A couple days ago, MLB Pipeline released their October update to the Top 100 Prospects list, with this update only involving players that needed significant upward and downward movement rather than an entirely new list. With that being said, who were the 4 Nats Prospects to make the list?
OF Dylan Crews - #1
This one is no surprise. Dylan Crews, who became the #1 Prospect in baseball a couple of weeks ago, should retain his grasp on the top spot on this list until his graduation next season. The fact that he was able to get his first taste of MLB action and at least hold his own was very encouraging, and one more Spring Training and hopefully some added bats around him, James Wood, CJ Abrams, and others in next year's lineup should help him to see better pitches as well.
RHP Travis Sykora - MLB #79
Our first real riser, Travis Sykora ended the MiLB season as the 92nd-ranked prospect in the sport, but finds himself up 13 spots to 79 with the latest update. The only surprise here honestly is that he wasn't moved higher, as Sykora's stock overall has had some serious helium to wrap up the MiLB season, capped by his stellar performance in the Carolina League Championship. He should start next year at High-A Wilmington, unless the organization decides to get extremely aggressive and begin him at AA Harrisburg, as the team has shown a tendency to challenge their youngsters a little bit before they're ready.
3B Brady House - MLB #84
Up next we have our biggest faller of the update in 3B Brady House. He is coming off a year split between AA Harrisburg and AAA Rochester, and the fact that he was able to put up solid numbers while never facing a pitcher younger than him at either level is certainly respectable. However, there are some very legitimate questions to his profile right now, and I do believe some more time against AAA pitching will serve the 21-year-old House well. He ended the regular season as the #64 prospect in baseball, so he ended up falling 20 spots overall, but more notably lost his hold on the 2nd-ranked prospect in the organization. I want to make one thing clear, the kid is going to be just fine, every player develops at their own speed. It's better for him to take longer to break through and have fewer setbacks once he makes the show than to be shuttled back and forth trying to figure things out like the Orioles have done with Jackson Holliday.
RHP Jarlin Susana - MLB #90
Finally we have our other flamethrowing righty with a lot of helium to his prospect stock. Jarlin Susana, the "other" prospect we got in the Juan Soto deal, saw his stock rise dramatically this year, as he went from being pegged by many as the Nats' closer of the future to a young arm with legitimate starter potential down the line. The fact that he's even a part of the Top 100 list speaks volumes to what scouts around the league think of the 20-year-old righty, and his development will sure be fun to watch heading into next season.