Washington Nationals

TRACK RECORD: Mendoza led the Atlantic Coast Conference in walks and on-base percentage in 2019 and helped lead Florida State to two College World Series trips in his three years in Tallahassee. He signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2019 and immediately made the switch from third base to first base at low Class A Hagerstown. He reported to the alternate training site in August after what he called a "minimal" experience with Covid-19.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Nationals would like Mendoza to take more early-count swings, but he's begun to show more power to his pull side and use his legs better. His swing tends to get too long, but he has as much power potential as anybody in the system and shows enough feel for the barrel to project as an average hitter. He needs to make more consistent contact. Mendoza returned to third base at the alternate site and showed soft hands, above-average arm strength and improving footwork. His size still makes him a likely first baseman long term.

THE FUTURE: Mendoza will be tested by pitchers with better command at the upper levels. He'll take his first crack against them in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Nationals' player development staff was pleased to add Cluff to the system as a 2019 sixth-round pick for just $200,000. The quick, twitchy athlete served a two-year Mormon mission but didn't miss a beat upon his return to Brigham Young, where he hit .327/.458/.518 in his draft year. Cluff made his pro debut at low Class A Hagerstown and chased too many pitches en route to batting .229/.320/.367 in 62 games. The Nationals made him a late addition to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cluff primarily worked on hitting to all fields at the alternate site, where he was challenged by more experienced pitchers. He has sneaky power in his bat and is improving at getting the barrel to the ball. He tends to get pull happy, which takes away his ability to line the ball to the gaps and rack up doubles and triples. Cluff is an advanced defender with a strong arm who is capable of sticking at shortstop. The Nationals rave about his makeup.

THE FUTURE: Cluff should start at high Class A once the 2021 minor league season begins. The Nationals see him as at least a potential super-utility option.

TRACK RECORD: Infante emerged early as one of the most well-rounded prep shortstops in the 2020 draft class and got off to a hot start in the spring before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the high school season. The Nationals drafted him 71st overall and signed him for an above-slot $1 million to forgo a Miami commitment. Infante made his organizational debut at instructional league, where he impressed team officials with his maturity.

SCOUTING REPORT: Infante has average or above-average tools across the board as well as strong intangibles. He has soft hands, some pull-side power and a good head on his shoulders. Infante is advanced for a high school draftee, especially when it comes to defensive fundamentals. His plus arm is his strongest tool and he has dynamic infield actions to go with sound instincts. Infante tends to drift in his swing and he needs to show he can make more consistent contact, but he has the raw ingredients to be an average hitter in time. His passion for the game gives him a chance to be a quick learner.

THE FUTURE: Infante's defense and intangibles make him arguably the most promising shortstop in the Nationals' system. How his bat comes along will determine if he reaches his everyday potential.

TRACK RECORD: Romero's impressive slider and changeup helped make him the 25th overall pick in 2017, but off-the-field troubles and Tommy John surgery delayed his progress. He never pitched above low Class A until 2020, when the Nationals brought him to their alternate training site and called him up for his major league debut in August. Romero made only three relief appearances before he injured his non-pitching hand when he caught himself during a fall, ending his season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Romero's fastball is a bit down from what he showed in college--he topped at 93 mph in his big league stint--but his low-80s, potentially plus slider has become even nastier. The development of his low-80s changeup, which he can throw well to both sides of the plate, is a separator. Romero is fearless and attacks the zone. He throws all of his pitches for strikes with average control.

THE FUTURE: Romero will continue developing as a starter in the minors. His durability and health will determine if he can stay in that role or has to transition to relief.

TRACK RECORD: Pineda signed with the Nationals for $450,000 out of Venezuela in 2016 and impressed his first two years in short-season ball. He made the jump to low Class A Hagerstown in 2019 and struggled with strike zone discipline, batting .217/.278/.305. The Nationals still brought him to their alternate training site in 2020 and he finished the year in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pineda showed growth and maturity at the alternate site and at instructional league, providing hope his poor 2019 was a mirage. A bat-first catcher, Pineda has a quick swing, above-average raw power and crushes fastballs. He's been undone by breaking balls in the past, but he has learned to take more pitches and put himself in better counts. Pineda's size and strong arm give him a good foundation as a catcher. His mobility is limited and his defensive skills need polish, but he is making progress.

THE FUTURE: Pineda should see high Class A in 2021. He has a chance to emerge as a part-time catcher if he can sustain his offensive improvements.

