Lipscomb proved his worth with versatility

PROSPECT REVIEW: TREY LIPSCOMB

Age on opening day 2024: 23

How acquired: Drafted in third round in 2022 from the University of Tennessee

Ranking: No. 14 per MLB Pipeline, No. 15 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $758,900

2023 levels: High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg

2023 stats: 129 G, 547 PA, 511 AB, 59 R, 139 H, 29 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 72 RBIs, 10 SB, 6 CS, 27 BB, 103 SO, .272 AVG, .311 OBP, .419 SLG, .730 OPS

Quotable: “The lineup is special. There are a bunch of superstars in that lineup. So I just go out there and not try to do too much. I know those guys are going to produce. Just play my game and help the team win. Like I said, not really try to be the superstar on the field because there are a lot in that lineup. There is a lot of damage in that lineup. Just going up there and doing my thing day to day. … Just going up there and doing my thing. Also knowing that the guys behind me, they’re gonna drive me in. But yeah, just going up there every day and just doing my thing day by day. Coming to the park every day is special. And then looking at the lineup and seeing all of those guys in there, it’s pretty cool because we got a squad here.” – Trey Lipscomb on being a part of Harrisburg’s lineup

2023 analysis: Lipscomb entered the 2023 season as a mid-level, 22-year-old prospect after being a third-round pick the previous summer out of Tennessee.

The Frederick, Md., native performed well in his first taste of professional ball, hitting .299 but with only a .392 slugging percentage and .719 OPS in 23 games with Single-A Fredericksburg to end the 2022 season. That gave the Nationals confidence to start the young third baseman at High-A this year, especially with Brady House starting his season at Single-A.

In 49 games with the Blue Rocks, Lipscomb hit just .251 with a .699 OPS. But his solid defending at third base (only five errors in 389 ⅔ innings) and track record of a solid bat coming out of college allowed him to get bumped up to Double-A right around the time he turned 23 in mid-June, the same time House was promoted to High-A.

Lipscomb put up better offensive numbers in 80 games with Harrisburg, perhaps aided by getting away from Wilmington’s pitcher-friendly home ballpark. He slashed .284/.310/.438 with a .748 OPS, 15 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs with the Senators.

But where Lipscomb really showed his worth is his versatility in the infield.

When House joined Lipscomb and the large group of top prospects on Harrisburg’s roster in late July, the Tennessee product found himself moving all over the infield. He ended up playing 42 games at third base, 15 at first base, 11 at shortstop and eight at second base, while only committing three errors the rest of the season.

Thanks to his solid effort all around the diamond, Lipscomb was named the Nationals’ minor league Defensive Player of the Year.

He is currently hitting just .173 with a .365 OPS in 13 Arizona Fall League games, but he recorded his second multi-hit game on Monday by going 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.

2024 outlook: Lipscomb shouldn’t be under anyone’s radar anymore. He proved his bat can progress and he can play anywhere in the infield with his extended stay at Double-A.

The Nationals may want him to slug a little better. But with all of the power bats already stacked on the farm, perhaps they would settle for him to continue hitting for average while raising his walk rate.

Lipscomb only walked 4.9 percent of the time while striking out 18.8 percent of the time. If he can get on base at a higher clip, the other top prospects in the Nats system should be able to drive him in.

Although he’s still in the middle of the Nats’ top 30 prospect rankings, Lipscomb has a solid path to the majors. Of course, shortstop is blocked by CJ Abrams at the major league level and House’s bounce back season proved he is the third baseman of the future. But Lipscomb provides solid depth behind either position.

Meanwhile, second base is up for grabs in Washington. Luis García’s second-half demotion, Jeter Downs’ struggles and Lucius Fox’s release leave that position’s future wide open. Only Darren Baker really stands in Lipscomb’s way at Rochester, assuming García doesn’t bounce back next year in a big way.

If Lipscomb keeps climbing the ladder, he should challenge for some infield reps at Rochester next year, putting him on the cusp of the big leagues. His ETA isn’t for another two years, but his versatility and the Nats’ lack of infield depth could help him become a valuable prospect next year.