The 2024 MLB Draft class for the Washington Nationals was an interesting one on the surface. While none of their names were exactly superstar players, especially with the team going underslot in the 1st round by selecting Wake Forest infielder Seaver King, the club took some intriguing risks like selecting prep infielder Luke Dickerson in the 2nd round, and subsequently giving him a record signing bonus to keep him from going to college.
But with almost all of their draft class finally experiencing action at the professional level in some capacity, let's take a look at 2 Nationals draft picks from their 2024 class that are already looking like huge steals early on in their professional careers.
LHP Jackson Kent - 4th round, 108 overall
Before a recent blow-up outing that saw him surrender 8 earned runs in just 4.0 innings, lefty Jackson Kent out of the University of Arizona had looked like an absolute steal for the Washington Nationals. As the team's 4th round selection in last year's draft coming out of college, he was tasked with beginning this season at High-A Wilmington, where he carried a 1.31 ERA through his first 4 starts to go along with a 1.00 WHIP.
Now, following that bad outing his last time out, he has a 4.01 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, which is still solid when you look at some of his other numbers. So far, he has a 30:6 K:BB ratio in just 24.2 innings, showcasing an excellent ability to miss bats and pound the strike zone, hence the low WHIP despite getting shelled his last time out.
Assuming that he bounces back over his next couple of starts, his numbers will look even better than they already do, and he seems like the type of pitcher that could potentially fly through the minors at this rate. Keep an eye on Kent, the organization's #20 prospect, over the next several weeks, as he could be a candidate for a quick promotion if his production continues to look the way it has so far.
C Caleb Lomavita - 1st round (Competitive Balance Round A) - 39 overall
The other pick that has really stood out so far in a good way is catcher Caleb Lomavita, out of the University of California. The 22-year-old from Honolulu came to Nationals via the 39th overall pick, which was acquired by the Nationals in the Hunter Harvey trade from last season. Clearly, despite the Nationals having Keibert Ruiz inked to a long-term deal, the club wants push Ruiz as much as possible, and getting a catcher with a high ceiling like Lomavita is a great way to do just that.
So far this season, through 78 at-bats with High-A Wilmington, Lomavita has a .308/.407/.385 slash line, good for a .792 OPS to go along with a homer and 10 RBIs, as well as 5 stolen bases. He offers a different profile than Ruiz does behind the dish, as he is a very athletic catcher, and there is a reason he was looked at as the best backstop in last year's class.
Despite looking overmatched during spring training this year, Lomavita could be a guy that, similar to Kent, flies through the minor leagues and ends the 2025 season at a higher level than which he began. He is currently ranked as the team's #8 overall prospect, but could be higher on that list in just a couple of months if he can tap into some more power.
Who was your favorite draft pick from the 2024 class? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.