We are just two days away from the 2024 MLB Draft, and the Nats hold the 10th overall pick. Ryan has his eyes on 3 players who could be an instant blue chip kind of prospect for the Nats. Who will it be? It's a Friday so we give you your Nats prospect stock report, who;s been up and who's been down? We discuss that here! Lastly, we preview the Nats-Brewers series as Jackson Rutledge makes his 2024 debut.
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It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. As we are just two days away from the Major League Baseball draft, you look at the Nationals and where they stand at number 10, there's a lot of intriguing options, but we have narrowed them down to three. What are the three options for the Nationals? I'll explain after this. You are Lockdown Nationals, your daily Washington Nationals podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. And thank you all for making Lockdown Nationals your first list in every single day as we are free and available. And wherever you get your podcast, and of course I'm your host Ryan Claire, you can catch me over on Twitter @RyanClaire11 and as well as our show page @ello_nationals. For our latest Nationals news and notes, make sure to check us out over on Twitter and of course while you're at it, make sure to search up Lockdown Nationals wherever you get your podcast, including over on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, please or not, hit a thumbs down if you want. If you don't like it, it's whatever. That's up to you. It's your provocative. So you do what you want to do. Later on in today's show, we'll be previewing the Nat's Brewer series as they get shipped up to Milwaukee after having a pretty tough series against New York Mets. We're going to forget about it. The Nationals are on this really tough stretch, but again, let's say Friday, it is always a loaded show on a Friday, second segment, and it's a Nat's Prospect Stock Report, which prospects have been killing it, which ones have not been killing it? We'll have that Prospect Stock Report for you in today's second segment, but two days from now, the MLB draft is on Sunday. This Sunday in Texas, where the all-star game is being played, the Nationals, you've got some intriguing options there sitting there at number 10 overall. And of course, the Nationals, you see the light at the end of the tunnel through this rebuild, got a lot of prospects. This gives them yet another opportunity to add to a very good farm system, a very top heavy farm system, although, but still a very good farm system overall. Who will the Nationals decide to go with? I've got three guys that I think fit the Nationals profiles for what they want at number 10 overall. But what should they do versus what will they do? Two very different things. I'll explain that, but today's episode is brought to you by booking.com, booking. Yeah, the right way, the right state can make you a fan of any city even in your rivals. So of course, check out booking.com for your stay today. And again, this episode of Lockdown Nationals is brought to you by booking.com. So we get into it because two days away from the MLB draft, how many times do I have to say that? Two days away from the MLB draft. What should happen versus what will happen? This is what should happen. The Nationals should get the best college bat or arm available. I lean towards a bat. I always have, and I always will. I think it is much easier to kind of project a college bat even more so than a college arm. Now, we've all kind of got caught up in the Paul Skeens hype recently. Paul Skeens has been incredible. He may be the best pitcher in all of baseball at this point. He went one, one last year to the Pittsburgh Pirates while the Nationals took Dylan Cruz at number two. But the Nationals should go the best college bat in my opinion. That is at least what I lean. The reason why I say that is because number one, I've always just felt that someone that can impact you over 162 games compared to 32, 33 starts, that just makes more sense. And while pitching means a lot, in some cases, maybe even October, probably means a little bit more than what a bat does in a non-person lineup, the Nationals, they have a track record. Am I a little hot and cold when it comes to the Nationals developing pitching? I am. And now sitting here right now, first off, let's tackle this right away. You never draft for need. You don't. But in some cases, you may kind of say, well, in this college guy, for instance, we have a hole in this position, he fits this role, taking them at number 10 overall. It makes a lot of sense. So yeah, maybe they do get swayed about what their needs are, but in reality of things, Microsoft will never draft based on need. No GM will ever do that in the Major League Baseball draft, especially in today's game. You will find a place to play for anybody out there who can hit. You will be able to find a place on the diamond, wherever position, whatever kind of role that they will play, they will get their playing time. Don't worry about that. Or they'll be traded. Simple as that. You see it all the time across baseball at this point. The reason why the national should get a college bat, even more so than a college arm, but even then I would not be upset with a college arm, by any means, I've got one guy for you to keep an eye on. We'll discuss this later on in the segment. But the national should go a college bat. In my opinion, the college bats in this year's draft class is very, very loaded in the top 10. You've got a lot of different guys that you can go with in my opinion. We'll get into one