BY DAN GLICKMAN
Every season, the Major League Baseball website publishes a list of each franchise’s top 30 prospects. The Washington Nationals are no different: head to MLB’s website, and you can find it. In 2024, however, Rochester Red Wings fans only need to go to Innovative Field.
That’s because, for the first time in the Nationals era, 2024 will likely see several of the parent club’s top prospects pass through. In fact, three of the best prospects in all of baseball may wear a Red Wings uniform this season.
It’s a far cry from the early years of the Washington affiliation, which began during the 2021 season as a result of MLB’s restructuring of the minors. At the time, many evaluators rated them as one of the worst farm systems in baseball. Now, they are regarded as one of the best.
What isn’t clear is whether that will translate to on-field success. The Red Wings have yet to record a winning record under the Nationals.
Here are some players and storylines that could change that:
The Big Three
Three Nationals prospects are among MLB.com’s top 100 prospects: Outfielders Dylan Crews (No. 7) and James Wood (No. 14), and third baseman Brady House (No. 48). Of the three, only Wood will start the season with the team.
Often playing center field, Wood is a 21-year-old from Maryland acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade in 2022. Standing at 6-foot-6, he comes from a basketball family: his father played professionally in Europe, his sister played Division I for Northwestern, and his uncle, Howard Wood, had a brief stint in the NBA. Baseball has proven to be his calling, however. In 231 career minor league games across four minor league levels, the left-hander is hitting .291 in 850 at-bats with an impressive .915 OPS. While he struggled late in the season at AA Harrisburg, he had an excellent spring with the Nationals this year, hitting .364 with an outstanding 1.214 OPS (the highest in all of baseball) and four home runs in 44 at-bats. Some wondered if he could jump straight to the big leagues, but ultimately, he will come to Rochester to start the year. Depending on how long his stay is, he may be joined by Robert Hassell III, another outfielder acquired in the Soto deal and MLB.com’s eighth-best Nationals prospect.
The next of the big three is one of the most famous prospects in baseball: Dylan Crews. Last season, the Floridian led LSU to a College World Series title, winning the Golden Spikes Award (the baseball equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) in the process. Expected by many to be drafted by the Pirates with the first pick in the draft, he fell to the Nationals at two and then rapidly moved up the Nationals system before finishing the year at AA. Struggles in Harrisburg and in spring training mean that he will start this season in AA, but a hot start there will likely bring him up to Rochester by mid-year. It’s possible, although not necessarily likely, that the series between Rochester and Indianapolis June 25-30 could have a very special treat for local baseball fans: Paul Skenes, Crews’ LSU teammate and the man who jumped him in the draft last season, will start the season for Pittsburgh’s AAA affiliate. That means the first professional matchup of last year’s two best college players may happen at Innovative Field.
The last of the big three is Brady House. He’s also the youngest: just 20 years old, drafted out of high school in 2021. The Georgian has hit well since entering the minors, including batting .312 across three levels of play last season with an OPS of .862 in 340 ABs. Originally a shortstop, the Nationals moved him to third base last season to take advantage of his strong arm. After finishing last season by hitting well in Harrisburg, House should be in Rochester soon.
Familiar Faces
Not every player this season will be new. Several Red Wings return for another year of action.
Chief among them are two of the most popular players on the 2023 squad: 2B/OF Darren Baker (the No. 27 Nationals prospect) and OF Travis Blankenhorn. Baker entered last season as a notable name because he is the son of future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker (and was famously the San Francisco Giants batboy saved by J.T. Snow from a possible collision in the 2002 World Series). He soon showed he was far more than just a famous last name, hitting .273 while stealing 19 bases and playing all over the field. At the end of the season, he was named fans’ most popular player. Blankenhorn, meanwhile, was named the team’s MVP after hitting 23 home runs- the most for a Red Wings left-handed hitter in a season since Garrett Jones hit that number in 2008.
