Click to Read an Important Member Update Regarding Our Comment System
We recently upgraded our comment system to improve reliability, performance, and long-term control, and we’re currently running both systems during the transition. This shift moves us away from an external service to a system we run and control directly—meaning we own the content and can continue improving it over time. We’ve also reduced the comment refresh delay from about 30 seconds to 10 seconds, making it much closer to real-time.
We understand there have been frustrations and increased feedback, and we’re actively working to improve things. What we ask is simple: use the system and give it a fair shot. If you run into issues, please submit them through the support form so we can track and fix them properly. Repeated complaints without details don’t help us solve problems—we appreciate your patience as we continue refining the experience.
If you’d like a full side-by-side comparison of the platforms and the reasons behind this decision, please refer to the chart below. This change is being made with the long-term benefit of the entire community in mind.
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Back in 2021, TalkNats started an initiative to collect items from the RCR program and donate them to the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, which supports young scholar athletes from Wards 7 and 8 in DC. You can see our very first post about the effort here:
The initiative has continued and grown each year. Last year we made our biggest contribution ever to the YBA — 164,214 points. Your efforts and generosity have brought a huge amount of attention to Nationals Philanthropies (sometimes referred to as Nats4Good) and to the Academy. And of course, they have brought joy and fun to the kids. You can see pictures of the swag delivered to the YBA from previous RCR points drives at the following links.
This year, your RCR points expire earlier than ever before, at 11:59 pm on November 1. Once again, instead of letting the points vanish, we humbly ask that you donate your unused points to a worthy cause — The TalkNats RCR Points Drive for 2025, which begins today.
The 2025 season did not finish on a good note for Washington Nationals fans and the organization. At 66–96 and their sixth successive year outside the playoffs, anger was understandable. However, seasons like this can be turning points as well, times to reflect, re-form, and learn from those who have overcome obstacles. The change in the Nationals organization is changing in a massive personnel turnover.
After all of the news broke yesterday that dozens of people whose employment ended with the Washington Nationals from the clubhouse to the medical staff to the front office, there are three prominent names remaining after the dust settled. Paul Toboni is the President of Baseball Operations, Mike DeBartolo who previously held the interim-GM title will remain with the team with a job title to be determined, and Reed Dunn who became the most senior person in the amateur scouting department will also remain with the team and his job title is to be determined. There currently is no head of the player development department. There is no manager or coaching staff named at this point.
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You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans. Click here to become a subscriber.
First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.
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In the 2018 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals first round pick was at №27, and the team selected Mason Denaburg. Yes, that was a bust — but truth be told, the pickings were slim at that point and Denaburg spent much of his baseball career on rehab from injuries. Picking at the back of the draft is tough. If you’re picking there, it usually means you made the playoffs.
But too often, and since the 2011 draft when the Nats selected Anthony Rendon at 6th overall, they haven’t scored on many draft picks. Even when the Nats made the right choice on drafting Lucas Giolito, they botched it in player development. You need to draft and develop well. On May 27, The Athletic published a scathing article about the Nats issues in scouting, drafting, and player development that might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The newly hired PoBO, Paul Toboni, spoke at length about setting the foundation. It’s not all about the money, it all begins with scouting, drafting, player development and yes, a little bit of luck. You can do everything right and get derailed by an injury. The problem is the Nats weren’t doing steps 1-to-3 well, and that is why Toboni is here.
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Draft picks are a big deal in sports. Players are selected based on their potential. Here’s how the Nationals’ 2025 draft strategy worked.
The Washington Nationals’ front office caught many people off-guard with their 2025 draft, but the returns appear to be paying off based on prospect evaluations. This suggests they knew exactly what they were doing at the top of the draft. Four high schoolers in their first five picks seemed risky at the time. Now, watching these “kids” tear up the minor leagues makes that strategy look pretty smart.
The Nationals struck gold in the draft lottery this year. They beat 10.2% odds to land the first overall pick. Their risky strategy is loaded with lessons for other teams. Let’s discuss this unusual strategy and the lessons learned. Enjoy the read.
Early Reactions to the Nationals’ Draft Pick 2025
The Nationals understood their cards and the dealer’s hand and made a worthwhile bet. Canadian Blackjack players can borrow a trick or two from the Nationals. To excel at online blackjack, players should know the rules by heart. Know when to “hit” and “stand” to avoid a bust.