TRACK RECORD: Barrera earned all-star honors at high Class A and Double-A en route to making his major league debut in 2019. He was in line for more big league time in 2020 but was suspended for the season after testing positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid on Major League Baseball's banned substance list. Barrera said he was wrongfully suspended based on "junk science" and filed a class action lawsuit against MLB, the commissioner's office, two testing labs and a director of one of the labs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Barrera's strength is his defense. He's an excellent receiver, controls the running game with solid arm strength and a quick exchange and shows the requisite leadership skills for catching. He's a slow runner but makes up for it with good short-area quickness and athleticism behind the plate. Barrera is more of a contact hitter than a power bat offensively, but he has held his own at every stop. He keeps his hands inside the ball, has a repeatable swing and has decent strike-zone discipline.

THE FUTURE: Barrera was reinstated from the restricted list at the end of the season and played in the Dominican League in the winter. He has a chance to be a backup catcher and should be ready to assume that role in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Marte signed for $300,000 during the 2018 international signing period and had a loud debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. He tied for second in the league in triples, tied for his team lead in home runs and reeled off a 17-game hitting streak toward the end of the season. He reported to instructional league in 2020 and was one of the top standouts in camp.

SCOUTING REPORT: Still a teenager, Marte has made big improvements in a short time. He's a toolsy, powerfully built center fielder with a strong arm and plus speed. He has a short bat-to-the-ball approach and has improved his patience at the plate. He hits line drives to all fields and doesn't over-swing. Marte has gained 20 pounds since signing and has a good deal of untapped power potential. In instructional league games, he homered into the wind twice--once at home and once at cavernous Jupiter. The organization likes his confidence and his aggressiveness.

THE FUTURE: Marte is one of the most exciting, high-energy players in the system. He'll make his stateside debut in 2021 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

TRACK RECORD: Braymer has steadily risen up the minors since signing for $100,000 in 2016 after one season at Auburn. He won the Nationals' minor league co-pitcher of the year award in 2018, was added to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season and made his major league debut in 2020. He made three appearances for the Nationals, highlighted by five scoreless innings in a start against the Marlins on Sept. 20.

SCOUTING REPORT: The key for Braymer is locating his curveball. When it's on, it's an above-average sweeper that's particularly tough on lefthanded hitters. His fastball sits in the upper 80s but has decent carry through the zone. His upper-70s changeup has the potential to give him an armside option to keep righthanded hitters off-balance. Braymer succeeded both as a starter and in relief after his callup and has the ability to fill multiple roles on a pitching staff. He struggled with walks in his brief debut but showed average control throughout his minor league career.

THE FUTURE: Braymer is tentatively slated to open 2021 as a starter in Triple-A. He could feasibly settle in as a spot starter, long reliever or even middle reliever depending on the Nationals needs.

TRACK RECORD: Powell touched 93 mph with his fastball as a high school senior and immediately became UCLA's closer as a freshman. He won college baseball's Stopper of the Year award as the top closer in the nation as a sophomore and finished second all time in UCLA history with 26 career saves. After Powell looked particularly dominant during the abbreviated 2020 college season, the Nationals drafted him in the third round and signed him for $500,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: Powell has the mix of power and poise that portends a future closer. His fastball comfortably averages 94-95 mph and touches 97 with solid sinking action. He backs his fastball up with a wipeout 82-86 mph slider that is at least a plus pitch and potentially more. He has better command of his slider than his fastball. Powell is not overly physical, but he's strong and adds some deception with his arm action. He had some trouble with control as an underclassmen but was lights-out in 2020 and pounded the strike zone.

THE FUTURE: Powell has present stuff that should help him move quickly. As long as his control gains hold, he has a future in late relief.

TRACK RECORD: It's been a long, slow climb for Fuentes, who signed with the Nationals out of Panama in 2013. He failed to stand out most of his career and his breakout 2019 at Double-A was cut short when was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Despite a delayed arrival at the alternate training site, Fuentes impressed team officials at camp, continued in instructional league and in a fall league in his native Panama. The Nationals added him to the 40-man roster after the season, just before he was set to hit minor league free agency.

SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes keeps the ball on the ground with his low-to-mid-90s sinker. He has allowed just two home runs in his last 148 innings over his past two minor league seasons, while posting ground ball rates north of 50%. He has good command of his sinker and his plus changeup mirrors the pitch, allowing him to keep hitters off-balance. He also has a slider he can mix in. Fuentes has mostly worked in relief but was effective as a starter at Double-A Harrisburg. He's learning to repeat his east-west delivery and has flashed above-average control.

