Dickerson is first example of Nats’ new approach to draft

PROSPECT REVIEW: LUKE DICKERSON

Age on opening day 2025: 19

How acquired: Drafted in second round in 2024 from Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, N.J.

Ranking: No. 7 per MLB Pipeline, No. 16 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2028
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $3.8 million

2024 levels: None

2024 stats: None

Quotable: “Just a lot of talks with my family. What's right for us and for me going forward in my career. If I get the right opportunity and I'm going for it, then I'm excited. I'm ready to start going.” – Luke Dickerson on his decision to forgo his commitment to Virginia and sign with Nationals out of high school

2024 analysis: Under new vice president of amateur scouting Danny Haas and new senior director of amateur scouting Brad Ciolek, the Nationals got a little crafty in the first two rounds of this year’s draft.

In the second edition of the MLB Draft Lottery, the Nats were awarded the No. 10 overall pick (even though we learned after the fact that the first drawing actually awarded the Nats the No. 1 overall pick, but since they were ineligible to select that high due to the convoluted rules and their selection at No. 2 overall in 2023, they eventually landed at No. 10). They used their first selection on Wake Forest shortstop Seaver King, who was scouted as a first-round talent, but not projected to go in the top 10.

The Nats then selected Cal catcher Caleb Lomavita with the Competitive Balance A pick they received from the Royals in the Hunter Harvey trade a week prior to the draft. They signed both King ($5.15 million compared to $5.95 million) and Lomavita ($2.33 million compared to $2.4 million) under slot value. That allowed the Nats to save money in their bonus pool to draft Dickerson with their second-round pick and sign him away from his commitment to Virginia by going over the slot value of $2.12 million at $3.8 million, which was a record number for a non-first-rounder since MLB’s Draft pool system began.

A multi-sport athlete, Dickerson was late reporting to his baseball team because he was helping his school’s hockey team win a state championship. Once he got on the diamond, his strong spring had him shoot up draft boards as he became the top prep prospect in the Northeast.

He was named the New Jersey High School Baseball Player of the Year after tying Mike Trout’s single-season state home run record with 18 longballs. He hit .466 with 10 doubles, 45 RBIs, 22 walks, 25 stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 33 games while leading Morris Knolls to back-to-back state baseball titles in his senior season.

The Nationals sent Dickerson to the team’s facility in West Palm Beach for the second half of the summer, but he did not appear in any official minor league games.

2025 outlook: The Nationals’ new draft braintrust is betting on Dickerson’s high upside. As one of the best high school players in the country, the athletic 6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter brings long-term depth and star potential to the farm system.

But since he was drafted out of high school and didn’t make his professional debut, we can only really dissect scouting reports to look ahead at his future.

Scouts loved Dickerson’s offensive upside. But they debated on whether it’s hit or power driven. Baseball America had his hit and power tools even with 50 ratings on a 20-80 scale. MLB Pipeline rated his power higher at 55 and hit lower at 45. He still is only 19, so he has some more growing to do to perhaps tap into more power.

Where there is no debate is his speed and athleticism. Both outlets had his running graded as a 60, the highest of his five tools. He should be able to stick up the middle defensively as he continues to develop. He will need to improve his arm to stay at shortstop in the long run, but he at least projects to be a plus defender at second base or center field if needed.

Dickerson is the first example of the Nats trying to navigate the new draft and lottery rules to their advantage under their new scouting regime. It will be a while before we can see if it pays off, with his major league ETA set for 2028. But if it does, we may see the Nats shift to a new drafting philosophy in years when they don’t have a top pick to get better bang for their buck.