Tankathon says Nats will have the 4th best lottery chance.
BA top few:
1. Jace LaViolette
A 6-foot-6 adonis, LaViolette was named a first team All-American in 2023 after hitting .305/.449/.726 with 16 doubles, 29 home runs and 78 RBIs in 68 games. LaViolette stands almost completely upright in the box with a slightly open front side. He has a minimal load and stride and lets his natural strength and bat speed do most of the work. LaViolette does a nice job creating loft in his swing and is able to do damage to all fields. With a 90th percentile exit velocity of 109 mph and a max exit velocity of 116, LaViolette generates impressive impact. He has double-plus raw power to all fields, and he has no issue getting to it in games. LaViolette has an advanced approach and his contact ability took a step forward this spring. He moves surprisingly well for his size and played a quality center field in 2024 for the Aggies, but his actions and arm strength are likely best suited for right field.
2. SS Ethan Holiday
Scouts have seen Ethan plenty of times already since he was a freshman when he was high school teammates with Jackson during his 2022 draft year, and Ethan has grown bigger and stronger since then. Built more like his father than his brother, Ethan’s ease of operation in the batter’s box stands out. Holliday showcases a smooth, compact swing from the left side with good rhythm and balance. He tracks pitches extremely well, maintaining a disciplined approach to draw plenty of walks. There is some swing-and-miss to his game, but Holliday has a mature offensive mindset, controlling the strike zone and using the whole field. Holliday drives the ball well now and doesn’t have to sell out to generate that power, with the upside to develop into a 30-plus home run threat. At shortstop, Holliday is a fundamentally sound defender for his age, though at his size, there’s a good chance he outgrows the position and ends up at third base in pro ball, with the middle-of-the-order offensive upside that would project well in a corner outfield spot too.
3. RHP Tyler Bremner
Bremner cemented himself as one of the premier arms in the country in 2024, when he posted a 2.54 ERA with 104 strikeouts to just 21 walks in 88.2 innings for UC Santa Barbara. Bremner has an easy, under control operation with present arm speed. He attacks hitters from a high three-quarters slot and his fastball sits in the 93-96 mph range while topping out at 98. It has big-time run and ride, and is most effective when located in the top half of the zone. His fastball’s velocity and shape makes it a plus pitch. He boasts two quality secondary offerings in a mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. Bremner’s changeup is the more polished of the two, but his slider has consistently flashed plus. In 2024, Bremner’s changeup generated an impressive 46% miss rate. He has advanced feel for the offering and will throw it to both left and righthanded hitters. The change plays well off his mid-90s fastball and flashes late tumbling life. Bremner’s slider features ample late sweeping life, as well as some depth, and is a real weapon against righthanded hitters.
4. LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
Outside of Chase Burns, Arnold was the best pitcher in the ACC during 2024. He pitched his way to a 2.98 ERA with a whopping 159 strikeouts to just 26 walks across 105.2 innings. Arnold attacks from a low three-quarters slot and his stuff has taken a major step forward. His fastball has been up to 97 mph with upwards of 21 inches of run, and it explodes from a lower release height. In addition to his thunderous heater, Arnold’s slider is a bonafide plus pitch with plenty of sweep and sharpness.
5. RHP Seth Hernandez, HS
Hernandez has been the top high school pitcher in the 2025 class for years and has only further solidified his status as his draft gets closer. He pitches in the low-to-mid 90s and touches 98 mph with a fastball that has good extension and might still have another tick of velocity coming as he fills out his athletic 6-foot-4 frame. Hernandez has an outstanding changeup, one of the best offspeed pitches in the country. It’s a definite plus pitch with heavy sink, lots of fade and typically at least 12 mph off his fastball. Hernandez shows feel for a hard curveball that he can spin above 2,700 rpm and should give him another swing-and-miss offering and began throwing a harder slider more during the 2024 showcase circuit. He has a sound delivery and athleticism that helps him repeat his mechanics to throw strikes.
Just noting the top five players, since Nats should pick somewhere there.
