WASHINGTON -- The Nationals made three key hires to their scouting department last October, and this season the group completed their first MLB Draft.

With the additions of Danny Haas (vice president, amateur scouting), Brad Ciolek (senior director, amateur scouting) and Reed Dunn (assistant director and national crosschecker, amateur scouting), the Nats selected 21 players, beginning with Wake Forest shortstop Seaver King at No. 10.

• Seaver King's unusual path leads to 10th overall selection by Nats

The group of picks included 11 pitchers (six right-handers, five left-handers) and 10 position players (three catchers, five infielders and two outfielders). Nineteen were from four-year colleges and two were out of high school.

• Nats take Bazzell on Day 2 as Draft focus stays on catcher

Harvey trade lands promising catcher
The night before the MLB Draft, the Nationals traded 29-year-old setup reliever Hunter Harvey to the Royals in exchange for the No. 39 pick and third-base prospect Cayden Wallace (now ranked as the Nats’ No. 6 prospect).

“Christmas came early,” Dunn said.

Adding to their Nos. 10 and 44 picks on Day 1, the Nats selected catcher Caleb Lomavita from the University of California, Berkeley in Competitive Balance Round A. Prior to this pick, the highest the Nationals (2005-present) had drafted a catcher was Jakson Reetz in the third round of the 2014 Draft.

“Definitely that pick increased our haul, for sure,” said Haas.

• Nats add C Lomavita, SS Dickerson to cap Day 1 of Draft

Lomavita batted .322 with 13 doubles and 15 home runs last season. He also was one of only eight Division I catchers to record 10 or more stolen bases and 10 or more home runs. A native of Honolulu, Lomavita was named the 2021 Gatorade Hawaii Baseball Player of the Year and went on to become a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist for the top collegiate baseball player.

Nationals go pitcher-heavy on Day 3
The Nats did not select a pitcher until Day 2, when they drafted left-hander Jackson Kent from Arizona in the fourth round. Kent was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 136 Draft prospect.

On Day 3 on Tuesday, Washington selected a pitcher with seven of its 10 picks, starting with 2024 Mid-Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year right-hander Merritt Beeker in the 11th round.

The organization also drafted right-hander Alexander Meckley, Coastal Carolina (12th round); left-hander Bryant Olson, Mercer (13th round), right-hander Yoel Tejeda Jr., Florida State (14th round); left-hander Nolan Hughes, Xavier (16th round); left-hander Gavin Bruni, Ohio State (17th round) and right-hander Ryan Minckler, Niagara (19th round).

From Dream Series to the Draft
The Nationals selected high school shortstop Luke Dickerson from Morris Knolls (N.J.) in the third round on Sunday. On Tuesday, they also drafted high school catcher Sir Jamison Jones from St. Rita (Ill.) in the 15th round.

Jones participated in the DREAM Series multiple times, including this January, when he noted on MLB Network, “I just really want to learn to really value everything. Value all the knowledge that I’m receiving and apply it -- really apply it -- this year.”

According to the Nationals, Jones batted .380 with eight doubles, three triples, four homers and 38 RBIs in his senior year. He also drew 20 walks.

Johnson brings local ties
The Nationals selected a right-hander with local ties in the 10th round. Delaware native Luke Johnson was named America East Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and ‘24 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

He also played in the MLB Draft League with the Williamsport Crosscutters, where he went 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA and nine strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings. The Nationals were drawn to Johnson’s competitive nature along with his ability to throw strikes and pitch multiple innings.

Beyond Johnson attending college in the DMV, his father, Drew, played baseball at the University of Maryland and in the Orioles organization. Per Johnson’s college bio, his favorite sports team is the Washington Capitols.