Other familiar names that Red Wings fans can expect to see this season include hard-throwing righty Cade Cavalli (likely to make rehab starts with the Red Wings later in the season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery), fellow righty (and No. 15 Nationals prospect) Jackson Rutledge, catcher (No. 20 Nationals prospect) Drew Millas, infielder Jake Alu, starter Joan Adon, catcher Brady Lindsly, third baseman Carter Kieboom, and reliever Amos Willingham. Outfielder Jacob Young (No. 18 Nationals prospect) and left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker (No. 22 Nationals prospect), who both made appearances for the Red Wings late last season, also return.
And, of course, the most familiar face of all: Matt LeCroy returns for his fourth season as Red Wings manager. LeCroy says he likes the depth the squad has this season, particularly in the starting rotation: all five of the starters on the opening day roster are on Washington’s 40-man roster, meaning the big club considers them ready enough to be called up on a moment’s notice.
The Streak Lives!
In the second game of a doubleheader on Apr. 8 last season, the Red Wings were shut out. They haven’t been since, a streak of 139 games with at least one run. That’s the longest in the International League since at least 2005 and the longest for a Red Wings team since at least the 1997 Governor’s Cup champion team. Scoring every game is no guarantee for winning games, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
More Names To Know
Infielder Trey Lipscomb, the 16th-best prospect in the Nationals’ organization according to MLB.com, will start the season in Rochester after being one of the biggest surprises of spring training for Washington, hitting .400 in 50 at-bats. With plenty of other players fighting for starting spots, it’s likely he’ll be moving from position to position throughout his time in Rochester as a true utility man.
Besides Rutledge and a potentially-rehabbing Cavalli, the top pitching prospect expected to come to Rochester this year is lefty DJ Herz. The No. 12 prospect in the Nationals system, Herz was acquired last season from the Cubs for Jeimer Candelario. He has a career 3.64 ERA in 74 career minor league starts, but at 23 this will be his first season in AAA.
Israel Pineda, Washington’s No. 26 prospect, will likely split time with Millas and Lindsly at catcher this season. Pineda is well-regarded for his arm (throwing out over 40% of would-be base stealers last season), but struggled last season at the plate due to injuries.
Dates to Know
The Red Wings open play on Friday, Mar. 29, at Syracuse at 2:05 PM.
Their home opener is Tuesday, Apr. 2, at 4:05 PM against Lehigh Valley. From Apr. 5 through 7, they and the Iron Pigs will wear space-themed uniforms to celebrate the coming eclipse.
The first Rochester Plates night of the season comes on Thursday, Apr. 18, against Toledo at 6:05 PM.
The first fireworks display of the year is Friday, May 17, against Buffalo.
Local Yankee fans will get a chance to see their AAA affiliate starting Tuesday, Jun. 11. That series will feature several promotions, including a tribute to the movie Napoleon Dynamite (with a visit from Efren Ramirez, who played Pedro in the film) on Tuesday, a Hawaiian Shirt giveaway on Thursday, a visit from former Red Wing and longtime MLB outfielder Denard Span for Negro Leagues Night on Jun. 14, as well as two nights of fireworks and a Father’s Day celebration on Sunday.
The Indianapolis series June 25-30, which could see a Crews-Skenes matchup, will include several days of superhero “Defenders of the Diamond” celebration, Pride Night, and fireworks.
The Wings again host Jul. 4 this season, with fireworks, special jerseys, and an American Flag giveaway planned. That series with Buffalo will also see Military Appreciation Night, the ZOOperstars (Jul. 5), and the annual RPO concert (Jul. 6).
Saturday, Jul. 27, will be Christmas in July, complete with a unique bobblehead: Matthew LeCroy dressed as Santa Claus.
This year’s tribute to The Office is Thursday, Aug. 1. David Koechner, who played recurring character Todd Packer on the show, will be the guest this year.
The season’s final series will begin Tuesday, Sept. 17, when the Red Wings will host the Iowa Cubs for the first time ever at Innovative Field. The home finale is Sunday, Sept. 22.
The full promotional schedule for Rochester can be found here.
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