Nationals’ Jarlin Susana Works On Ironing Out The Little Things

At 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, righthander Jarlin Susana already looks the part of a frontline starter. But he’s just 19 years old, and the Nationals are planning accordingly.

“He’s maturing, he’s growing,” Nationals farm director De Jon Watson said. “His work in bullpen (sessions) has gotten more focused and detailed.”

Susana was one of five highly regarded prospects Washington acquired last August in the deal that sent Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to the Padres.

He and lefthander MacKenzie Gore were the two pitchers in the deal. While Gore is establishing himself in the big league rotation, Susana was doing the same at Low-A Fredericksburg.

With two consecutive four-inning starts in which he did not allow an earned run, Susana lowered his ERA to 4.12 He had 25 strikeouts and 17 walks through 19.2 innings.

Susana often hits triple digits with his fastball and regularly throws it in the upper 90s. He also has an above-average power slider in the low 90s. He was showing improvement with his changeup.

“He’s really good commanding the strike zone, using his three pitches,” Watson said.

Without games to play in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic, Susana focused on gaining strength. Most teams had already allotted their 2021 international budgets, so the Padres waited to sign him until January 2022 for $1.7 million.

Susana dominated in his first taste of pro ball, striking out 44 and walking 11 in 29.1 innings with a 2.45 ERA as the No. 2 prospect in the Arizona Complex League last year. He had two more impressive Rookie-level outings for the Nationals before finishing his age-18 season in the Carolina League.

Fredericksburg pitching coach Justin Lord told team broadcaster Eric Bach that a big part of Susana’s development is in how he prepares each day between starts and in his bullpens. 

“Everything matters,” Lord said in a pregame interview. “The little things my be very monotonous and boring, but those little things add to the whole package on game day.”

CAPITAL GAINS

— Righthanded reliever Amos Willingham, a 17th-round pick in 2019 out of Georgia Tech, had thrown 14 scoreless innings between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. The 24-year-old has improved the velocity on his fastball, which consistently sits at 94-96 mph. He saved five games with the Senators before being promoted. 

— Righthander Jake Irvin and third baseman/outfielder Jake Alu made their major league debuts. The Nationals drafted Irvin in the fourth round in 2018 out of Oklahoma and Alu in the 24th round in 2019 out of Boston College. Alu is the lowest-round pick drafted and signed by the Nationals to reach the majors since righthander Gabe Klobosits, a 36th-rounder in 2017.