Over the course of the 2024 season, the performance of the Washington Nationals can best be characterized as inconsistent. We have seen flashes of this club performing above expectations, even as far as being an above .500 team earlier this season. The two-game split against the Beltway rival Baltimore Orioles comes to mind first, with the Nats' loss coming in a very exciting game in extra innings, but instilled a hope in the fanbase that this team could go toe-to-toe with anyone on any given day.
However, we also have seen this team be extremely frustrating as well. Most recently being swept by the New York Mets, who, coming into their series in DC earlier last week appeared as if they were on the verge of a total collapse. The team also has had some maddening moments such as losing a series to the Chicago White Sox, while being shutout in the final 2 games of the series.
As this team has risen and fallen over the course of the season, the performance of players on this team has obviously changed with the flow of the team. No player is going to be red hot forever, and many major leaguers are able to work through slumps and make adjustments.
In this blog, I will be giving a Stock Report on the performances of select players for the 2024 Nationals, in an attempt to consider their entire season's body of work. I chose 2 players for each category whose stock is up, steady, and down in my eyes.
Stock Up:
Jake Irvin
The 2024 season of Jake Irvin has been outstanding. The 27-year-old righty has taken a major step forward in his development, and currently owns a 4-5 record with a 3.12 ERA and an outstanding1.03 WHIP. Out of any member of the 2024 Washington Nationals, I would say his stock has risen the most. The biggest key to his development is limiting his free passes and attacking the strike zone, with a 4.6 K/BB ratio, up from his 1.8 number last year.
As of right now, I think he would be one of the top 3 possibilities for the Nationals All-Star representative this year, and he is validating my preseason prediction when I pegged him as the biggest breakout candidate on the team. While he might never quite be an ace of a rotation, if he can continue in this direction he will undoubtedly be a mid-rotation starter throughout his career.
Mitchell Parker
Mitchell Parker's revelation has been a legitimate shock to many. After being a solid prospect who didn't have great numbers at higher levels of the minor leagues, Parker has made team history already in just 10 starts at the MLB level.
After being the first Nats rookie to win his MLB debut since Stephen Strasburg, Parker has continued to show poise beyond his age. He has a legitimate case to have at least 9 wins, as he has only gone less than 5 innings in a start once, and has yet to surrender more than 3 earned runs in a game. His overall 4-3 record could easily be much better if the team gave him better run support, but if his 3.47 ERA and 1.05 WHIP is a sign of things to come for the 24-year-old lefty, the Nats have found a gem.
Honorable Mention: MacKenzie Gore, Kyle Finnegan
Stock Steady:
Jesse Winker
The comeback of Jesse Winker has been fun to watch for us Nats fans this year. After getting off to a red hot start in March and April before cooling off big time in May, Winker has been red hot again in June. His overall line of .262/.369/.398 and .767 OPS has been a welcome presence in the inconsistent Nats lineup, and he will surely be a solid trade piece at the deadline.
His veteran presence has been much appreciated for this younger Nats team, and he has held his own in left field for the Nats, and has added 6 homers and 28 RBIs as well as a career-high 11 stolen bases. His stock is similar to his presence in the lineup this season outside of his subpar May: steady.
CJ Abrams
While CJ Abrams has cooled off since his red-hot month of April where it appeared he was taking the next step towards superstardom, his recent performance has been encouraging that perhaps he's coming out of his funk. Coming into the June 9th game against the Braves, Abrams owns a batting line of .246/.294/.453, good for a .748 OPS to go along with 10 homers, 28 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases.
We have seen Abrams at his best this year, and have also seen him at his worst, with a 1/21 slump with 9 strikeouts ending his month of May and starting his month of June. Still just 23-years-old, Abrams is still the most feared hitter in the Nats lineup and overall has been steady overall in his performance this season. If the Nats can get him and the rest of the team a real hitting coach next year...look out.
Update: CJ just hit a bases-clearing, 3-run double against the Braves while I was typing this. Then he stole third base uncontested for his 10th steal of the year. He is BACK!
Honorable Mentions: Jacob Young, Luis Garcia Jr.
Stock Down:
Tanner Rainey
While I have always liked Tanner Rainey and have thought he would have a chance to develop into a potentially lethal late-inning arm for the Nats, it's clear that his injuries over the years have greatly taken their toll on the now 31-year-old righty reliever. He currently owns an 8.44 ERA and atrocious 2.25 WHIP, which are DFA-caliber numbers. Rainey also has only struck out 10 batters and walked 13 over just 16 innings of work this season. Not good.
His velocity is down, and it's very obvious that Davey Martinez does not trust him in any sort of situation with actual leverage, as he has pitched almost solely in mop-up duty in losses and has only made 5 appearances in the last calendar month. Unfortunately for Rainey, his days with the big league club appear to be numbered, and hopefully he can recapture some of his previous form in the minor leagues. Despite the optimism that many fans, including myself, had for Rainey in his return from injury, I'm not sure if anyone's stock could be down on this team more than him right now.
Jordan Weems
A former product of the "Rochester Pitching Lab" down in AAA after his solid emergence in 2023, Jordan Weems' stock has taken a huge hit in 2024. Once a trusted righty of Davey Martinez out of the bullpen, the 31-year-old righty has pitched to a 6.00 ERA and 1.54 WHIP so far in 2024.
Last year, he had a line of 3.62 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, and struck out 60 batters over 54.2 innings of work. This year, he has only struck out 20 batters and issued 13 free passes over 24 innings, and it's clear he has fallen out of favor in the bullpen pecking order. Weems is a candidate to find himself back in AAA Rochester relatively soon, as he is basically one step above Tanner Rainey in terms of trust and confidence in the bullpen right now. His stock is down as his numbers go down as well.
Update: Jordan Weems came into the game against the Braves on 6/9/24 in the 9th inning with a 6-run lead and surrendered a single, walk, 3-run homer, and single without retiring a hitter. Luckily, Kyle Finnegan was able to come in and put out the unexpected fire to earn his 18th save in 20 chances.
Honorable Mentions: Nasim Nuñez, Joey Gallo
What do you think about the bounce back of my 2024 June Nationals Stock Report? Do you think I missed anyone? Do you think anyone was incorrectly placed? As always, please let me know by tweeting me on X@DCBerk.
All stats in this article were provided by Baseball Reference and ESPN.com.