Nationals select 10 players on the third day of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft

The Washington Nationals selected 10 players on the third day of Major League Baseball’s 2023 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline and Director of Scouting Operations Eddie Longosz made the joint announcement.

The Nationals kicked off Tuesday’s action by selecting right-handed pitcher Gavin Adams from Indian River State College (FL) in the 11th round. In his second year in junior college, Adams went 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA and one save. He struck out 44 in 26.1 innings

In the 12th round, Washington selected right-handed pitcher Travis Sthele from the University of Texas. He went 3-5 with a 5.75 ERA and one save in 15 games (10 starts) for the Longhorns in 2023. He struck out 66 in 61.0 innings. 

With their 13th-round pick, the Nationals selected left-handed pitcher Liam Sullivan from the University of Georgia. Sullivan led the Bulldogs with a 5-2 record and 5.77 ERA in 14 starts. He worked 64.0 innings and struck out 75. His 2023 resume includes wins over national champion LSU (May 10: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 5 SO) and No. 10 Kentucky (April 9: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 8 SO). He also threw 7.0 hitless innings with 11 strikeouts against Princeton.

Washington selected outfielder Elijah Nunez from Texas Christian University in the 14th round. Nunez hit .289 with 17 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 36 RBI, 36 walks, 20 stolen bases and 59 runs scored while patrolling center field as a junior in 2023. He had two three-hit games in the conference tournament, earning All-Big 12 Tournament honors.

In the 15th round, the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Mikey Tepper from Liberty University (VA). He went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) for the Flames during his junior season. Tepper struck out 78 in 65.1 innings.

With their 16th-round pick, the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Austin Amaral from Stetson University (FL). He went 7-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 15 starts for the Hatters in 2023. Amaral struck out 82 in 76.1 innings on his way to being named Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun.

Washington selected right-handed pitcher Merrick Baldo from Loyola Marymount University (CA) in the 17th round. He went 5-3 with a 4.11 ERA and seven saves in 19 games (one start) for the Lions as a senior in 2023. He struck out 44 in 35.0 innings.

In the 18^th round, the Nationals selected catcher Nate Rombach from Dallas Baptist University (TX). He hit .288 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, 35 RBI, 20 walks and 41 runs scored as a senior in 2023.

With their 19th-round pick, the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher James Ellwanger from Magnolia West High School (TX). During his senior season, Ellwanger pitched to a 1.30 ERA and struck out 124 in 76.1 innings. He is ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 64 overall high school prospect, the No. 4 draft prospect from the state of Texas and the No. 2 right-handed pitching draft prospect from the Lone Star State, second only to Nationals third-round pick Travis Sykora.

With their final pick, the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Isaac Ayon from the University of Oregon in the 20^th round. Ayon did not pitch in 2023, but as a sophomore in 2022, he was 4-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 17 games (16 starts), throwing two complete games. He struck out 80 in 87.1 innings.

Over the three days of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected 20 players: nine right-handed pitchers, two left-handed pitchers, three outfielders, four infielders and two catchers. Of Washington’s 20 selections, 17 came from four-year universities, one from the junior college ranks and two from high school.