Washington Nationals Breakout MLB Prospects Entering 2024

Entering 2024, we’re examining multiple Nationals prospects on the verge of a breakout season. To qualify as a breakout prospect for this exercise, a player must rank outside the Top 10 Prospects in his organization entering the year.

You can find all of our preseason prospect rankings here and a link to breakouts for all 30 teams here.

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Breakout Prospects

Daylen Lile, OF

Preseason rank: 11
BA Grade: 45. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: Lile signed an over-slot $1.75 million bonus in the second round of the 2021 draft. His pro debut at the Florida Complex League left much to be desired and he missed the 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Lile redeemed himself in 2023, slashing .291/.381/.510 at Low-A Fredericksburg to earn a promotion to High-A Wilmington in mid July. He continued to impress in his first healthy season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Known as a pure hitter in high school, Lile lived up to that billing in 2023. He has a clean, simple swing and an innate ability to adjust pitch-to-pitch during an at-bat. Lile’s adjustability allows him to get to pitches in all four quadrants of the strike zone. The question is whether he’ll make enough impact when he connects. He posted a below-average .123 isolated slugging percentage in 40 games at High-A, and opposing scouts wonder if he’ll ever develop more than below-average game power. He’s a plus runner who split time between center and left field in Wilmington, but his defensive skills and arm may be best suited for left field, which would put even more pressure on his power to develop.

THE FUTURE: Lile played in 106 games in 2023, and the Nationals hope increased durability continues in 2024. He could elevate his stock quickly if he starts to tap into more power.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.

DJ Herz, LHP

Preseason rank: 14
BA Grade: 45. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: A Cubs eighth-round pick in 2019, Herz quickly impressed in his first full season coming out of the lost 2020. He led all Cubs minor leaguers in with 272 strikeouts during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The issue? He also led all Cubs farmhands with 114 walks over that same time frame. Herz struggled in Double-A to start 2023, and the Cubs traded him to the Nationals for third baseman Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline. Herz pitched well in eight games for the Nationals’ Double-A Harrisburg affiliate and earned an all-star nod in the Arizona Fall League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Herz’s fastball is deceptive, which helped him rack up a third straight season of more than 130 strikeouts. Hitters note that Herz’s fastball jumps on them much quicker than perceived despite its 91-94 mph velocity. However, his bread-and-butter is his changeup. The nearly double-plus pitch sits 80-84 mph and is easily the best in the Nationals’ system. Herz rounds out his repertoire with an average, tight, vertical curveball in the upper 70s. Herz struggles with control, owning a walk rate near 14%—when league average is closer to 9.5%.

THE FUTURE: The Nationals were enthused by Herz’s performance in the AFL. Because of the lack of lefthanded starting pitching depth, the Nationals want to develop Herz as a starter. If his control does not dramatically improve, a move to the bullpen is likely. He could be a candidate to help Washington as a reliever sooner rather than later.

Scouting Grades
Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 65. Control: 35.