Follow the Prospects: Jake Bennett, LHP

[nobleisthyname]

Scheduled to pitch tomorrow night for Wilimington against Jersey Shore. Game at 5:05 pm

Thanks for the clarification.

[welch]

Pitched a rocky three innings. Battered in the first with hard liners, lucky to give up only two runs. Pitch 3 2/3 in all, 2 ER, 4 hits, 2 BB, 1 K. Looked wild. ERA = 2.87.

https://www.milb.com/gameday/blue-rocks-vs-blueclaws/2025/07/02/784058/final/box

[imref]

better in his last start: 3IP, 0H, 5Ks, 2BBs, currently at 2.41 / 1.125

[imref]

Starting to get a wee bit excited about Bennett. Here's his latest scouting report from Callis:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Bennett played both high-school and college ball with Cade Cavalli and pushed himself into the second round of the 2022 Draft with 133 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 117 innings as a junior that spring. He dominated out of the gate for Single-A Fredericksburg (1.93 ERA, 54 strikeouts in 42 innings) in his first full season and was promoted to High-A Wilmington in June 2023. He made only six starts in the South Atlantic League before being shut down and underwent Tommy John surgery that September. Bennett did not pitch in the Minors in 2024 as he recovered and rehabbed from the elbow procedure.

Standing at 6-foot-6, the southpaw touched 97 mph in that first full season but often sat more in the 91-94 mph range but with a tailing two-seamer. He couldn’t hold that velocity as 2023 wore on in a sign that the elbow was an issue. His low-80s changeup worked as his best pitch, a true fader with good separation and armside movement. The sinker and changeup helped drive a 52.5 percent groundball rate during that first full season. Another low-80s option in his slider got whiffs in 2023 but projects more like an average pitch.

Bennett didn’t walk more than two batters in any of his 15 appearances in 2023, but he’ll have to reestablish that level of control after the long layoff. His combination of size and stuff still offers plenty of intrigue, and he shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle of a Nationals system that has gotten deeper since he last pitched.

[welch]

I have never understood how his scouting gradces could range 50-55-60 but grade out to an overall 45. As if the sum could be less than the parts.

Anyway, we were excited about Bennett before the TJS. Since then, the Nats have promted Parker and Irvin. Looks like he is back.

[Slateman]

I have never understood how his scouting gradces could range 50-55-60 but grade out to an overall 45. As if the sum could be less than the parts.

Anyway, we were excited about Bennett before the TJS. Since then, the Nats have promted Parker and Irvin. Looks like he is back.

The 45 accounts for him being more of a 4/5 or a reliever.