Minor League Transactions: 2025-26

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Some moves:
...
05/16
• RHP Baron Stuart has been assigned to High-A.

So, what is  his Barony? With a name like Stuart, I'd imagine something in Scotland

[imref]

So, what is  his Barony? With a name like Stuart, I'd imagine something in Scotland

and would he be assigned to High-Aye?

He's actually from Stuart FL, so he's got a town named after him already.

[imref]

Via Nationals Communications:

The Nationals have acquired left-handed pitcher Carson Palmquist from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations and have optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.

The Nationals have also transferred right-handed pitcher Max Kranick to the 60-day Injured List.

Been pretty awful since being picked in the 3rd round in 2022.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Via Nationals Communications:
Been pretty awful since being picked in the 3rd round in 2022.

how much of that is the location of Colorado's minor league teams?

[imref]

how much of that is the location of Colorado's minor league teams?

Don't know. He was OK before AAA. Toboni likes his LHP reclamation projects.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=palmqu000car

SBNation had him as the #9 prospect for the Rockies heading into 2025.

9. Carson Palmquist (588 points, 28 ballots)
Palmquist has a low, funky arm slot and has utility as both a starter and reliever. The 6’3”, 24-year-old lefty largely flew under the radar as an amateur — he wasn’t highly scouted out of high school, going undrafted (despite not allowing a single earned run during his junior and senior seasons). In his first two years at Miami, Palmquist was dominant in the bullpen, then he transitioned to the rotation in 2022 and was quite good at that too (2.89 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 12.6 K/9 rate, and 3.4 BB/9 rate). During his three college seasons, Palmquist struck out over 36% of the batters he faced while walking fewer than 8%.

[imref]

RHP Alexander Meckley promoted to Wilmington. 12th round pick in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina. 2.88 ERA / 1.23 WHIP in Fredricksburg in 40.2 IP with 42Ks

[imref]

Nats sign RHP L.J. Waco to a minor league contract. UDFA out of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Had been in independent ball. Will head to the FCL.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=waco--000lj-

[tomterp]

Don't know. He was OK before AAA. Toboni likes his LHP reclamation projects.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=palmqu000car

SBNation had him as the #9 prospect for the Rockies heading into 2025.

Thanks, I was wondering what the attraction was.  Sounds worth a flyer.

[imref]

Some additional moves (via TalkNats):
- RHP Jacob Roberts goes from A to A+
- OF Elijah Nunez demoted from AA to A+
- 1B Jacob "Joe" Walsh goes from A to A+
- 1B Hunter Hines demoted from A+ to A
- RHP Kevin Davis demoted from A+ to A

Also, SS Jorgelys Mota heads to the FCL for a rehab assignment

[blue911]

What’s Roberts back story?

[imref]

What’s Roberts back story?

Huge WWF star in the 80s. Famous for bringing a snake to the ring.

Oh wait.   UDFA signed in February. Only 22 IP at F-Burg, but dominated - https://www.milb.com/player/jacob-roberts-807480

[imref]

RHP Aaron Shortridge also promoted from A+ to AA

[Natsinpwc]

Some additional moves (via TalkNats):
- RHP Jacob Roberts goes from A to A+
- OF Elijah Nunez demoted from AA to A+
- 1B Jacob "Joe" Walsh goes from A to A+
- 1B Hunter Hines demoted from A+ to A
- RHP Kevin Davis demoted from A+ to A

Also, SS Jorgelys Mota heads to the FCL for a rehab assignment

Life's been good to Joe Walsh so far.  Heard he spent the last year Rocky Mountain Way. 

[imref]

Via Nats Talk:

The #Nats acquired RHP Brock Gillis from the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds of the Pioneer League and have assigned him to the Florida Complex League. Gillis was a collegiate pitcher for the University of Washington before transferring to the University of Portland. He is 24 years old.

[imref]

Zuck:

Nats claim Claimed RHP Jhancarlos Lara off outright waivers from the Atlanta Braves and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg.

Designated RHP Julian Fernandez for assignment.

[imref]

Rochester Asst. Hitting Coach Travis Fitta heading to grand canyon university to be their hitting coach.

[imref]

Max Kranick begins a rehab assignment in Fredericksburg

[imref]

RHP Julian Fernández released.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

RHP Julian Fernández released.

he was on the 40 man, i think, so that frees a slot.

edit: As noted above, he was DFA'd when the Nats picked up Jhancarlos Lara, so the Nats are at 40 on the 40 man.

Zuck:

Nats claim Claimed RHP Jhancarlos Lara off outright waivers from the Atlanta Braves and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg.

Designated RHP Julian Fernandez for assignment.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Lara assigned to AA for now.

23 year old stuff monster with a lack of command. fastball and slider very good, with a sinker that could be average but which is wild.  Was ATL
a #26 prospect in 2025 with 40 FV in Longenhagen's 2025 list but the lack of command led to him being downgraded and dropped from this year's list.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jhancarlos-lara/sa3019367/stats/pitching

Lara is an exciting but messy 22-year-old power-armed righty with plus-plus arm strength and 30-grade control. He is probably going to be a reliever, not only because he has scattershot command (he walked 16.2% of opposing hitters in 2024), but also because his fastball’s shape and plane make it less effective than its velocity might indicate. Lara is built like a college quarterback at a strapping, high-waisted 6-foot-3. He is a powerful, tightly wound athlete whose feel for release is way, way behind his pure arm speed. Often, Lara’s delivery isn’t well-connected and he throws a ton of non-competitive fastballs, though that’s partly because his heater really only plays when it’s way up above the zone. He’ll reach back for 99-100 on occasion, but his velocity seemed to taper late in 2024 as he was promoted to Double-A for five walk-prone starts. Lara tries to get ahead of hitters with a hard cutter/slider and then elevate his fastball for whiffs. He had low-minors success working with these two pitches in this way, but his development has plateaued. It’s possible he’ll remain too wild to be a reliable middle reliever. Entering his 40-man platform year, there’s a chance the Braves make the pragmatic decision to put Lara in the bullpen. If they do, the ceiling on his velocity is huge, but hopefully there is progress made in other areas that will facilitate Lara’s addition to the roster after the season.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/atlanta-braves-top-40-prospects/

[imref]

Via nats.talk:

LHP Alex Young moves up 2 levels from Single-A Fredericksburg to Double-A Harrisburg. Young is 32 years old and was a 2nd round draft pick in 2015 by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of TCU. He last pitched in the Majors in 2024 for both the Mets and Reds.

[imref]

Nats sign 27 year old RHP Blake Brown and send him to the FCL

Had been in the Phillies system in 2021 and independent ball this year with a 6+ ERA. Should provide immediate bullpen help

https://www.milb.com/player/blake-brown-668822

[imref]

Nats sign LHP Kai Peterson to a minor league contract.

https://www.mlb.com/player/kai-peterson-815322

23 years old, had been in independent ball. Assigned to the FCL.

[imref]

Jhancarlos Lara cleared waivers and has been assigned to Harrisburg.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Jhancarlos Lara cleared waivers and has been assigned to Harrisburg.

nice