Nationals will have eye on pitchers again in draft

Over the last five First-Year Player Drafts, the Nationals have focused on stockpiling pitchers. Thirty of their first 49 selections since 2015 have been pitchers. The Nats have built up their minor leagues with these hurlers and used some of them in big trades that brought players that helped to bring a world championship to D.C.

In the 2019 draft, the Nationals selected five pitchers in their first 10 rounds, along with one catcher, one shortstop, one third baseman and one outfielder. The catcher was Andrew Pratt and the others were third baseman Drew Mendoza and outfielder Jeremy Ydens.

The pitchers included right-handers Jackson Rutledge (first round, 17th overall), Tyler Dyson, Hunter McMahon and Todd Peterson, and southpaw Matt Cronin in the fourth round.

In the 2018 draft, the Nationals picked seven pitchers in the first 10 rounds, including their top selection, right-hander Mason Denaburg. This group featured six right-handers and one lefty in Tim Cate, their second-round pick. Six of their first seven selections were pitchers, including right-handers Reid Schaller, Jake Irvin, Andrew Karp and Chandler Day. One catcher was picked in their 2018 top 10, Tyler Cropley. Others included outfielder Gage Canning and infielder Carson Shaddy.

In 2017, the Nationals chose nine pitchers in the first 10 rounds, including top pick Seth Romero, a left-hander, and second-round pick Wil Crowe and Nick Racquet. The only position player was infielder Cole Freeman.

The 2016 draft featured back-to-back picks to begin at No. 28 and No. 29, including third baseman Carter Kieboom as the top pick. The Nats only picked three pitchers in the first 10 rounds of this draft: Dane Dunning (traded to White Sox with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López for outfielder Adam Eaton), left-hander Jesús Luzardo (traded with the second-round pick that season, third baseman Sheldon Neuse, to the A's for pitchers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle) and right-hander A.J. Bogucki.

Outfielder Daniel Johnson was the Nats' fifth-round pick in 2016. He was traded to the Indians for catcher Yan Gomes in 2018.

Three of the Nats' first four picks that season were traded to acquire Eaton, Doolittle and Gomes. This trio combined to play in 37 postseason games for the Nats on their way to the 2019 title.

In the 2015 draft, the Nats selected three straight outfielders to begin, including Andrew Stevenson. Right-hander Koda Glover was one of six pitchers the Nats picked in the first 10 rounds. Outfielder Blake Perkins was sent to the Royals in a trade that brought right-hander Kelvin Herrera to the Nats in 2018. Outfielder Rhett Wiseman played 105 games at Double-A Harrisburg last season.

Left-hander Taylor Hearn went to Pittsburgh in a 2016 trade for reliever Mark Melancon. Taylor Guilbeau was traded to Seattle in the deal for relievers Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elías in the middle of last season. The Nats' highest pitching selection that season was the son of Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. Fourth-round selection Mariano Rivera III topped out at high Single-A Potomac in 2018.

In review, the Nats picked five pitchers in 2019, seven in 2018, nine in 2017, three in 2016 and six in 2015 for a combined 30 pitchers in the first 10 rounds on the last five First-Year Player Draft. That is over 60 percent of their draft capital in the early rounds since 2015 going to pitchers.

With this season's draft lasting only five rounds set to commence June 10, it is likely the Nats will go heavy with pitchers again, unless a gem of a position player falls to them. The 2021 draft will also be shortened, down to just 20 rounds.

Southeastern Conference right-handed pitchers Cole Wilcox out of Georgia and Carmen Mlodzinski from South Carolina appear in many mock draft lists going to the Nats at No. 22. Right-hander and first baseman Cade Cavalli out of Oklahoma has been rated in the No. 21 to No. 23 range and could be available for the Nats on draft day.

The Nats also have picks at No. 55 and No. 71 in the first two rounds. The No. 71 pick is compensation for losing free agent Anthony Rendon to the Angels.