WaPo's Danielle Allentuck speaks with assistant GM Devin Pearsson and checks in on numerous minor leaguers during the Nats off day. Crews, Willits, Cruz, Ford, Franklin, Hassell, Perales, Susana.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/05/12/dylan-crews-nationals-prospects/Crews:
They still want him to work on swing decisions and ball flight; defensively, he needs to be prepared to play all three outfield positions.
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After a slow start, Crews has shown progress in nearly every category. He’s hitting the ball harder. His hard-hit percentage is 50 percent, the highest of his professional career, and his exit velocity is up a few decimal points. His strikeout percentage is still high, sitting at 26.3, but his walk percentage is up, it’s at 10.9, also the highest of his career.
Pearson praises Crews's focus.
Peason praises Willits's maturity. For Cruz, not insight, just that he's continuing to do well as he did in the spring.
Ford: Job is his when he turns things around.
There’s a spot on the major league team waiting for him when he’s ready, but he’s 19 for 99 with only four extra base hits. Defensively, he’s worked on receiving with Nationals’ catching coach Bobby Wilson and Jake Lowery, the Nationals catching and game play coordinator.
He's doing what is asked.
Franklin?
He was one of the last players left in camp, and the Nationals have told him to dominate AAA to the point where they have no option but to call him up. He’s hitting .268 with a .404 on-base percentage. They also, Pearson said, want him to be confident at all three outfield positions.
Hassell is praised for his defense but they want more on offense, specifically improving his batted ball profile and get inner half of the strike zone pitches in the air.
Perales needs to work on maintaining his 100 MPH stuff deeper into games by "developing routines." Susana has started throwing in West Palm.