of those guys in my opinion who I think could follow the nationals at 10. So I think it's realistic, not really, but still there's a pretty solid chance of it. But this is what's going to happen. This is what will happen. Mike Rizzo will draft the best player available. It doesn't matter what level they're coming from. It doesn't matter what position he plays, and it certainly does not matter what his numbers were back in high school or college, he will bet he will draft the highest ceiling available. That is how Mike Rizzo constructs his draft. Think about it with this Elijah Green two years ago, massive ceiling, massive upside. There were safer picks in that draft, but Mike Rizzo went for the big home run. He drafted Elijah, Elijah Green. Has that worked out? No. But that is what Rizzo does. That is it is DNA from day one. He has always gone for the best player available. Under his tenure as nationals president of baseball ops/GM, they have never cut deals with anybody. Is that smart? I would probably say not necessarily. I think the nationals should probably go that route. But at this point in time, I'm not going to believe that they will do that because again, Mike Rizzo is still the boss. He still knows what he's doing. He has found impact players in the draft in years past. These last few draft class have been wildly impressive, including last year's class, which in my opinion, has been a slam dunk success. You now have an opportunity to add someone who will be an impact kind of prospect, a possibly blue chip kind of prospect, someone who maybe even could help you go into the next season. That's the kind of impact that the nationals could have drafting at number 10 in this year's draft. So let's get into it. Three player profiles that I think the nationals could be going for. Number one, shortstop slash outfielder, Connor Griffin from Mississippi out of high school there with the Jackson prep. His tools are off the charts. He's got a 50 hit tool, he's got 60 grade power, 65 grade run, 70 grade arm, 60 grade field needs overall a 60 grade prospect. This is the guy that you will see mocked to the nationals and almost all of them. He has a ton of talent, he's a big frame, six foot four kid, and really what I've watched him, he reminds me a lot of Brady house coming out of high school, a big kid, someone who I think is way more athletic than Brady houses, even back just three years ago in the nationals took him in the top 15 of that draft. But Connor Griffin reminds me a lot of Brady house at the plate, a very aggressive swing, right cans, so he's going to spray the ball all over the yard, can run like a DR, I believe he had 80 plus stolen bases this last year of high school, hitting bombs all over the place. And he is one of the better kind of higher ceiling guys in this year's draft class. He's going to be taken inside the top 10. If he's there at number 10, that's who I think the nationals will pick. We'll take a little bit of a longer time to develop him, absolutely. And you may be asking yourself, well, if he's a shortstop slash outfielder, the nationals, they've got plenty of those. They will find a place for Connor Griffin. I guarantee you that this is a big prospect, kind of a blue chip kind of guy. And if you was, let's say he was all the way through college at this point, he would probably be a top five pick in this year's draft. He's that good. So Connor Griffin is one guy to really keep an eye on him. Now here is my best possible scenario for this guy, Nick Kurtz, first baseman from Wake Forest, lefty bat, massive power, 65 grade power, a 60 grade hit tool, a 40 run tool, whatever, you're not running here first baseman and a 60 grade field. He's an overall 60 grade prospect. This is someone that may or may not slide in this year's draft. And if there was someone to slide in my opinion, it would probably be him because of the position that he plays. But if you were to take all things out of this, this is someone who could literally be in your opening day lineup to start 2024 or 2025 rather. That is kind of how good he is. He could be on that Wyatt Langford type trajectory where he's starting just a few months outside of being in a first round pick. That's how good I think Nick Kurtz is. Again, he's going to hit for average. He's going to hit for a lot of power up in the bigs as well, 30, 35 home runs a year kind of guy. That's what you can rely on. And really, we're talking about needs here and again, you don't draft for needs, but the nationals, they know what they need. You need a big power bet. You need a first baseman in your system. You don't really have any right now. You don't have anyone that you can say, this will be our future at first base. Now you do have money to spend in free agency. Maybe the nationals go that route and try to sign a Petalonzo type. Maybe you make a trade for someone. Maybe it's Juan Yepes. I don't know at this moment in time. But that's kind of the perfect dream scenario. Keep an eye on Nick Kurtz and see if he can follow the nationals at number 10. And if he does, you got to run in the podium and you're taking Nick Kurtz. This is someone who will help you going to next year when hopefully you're making a postseason run and again, massive power. So when he's going to help you at first base, a lefty bat again to get him with CJ Abrams and James Wood, Nick Kurtz could be a very exciting prospect to enter this nationals farm system. And last but not least, Trey a Savage, right handed pitcher from East Carolina. He is one of those high floors, not the highest of ceilings, but a very high floor in my opinion, which kind of goes against