While still very young, when will speedster Vaquero fly up the ranks?

PROSPECT REVIEW: CRISTHIAN VAQUERO

Age on opening day 2025: 20

How acquired: Signed as international free agent, January 2022

Ranking: No. 23 per MLB Pipeline, No. 12 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2027
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $4.925 million (highest of his class and Nationals record for international prospect)

2024 levels: Single-A Fredericksburg

2024 stats: 103 G, 401 PA, 347 AB, 51 R, 66 H, 16 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBIs, 29 SB, 6 CS, 39 BB, 137 SO, .190 AVG, .291 OBP, .303 SLG, .593 OPS

Quotable: “He's young. He's super young. He's 19 in this league. But like you said, getting that baby step last year to get in here is always something that can leapfrog guys, right? But he's shown it before. … He does a really good job with his outfield stuff. He's getting better with his routes. We're moving him playing left, right and center, which I think can help with his workload management, but also him as a player. Because when you go to the big leagues, it doesn't matter where Davey (Martinez) wants you. Left, right, center, it doesn't matter. And you might hit ninth, it doesn't matter. But we moved him up and down the lineup and put him in different environments and situations. Using his speed. But I think this year, his development-wise of just getting better, getting at-bats, getting the experience. Take the batting average out of it, it's the day-to-day at-bats and making the adjustments pitch-to-pitch.” – Fredericksburg manager Jake Lowery

2024 analysis: After being one of the most highly-touted (and expensive) international free agents the Nationals have ever signed, Vaquero finally made it stateside last year, spending most of the summer at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before appearing in 16 games with Fredericksburg.

That set up the five-tool prospect for his first full season of Single-A ball this year, which proved to be a major adjustment for the youngster nicknamed “The Phenom.”

Vaquero slashed .190/.291/.303 with a .593 OPS and 25 extra-base hits (only five of which were home runs) in 103 games. The switch-hitter couldn’t keep up with the offerings from pitchers who were three or four years older than him and had more experience. He struck out 137 times, the fourth-most in the Nats system, and walked only 39 times.

The good news is Vaquero used his athleticism to go 29-for-35 in stolen bases, tied for third-most across the Nationals’ non-rookie levels. He also played nearly flawless defense in the outfield. While getting significant playing time at all three spots, Vaquero was perfect with five assists over 243 ⅓ innings in center field. He had six assists and two errors in 348 ⅓ innings in right and three assists and three errors in 264 innings in left.

But to add injury to an already rough season, Vaquero hurt his right shoulder while diving back into first base in a pickoff attempt during the deciding game of the FredNats’ championship run. The Nationals were waiting for more opinions and did not have an update on his status at the end of the season.

2025 outlook: Only two years ago, Vaquero was the highest-rated outfield prospect the Nats had in their system. Obviously, a lot has changed since then.

For a short amount of time, the then 17-year-old was considered the Nats’ future in the outfield. But then James Wood, Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, Robert Hassell III, Elijah Green and Andrew Pinckney entered and rose up through the farm, and a lot of pressure was taken off Vaquero.

The Nationals can afford to be very patient with Vaquero. When he first signed, the Nats had very little outfield depth. Now they have solid options at every level.

Still, it would have been nice to see some more encouraging results this year. The strikeouts, lack of power and late-season injury are obviously major concerns. But the five tools are still there. The Nats may be waiting for him to continue to grow into his tall, yet slim, body frame. At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, when Vaquero adds more muscle mass, his power at the plate should really shine.

It’s also important to remember how young and raw he remains. As he gains more experience and grows, he could fly up the ranks as fast as he runs the outfield and basepaths.