Nationals’ Kevin Made Keeps Making Strides Offensively
When the Nationals received Kevin Made from the Cubs as part of the Jeimer Candelario deal last July, they knew they were getting a solid defender.
Now, the 21-year-old Dominican shortstop is showing he might also be a capable hitter with good barrel control.
“He has had consistent contact to all fields,” Nationals farm director Eddie Longosz said.
The righthanded-hitting Made was off to a .268/.425/.342 start through 24 games for High-A Wilmington. He had six stolen bases in seven tries.
Made struggled for the Blue Rocks last season, hitting just .137 in 73 at-bats, but he hit a more respectable .240/.328/.355 in 70 games for the Cubs’ High-A South Bend affiliate.
Made signed with Chicago for $1.5 million in 2019. His professional career was delayed a year because of the pandemic, but he then spent all of 2021 and part of 2022 at Low-A Myrtle Beach. He fit right in as a Carolina League regular, especially on the defensive side.
Made played some third base and second base in the Cubs system. With Wilmington this year, he was playing mostly shortstop with some time at second base. The Nationals believe he has the ability to stick at shortstop, but versatility could help his long-range status.
“He has a great ability to slow the game down and takes very good angles at shortstop, which translates into why it is easy for him when he plays second base,” Longosz said.
Made is a plus fielder with average speed and a double-plus arm. At one point, he was rated as having the best infield arm in the Cubs’ system.
“His arm is accurate with all throws,” Longosz said. “He has good instincts all around. We’re very excited to continue to watch him this year.”
CAPITAL GAINS
— The trade that brought Kevin Made to the Nationals also netted lefthander DJ Herz, who made the 40-man roster last November and had a 3.12 ERA this season through his first 17.1 innings with Triple-A Rochester.
— Infielder Phillip Glasser, a 10th-round pick last year out of Indiana, won Carolina League player of the week honors at Low-A Fredericksburg and was soon promoted to Wilmington. In one game against Fayetteville, he had four hits, four RBIs and three stolen bases.
— The same week Glasser earned his award, Rochester outfielder Travis Blankenhorn was named International League player of the week. The 27-year-old was hitting .283/.367/.613 through 28 games for the Red Wings.