what the nationals do. I think this guy will be a very solid starting pitcher. I don't know if he's going to be your ace. I don't know if he'll be your number two even in this rotation. But this is someone who's going to enter your rotation and be a very good number three and possibly a very good number two. He's got a 60 grade fastball, a 50 grade curveball, a 60 grade slider and a 60 grade splitter. He's got solid control, hasn't walked all too many guys over the course of his career. But this is someone who really kind of broke out this year in East Carolina. Again, a right handed pitcher, he's not going to blow you away with anything. But still, he's a solid pitcher. This is someone who's on a lot of teams radarts and he's not going to make it past number 13 or even 15. He will be a top 15 pick in this year's draft class and he'll probably work his way up relatively quickly as well. Trega Savage is one of those guys where, again, a right handed pitcher, he doesn't necessarily fit what Rizzo looks for in a right handed pitcher. He's not blowing 100 miles per hour by someone. That's what Rizzo's always loved. But he is a safe pick. This is someone that would enter your system and would work his way up relatively quickly. And with fear of the Nationals right now, I would be thinking about that. I would be thinking about someone who can work their way up. Again, you never draft for needs or anything like that. But with where the Nationals stand, if you're not 100% confident that the learners will open up the checkbook this offseason assigned for agents, you've got to have that in the back of your mind. You can't just go into this thinking that, yeah, we'll have a couple of years to develop someone. If you're not going to be spending the money, you better have someone in the farm system who is ready to come up and make an impact. We're not a Dylan Cruz away from being a postseason team, will he help us? Absolutely. Will Brady help? House help us as well? Absolutely. But you need someone else. That is why going into this draft, it is a major thing to keep an eye out for the future. Don't learn or spend because that is a big overwhelming question that you have to think about in my opinion. Thank you all for making lockdown nationals your versus every single day as we are free and available. Wherever you get your podcasts, so now let's move-- ooh, sorry about that. Let's move on to a Nationals Prospect Stock Report as we got it for you right here right now. But let me tell you guys about our friends at booking.com and this episode of Lockdown Nationals is brought to you by booking.com. Booking. Yeah, with travel heating up, especially travel for baseball games, it's time to explore those US cities that you always secretly wanted to learn about. Yes, we're talking about your rivals cities with hotels, bed and breakfast, vacation rentals, resorts, and so much more on booking.com. You might just find your perfect stay even in your baseball rivals city. You're going up to Philadelphia here in the next few weeks. Maybe you want to go to Citizens Bank Park, get chirped at by some Phillies fans, but even better, you can find a very good deal at booking.com for a trip that will make your nice little week get away there and perfect. 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I'm sure you probably saw the highlight already as a lot of nationals fan accounts have already been posting them. But Victor Hurtado starting to turn around here, speaking of turning things around, Elijah Green has not been turning things around. Stock down for the 2022 first round pick, Elijah Green. It's not been good. It just has not been good. Over his last 18 games, 39 strikeouts and 74 at bats, he's got four extra base hits and now so far in 2024 in low-way Fredericksburg, he's got 141 strikeouts and 271 at bats. You're striking out in more than 50% of your at-bats in low-way. He is a 20-year-old now. Again, he still has all the talent in the world, but it just not, it has not clicked. You're not batting 200, you're not hitting for power. You're not doing the things that you need to do if you're going to be striking out at that rate. And even then, if you're doing those things while striking out in 50% of your at-bats, that's not good. Something has to be fixed, I don't know what the fix is, but at this point in time, you have to be wildly concerned about the prospect of Elijah Green. What will happen? How can the Nationals fix this? And even then, can they fix this? That is the big question. I don't know the answer at this point. It is unfortunate, but again, you cannot strike out in more than 50% of your at-bats, especially in low-way. It's not going to work. Stock up for Travis Sakura. So far, 11 starts in Fredericksburg. He's got a 2-7-8 ERA, 45 and a third innings pitch, only 26 hits, 15 walks, 63 strikeouts, a 0.9 whip, 5.2 hits per 9, 0.4 home runs per 9, 3 walks per 9, and 12 1/2 Ks per 9. The Nationals are doing it again. They are developing another arm, and this guy is filthy. He is going to be a top 70 prospect, in my opinion, within the next month. He will be up, and you'll be hearing people talk about him. He should be up in high-A Wilmington at this point. 