THE FUTURE: Fuentes lacks huge stuff but knows how to mix his offerings effectively. He's in position for his major league debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Quintana signed with the Nationals for $820,000 out of Venezuela during the 2019 international signing period. His expected pro debut in 2020 was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he impressed Nationals officials at instructional league, including hitting a home run off Seth Romero in live batting practice.

SCOUTING REPORT: Quintana has gained so much strength since signing that his build has been compared to a young Yasiel Puig. His bat will be his carrying tool. He already shows an aptitude for laying off breaking balls out of the strike zone and keeping his lower half stable. He has a feel to hit and legitimate plus power potential. Quintana stays through the ball and drives pitches to right-center field. A leg injury kept him out for part of instructional league, but he was healthy by the end of camp and consistently getting into a good hitting position. As he matures, Quintana will likely move from center field to right field.

THE FUTURE: The Nationals think Quintana is primed for a breakout in 2021. He'll make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

TRACK RECORD: Dyson went 4-0, 3.23 in 39 innings as a dynamic freshman for the 2017 College World Series-champion Florida Gators. He wasn't quite as effective the following two seasons as a weekend starter, but the Nationals still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $500,000. Dyson posted a 1.07 ERA in starts after signing, enhancing the Nationals belief they got a good value.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dyson attacks the strike zone with his mid-90s fastball and potentially plus slider. He also has confidence in his curveball and changeup, which work well in combination. After metrics revealed the natural sink on his fastball, he added a two-seamer to what is now a five-pitch arsenal. An infielder for much of his high school career, Dyson is a good athlete who repeats his mechanics well. He's also well prepared, having pitched in big games in college.

THE FUTURE: Dyson has the pitch mix to remain a starter. He's ready for his first full minor league season in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: A three-year starter and all-Big 12 Conference performer at Oklahoma, Irvin signed for $550,000 as a fourth-round pick in 2018 and has been a workhorse in the Nationals' system. He went at least five innings in 20 of his 25 starts in 2019 and finished the year strong, earning an invitation to the alternate training site in 2020. Irvin spent the summer pitching against more experienced players, but he suffered an elbow injury and had Tommy John surgery in October.

SCOUTING REPORT: Irvin has plenty of stuff and impressed Nationals manager Dave Martinez with his 94-97 mph fastball in a simulated game at Nationals Park. He also has a plus, power curveball that he throws in the 78-80 mph range and has at least an average changeup. Irvin has improved at attacking hitters and throwing inside, and he's capable of missing more bats. His mix and his durability give him a chance to remain a starter, but his arm action may be more suited toward relieving.

THE FUTURE: Irvin will miss the entire 2021 season recovering from surgery. His future outlook will depend on what his stuff looks like when he returns.

TRACK RECORD: With a $50,000 signing bonus, Adon was a seemingly small piece in the Nationals' international spending bonanza of 2016 that saw them spend more than $5 million. But he has already surpassed many of the players who signed for more. Adon went 11-3, 3.86 for low Class A Hagerstown in 2019 and impressed at the alternate training site in 2020. The Nationals added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Adon has a 95-96 mph fastball, a power slider and a changeup that has become effective against lefthanded and righthanded hitters. The workload of more than 100 innings with Hagerstown helped him improve at repeating his delivery and showing more consistent mechanics. He attacks the zone with all three of his pitches and brings good energy to the mound. Still, his control is below-average, leading many evaluators to project him to the bullpen.

THE FUTURE: Adon's control will determine if he stays in the rotation. His power stuff could play in relief.

TRACK RECORD: Reetz signed out of high school for $800,000 in 2014 instead of playing baseball at Nebraska, where his father was a linebacker on the football team. After scuffling at the plate throughout his pro career and spending a third straight season at high Class A, Reetz's bat finally broke out when he hit .282/.378/.563 with 12 home runs in 174 at-bats in the second half of 2019. The Nationals brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Reetz has continued to make progress at the plate, namely by improving his bat path by allowing his hands to do more of the work. He has average to above-average power and has made progress in his strike-zone recognition skills and hitting to the right-center field gap. He still has a long way to go, but Reetz is at least moving in the right direction offensively. Defensively, Reetz has soft hands in receiving and is a good blocker behind the plate. He has a quick exchange and average arm strength. Reetz is a hard worker and good teammate, endearing him to scouts and coaches alike.

