Unlike past Nationals rosters, all four were selected on the second day of the MLB Draft, drafted between the third and 10th rounds. On Monday, Day 2 of the 2024 MLB Draft, new scouting director Danny Haas’s regime further advanced the team’s prospect ranks.
Notably, the Nationals acquired contact hitter Kevin Bazzell (Texas Tech) with the 79th pick to join Caleb Lomavita (California) with their first-day pick, plus another catcher. At the start of the draft, the Nationals did not have a catcher among the top 30 prospects ranked by MLB Pipeline. At the top of their depth, 25-year-old Kayvert Lewis is signed through 2030 but is batting just .220 and has yet to solidify in the role, while Riley Adams and Drew Milas appear entrenched in backup roles.
When asked Sunday night if the team had been planning to acquire a catcher, Hass said they hadn’t, but were pleased to have a talented catcher like Loma Vita.
“But certainly,” Haas said, “we [assistant GM of player development Eddie Longosz] I was hoping we could get some more catchers, and so far that’s what we’ve been able to do.”
Loma Vita, smiling during a Zoom interview on Monday, said he started playing full-time catcher last year but quickly adapted to the defensive responsibilities and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. He likes that the position is undervalued. Haas has been scouting Loma Vita since he was in high school and said his personality was a key factor in his selection.
“If I can help the team and win more games as a catcher, I’ll be the best catcher in the world,” Lomavita said. “Trust me, I’ll do everything I can just to help the team win.”
After Bazzell, the Nationals continued to focus on college talent, selecting left-hander Jackson Kent from the University of Arizona in the fourth round, shortstop Randal Diaz from Indiana State in the fifth round, right-hander Davian Garcia from Florida Gulf Coast University in the sixth round, right-hander Robert Krantz from Oklahoma State in the seventh round, outfielder Sam Petersen from the University of Iowa in the eighth round, third baseman Jackson Ross from the University of Mississippi in the ninth round, and right-hander Luke Johnson from UMBC in the tenth round.
“I’m really excited about the way things are going,” Haas said. “We’ve got some guys up the middle again who can hit and we’ve got some potential starting pitchers.”
The Nationals’ new scouting team is prioritizing players with power and versatility who can play center field, an approach that was underscored on Day 1 by shortstop Luke Dickerson, the 44th overall pick out of Morris Knolls High School in New Jersey. He was the only high school player Washington selected in the first 10 rounds and indicated he would forgo attending the University of Virginia to join the organization.
Dickerson, who tied Mike Trout’s state home run record en route to the New Jersey state title, sports a short, compact swing that matches his larger frame. On a conference call with reporters Monday, he cited Trout and Trea Turner as common comparisons, noting their speed, power and ability to play center field. What prompted his late promotion in the draft? Over the winter, he was busy winning a state title in hockey, cutting into his baseball schedule.
“Tipping the puck in front of the net really helps with hand-eye coordination,” Dickerson said. “Being aggressive in hockey also helps when you’re at bat against a pitcher. There’s a lot of correlation there.”
Regarding the pitching staff, Haas said the team is prioritizing pitchers with size and the ability to fill the strike zone. Right-hander Travis Sikora, the top prospect on Day 2 last year, had a 2.78 ERA at Class A Fredericksburg. He is 6-foot-6.
