Kline on Nationals draft picks Denaburg and Cate

Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline had more details today about the selection of prep right-hander Mason Denaburg and Connecticut left-hander Tim Cate in the first two rounds of the First-Year Player Draft.

"It was two guys we really wanted the first day," he said. "It was a great first day for us."

Kline said Denaburg, taken with the 27th overall selection in the first round out of Merritt Island (Fla.) High School, impressed Nationals scouts from the first games they witnessed.

"He was a two-sport athlete in high school," Kline said. "Really good athlete. Very, very good makeup kid. Tremendous competitor. Good delivery, clean actions. Has that starter look about him. Big fastball. He will show you above-average breaking ball and an above-average changeup. One of the guys we ID'ed early. I think we were very fortunate that he slid as far as he did."

Denaburg did miss time this season with biceps tendinitis. But that was not a major concern for the Nationals.

"It was not an injury for us that was going to scare us off," Kline said.

The Nats scouted a three-inning simulated game after his return from injury and "it was really good," Kline said.

Kline then saw him later in a playoff game and he looked "really good- no sign of fatigue." He had another start after that game where he got to 94 mph with his fastball.

The Nationals believe Denaburg can be a big difference-maker down the line.

"I feel like we got a healthy guy and a potential front-line starter," Kline said.

Cate is listed at 6-foot-1, but Kline said he really could be closer to 5-foot-11 or 6-foot. But height was not an issue for Kline in selecting Cate, who was chosen in the second round with the 65th overall pick.

"Sometimes dynamite comes in smaller packages," Kline said. "This kid has always been a starter. Been a starter through his collegiate career, he was a starter for Team USA. He's had a very solid college career, high strikeout guy. For me, he owns the best left-handed curveball in this draft. I think we are lucky to get this kid where we did."

Cate had Tommy John surgery when he was 16. But he has pitched well into his collegiate career at UConn with no issues. He finished this season strong.

"He had a little discomfort in the middle of the season, so they shut him down temporarily. It was precautionary," Kline said. "A clean bill of health from the doc. (He threw) 89-94 mph in playoffs with the best curveball they had seen from him since they started scouting him."

The Nationals took high school pitcher Lucas Giolito in 2012. Taking Denaburg first round in 2018, Kline described the organization's philosophy regarding selecting high school players versus college players in the draft.

"We evaluate them the same, based on ability," Kline said. "You want a kid that is mature beyond his years and you have a comfort level that he could go out in pro ball as a young man and compete and make those adjustments. Nothing really changes.

"When you talking about taking a high school kid, either a position player or a pitcher, obviously signability comes into play. And if they are really, really talented, they're probably looking for first-round money, and if we don't see that, then they go to school and we get to see them in three years and see where they are."

Denaburg played for 18-and-under USA Baseball while Cate was with Team USA for two summers. The Nats took Erick Fedde after he had experience with Team USA. Kline was asked about the importance of draft picks playing for elite clubs in high school or college besides their school teams.

"I wouldn't say it's a big deal, but it's a great tool for us because these kids can only compete against the best that they can compete against," Kline said. "Playing for Team USA, they are playing against the best competition at that level. He's had success at every level and at the highest level that he can compete at right now. It was a tremendous experience and Tim Cate was a part of that for two years in a row."

Photo by Joy S. Absalon