In the past, the Nats hit that bust card over and over since 2013 in too many drafts. Few saw the selection of 17-year-old Eli Willits as the Nationals’ shortstop coming except of course TalkNats had their bet on Willits. ESPN reporter Alden Gonzalez summed up the reaction of the baseball world perfectly when he admitted being “stunned” by the pick. However, Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo didn’t flinch. He called Willits “the best hitter and best fielder available” despite acknowledging the draft lacked “can’t-miss, high-impact talent.” That confidence seemed misplaced to many observers at the time. Some thought, incorrectly, that the Nats would not pay out their bonus pool — they were wrong. The Nats spent every dime of their bonus allotment which was the third highest payout in baseball.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers offered a different perspective. He suggested that the Nationals’ decision showed that “athleticism has returned to baseball, and draft rooms are acting accordingly.” The organization seemed to agree and followed up their first pick with power hitter Ethan Petry from South Carolina in the second round.
Hidden Gems Already Making Noise in the Minors
While Willits made the headlines, the real story was Washington’s later-round selections. Take the selection of Coy James, for example. He just set an MLB record for the largest bonus amount ever handed to a player drafted after the fourth round with his $2.5 million bonus. James was committed to Ole Miss before Washington came calling.
Then there’s Landon Harmon, another teenage prep star who somehow lasted until the 80th pick despite being ranked 48th overall by Major League Baseball pipeline. The 6-foot-5 right-hander from Mississippi put up a 1.09 ERA with 131 strikeouts in just 66.1 innings. His heater already sits at 93-96 mph and can touch 99. Other organizations are probably kicking themselves for letting him slide to the third round.
Catcher Nick Hollifield is another unusual but fantastic pick. He went in the 14th round, but he’s hitting .288/.397/.308 with a 117 wRC+. His plate discipline is outstanding, with identical 15.9% strikeout and walk rates.
What Early Performances Reveal About the 2025 Draft Class
What stands out across the draft class is how Washington has targeted specific skills. These new players can hit, and they understand the strike zone.
Eli Willits keeps proving he belongs at the top of the draft. His .429/.529/.958 slash line through his first four games was magnificent. He had just one strikeout in 14 at-bats. That 73% zone swing rate and 19% chase rate are the numbers that get scouts excited. When you’re making contact on 93% of strikes at 17, you’re a special hitting talent. While he fell-off in the end, he still finished with a .300 batting average and a .757 OPS.
Ethan Petry had also been equally impressive out of the games. He was slashing .333/.434/.923 with six RBIs through 12 games, but his eight walks against just one strikeout were the real deal. However, he needs to watch his ground ball rate. Petry’s hitting 52% of balls on the ground could cap his power ceiling, but there’s still plenty of time to adjust his launch angle. Petry finished with a .287 batting average and an .800 OPS.
Washington’s 2025 Draft Class Looks Better From The Evaluators
The criticism that followed Eli Willits’ selection at first overall seems pretty silly now. MLB Pipeline just moved him up to the №15 prospect in all of baseball. DeBartolo’s front office clearly knew something the rest of baseball didn’t. One of the Washington Nationals’ biggest priorities in this draft was to target high-ceiling prep talent.
These are still early days, of course. High school players face a long road to the majors, and not every prospect makes it. However, the initial signs point toward a draft class that could reshape Washington’s farm system for years. The challenge, however, will be to watch these late-round gems develop alongside the headliners.
The №1 priority for the Washington Nationals is to acquire a veteran star who can be a leader on a long-term deal. The reason you need a long-term deal is to have that continuity. Signing a veteran player to a 1-year deal will not have the same impact as a 5-year deal. Everyone has to know this player is here for years to come. Before the 2011 season, the Nationals did just that when they signed Jayson Werth to a 7-year deal for over $120 million. At that time, $120 million was a lot of money in baseball terms.
You must be a TalkNats Subscriber to access this content. Subscribers have access to exclusive content on the TalkNats website and can engage in discussions with other Nats fans. Click here to become a subscriber.
First two weeks are free and then you will be billed $3.99/month. Cancel anytime. Secure payments using Stripe.
If you are already a subscriber, simply log in using the form below.
We recently upgraded our comment system to improve reliability, performance, and long-term control, and we’re currently running both systems during the transition. This shift moves us away from an external service to a system we run and control directly—meaning we own the content and can continue improving it over time. We’ve also reduced the comment refresh delay from about 30 seconds to 10 seconds, making it much closer to real-time.
We understand there have been frustrations and increased feedback, and we’re actively working to improve things. What we ask is simple: use the system and give it a fair shot. If you run into issues, please submit them through the support form so we can track and fix them properly. Repeated complaints without details don’t help us solve problems—we appreciate your patience as we continue refining the experience.
If you’d like a full side-by-side comparison of the platforms and the reasons behind this decision, please refer to the chart below. This change is being made with the long-term benefit of the entire community in mind.