District On Deck
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Washington Nationals: Three Potential College Bats At Pick #5

By Max Rayman

General manager Mike Rizzo of the Washington Nationals watches the game in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 14, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. The game was a continuation of a suspended game from August 9, 2020. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
General manager Mike Rizzo of the Washington Nationals watches the game in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 14, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. The game was a continuation of a suspended game from August 9, 2020. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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With less than a week to this years MLB draft, we at District on Deck have been taking a look at potential draft picks for when the Nats go on the clock. Earlier in the month, we took a look at three different prep bats and this time around, we will be looking at three different college bats.

Kevin Parada

Read any MLB mock draft in the past three months and more than likely they have the Nationals taking Georgia Tech catcher, Kevin Parada. With Keibert Ruiz behind the plate for the foreseeable future, the Nationals are set at the position. Yet, the Nats would be drafting Parada for his bat — he projects to be a .280-.300 hitter with 20-25 homerun pop. A solid eye at the plate, he only struck out  (32) two more times than he walked (30).

There are some concerns about his swing — hanging his bat over his back like a golf club, but he’s shown he has the bat speed to make it work.

Defensively, he’s an average receiver and has a fringy arm. With Ruiz already proven himself as one of the best at throwing out runners, it’s expected the Nats would move Parada to either a corner outfield spot or first.

Brooks Lee

The consensus top college player, Brooks Lee is one of the safer options in the draft due to being one of the more advanced prospects. A standout at Cal Poly, he slashed .357/.462/.664, with 15 homers, 55 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.125 in 58 games this season. He has impressive plate discipline, drawing 46 walks this season, while only striking out 28 times.

A switch hitter, he has power from both sides, loves to go gap to gap, and boasts extraordinary bat-to-ball skills. MLB Pipeline gave his hit tool a 65 grade, with some sites saying it can even develop into a 70 grade. Analysts and scouts believe he could still develop more power, but his ceiling is a 20-25 homer guy.

A college shortstop, due to his lack of speed and agility it’s expected he will have to move to third.

Gavin Cross

Instrumental in Virginia Tech reaching the Super Regionals this season — the Nats could always decide to underslot and take the toolsy Gavin Cross. This past season he slashed .328/.411/.660, with 17 homers, 50 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.071. He has decent speed, swiping 12 bases without being thrown out, but will probably move from center to a corner outfield spot.

A year after striking out 48 times while only drawing 17 times, he’s become more patient at the plate, striking out 41 times, while drawing 30 walks. Analysts are still worried about his zone control, but this past season showed he’s moving in the right direction.

Something to keep an eye on is his plate approach. Per The Athletic’s Keith Law:

"“He strides too far at the plate, without transferring his weight as he does so, which cuts off some of his power potential and can leave him unable to drive anything on the outer half.”"

He has excellent exit velo’s and huge power potential –.with Prospects Live stating some swing changes could unlock his full potential.

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