Day 1 of the 2018 MLB Draft saw the Washington Nationals add to their pitching depth, selecting Florida high school RHP Mason Denaburg and University of Connecticut LHP Tim Cate.  After years of building their stable of hitters, Washington used much of their 2017 draft class, and their two selections Monday, to stock up on pitching.

After being rumored for several days, at pick #27 Washington selected Mason Denaburg, an extremely athletic 6-3 200lbs righty with a commitment to the University of Florida.  He missed some time this spring due to bicep tendonitis, likely causing him to slide to #27.  Denaburg is an impressive 2-sport athlete, as he is also an all-state punter.  He utilizes a three-pitch arsenal, including a 92-95mph fastball with heavy sink, an upper-70s curveball with late-bite, plus the makings of a solid 82-86mph changeup.

From my notes, the easy comparison for Denaburg is Dane Dunning, a former Washington 1^st round pick and former Florida Gator pitcher – they look alike physically and have similar deliveries.  Denaburg has some excess movement in his motion and is raw even for a high school pitcher.  However, scouts believe his athletic ability, coupled by focusing full-time on pitching, will allow him to develop into a future starting pitcher.  The risk is elevated, even considering he is a high school right-handed pitcher (the worst rate of return in the draft), but Denaburg could payoff as a future #3 or #4 starter.

In Round 2 Washington went with UConn LHP Tim Cate, a 6-0 170lbs collegiate starter with a solid three-pitch repertoire along with injury concerns.  Cate had Tommy John surgery in high school and missed several starts this spring with elbow concerns.  When healthy, Cate possesses good command of a 90-94mph fastball, a plus or better low-80s curveball and a reasonable changeup.  His curveball is one of the best in this class and a true, swing-and-miss offering.  His detractors point toward his injury history, plus his mediocre size, and portend a future in relief.  That said Washington figures to develop him as a starter.  Assuming he is healthy, Cate should move quickly through A-Ball and profiles as either a back-end starter or impact reliever.

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The conclusion of Day 1 leaves me conflicted with Washington’s results.  I like both Denaburg and Cate as prospects and feel like both, particularly Denaburg, were good values where they were selected. Washington again seems to be showing a preference for arms and fortunately the pitching depth is ample this year.  Unfortunately both pitchers have injury concerns attached to them, and my preference would have been for Washington to go in a safer direction with each pick.

At #27 I would have run to the podium to select University of Florida RHP Jackson Kowar, an impressive pitcher with no past arm injuries but similar talent to Denaburg.  Rather than Cate, at pick #65 I would have preferred pitchers like LSU’s Zach Hess at LSU, South Carolina’s Adam Hill or Arkansas’s Blaine Knight.  Ideally, Washington would have taken Florida high school SS Nander De Sedas, as he is a top-20 talent for me in this crop.

While impossible to judge draft picks 12 hours after the fact, Washington did a fine job acquiring two promising pitching prospects to add to a farm system lacking in pitching depth.  My major quibble involves the injury risk Washington is taking on with these two pitchers, when safer prospects with similar upside were still available.

NatsGM Instant Grade    ->           C+