MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Nationals

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 09: Washington Nationals Outfield Victor Robles (16) celebrates is home run with Washington Nationals Outfield Juan Soto (22) during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies on April 9, 2019 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 14: Erick Fedde #23 of the Washington Nationals pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on March 14, 2019 at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

1. Erick Fedde

Right-hander Erick Fedde’s time as a true “prospect” has passed, but the 26-year-old right-hander still has plenty of potential to help the Nationals get back on track this season and into the playoffs. He has already been called up to the big leagues once this year, and will eventually make it back and hopefully stick. Fedde has pitched at the MLB level each of the past three seasons and has a career 6.07 ERA in 69.2 innings with 64 strikeouts.

The Nationals have sent Fedde to Double-A Harrisburg because it is closer to home than the Triple-A affiliate. That is not any indication of their expectations for him. If anything, it bodes well for Fedde that the Nationals preferred to have him two hours away in Pennsylvania opposed to out in Fresno.

Fedde nearly cracked the the top 50 for all MLB prospects before the 2017 season and was a top-100 prospect three times. He has a mid-90s fastball with good movement that generates a groundball rate and a slider and changeup that have above-average potential. Fedde has pitched well at every level of the Minor Leagues and has a career 3.50 ERA in nearly 400 innings. He has also excelled at keeping the ball in the yard, allowing only 0.5 home runs per nine.

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This year marks a make-or-break year for the former first-rounder. Injuries and command issues have plagued Fedde’s first two attempts to stick in the big leagues, but if he is able to put it all together, he still has the makings of a mid-rotation starter on a good club.

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