The Washington Nationals were well represented in a pair of top-100 prospect lists released by MLB.com and ESPN this week.
While the Washington Nationals enter 2026 with question marks, all eyes remain focused on the bright future after the front office added more talent to the farm system through the MacKenzie Gore trade earlier this month. And the Nationals' future is well represented after both ESPN and MLB.com released their top 100 rankings for the 2026 season on Tuesday.
Shortstop Eli Willits served as the highest rated player in both rankings, checking in at 13th in MLB.com's rankings and 41st in ESPN's rankings with all eyes on the former top overall pick from the 2025 MLB Draft. Now alongside Gavin Fien in Single-A, his former Team USA teammate, Willits will look to build on a productive first season in the minors where he played in 15 games, 14 at shortstop, and finished with five RBIs and a pair of stolen bases across 50 at-bats.
ESPN noted that Willits, a switch hitter, is "everything you want from a modern shortstop with power as the question", becoming the latest part of what could be a loaded future infield for the Nationals.
Willits was one of four Nationals represented with right handed pitcher Travis Sykora also featured with his ranking more steady with MLB.com at 54th and ESPN at 58th. Sykora, one of ten player the Nationals announced as non-roster spring training invites, enters spring training with a chance to stay consistent after injuries derailed the start of his 2025 season. ESPN projects the right hander as a "potential front-line starter" despite two surgeries in the past two seasons. With 208 strikeouts against 44 walks in over 130 innings pitched in Double-A, he'll give the Nationals a chance to add to the future of its rotation.
He wasn't the only pitcher, though, as right handed pitcher Jarlin Susana checked in at 74th in ESPN's ranking and 80th in MLB.com's rankings. After being speculated as a potential option to make his debut in 2026, Susana saw his 2025 season cut short after having season ending surgery though he's recovering from lat surgery. Originally part of the Juan Soto trade, Susana will look to make his mark as a power pitcher with his fastball reaching triple digits while he threw over 103 innings in 2024.
New Nationals catcher Harry Ford was the fourth and final pick with MLB.com at 71st and ESPN at 82nd with all eyes on what type of role he is able to crack on the 40-man roster. With Keibert Ruiz projected as the Opening Day starter at catcher, Ford has drawn buzz as maybe the most intriguing acquisition with one outlet naming him as among the best prospects traded this offseason.
Ford was one of two players the organization acquired in December 2025 after sending closer Jose Ferrar to the Seattle Mariners, giving the Nationals youth and a long-term answer at catcher. Will Ford crack into the starting spot in 2026? Time will tell, but he's set to suit up for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, set to begin on March 3.