Notes and quotes on the top pick in the Nationals’ 2024 Draft class…
Seaver King, Washington’s top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, at No. 10 overall in the 1st round, started his collegiate career at Division II Wingate (NC), where he flourished, putting together a “47-game hitting streak [as a sophomore] in 2022-23 and slashing .411/.457/.699 with 11 homers,” overall that season, as noted in MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on the 21-year-old shortstop.
It is, “the third-longest hitting streak in Division II history,” the Nationals noted in their press release on their first round pick.
One of the most sought after names in this year’s transfer cycle will be Wingate SS Seaver King. Hit .411 this spring with 20 2B and 11 HR. Max EV of 112 mph. Uber-explosive operation at the plate. Outstanding athlete who has turned in 70-grade run times. Day 1 upside in 2024. pic.twitter.com/sqCGkRHQl0
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) May 26, 2023
After King led Wingate’s team in, “… batting average (.411), slugging (.699), on-base percentage (.457), runs (63), hits (90), RBI[s] (53), doubles (20), triples (5), home runs (11), total bases (153) and stolen bases (13),” as a sophomore, he made a decision to transfer to Wake Forest.
King praised Wingate and head coach Jeff Gregory, in particular, on the night of the draft, thanking the school and his coach for giving him an opportunity when no one else did.
“That was my only offer out of high school,” King explained, “… and Coach Gregory took a chance on me, and let me play my freshman year and kind of prove myself, and then kind of gave me the reins of my sophomore year, which is kind of crazy, and then that tough conversation of, ‘Hey, I want to take it to the next level.’ And then Wake Forest kind of helped me with open arms.”
The way he plays the game now, King said, is a result of what he was taught in both of those college programs.
“I think I’m one of the unique guys, I definitely play with a lot of passion, always have a smile on my face,” the Athens, GA-born infielder said.
“Always want to see my teammates succeed, and I think that is all a testament to Wingate and Wake Forest and what they instilled in me.”
Ending up where he did after where it all started surprised even the confident and talented young player.
“If you would have told me yesterday I would have been a top 10 pick,” he said, “I wouldn’t have believed you and it’s a reality today.”
The Nationals, in particular, taking him at No. 10 overall, was a surprise too.
“They were really never on the radar, and then my agent called me probably ten minutes before the draft and said, ‘This is the deal that’s in place as of now, and you’re probably going to be a National, but don’t get too married to it.’ I was expecting a call 30 seconds before or whatever, I don’t even know, I’ve never been through this stuff, so I had no idea what to expect, so I sat my family down, everybody together, and honestly wasn’t expecting to go, and ended up going, and it just kind of hit, and it’s still hitting me right now. Just an overwhelming moment, and just having all my best friends and family here just kind of made it easy, and I’m super-excited to get to work and be a National.”
The fact he got drafted at all was, he said, hard to believe.
“If you asked me three years ago if I would’ve been in the draft, period, I would’ve said probably not,” King acknowledged.
Seaver King tallies hit No. 1 in his pro debut!
The @Nationals‘ No. 5 prospect (first-rounder out of @WakeBaseball) has two RBIs and a diving stop at shortstop so far for the Single-A @FXBGNats. pic.twitter.com/65jFWB20Wf
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 14, 2024
“And let alone be a top-10 pick and be in an organization that values youth development as much as they do. I think it’s just surreal the fact that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m glad I didn’t know it was going to happen, because it’s just kind of better that way. So I’m just super-thankful for the opportunity and the Nationals taking a risk on me and they won’t regret it, for sure.”
King’s journey, from high school to Wingate to Wake Forest and the way he was able to establish himself given opportunities was part of the appeal for the Nats in making the selection.
“In terms of what Seaver has done, in terms of taking all of these leaps, that is one criteria we always look for, not just obviously with our first pick but also our top few selections,” Nationals’ Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek said on the night of the ‘24 draft.
One thing that stood out in the scouting, Ciolek said, was King’s two-strike approach.
“Obviously his two-strike approach really stands out, the high contact rate,” Ciolek said.
“He’s always had the uncanny ability to barrel the baseball and make contact.”
“I think from when I was a kid to now, I had to separate myself and I was going to be the scrappy guy who wasn’t afraid to get to two strikes,” King said of how he developed his approach, “… wasn’t going to be afraid to swing early. I don’t average the most pitches in my at-bats, and I’m okay with that, and that’s just a glaring place that I can improve on.”
It’s just one area of his game King said he knows he has to work on going forward.
“The development piece is something that is nowhere near the roof,” he said.
“I think I’m the rawest player and the guy who has the highest ceiling in the draft, and I kind of take pride in that and I’m willing to work and become the best player possible.”
Seaver King’s been in pro ball for 13 games, and he already has 3 triples.
The @Nationals‘ first-rounder out @WakeBaseball ties it up with a three-bagger for the @FXBGNats. pic.twitter.com/gQf5SqDldw
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 29, 2024
King started his pro career at Class-A Fredericksburg where he put up a .295/.367/.385 line with a double, three triples, and 10 stolen bases in 20 games.
MLB’s Pipeline scouts currently have King ranked 5th overall in the Nats’ system.