There are a lot of interesting names to watch this spring, but here are the five I am keeping my eye on
With the first Nationals Spring Training game coming on Saturday, it feels like it is time to discuss some of the players worth monitoring. This is a big year in the development of a lot of the Nationals prized youngsters. Whether it is going from a big leaguer to a big league star, a minor leaguer to a major leaguer or just rising up the minor league totem pole, 2025 is a massive opportunity for the Nats young talent. Here are five guys I will be keeping a close eye on.
- Brady House
After a disappointing 2024 season, Spring Training is a huge chance for Brady House to regain momentum. He posted a sub .700 OPS last season, and ran into issues that stemmed from chasing far too much. However, the 21 year old is still supremely talented and has the trust of the organization. Not going after a big time third baseman shows that the Nats still believe House can be the third baseman of the future.
He has a non-roster invitation to camp and should see plenty of action this spring. One thing I will be looking out for is the quality of his at bats. Is he controlling the strike zone, or are the big league pitchers he is facing forcing him to expand the zone. While I doubt that House breaks camp with the team, a big spring could put him in position to be the next man up at third base.
2. DJ Herz
DJ Herz is the pitcher I am most excited to see in West Palm Beach. He will be battling it out for one of the final spots in the Nats rotation. Herz has the highest ceiling of anyone in the competition. He has generated a ton of swings and misses through out his minor league career and that translated to the big leagues. Herz has the stuff to be a true breakout.
As long as Herz is throwing strikes, which has been a problem for him at times, I would have a hard time denying him a rotation spot. His fastball plays so much harder than its velocity due to its deception. The 24 year old southpaw also features a plus changeup that just flutters past hitters bats. There is a ton to be excited about here and I can’t wait to watch him pitch.
3. Shinnosuke Ogasawara
Ogasawara makes this list because most Nationals fans have probably never seen him pitch in a live game. I can’t say I have watched a ton of NPB games over the years. Ogasawara is the first player the Nationals have ever signed directly from Asia. This only adds to the intrigue of the 27 year old left hander. How will he adapt to his new situation and will his stuff play in North America?
Those are questions we will get at least some answers this spring. While Ogasawara does not have a powerful arsenal, averaging around 90 MPH. However, he has a lot of different pitches and has a lot of deception. If he looks impressive during camp, he will have a good chance of winning a spot in the rotation.
4. Jose A Ferrer
Jose A Ferrer is the bullpen arm with the biggest upside for me. After being on the shelf for a lot of last season, he was excellent in the last couple months of the season. His stuff looked better than ever, and he was also throwing a ton of strikes, walking less than 5% of batters. Davey Martinez was trusting him more and more in high leverage situations as the season came to a close.
This year, he will be relied upon to be a high leverage arm in the bullpen. I would not be surprised if he gets some looks as the closer. Right now new signing Jorge Lopez is the favorite to get the 9th innings. However, the job is wide open. Unless the Nats decide to bring back Kyle Finnegan, or a guy like David Robertson, Ferrer will likely get a crack at the ninth at some point. Look to see if Ferrer’s near 3 MPH velocity jump from 2023 to 2024 can be sustained.
5. Robert Hassell III
Once seen as a massive piece of the Juan Soto trade, Robert Hassell III has lost a bit of luster after injuries and some struggles in the minor leagues. However, he had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, and will look to keep that momentum going into 2025. Hassell is now on the 40 man roster, having been protected from the Rule 5 draft. That means an MLB debut could be on the horizon.
With a huge spring, he could force his way onto the opening day roster as the fourth outfielder, but more seasoning in Triple-A is the most likely option. What I am looking for with Hassell is impact at the plate. His contact ability and feel to hit have never been a question, but the power has not developed the way it was expected to. Some of that is connected to his litany of wrist and hamate issues he finally seems to have overcome. If Hassell can add even a little bit of extra base thump, it would go a long way in securing his big league future. Hassell could be the next man up if there is an injury in the outfield.
There are plenty of other guys to watch, but these are five more under the radar guys I am looking at. For guys like Dylan Crews, James Wood, Mackenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, I am more interested in seeing what they do once the season starts. They are locks to make the roster and spring training is more of an opportunity for them to get sharp. For the guys on my list, they all have something to prove and there are high stakes in their spring performances.