While this week for the Washington Nationals has been dominated by their 5-game winning streak that came to an abrupt halt on Friday night, and the promotion of their top 2 outfield prospects in Robert Hassell III and Daylen Lile to the big leagues, they weren't the only ones who moved up.
Throughout the organization, there was a bunch of movement across various levels of the minor leagues, with prospects of all types being promoted. Perhaps most notably was the promotion of corner infield prospect Yohandy Morales to AAA Rochester, where he will now be just 1 step away from the big leagues after being drafted as the team's 2nd round pick from the University of Miami back in 2023 after Dylan Crews.
Morales earned his promotion after taking awhile last season to get over injuries and properly acclimate to AA pitching, but has rebounded in a major way so far in 2025. He had a .315/.366/.620 slash line for an .886 OPS in 33 games, and added 4 homers as well for Harrisburg. While power was supposed to be his best asset coming out of school, Morales has hit only 11 homers in his professional career so far, but it is at least encouraging that 4 of the 11 have been hit this season.
He has been seen as a guy who should fit into the lineup of the future at multiple spots, seeming like a guy who is more likely to be the first baseman of the future with Brady House likely being the guy at third base. If Morales can get off to a hot start at Rochester, perhaps he can earn a quick call-up similar to how Daylen Lile did, who only got better once he got moved up to AAA. It seems more likely that he would get a cup of coffee at the end of the regular season if anything, and the Nationals don't really have a need to rush him with Nathaniel Lowe manning first base for now.
Besides Morales, 2 other prospects were bumped up to Rochester, righty reliever Todd Peterson and outfielder Nick Schnell. You might remember Peterson from his days at LSU, where he had a very viral moment after pinch-hitting in a big game after lying to his coach that he hit a lot in high school. He is 27-years-old now, and could be a candidate to get a chance in the big leagues so the organization can figure out what they've got in him before the end of the season.
Peterson has posted a 3.43 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 16 appearances for Harrisburg so far this season, and since he's an older prospect in the system, it seems as if the rest of this season will be his best chance to make the big leagues, given the struggles of the bullpen as a whole in Washington. Schnell seems to be an outfield depth replacement for Lile and Hassell III who has a .289/319/.450 slash line, good for a .769 OPS to go along with a pair of homers and 16 RBIs.
What do you think of all the upward movement in the organization? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.