Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Nationals prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Breakout Prospects

Sam Petersen, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: If not for shin splints he contended with as an Iowa junior, Petersen had a chance to be drafted a bit higher than the eighth round in 2024. That’s where he landed with the Nationals, who signed him for a slot value bonus of $230,900. Petersen saw action in seven games for Low-A Fredericksburg after signing but got a late start to his 2025 season after dealing with a hamstring injury. He reached High-A Wilmington on June 5 and then played in the Arizona Fall League after the season to add at-bats.

Scouting Report: Petersen has a strong, 6-foot frame and a hard-nosed playing style. The Nationals have helped coax greater exit velocity out of his righthanded bat, while giving him a chance to prove himself in center field after he played mostly left in college. Petersen hits the ball with authority to all fields with a line-drive approach. He takes aggressive swings and is beginning to take shots to his pull side, with the potential for above-average power. His max exit velocity increased to 110 mph with wood after reaching 109 in 2024 with metal. Petersen does well staying within his zone and keeps strikeouts in check, but his zone-whiff rate of nearly 27% could curtail his production against more advanced pitchers. He is an above-average runner out of the box who is faster underway. His baserunning savvy is apparent in his 18-for-18 showing on stolen bases for Wilmington. Petersen is an average center fielder with a below-average arm that might limit him to left field.

The Future: Petersen was one of the top performers in the South Atlantic League while healthy, which is notable given that Wilmington suppresses home runs like few minor league parks. He showed the potential to be at least a fourth outfielder and potentially a regular if his power and speed continue to play. Petersen is ready for Double-A.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40

Marconi German, SS

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: German represented one of the best scouting-and-development stories in the Nationals’ system in 2025. Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $400,000 in January, he adapted quickly to pro ball as one of the Dominican Summer League’s top performers. German batted .283/.479/.513 with eight home runs and 33 stolen bases in 53 games. His steals total ranked seventh in the DSL, while his .992 OPS ranked fourth among qualified 17-year-old peers.

Scouting Report: German is a 5-foot-10, switch-hitting middle infielder with a well-rounded game. He has a fluid swing from both sides of the plate and a good eye for the strike zone, as demonstrated by him accumulating 43 walks against 42 strikeouts in his DSL debut. German does a good job keeping the ball off the ground and elevating to his pull side when the situation warrants. He’s young and untested, but as he adds strength and exit velocity, he could grade as average for hit and power. German is an above-average runner and effective basestealer. His body type should allow him to remain on the middle infield, potentially at shortstop with an above-average arm.

The Future: German is part of a growing contingent of shortstops at the lower levels of the Nationals’ system. He should continue seeing time there and at second base and will be a top candidate to play middle infield in the Florida Complex League in 2026.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55

Ronny Cruz, SS

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Cruz is a Dominican Republic native who had an international free agent contract offer fall through. He then moved to Florida and played two prep seasons at Miami Christian School and was still 17 years old when the Cubs drafted him in the third round in 2024. Cruz made his pro debut the following season and batted .270/.314/.431 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 48 games in the Arizona Complex League. The Cubs dealt him to the Nationals at the 2025 trade deadline as part of the package for Michael Soroka. Cruz did not play after the trade.

Scouting Report: Cruz is a lean 6-foot-2 shortstop with room to fill out his frame and add power. He shows above-average power in batting practice and made plenty of hard contact in his ACL pro debut. He is a pull-oriented hitter who will sometimes leak out on his front side and lose his hitting base. In the field, Cruz has clean actions, an above-average arm and a good internal clock at shortstop. It’s possible he outgrows the position and moves to third base. He is an above-average runner who could slow down as he matures.

The Future: Cruz could develop into a power-over-hit major league infielder, possibly at shortstop, but his development will take time. He should open 2026 at Low-A Fredericksburg, where he will vie for playing time with fellow shortstops Eli Willits and Angel Feliz.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55