In case you did not know, the MLB Rule 5 Draft happened last week during the 2024 Winter Meetings in Dallas, which actually saw the team bring in a new piece for their bullpen from the Tampa Bay Rays in the form of righty Evan Reifert.
While Reifert figures to be a mainstay in the bullpen for at least the 2025 season, the organization did lose another player who might have made a bid to be involved in the equation out of the bullpen next year in lefty Matt Cronin. He was left unprotected by the organization, as they chose not to add him to the 40-man roster, and likely felt fairly confident he was not going to be selected.
After the Nationals picked him out of Arkansas in the 4th round of the 2019 draft, he began his path towards becoming a big leaguer with the Nationals. He started out hot with a 0.82 ERA in 17 games in 2019, and was rewarded by being ranked as highly as the #10 prospect in the team's system. Granted, the Nationals had one of the worst farm systems in baseball at the time, so he undoubtedly was one who benefitted from a rankings standpoint.
He, like every other minor leaguer, missed out on the 2020 MiLB season due to cancellation, but was able to get back to his familiar form in 2021. That year, he went from rookie ball all the way to AA Harrisburg, but had progressively worse numbers as he made his way up higher in the system. In 2022 it appeared as if he had figured out the AA level, and was rewarded with a promotion to AAA Rochester, where his numbers were solid but nothing special.
In 2023, he spent the entire year in AAA with the Rochester Red Wings, but his number took a major step back. He had a 5.02 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 14 games, and the organization decided that he needed a reset. In 2024 he would find himself all the way back in Low-A with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, where he proved he was too good for this level and was promoted to AA Harrisburg where his numbers were solid, but nothing that screamed that he was knocking on the door of the show.
And now, with Cronin off to be with the Seattle Mariners, could we see him finally realize the potential that once made him a somewhat touted relief prospect in our organization? Maybe, we know that the Mariners seem to churn out solid relievers out of nowhere on a routine basis, so I wouldn't be shocked if we heard of Cronin being a good reliever for them in the next year or two. I wish nothing but the best for Cronin, and I wish it had worked out in DC.
Do you think Matt Cronin will find success in a new organization? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.