Steven Fuentes

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #20 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: It's been a long, slow climb for Fuentes, who signed with the Nationals out of Panama in 2013. He failed to stand out most of his career and his breakout 2019 at Double-A was cut short when was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Despite a delayed arrival at the alternate training site, Fuentes impressed team officials at camp, continued in instructional league and in a fall league in his native Panama. The Nationals added him to the 40-man roster after the season, just before he was set to hit minor league free agency.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes keeps the ball on the ground with his low-to-mid-90s sinker. He has allowed just two home runs in his last 148 innings over his past two minor league seasons, while posting ground ball rates north of 50%. He has good command of his sinker and his plus changeup mirrors the pitch, allowing him to keep hitters off-balance. He also has a slider he can mix in. Fuentes has mostly worked in relief but was effective as a starter at Double-A Harrisburg. He's learning to repeat his east-west delivery and has flashed above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fuentes lacks huge stuff but knows how to mix his offerings effectively. He's in position for his major league debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #27 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: For the first time since Fuentes was an 18-year-old in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, he was used primarily as a starter. He was having a breakout season at Double-A Harrisburg before he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a stimulant.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes is a throwback. He's bigger than Anibal Sanchez but tries to get batters out in much the same way. He has a good changeup, commands his 90-95 mph fastball and has a tight slider that is at least average. Fuentes' fastball and slider both have good life. His sink on the ball led to a 55 percent groundball rate in Double-A, and he allowed only one home run in more than 80 innings between Harrisburg and high Class A Potomac. For his career, he has allowed 16 homers in 358 minor league innings. He has made 29 starts in 126 professional games.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fuentes will continue to work as a starter and has a chance to become a major leaguer in the back end of a rotation. His versatility also could help him find a spot in the bullpen.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: It's been a long, slow climb for Fuentes, who signed with the Nationals out of Panama in 2013. He failed to stand out most of his career and his breakout 2019 at Double-A was cut short when was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Despite a delayed arrival at the alternate training site, Fuentes impressed team officials at camp, continued in instructional league and in a fall league in his native Panama. The Nationals added him to the 40-man roster after the season, just before he was set to hit minor league free agency.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes keeps the ball on the ground with his low-to-mid-90s sinker. He has allowed just two home runs in his last 148 innings over his past two minor league seasons, while posting ground ball rates north of 50%. He has good command of his sinker and his plus changeup mirrors the pitch, allowing him to keep hitters off-balance. He also has a slider he can mix in. Fuentes has mostly worked in relief but was effective as a starter at Double-A Harrisburg. He's learning to repeat his east-west delivery and has flashed above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fuentes lacks huge stuff but knows how to mix his offerings effectively. He's in position for his major league debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: It's been a long, slow climb for Fuentes, who signed with the Nationals out of Panama in 2013. He failed to stand out most of his career and his breakout 2019 at Double-A was cut short when was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Despite a delayed arrival at the alternate training site, Fuentes impressed team officials at camp, continued in instructional league and in a fall league in his native Panama. The Nationals added him to the 40-man roster after the season, just before he was set to hit minor league free agency.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes keeps the ball on the ground with his low-to-mid-90s sinker. He has allowed just two home runs in his last 148 innings over his past two minor league seasons, while posting ground ball rates north of 50%. He has good command of his sinker and his plus changeup mirrors the pitch, allowing him to keep hitters off-balance. He also has a slider he can mix in. Fuentes has mostly worked in relief but was effective as a starter at Double-A Harrisburg. He's learning to repeat his east-west delivery and has flashed above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fuentes lacks huge stuff but knows how to mix his offerings effectively. He's in position for his major league debut in 2021.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: For the first time since Fuentes was an 18-year-old in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, he was used primarily as a starter. He was having a breakout season at Double-A Harrisburg before he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a stimulant.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fuentes is a throwback. He's bigger than Anibal Sanchez but tries to get batters out in much the same way. He has a good changeup, commands his 90-95 mph fastball and has a tight slider that is at least average. Fuentes' fastball and slider both have good life. His sink on the ball led to a 55 percent groundball rate in Double-A, and he allowed only one home run in more than 80 innings between Harrisburg and high Class A Potomac. For his career, he has allowed 16 homers in 358 minor league innings. He has made 29 starts in 126 professional games.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fuentes will continue to work as a starter and has a chance to become a major leaguer in the back end of a rotation. His versatility also could help him find a spot in the bullpen.