PEORIA, Ariz. -- The best defensive catcher in the Nationals system, Drew Millas battled a series of injuries this season and batted just .225/.340/.350 with six homers in 88 games at the plate. But he's healthy now and enjoyed one of the best days of his pro career Thursday in the Arizona Fall League. 

Millas went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and four RBIs, capped by a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Peoria Javelinas to a 9-8 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs. At 4-0, Peoria is the lone undefeated team in the developmental circuit.

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Scouts considered Millas one of the best defensive catchers in the 2019 Draft, when the Athletics selected him in the seventh round out of Missouri State. Washington acquired him in a July 2021 trade, along with pitching prospects Richard Guasch and Seth Shuman, in exchange for Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison. Millas started the season at Single-A Fredericksburg and ended at Double-A Harrisburg.

The switch-hitting Millas missed time with oblique, hip flexor and wrist injuries in his first full season in the Nationals system, costing him at-bats and the opportunity to make adjustments at the plate. He has the discipline and raw power to be a productive hitter, and there's no question that he has the receiving, blocking and throwing skills to catch in the Majors.

"My defense, I feel like it's the staple of my game," Millas said. "I feel great calling a game and receiving. On that end, I thought it was great this year.

"On the offensive end, I've always had according to hitting coaches a great swing. It's just about putting it together out there, finding a good approach and sticking with it, really just being confident in myself. Finding that around here and this good competition is imperative for me, so I'm excited to get out here."

"My defense, I feel like it's the staple of my game," Millas said. "I feel great calling a game and receiving. On that end, I thought it was great this year.

"On the offensive end, I've always had according to hitting coaches a great swing. It's just about putting it together out there, finding a good approach and sticking with it, really just being confident in myself. Finding that around here and this good competition is imperative for me, so I'm excited to get out here."

Millas' homer came off a fourth-inning changeup from Ryan Middendorf (Brewers) and traveled 437 feet with an exit velocity of 104 mph. He nearly matched his RBI total from his stint last year in the AFL, when he batted .196 with one homer and five RBIs in 17 games. He did lead the developmental circuit in BB/K ratio (13/4) and strikeout rate (6 percent) last season.

"I had a lot of good at-bats, walked a bunch," Millas said. "On paper, in terms of average and power, it didn't look great but I felt great. I did what I wanted to do and that was put the ball in play. It was a good opportunity last year and I made a lot out of it, and this year I'm excited to be back and play with a bunch of these guys."

After the Javelinas jumped out to a 5-1 lead after seven innings, the game featured four lead changes in the final two frames. Glendale went ahead with a five-run eighth highlighted by doubles from second baseman Jorbit Vivas (Dodgers) and left fielder Je'Von Ward (Brewers), but Peoria responded with a two-run homer from shortstop Kevin Kendall (Mets) in the bottom half. The Desert Dogs rallied again with RBI singles from right fielder Rece Hinds (Reds) and catcher Adam Hackenberg (White Sox) in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for Millas.