This series will highlight a handful of prospects, team-by-team, heading into the 2021 season. I will offer a handful of Top Prospects, as well as a few “In The Pipeline” prospects for dynasty owners to keep an eye on in the next couple of seasons. With that, let’s jump right in!
Top Prospects
Jackson Rutledge, P
Fastball: 70/70 | Slider: 55/65 | Curveball: 50/55
Changeup: 40/50 | Command: 35/45
Rutledge is a 6’8″, 260lb, 20-year-old who throws gas. His fastball sits between 95-98MPH, topping out at 101. He does have some work to do on his command, but a kid with a four-pitch arsenal who can throw 100+ MPH should be rostered in dynasty formats everywhere. With that, Rutledge’s biggest concern is the hip surgeries he’s already had on both sides. Depending on how he recovers, he could become a 200+ inning eating, top of the rotation starter, or a closer.
Mason Denaburg, P
Fastball: 55/60 | Curveball: 60/65 | Changeup: 50/55 | Command: 40/50
Denaburg has had a couple of bicep and shoulder concerns already in his professional career. However, the Nationals have been vigilant in his progress, focusing on strength building. The hope is for Denaburgs fastball to average between 93-95MPH, topping out at 98, to mix in with nasty curveball. If he can put in a full 2020 season, this 20-year-old pitcher may find himself climbing the up prospect boards everywhere.
Cade Cavalli, P
Fastball: 55/60 | Curveball: 55/60 | Slider: 50/55
Changeup: 50/55 | Command: 40/50
Cavalli was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 Amateur Draft out of the University of Oklahoma. The Nationals also invited Cavalli to their 2021 Spring Training as a non-roster player. Cade will need to prove he can stay healthy for a full-season before most analysts officially place him in their top-100 lists; however, this kid has talent on stuff alone.
In The Pipeline
Andry Lara, P
Lara was signed in the 2019 International period out of Venezuela. This 17-year-old phenom already averages between 92-94MPH with his fastball and has been noted to have a mature frame for his age. Early projections for Lara are a plus fastball/slider combo with high upside projections as he grows and fills out.
Armando Cruz, SS
Cruz was signed in the 2021 International period out of the Dominican Republic as a defense-first shortstop. Currently, his bat projects as light contact but the hope with the organization is he can hit for a high-average and play every day as the future MLB SS. Cruz does project to be a plus runner, so he could potentially be a high-AVG, high-SB, high-OBP player of the future.
Jeremy De La Rosa, OF
Hit: 20/50 | Power: 20/55 | Run: 40/30 | Fielding: 35/45 | Throwing: 50/50
Signed in the 2018 International period out of the Dominican Republic, this 17-year-old has quickly drawn a lot of attention. De La Rosa has some work to do but most scouts believe the hit tool and power will come as he fills in his 6’1″ frame.
Roismar Quintana, OF
Hit: 20/50 | Power: 20/55 | Run: 55/50 | Fielding: 45/55 | Throwing: 50/50
Quintana was signed in the 2019 International period out of Venezuela and is already drawing comps to Marzel Ozuna. Be on the lookout for Quintana in the 2020 season as the Nationals believe he may be the CF of the future at the MLB level.
As always, feel free to reach out via Twitter @drunkenangelz.