Follow the Prospects: Ethan Petry, 1B / OF

[imref]

Playing in the shadow of DFG, but continuing to mash.

[zimm_da_kid]

Playing in the shadow of DFG, but continuing to mash.

Both need AA

[imref]

Hasn’t played since Sunday

[imref]

Played tonight.

[welch]

Spencer Nussbaum discussed some of the important Nats farmhand today:

Ethan Petry (1B/OF)
Current level (age): High-A Wilmington (21)
The Athletic’s rank: Preseason No. 13 in Nats’ Top 20
What he’s doing: Leading the hitters’ meetings in Wilmington and swinging less
What it means: He’s slugging the crud out of the ball

Spring training was tough on Petry’s body, and tougher on his mind. He struggled, in part, because there were no advanced reports during camp. And so, when Opening Day rolled around and he got his first report, it was as if someone lifted all of the tension out of his 6-foot-4 frame.

“I started calming down because I started seeing percentages,” Petry said, referencing the team’s pre-game reports.

Teams rarely select a lumbering first baseman in the first couple rounds of the draft, unless there is an exceptional secondary trait. Early on, the Nationals identified Petry as one of the most intelligent players in last year’s class. In Wilmington’s hitters’ meetings, he has helped lead the way for right-handed hitters, while Fitz-Gerald does the same for left-handed hitters.

This spring, the Nationals worked with Petry to develop a more patient approach. In April, that meant he frequently struck out looking — “which I’m OK with,” Petry said, because “I can live with someone throwing a fastball on the black.” He had a .454 on-base percentage that month. Now that he’s confident in his decisions, the walks have gone down — but the power is way, way up. He has a .629 slugging percentage in May. His .962 OPS is among the org’s best.

[zimm_da_kid]

Perplexed why he's still at high a. His offense appears to be very well-rounded. Power AND hitteryness. As an advanced college bat, he should be in AA

[IanRubbish]

Perplexed why he's still at high a. His offense appears to be very well-rounded. Power AND hitteryness. As an advanced college bat, he should be in AA

The Toboni Administration is clearly showing promotions through the system will be slow.  They don't want to burn up service time with 22/23 year olds who might be all-stars at 27, but will need a couple of growing pains years.  There is some logic to it.  Petry might get to AA later this year, but he won't see Rochester in '26.

[Lintyfresh85]

Promoted

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.federalbaseball.com/washington-nationals-prospects/91706/nationals-make-flurry-promotions-including-eli-willits-devin-fitz-gerald

Nice observation about Petry:

As a productive SEC hitter, it just felt like High-A was too easy for Petry. Now, he will be tested at the Double-A level. I will be looking to see if his contact rates stay strong. Petry was making in zone contact at an above average clip in High-A despite being known as a power over hit guy. If those contact skills translate to AA, he could be a potential top 100 prospect.