals' projected outfield trio, he is the most physically gifted. I envision his raw power stunning Nationals Park crowds with loud, hard contact that sends baseballs out of stadiums in a hurry.
You wouldn't think someone of his size can get down the line, but there's a reason he can hold his own in center. Throw in his plus arm, and you have a high-ceiling 21-year-old outfielder. Like Lane and Dylan, James can move to right field and be above average there as well. James profiles as a left fielder too.
Wood, a 2021 2nd-round pick at 18, has more minor-league experience than the aforementioned Crews because he played fresh out of High School. This is important because the Nationals may be more inclined to promote Wood sooner. His strong Spring Training debut to open the 2024 season may have led to a promotion to Triple-A versus one to the Majors, but this also helps his case.
Even though I don't see him hitting for average, his approach at the plate generates walks, and he has a knack for extra-base hits. Combine this with his high IQ as a baserunner, and it makes up for his high strikeout rate. In 2023, he generated a sufficient .874 OPS across High-A and Double-A. Expect to see Wood very soon.
It's hard to believe we won't see this dream outfield come together by season's end to signal that change is coming. After four consecutive losing seasons since their World Series run in 2019, both the Nationals and their fans can use some hope.
Late-season prospect call-ups can be a tease, but by 2025, we should see the beginning of a new era. An era that boasts the next great outfield trio.
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