Follow the Prospects: Drew Millas, C

[imref]

he's 30th on the Nats list you posted.  To me, that's as low as I've seen him.

he wasn't in the top 30 when I did the last update.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

he wasn't in the top 30 when I did the last update.

wow, because I think other lists often place him around #15 or so.  This was before the Soto trade:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/washington-nationals-top-29-prospects-2022/

They have him as a 40 FV. 

[welch]

Before games, Millas plays speed chess and blitz chess with young pitchers.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Last week, Drew Millas walked over to the couches in the Washington Nationals’ clubhouse with a foldable chessboard in hand. He placed it on a silver table and plopped down in one chair. Reliever Zach Brzykcy sat across from him. A few other players — including Jackson Rutledge and Jake Irvin — crowded around as Brzykcy and Millas settled in with pawns and rooks, kings and queens.

Millas carries the board around whenever he travels. When he saw that the Nationals didn’t have games in the clubhouse, he brought it in to build camaraderie. Irvin hopped in on a game. Pitcher Matt Cronin, too. Paolo Espino told Millas he wanted to join.

“It kind of wakes me up before games, helps me hit, I think, too,” Millas said. “Ever since I’ve been doing it, I’ve been hitting well. … It really just activates your critical thinking. Thinking ahead, thinking before you do something.”

Brzykcy learned the game from his dad when he was a kid, then joined the chess club in high school. Irvin picked it up in his fifth-grade chess club but hadn’t played much until he saw his teammates playing. Brzykcy — who is dealing with a forearm strain and was reassigned to minor league camp Tuesday — and Millas play each other on the phone for extra practice, but Brzykcy called it “nerve-racking” in person.

“The biggest thing is, especially as pitchers and catchers, we got to be on the same page all the time,” Irvin said. “[Millas] does a really good job just interacting with all of us, getting to know us and what our strengths are both on and off the field.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/03/12/drew-millas-nationals-chess-camaraderie/

[Section214]

Optioned to AAA. Probably #4 on the depth chart at C right now

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Optioned to AAA. Probably #4 on the depth chart at C right now

It'll be interesting to see the time split with Pineda.  They both need ABs and innings catching. Probably when Millas catches, Pineda will DH, and a good chunk of the time I could see Millas DH'ng. 

[imref]

nice debut: 4-4, 2R, HR, RBI, E

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Optioned to AAA. Probably #4 on the depth chart at C right now

nice debut: 4-4, 2R, HR, RBI, E

Harrisburg.

[imref]

speaking of Millas, he's raking at Harrisburg: .358 / .477 / .986, 2HR and a SB in 53ABs.

[imref]

104 MPH EV on last night's grand slam: https://twitter.com/Mayflies/status/1660261440073105408

Current OPS: 1.026

With Ruiz locked up long-term, the Nats may have a dilemma on their hands.

[welch]

At the least, Millas should be promoted to Rochester right now. The Redwings are going with three "who's that?" at catcher. Or promote Millas to the Nats and send Riley Adams to Rochester.

Too soon to worry about Millas against Ruiz, but if Millas is good enough to compete, eventually, then maybe that will be good.

[Natsinpwc]

Plawecki, the former Big Leaguer, opted out of his contract. How much times does Millas have in the minors? No need to rush him. If he is good it will be a pleasant dilemma. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

pineda is still hurt, so there is an opportunity for millas to move up. i'll guess they maybe like him catching rutledge and the AA pitchers. maybe, too,, pineda will be back in a few weeks and they don't want to have both at AAA.

[Slateman]

https://twitter.com/granthpaulsen/status/1660467451585261573?s=46&t=poWuJU73Q_dXAhfSF9HFlg

Nats prospect news: Catcher Drew Millas is being promoted to Triple-A Rochester.

The 25-year-old was hitting .341 with a .992 OPS at Double-A Harrisburg. Washington got him from Oaland in the Yan Gomes/ Josh Harrison trade. Underrated prospect. Looks like an MLB player.

[welch]

First game at Rochester, Millas goes 1-for-5. That was a triple. Are all catchers required to be slow?

(By the way, Yogi Berra had at least one triple every season until he turned 37. Hit ten of them in 1948. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berrayo01.shtml)