Welcome to the Spring Training edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter! While I was back in Washington, D.C., for a few days, Paige Leckie stepped in to cover the Nats. Shoutout to Paige for today’s main section, a fun survey to learn more about the players in camp.  

It’s not rare to see former big leaguers meandering around team complexes during Spring Training. The role of guest instructor is one that benefits both mentor and mentee, with current players getting the chance to meet some of their former idols and former MLB stars having the chance to keep their foot in the proverbial door. 

This spring, the Nationals have already had a few guests show up. There’s “Mr. National,” Ryan Zimmerman, who made an appearance at camp to both offer his insights to Nats players and prospects and to learn more about the in and outs of running an organization. Then there was Scott Rolen, who spoke with the team and some individual prospects. 

There’s still plenty of camp left, and plenty of time for more guest instructors to arrive. So, as a fun little exercise, I asked a smattering of the Nationals’ top prospects (and a few other guys) who they’d like to see as their dream guest instructor. Here are their answers:  

OF Robert Hassell III (No. 8 Nats prospect): “I can't really pick just one. It would either be Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds or Chipper Jones. I couldn't pick between those three. 

“I actually met Chipper before at a tournament when I was 17. … And I saw Ken Griffey [Jr.] at a Futures Game. I honestly was too nervous to go up and meet him. I'm sure he gets that all day, every day, but just him being there, present and in our dugout was great.” 

OF Dylan Crews (No. 1, MLB No. 7): “I grew up a [Derek] Jeter fan, so I mean, having Jeter come in and give me some pointers and stuff, that would be pretty awesome. Ken Griffey Jr., outfielder, one of the sweetest swings ever -- having one of those two guys, it’d be pretty awesome.” 

3B Brady House (No. 3, MLB No. 48): “Somebody like Chipper Jones. … I grew up watching him, and he plays third base, so I think that would be awesome.” 

3B Trey Lipscomb (No. 16): “It would probably be Barry Bonds; I think he’s the best hitter that played baseball. … For the defensive side, I like José Reyes. I like the way he played the game.” 

RHP Cole Henry (No. 25): “I think for me, honestly, like a current player like Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer -- those are some guys that I really looked up to when I was younger. 

“I saw Pedro Martinez [with Boston] when we were playing the Red Sox, I thought that was really cool to see him. I think that’d be a cool one to have. … He’s a really great pitcher and a Hall of Famer and one of the best to ever do it, so the Red Sox guys are lucky to have him [there] every day.” 

RHP Josiah Gray: “I would say CC Sabathia. Just because of what he did, the longevity of his career and how good he was, and then toward the tail end of his career, how he kind of got the most out of himself that he could.” 

The Nationals added outfield depth on Wednesday by agreeing to a Minor League deal with veteran Eddie Rosario, a source confirmed. The split contract is pending a physical. 

Rosario, 32, brings a coveted lefty bat with nine years of experience to a developing club. He most recently belted 21 home runs in 142 games with the Braves last season. Over his career, Rosario has slashed .268/.305/.460 with a .765 OPS. He won the 2021 World Series with Atlanta and was named National League Championship Series MVP that year. 

Rosario gives the Nationals another option as they evaluate their outfield with three weeks left in camp. He has played the majority of his career in left (.978 fielding percentage), where the Nats are assessing their options while Stone Garrett continues to rehab from a fractured left fibula. Jesse Winker, who signed a Minor League deal this offseason, also is a candidate to play left, and he could be utilized in the designated hitter role, too.

MLB Pipeline released its 2024 top 30 prospect rankings for the Nationals this week. Crews, James Wood, House and Cade Cavalli remain as the top four, respectively, and there are notable additions, rises and drops highlighted by Sam Dykstra.  

You probably have seen several of these names mentioned in the past weeks: 16 of the 30 prospects are in Major League camp with the Nationals.  

 • Biggest jump from 2023 preseason list: OF Jacob Young (2023: NR, 2024: 18) 

 • Biggest fall: 1B TJ White (2023: 10, 2024: 30) 

 • Acquisition: 17 Draft, 6 trade, 5 international, 1 Rule 5, 1 NDFA 

 • Major League ETA: 2024: 14; 2025: 7; 2026: 5; 2027: 2; 2029: 2

 • Prospects by position: C: 2; 1B: 0; 2B: 1; 3B: 2; SS: 3; INF: 1; OF: 11; RHP: 6; LHP: 4

Best tools 
Grading: 20-80 scouting scale for future tools (20-30 well below average, 40 below average, 50 average, 60 above average, 70-80 well above average)  

Note: Players in parentheses have the same grade 

 • Hit: 70, Crews 

 • Power: 70, Wood 

 • Run: 70, Young (Nasim Nuñez, Elijah Green, Cristhian Vaquero) 

 • Arm: 65, Nuñez 

 • Defense: 70, Nuñez 

 • Fastball: 70, Jarlin Susana (Cavalli, Travis Sykora, Zach Brzykcy) 

 • Curveball: 60, Cavalli 

 • Slider: 60, Susana 

 • Changeup: 70, DJ Herz 

 • Control: 55, Dustin Saenz (Jake Bennett)

• March 15: Spring Breakout (Clover Park, Port St. Lucie, Fla.)

• March 26: On Deck: Nationals Futures Exhibition Game (Nationals Park)

• March 28: 2024 Opening Day (Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati)

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