Washington Nationals news & notes: MLB Draft talk; Hunter Harvey trade + more…

Notes and quotes on an off-day during the All-Star break…

2024 MLB DRAFT RDS. 1-3:

With their first three picks of 2024’s MLB Draft (Nos. 10; 39; and 44), Washington’s Nationals selected infielder/outfielder Seaver King (10), catcher Caleb Lomavita (39), and then shortstop Luke Dickerson (44).

King, 21, hit 14 doubles, three triples, and 16 home runs, with 64 RBIs, 25 walks, 11 stolen bases, and 59 runs scored in 60 games for Wake Forest in 2024.

He posted a .301/.377/.577 line on the year.

Lomavita, 21, hit 13 doubles, a triple, and 15 home runs, with 52 RBIs, 12 walks, 12 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored in 55 games for the University of California, Berkeley in 2024, with a .322/.395/.586 line on the year.

Dickerson, 18, “… hit .466,” at Morris Knolls High School (NJ) this year, “with 10 doubles, 18 home runs, 45 RBI[s], 22 walks, 25 stolen bases, and 57 runs scored in 33 games his senior season,” as the Nats noted in a press release on their picks.

“I think the common theme for all three of the guys today,” Nationals’ Vice President, Amateur Scouting Danny Haas said after the first three rounds on Sunday night.

“They’re athletic, toolsy players with positive parts of performance. They always played hard in our views, and showed signs of making adjustments as well.”

“We’ve been tracking these guys all year,” Assistant Director and National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting Reed Dunn added.

“Up the middle, athletic, upside players was key,” Dunn explained. “And we feel like we really identified early, stayed on and were able to get three of them in the draft.”

The 39th pick was acquired on Saturday, in the trade with the Royals for reliever Hunter Harvey which brought ‘22 2nd Round pick Cayden Wallace (KC’s No. 2 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s rankings), and the competitive balance draft pick.

GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo’s scouting staff appreciated their boss adding the additional pick.

“It was awesome. [Rizzo] did an amazing job getting the extra resources,” Haas said.

“Definitely that pick increased our haul for sure.”

“Christmas came early,” Dunn added.

ROUNDS 4-10:

HUNTER HARVEY TRADE AFTERMATH:

To fill Hunter Harvey’s spot on the roster, the Nationals called up Amos Willingham in advance of the series and the first-half finale in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon.

So how is the club going to fill Harvey’s role in the bullpen after the hard-throwing reliever was traded to Kansas City’s Royals?

“Robert [Garcia] has been pitching well,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said before the third of three with the Brewers over the weekend.

“[Derek] Law, it seems like clean innings he’s done really well. We still have [Dylan] Floro.

“The bullpen is still pretty intact.”

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

“Right now, [those] seventh and eighth innings will probably be more of a matchup thing.

“You don’t have the constant with Harvey and [closer Kyle] Finnegan. We’ll see how it goes when we get back.”

Harvey, 29, and a 2013 1st Round draft pick by Baltimore, dealt with injuries in the years he was with the Orioles, and was selected off waivers by first San Francisco’s Giants (Nov. ‘21), and then Washington (March, ‘22).

In his time with the Nationals, he dealt with injury issues, but managed to get his career on track.

In 138 games and 145 innings pitched for the Nationals, he saved 10 games, posted a 3.17 ERA, a 2.92 FIP, 37 walks, and a total of 162 Ks.

“It’s been awesome,” Martinez said of the way Harvey revived his career in his time with the team.

“He learned a lot in the last three years he was here.”

“Him and Finnegan were the backbone to what we’re trying to do here,” Martinez added, “… and what we’re trying to accomplish.

Photo by Zac BonDurant/MLB Photos via Getty Images

“So … somebody else is going to have to step up and replace him.”

Parting ways with Harvey was emotional for the Nats’ skipper and the Nationals’ clubhouse.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions yesterday, especially with the bullpen,” he explained.

“Those guys did so well yesterday in the game, and then to have to break the news to them that one of their brothers are leaving us to go play somewhere else. They all get it. They understand what the reality is in this game, those things happen. I wish nothing but the best for Hunter. He’s a big part of the Nats family. And I’ll miss him, we’ll all miss him, but he goes to another team and [he’ll] try to help them win.”

His message for the players still in their clubhouse with the trade deadline fast approaching (July 30th), and more deals likely for the still-rebuilding ballclub?

“It’s very simple for me: ‘Hey, be where your feet are,’” Martinez said. “Right now you’re a National.’”

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