Nats prospects to watch out for at each Minor League level

WASHINGTON -- From Major League camp to the Spring Breakout to the On Deck: Nationals Futures Game, Nats prospects took the field for big games leading up to this season.

• Where the Nationals' Top 30 prospects are starting the season

No. 16 prospect Trey Lipscomb was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, the first of many rookies expected to break the bigs this year. Follow along with the affiliate levels to see these emerging talents develop and take the next steps to the Majors.

Triple-A Rochester Red Wings

Player to watch: OF James Wood (Nationals No. 2 prospect, MLB No. 14)
Wood, 21, slashed .364/.509/.705 with four home runs and three stolen bases in 22 Major League Spring Training games. His agility on defense is just as notable.

Pitcher to watch: LHP DJ Herz (No. 12)
Herz, acquired from the Cubs in the Jeimer Candelario trade, is entering his first full season in the Nats organization. The 23-year-old recorded a 2.25 ERA in three Grapefruit League outings.

Other top prospects: RHP Jackson Rutledge (No. 15), OF Jacob Young (No. 18), C Drew Millas (No. 20), LHP Mitchell Parker (No. 22), INF Darren Baker (No. 27)

Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Opening Day: Friday, 7 p.m. ET vs. Erie

Player to watch: OF Dylan Crews (Nationals No. 1, MLB No. 7)
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Crews, 22, quickly rose to Double-A by the end of last season. Less than one year after winning the College World Series and the Golden Spikes Award, he participated in Major League camp.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Cole Henry (No. 25)
Henry, 24, is entering his first full season following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. He impressed in big league camp, and the organization will be mindful of his health as he accumulates innings.

Other top prospects: 3B Brady House (Nationals No. 3, MLB No. 46), INF Yohandy Morales (No. 5), OF Robert Hassell III (No. 8), OF Andrew Pinckney (No. 17), RHP Zach Brzykcy (No. 21), C Israel Pineda (No. 26), LHP Dustin Saenz (No. 29)

High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks
Opening Day: Friday, 6:35 p.m. ET vs. Brooklyn

Player to watch: OF Daylen Lile (No. 7)
After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Lile, 21, had a bounceback 2023 season. He hit .269 with nine home runs, 27 doubles and 23 stolen bases between Single-A and High-A.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Andry Lara
The 21-year-old Lara, a former MLB Pipeline top 30-ranked prospect, went 6-8 with a 4.58 ERA in 23 High-A starts last season.

Other top prospects: LHP Jake Bennett (No. 14), SS Kevin Made (No. 23), OF T.J. White (No. 30)

Single-A Fredericksburg
Opening Day: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET vs. Delmarva

Player to watch: OF Cristhian Vaquero (No. 9)
Vaquero, 19, hit .252 with 22 stolen bases in 58 games between the Rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A last season. He participated in drills with the Major League camp during Spring Training.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Jarlin Susana (No. 10)
Susana, 20, reached 103 mph in the Nats’ Spring Breakout game. He returns to the FredNats, where he was 1-6 with a 5.14 ERA in 17 starts last season.

Other top prospects: OF Elijah Green (No. 6)