The National farm system is flush with hitting talent, especially in the middle infield. Names like Ronny Cruz, Yeremy Cabrera, and Devin Fitz-Gerald have gotten off to hot starts to begin the 2026 campaign, making pushes to be on top 100 prospect lists soon. One area that the Nationals’ farm system is lacking, however, is on the pitching side, as with their top 2 arms, Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora, injured, there is no real firepower on the way to help rescue a Nationals pitching staff that is currently
getting hammered at the big league level.
Outside of the trade deadline, where we can expect Paul Toboni to be shopping a multitude of Nationals players for prospect packages, the quickest way to restock the farm system with quality arms is the MLB Draft, where the Nats will have the 11th overall pick and $12.3 million in bonus pool money to work with. Let’s take a look at some of the pitching options they have in the first few rounds to add to their system and, hopefully, work their way through the minors quickly.
Round One
Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina
2025 Stats: 101.2 IP, 3.19 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 28.5 K%, 5.8 BB%, 22.7 K-BB%
Flukey is making his return from injury this weekend for the Chanticleers, his first since week one back in February. Flukey was extremely efficient in 2025 thanks to his strong fastball-slider combination, with a blossoming curveball as well. How he looks down the stretch will determine if teams are comfortable taking him in the top end of the first round, but I firmly believe Flukey could be at least the Nationals two-starter one day with proper development.
Cole Carlon LHP Arizona State
2026 Stats: 52 IP, 3.63 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 39.3 K%, 8.7 BB%, 30.6 K-BB%
Carlon joined the Sun Devils rotation in 2026, and his stuff looks sharper than ever, walking 3% less hitters and striking out 1% more than as a reliever in 2025. The heater usually sits mid-to-high 90s, but has been up to triple digits this season, pairing well with his elite slider, plus curveball, and good changeup. If the velocity holds as a starter, Carlon could be in play as an underslot pick for the Nationals who still has the potential to be a two-starter or higher in the big leagues eventually.
Liam Peterson RHP Florida
2026 Stats: 50 IP, 3.42 ERA, 2.87 FIP, 32.6 K%, 12.4 BB%, 20.2 K-BB%
The stuff is explosive, and he’s finally broken through on the results side, with a mid-3s ERA and FIP under 3. The walks are still a problem, but he’s showing the ability to succeed despite them. The fastball sits mid-90s, running up to 99 MPH, and his mid-80s slider is as sharp as they come. If the Nationals coaching staff could help him control his stuff, he could be one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball.
Round Two
Ruger Riojas RHP Texas
2026 Stats: 3.25 ERA, 1.64 FIP, 38.8 K%, 5.6 BB%, 33.2 K-BB%
Riojas’ strikeout stuff has exploded in his junior season at Texas, raising his strikerout rate by 18% from 2025 to 2026. He throws a mid-90s fastball which generates plenty of swing-and-miss, and he has 5 secondary offerings he’ll mix in as well, with the curveball and changeup being the ones which stand out the most. Riojas doesn’t have the “stuff” of some of the other arms in this range, but his wide pitch mix and control make him a solid bet to be a solid big league pitcher one day.
Tegan Kuhns RHP Tennessee
2026 Stats: 3.77 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 25.1 K%, 4.2 BB%, 20.9 K-BB%
Kuhns has all the traits of a future top-of-the-line arm, but hasn’t quite put them all together at Tennessee just yet. Throws a mid-90s fastball with unique flat movement, a sharp slider, and a changeup that generates plenty of swing-and-miss. Under the old Nationals regime, Kuhns would’ve been a player who never put it all together, but under the new coaching staff, Kuhns is the kind of pitcher they can turn into something special.
Hunter Dietz LHP Arkansas
2026 Stats: 3.59 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 37.5 K%, 8.0 BB%, 29.5 K-BB%
Dietz is a 6’6 lefty who has been a weapon for the Razorbacks in 2026, throwing mid-90s with his fastball and working a low-80s slider off it. 2026 is his only full collegiate season, so the sample size is small, but if the Nationals believe in the stuff, he could immediately become one of the nastier arms in the Nationals farm system.
Round Three
Wes Mendes LHP Florida State
2026 Stats: 2.05 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 34.8 K%, 7.7 BB%, 27.0 K-BB%
Mendes has mowed down ACC lineups this season with his strong 3-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup. He sits in the low-90s with the heater, but has gotten it up to 96, suggesting there is a chance for a velocity jump in pro ball. Mendes knows how to pitch, and could be a solid backend starter in the big leagues, with a chance for more if he gains velocity or more pitches.
Jacob Dudan RHP NC State
2026 Stats: 3.60 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 30.4 K%, 5.9 BB%, 24.5 K-BB%
Dudan made his collegiate debut as a starter in 2026 and has been very successful for the Wolfpack, thanks to his heater, which has been up to 99 MPH, and a devastating slider. He has also added a sinker to his arsenal to keep hitters off his fastball, and a cutter which offers another look from the slider. Dudan’s combination of stuff and performance make him as good a bet as you can find in the third round, with his limited track record being the only thing preventing him from going higher.
Shane Sdao LHP Texas A&M
2026 Stats: 5.60 ERA, 4.87 FIP, 25.7 K%, 5.4 BB%, 20.3 K-BB%
Sdao’s stuff hasn’t translated to SEC success quite yet, but it’s a strong bet to translate to pro ball with proper development. He can hold mid-90s on his fastball deep into outings, and has a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates plenty of chase. At 6’3” 170, there is room to grow into his frame and add more velocity to his game as well. Sdao has first or second round grade stuff, but could be a steal for a team like the Nats at the beginning of the third round due to his performance struggles.
