OF Daylen Lile (#12 Prospect 2024, Double-AA Harrisburg)
The Nationals selected outfielder Daylen Lile with the 47th pick in the 2021 MLB draft. Lile, a 2-time High School player of the year, came into the organization as one of the only outfield prospects. Lile would spend 2 seasons at Single-A before being called up (AA) in 2024. Lile would hit .255 over 73 games with 3 homers and 21 RBI. The Nationals would award Lile with the "Nationals Way" award after the 2024 season, and his ETA for the big leagues is 2025. While Lile is still a top prospect in the organization, he has been overshadowed by other draft picks who have been acquired or drafted since 2021 (Crews, Wood, Young, Hassell). Despite being just outside of our site's Top 10 Prospects list, Lile is continuing to trend in the right direction in his development.
RHP Chase Solesky (Unranked, Double-AA Harrisburg)
The Nationals would sign RHP Chase Solesky following the start of the 2024 season from the Hagerstown Flying Box Cars and send him to Double-AA Harrisburg. Solesky, taken by the White Sox in the 2019 draft, would be released by Chicago in 2023. Solesky came into a weak pitching system and immediately became an underrated prospect (not in the top 30). Over 15 starts, Solesky pitched to a 3.02 ERA, striking out 51 with a 1.10 WHIP. He would continue dominating in the Arizona Fall League, being named an All-Star for the 2024 AFL season, and will hope to keep progressing quickly.
3B Cayden Wallace (#11 Prospect 2024, Double-AA Harrisburg)
The Nationals acquired 3B Cayden Wallace from the Kansas City Royals during the 2024 season for RHP Hunter Harvey. Wallace, the #2 prospect in Kansas City's organization, had been dealing with injuries the last 2 seasons, and would debut with Harrisburg in early August. With Harrisburg, Wallace hit .186 with 0 homers and 3 RBI, but will likely start the season as Harrisburg's starting 3B, and begin a full season with them in 2025. Wallace sits behind 3B Brady House (#2 Prospect) in the organization's prospect list, as the Nats continue to look for their future 3B.
RHP Marquis Grissom Jr (#27 Prospect 2024, Double-AA Harrisburg)
With a weak organizational depth regarding the bullpen, 2025 seems to be shaping up as a big year for Marquis Grissom Jr. The son of a former big leaguer and former Washington Nationals coach as well, was promoted to AA last season and pitched a 2.87 ERA over 31.1 innings. The Nationals lack bullpen depth and Grissom Jr has a career 2.33 ERA, making it easy for him to possibly start the season at AAA and make his debut very early into the 2025 season.
RHP Brad Lord (#30 Prospect 2024, Triple-AAA Rochester)
RHP Brad Lord made waves throughout the Nats organization in 2024. Starting the season at Single-A Wilmington, Lord would only make 1 start before being added to the AA roster. Lord would make 12 starts at AA, and pitch a masterful 70.2 innings, carrying a 1.40 ERA, striking out 75 and walking 23. Lord would get called up to AAA in August and after 3 starts end up on the 7-day injured list. Overall, he would pitch to a 3.93 ERA over 12 AAA starts, striking out 57. Expect Lord to start the season at AAA and be the first name called if someone on the MLB rotation goes down with an injury.