THE FUTURE: Reetz's offensive developments give him a shot to be a backup catcher. He'll make the move to Double-A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Marlins took Sharp from the Nationals in the 2019 Rule 5 draft, even after he missed three months because of an oblique injury. Sharp's worst major league outing of 2020 was his last one, when he gave up five runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning against the Nationals. Less than a week later, he cleared waivers and was returned to Washington.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp's 89-93 mph sinker and extreme groundball rate in Double-A made for an intriguing possibility in the Marlins' bullpen, but they couldn't hold a roster spot for him once they became a playoff contender. Aside from his sinker, Sharp throws an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and a low-80s breaking ball. He hides the ball and repeats his delivery well, but he struggled with his control in the big leagues. He has a lean build but has gained strength without hurting the athleticism he shows in his slam dunks on the basketball court.

THE FUTURE: A starter throughout his minor league career, Sharp's best route for long-term success is likely as a groundball-inducing reliever. He'll continue on a more typical trajectory in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Arias signed with the Nationals during the 2017 international signing period and immediately stood out for his big power potential from the left side. He had a strong pro debut in the Dominican Summer League before struggling in his stateside debut in 2019, especially facing lefthanded pitchers. The Nationals brought him to instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Arias has a slender build but immense power. He has grown more explosive in his legs as he's matured and is working on getting into a stronger hitting position that will give him more leverage. Arias is willing to work counts, but he still swings and misses too much. It may be a prolonged process for the Nationals to try to get the most out of his powerful swing. Arias isn't known for his speed, but he moves well enough to be an average corner outfielder defensively. He also has the ability to play first base.

THE FUTURE: Arias' main focus is on getting physically stronger. That, combined with some swing development, could make him a breakout power threat.

TRACK RECORD: Tetreault began his college career as a reliever at Division II Cameron (Okla.) before transferring to State JC of Florida, He struck out 105 batters in 80.1 innings as a sophomore and signed with the Nationals for $400,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2017. Tetrault cruised through the lower minors, but he hit a wall at Double-A Harrisburg in 2019. He logged a 4.73 ERA, had the highest walk rate and the lowest strikeout rate of his career.

SCOUTING REPORT: With a fast, whippy delivery, Tetreault is able to maintain the 93-95 mph velocity on his fastball, which still makes him a candidate for a starting role. His curveball is a work in progress, but it showed a later and sharper break in instructional league than it has in the past. His changeup is a fringe-average pitch. Tetreault is working on staying on the rubber longer and using more of the strength in his legs. His control is below-average.

THE FUTURE: Tetreault's velocity might tick up with a move to the bullpen. With a questionable third pitch and control, that is his best avenue to the majors.

TRACK RECORD: Banks won MVP of the 2016 Southeastern Conference tournament after hitting two home runs in the championship-clinching victory over Florida. He signed with the Nationals for $500,000 as a fourth-round pick. After slowly moving through the lower minors, Banks won MVP of the high Class A Carolina League all-star game in 2019 and received a promotion to Double-A, where he hit. 288/.358/.410 in 45 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Banks is a line-drive hitter who makes plenty of contact. His plate discipline is iffy at times and he has had to work to use his legs in his swing better, limiting his power production to fringe-average, although he does hit a lot of doubles. He has some pull power and shows glimpses of it in games. Banks is a capable defender at all three outfield spots. He primarily plays the corners and is a smart runner who uses his instincts to cover ground in the outfield and be an efficient basestealer.

THE FUTURE: Banks profiles as a potential fourth outfielder. He should begin 2021 in Triple-A and has a chance to make his major league debut during the season.

TRACK RECORD: Schaller missed his freshman year at Vanderbilt after having Tommy John surgery, but he returned the following season and struck out 39 batters in 28.2 innings. The Nationals selected him in the third round as a rare draft-eligible redshirt freshman. After making two starts in college, Schaller has been a starter exclusively in the Nationals system. He went 4-3, 3.29 in 12 starts at low Class A Hagerstown in 2019 and went to instructional league in 2020.

Scouting Report: Schaller is a physical, power pitcher who relies on his fastball. His fastball sits 93-95 mph as a starter with late hop and has touched 99 in relief. He can locate his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate and is able to dominate with it. Schaller is working on repeating the action of his potentially average slider and shows good feel for a late-dropping changeup, but both pitches are inconsistent. His fringe-average control is another area targeted for improvement. Schaller got stronger during the pandemic and looked good in limited action in 2020. He takes a cerebral approach and enjoys studying the technology of pitching.

The Future: Schaller projects as a reliever long-term, but he’ll continue starting for now. He’s a strong candidate for a multiple-innings role.