20 years old, Travis Sakura has been wildly impressive so far in 2024. You have to feel good about this. You have to feel good about where his development is. And again, my only bad thing about this is why is he not up in high-A Wilmington? Why is he not working his way up through this system? He has proven it time and time again now. He has not had a really bad start at all so far in low-A. Get this kid up in high-A Wilmington. Put the pedal to the metal, as some people would say. Work this guy up. If he was a St. Nago Podra, this guy would be up in triple-A at this point. Jokes aside, he would probably be in double-A. Get this guy up, fly him up through the system. The Nationals don't work like that, and then that's fine. But get this guy up to high-A Wilmington, it's time. Stock down, for a name that we know, Stone Garrett. Not really a prospect, but think about this way. He's only played in 13 games since the start of June. Stone Garrett, at this time last year, is one of the better stories of the 2023 Nationals. He was really good, he was hit for power. Some people thought he had a pretty decent future with the Nationals. That is not the case at this point in time. Since the start of June, again, his only play in 13 games has been battling back, rehabbing from his injury that he broke his ankle in last year at Yankee Stadium. He's been in 204, a 291 OBP, a 367 slug, and a 658 OPS since the start of June. And again, it's only been in 13 games. I don't know what's going on with Stone Garrett. I don't know if the Nationals are not getting them in the at-bats any needs. I just simply don't have any answers at this moment in time. But I remember at this time last year, we were talking about Stone Garrett being a big difference maker and potentially someone who could be even a DH for this team down the line. It just has not worked out since he broke his ankle and that is an unfortunate thing. But that is why I reluctantly give him a stock down in this day's stock report. Stock up for Brady House, small sample size in Triple A, but again, you got to talk about him. In Triple A so far in three games, he's got two doubles, four hits in total, four strikeouts, zero walks, a nice little slash line around 833 OPS in Triple A so far. Brady House teeing up with Dylan Cruz, Triple A Rochester is yet again a must watch TV when they are on. Brady House is batting in the middle of that line up there. Dylan Cruz at the top of the line up. You got to love it. You got to see your top prospects do good things. Brady House is continuing to do that. Again, multiple extra breaks hit so far in his first three games, four hits in his first three games in total. You got to like what you got it. You got to like it. You just have to like it so far for Brady House. So that was your very quick national stock report. And again, it's time to preview the Mets, or not the Mets, the Brewers. Nat Sears, they get shipped up to Milwaukee. What will happen? What will the Nationals do? Will they finally, finally break this cold streak as they have lost so many games here of late? What will the Nationals do? We'll have that for you, but let me tell you guys about our friends over at Tech's Network USA and guys, he don't block the Nationals. We pride ourselves in getting you the latest news for your team, whether it's the offseason, the draft spring trading or the playoffs and it's year round, you and I'll see you around collection season. Just because tax season is over doesn't mean the IRS will stop coming after you for unfyled taxes. The IRS can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, and even seize your property. Don't let the IRS target you, let the licensed professionals and tax experts at Tax Network USA go to bat for you with over 14 years of experience and an A-plus rating by the Better Business Bro. 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Jackson Rutledge has not been good at all in AAA Rochester so far this season, he's going up against a very good Milwaukee Brewers team, they said at the top of the AL Central, the Reds are about five games back and even the Cardinals as well, they climb it up to that. But I look at the Nationals and where they stand right now with Jackson Rutledge, this may be his loan start this season, unless he just balls out and dominates. I don't know if that will be the case, he has not been good in AAA, and you're going up against Freddie Peralta who has been very good so far this season. So, we'll see what happens, Jackson Rutledge, it will be some must watch TV, this could be his last start as a Washington national in my opinion. I think he's going to be a long term relief kind of guy, that's what the future holds for him at this point in his career, that's just what I think, unless he does really well tonight which at this point in time, I just can't say that he will. Tomorrow, Mitchell Parker against Dallas Keiko, Mitchell Parker has been good, he has not been his dominant self where he was his first 7th start to this career, he was incredible, impeccable, dominating. I don't know, I'm at a loss of words for the way the national team has been playing recently, Mitchell Parker, while he has been good, he has not been great. I would not be surprised to see the Nationals completely get swept in this series unfortunately. Because again, you've got Jake Irvin versus Colin Ray, Jake Irvin is going to do his thing, he's coming off a bad start, I expect him to bounce back yet again. But here's the thing, he's got one of the worst run supports just behind Patrick Horbin in 2024 across the national league. Can the Nationals finally get some offense going? That is going to be the big overwhelming question and fortunately from the Nets, you get a very solid Milwaukee Brewers starting staff and of course, a solid bullpen as well. We'll see what the Nationals can do, but ultimately, we'll see. That's all I got. Nationals, let's score some runs. How about that? I'll catch you on the flip side, I'll see you on Sunday for the MLB Draft, until then, have a good one, go Nets. [MUSIC PLAYING]
