Luck. It’s what gave the Washington Nationals the #1 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft this past December. Now, a few weeks from the draft, D.C.’s home team will look to get lucky again and turn that lottery ball into a golden ticket.
“I think they have to take the best player available. Right now, the Nats are lacking a lot of different things,” Nationals media member Ryan Clary said. “But with the way the owners are operating, they won’t be signing any superstars anytime soon. I expect them to take a big swing in this draft.”
Nationals Have Options with No. 1 Draft Pick
The past six seasons have been a swing and a miss for Washington, ever since winning a championship in 2019. The turn of the decade has been deemed a “rebuilding period,” but the progress has yet to be seen, with the team coming off three straight seasons of 90 losses or more.
But with seven of the Nationals’ top ten prospects projected to be ready for the show within the next two seasons, and a chance at another top talent coming soon, it leaves the question: when will the rebuild finally take structure?
“This might be the most pressure (General Manager) Mike Rizzo has on him. The big knock on Rizzo has been that he can’t draft the right guys in the first round.” Clary said. “The Nats have had a development issue for nearly a decade. The pressure is on this front office to hit this first-round pick, and hit it out of the park.”
Most mock drafts have Washington taking SS/3B Ethan Holliday, a high schooler from Oklahoma and son of MLB All-Star Matt Holliday. Holliday ranks as the top prospect in this draft class by MLB, Baseball America, Perfect Game, and many more.
On the flip side of the coin: a plethora of talented college arms fill up this year’s draft pool. Five of the projected top ten picks are pitchers, including big names like Tennessee’s Liam Doyle and LSU’s Kade Anderson, who are currently taking over this year’s College World Series.
Teenage Talent or College Experience?
The Nationals are no strangers to taking teen talent #1 overall, famously drafting Bryce Harper with the top pick back in 2010. But now, 15 years later, will Rizzo opt for the same blueprint or opt for proven college names?
“You can never have enough starting pitching,” Rizzo told 106.7 The Fan. “Do you have these pieces that you think you can fill these spots [from] the minor league system, or do you have to go externally to get them?”
Nats May Rely on Trades Moving Forward
Externally obtaining talent has been a touchy subject inside the nation’s capital, with many speaking about the lack of spending by ownership. Owner Mark Lerner told The Washington Post this past February that their commitment is “to continue to go forward” following sale rumors, but these comments haven’t held off the criticism, including MLB insider Ken Rosenthal labeling the Nationals “a bottom-feeder” of the league in The New York Times.
Lacking a budget and free agency appeal, acquisitions may have to come only via trade.
“If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet on them moving off any of the top talent. But, I would not be totally surprised to see them kick the tires on landing a veteran pitcher, or outfielder, and move on from some young prospects,” Clary said. “I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it if the Nats can find themselves a good deal.”
Jayson Werth on the 2025 Nats:
“When you look at the Nationals now, there’s a lot of young talent.. But I think what they’re lacking right now is that Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche type signing and have some veteran leadership in that clubhouse”Clip belowhttps://t.co/oWUueVDVK8 pic.twitter.com/Hmep6scAQa
— Ryan Clary (@Ryanclary11) April 17, 2025
No matter what decision Washington makes, all eyes will be on Rizzo and the Nats when the draft clock starts running on July 13th.
“Right now, the Nats are playing the field. I have them ending up with Ethan Holliday at this point, but I could easily see them landing a college arm like Kade Anderson,” Clary said. “The Nats desperately need to hit this pick, so I think they will stay true to their board and pick the best player in the draft in their eyes.”
Main Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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