Ruiz ranks No. 1 on new Nats prospect list

Ruiz ranks No. 1 on new Nats prospect list

Cavalli makes big leap to 41st on overall chart; House also in Pipeline's Top 100

August 21st, 2021

MILWAUKEE -- One of the newest members of the Nationals’ farm system has earned the No. 1 spot among the organization’s prospects in MLB Pipeline’s updated rankings.

Catcher , one of the centerpieces of the megadeal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, leads the group of young talents. Ruiz, 23, is playing for the Triple-A Red Wings. Through his first 12 games in Rochester, the switch-hitter is slashing .277/.306/.447 with a .753 OPS and five RBIs.

Ruiz, ranked 19th on the Top 100 overall list, made his Major League debut with the Dodgers in 2020, and he appeared in six games for them this season. The Nationals have three catchers on their roster, and Ruiz isn’t rushing his callup to the bigs.

“[I want to] keep learning, keep playing baseball, having my plan, and just honestly keep getting better,” Ruiz said during a videoconference call on Friday. “One day, hopefully, I won’t be a prospect. I’ll just play in the big leagues.”

Cavalli on the rise

Right-hander Cade Cavalli made one of the biggest jumps in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, soaring to No. 41 from No. 99. He ranks behind Ruiz as the Nats’ No. 2 prospect.

After being drafted last June, Cavalli quickly rose from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg this season. He is 6-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 17 starts (93 2/3 innings) across both levels. Cavalli also was named to the National League Futures Game during All-Star weekend.

Cavalli is likely to be promoted to Triple-A this year, though his big league debut could wait until 2022 given this is his first full Minor League season.

New House addition

No. 4 prospect Brady House is one of 11 players from this year’s MLB Draft to already join the Top 100 list. The 18-year-old shortstop debuted at No. 60, one month after being selected 11th overall in the first round. After signing with the Nats, House went to the club’s complex in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Nationals among MLB

With these highlighted prospects, where do the Nats rank among the rest of MLB? Using the calculation of Prospect Points -- which designate 100 points for the No. 1 prospect, 99 for the No. 2 prospect, etc. -- Washington ranks eighth overall with a total of 230 points.