When will the Nationals' top prospects make their Major League debuts?
Spring Training is coming to a close and roster decisions are being made, meaning many top prospects around the league are being optioned to the minors. Will any of the Nationals' top prospects make the cut? And if not, when will they make their debuts in Washington?
The Nationals are looking at another season of bad baseball in 2024 with another underwhelming roster at the Major League level. There are bright spots to look forward to, like MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams and Josiah Gray, but overall, Mike Rizzo has yet again assembled a weak on-field product. However, that doesn't mean there won't be some excitement this season, as the Nationals have several top prospects knocking on the door of the big leagues. But when can Nationals fans expect to see some of them at Nationals Park?
1. OF Dylan Crews - ETA: August/September 2024
Selected by the Washington Nationals with the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Dylan Crews is already one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He has struggled a bit in Spring Training, but the tools are there for him to reach the level of superstar. He'll likely start his season in Double-A or Triple-A, so it probably won't be until August or September when he makes his big league debut. However, if he tears it up in the minors, he could be at Nationals Park sooner than expected.
2. OF James Wood - ETA: July/August 2024
Wood has had a monster spring, slashing .325/.460/.625 with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases in 19 games, and hopefully he will be able to carry that momentum into the regular season. He ended his 2023 season at Double-A Harrisburg and he will probably start the 2024 season there as well, even if many fans were clamoring for him to make the Opening Day roster. Wood will almost certainly make it to the majors at some point this season, likely mid or late summer, and if he performs as he has in the spring during the regular season, then he could be up even sooner.
3. 3B Brady House - ETA: 2025
After a 2022 season marred by injuries, Brady House finally put together a healthy campaign in 2023, making it up to Double-A Harrisburg. At just 20 years old, House has immense offensive potential and there is no reason for him to be rushed to the majors. He still has some issues, most notably his tendency to chase pitches outside of the zone, so he will need some more time in the minors to work on those. Barring an injury at the major league level or a great performance in the minors, House probably won't see the major leagues until 2025.
4. SP Cade Cavalli - ETA: June/July 2024
Cade Cavalli won't be making his major league debut in 2024, as that came back in 2022, but he will hopefully be able to become a mainstay in the Nationals' rotation. Cavalli missed all of 2023 after he tore his ulnar collateral ligament during Spring Training, which required Tommy John surgery. He is projected to return in June, although it may be July if he has some rehab starts in the minors.
5. 3B Yohandy Morales - ETA: 2025
The Nationals drafted Yohandy Morales in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft and he quickly made his way up to Double-A Harrisburg, slashing .349/.423/.494 in 42 games across four different levels of the minors. He hit very well, although he didn't hit any homeruns, something which was a big focal point of his scouting report. He did, however, hit the ball hard and hit a lot of line drives, so he will likely be at least an average hitter. He is the player furthest from making his debut among the players on this list, but Morales will probably make his way up to the majors by 2025.