Le Journal

The great folks over at Baseball America released their top 100 list today. There are three Nationals on the list, with two more that are probably close calls. The three top 100 guys are Eli Willits, Jarlin Susana and Harry Ford. Willits is the highest ranked National at 31st. Susana checks in at 68th, while Ford just snuck on to the list at 99th. 🚨The 2026 preseason Top 100 prospects list is here! 🚨See full rankings + scouting reports: https://t.co/AhNarjQoya pic.twitter.com/z8awj23Pam— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 21, 2026 Baseball America is probably my favorite prospect service. They are very up to date and are unafraid to change things up. The only thing I would push back on is not having Travis Sykora in the top 100. Sure, he underwent Tommy John Surgery, but he was one of the most dominant pitchers in the minors before going down. At 21, he is still a young pitcher as well. Despite that snub, it is exciting to have three Nats in the top 100. All of them are a little lower than I would probably have them, but that might just be my personal bias. The folks at BA know a lot more than I do, so I will trust them. The Nats top prospect is Eli Willits, which is no surprise. He was the first overall pick and had a very strong debut. There are some concerns about his power, but Willits only turned 18 in December. The rest of his game is just so well-rounded and I love his pure hitting ability, as well as his approach. Eli Willits wasted no time making his mark in pro ball! First AB = RBI, next AB = first hit, the kid keeps on delivering!📸 by Sol Tucker for TalkNats pic.twitter.com/4lFlkiF86B— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) August 22, 2025 BA wrote that Willits has a chance for five average or better tools, and is the Nats shortstop of the future. I agree with this assessment, though the power requires some projection. Willits is a no doubt shortstop, who is a super advanced hitter. My personal comparison for him is Geraldo Perdomo, who was a star player for the D-Backs in 2025. The second highest ranked Nats prospect is Jarlin Susana. Despite a lat injury that could delay his start to the season, Susana is still in BA’s top 75. This is due to his insane stuff. Susana’s fastball has touched 104 MPH according to BA. Even in an era where velocity is king, that kind of heat is rare. Pitcher archetypes and their corresponding prospect:Ground-ball machine: Walbert UrenaWorkhorse: Trey GibsonPower Pitcher: Jarlin SusanaCommand King: Jedixson PaezStrikeout artist: Thomas WhiteCrafty Lefty: Robby SnellingShutdown closer: Wellinton Herrera pic.twitter.com/ssII4Nek4b— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) November 9, 2025 Susana also has a wipeout slider to go with it. He can manipulate the shape of the pitch very well. Sometimes, it looks like a power curveball, but he can also turn it into more of a cutter. Susana also developed a more consistent changeup in 2025, which he threw in the mid-90’s. The injury probably cost him some spots in the rankings, but his stuff is so electric. He had a rough start to 2025, but really was turning a corner before his injury. Susana was throwing more strikes and looked ready for a 2026 debut. Hopefully he is just as sharp after his injury. After being acquired for Jose A. Ferrer, Harry Ford just snuck into the top 100. Ford has been a well known prospect for years now, but will finally get his shot in the MLB this year. As Carlos Collazo noted when I interviewed him, there are questions about his defense, which is why he is not higher. Ford is an exciting offensive catcher though. His contact and power skills are about average, but they play up due to his elite approach. Throughout his career, Ford has been able to get on base at a high level. In 2025, his power also trended upwards, which is a good sign. Harry Ford is an intriguing catcher for #FantasyBaseball purposes.2025 in Triple-A…458 PA, .283/.408/.460, 16 HR, 7 SB– 42% Hard-Hit, 8.7% BRL– 82.9% Zone…

Baker Mayfield says he can’t wait to play Kevin Stefanski’s Atlanta Falcons twice a year, something he has made clear after taking exception to an article from AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter. Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026 Failed might be considered harsh, but it’s an accurate summation of Mayfield’s Browns career. After getting to hand-pick Freddie Kitchens to be his head coach, the Browns were a disaster and brought Kevin Stefanski in to help clean up the mess. He did so immediately, helping the Browns reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Then 2021 happened. This is a complicated and ugly breakup, one that had a player’s dad posting film of his son being wide open and not getting the ball, but no one is a victim. The situation ultimately ended with Mayfield and the Browns not seeing eye to eye, and the parties mutually agreed that moving one was the best move. Mayfield may be bitter, but it’s clear this ended up being the best-case scenario for him. Still, Mayfield seems to have some new motivation going into 2026, and we’ll see if that helps him produce better results against the Falcons. Mayfield is 2-4 against the team since becoming the starter in Tampa Bay, with the 2025 season resulting in a 1-1 record and a split division title. The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive NFC South races to date, and that’s saying a lot considering the season just ended in a three-way tie. Rivals and hate are part of the fun, so bring on the antics.