On March 19th at 4:30 PM EST, the Nationals are playing in the Spring Breakout game against the Cardinals. The Spring Breakout game is a very cool concept the MLB introduced a few years ago where teams top prospects play against each other in a showcase event. It gives fans a chance to see prospects they would not otherwise be able to watch.
Most MLB fans do not go to many minor league games, but a lot go down for Spring Training. This event exposes a lot of more casual fans to these prospects. I think it is a great idea and teams have really bought into it. The Nats roster for this event is filled with their top prospects. Most of the Nats top 30 prospects that are not injured are on the roster. Here is a look at the roster.
There are a number of really interesting names that are all in different parts of their careers. Some of these guys are knocking on the door of the big leagues, while others are teenagers who just got drafted. That variety is part of what makes this event so exciting.
I wanted to highlight a few names I am eager to see. One of them is Luis Perales, who actually pitched today against the Mets in Spring Training. He was acquired for Jake Bennett this offseason in a rare prospect for prospect trade. Perales has absolutely electric stuff, but also has serious relief risk.
We saw the full package in his outing today. He averaged nearly 100 MPH on his fastball and showcased a pair of nasty breaking pitches. However, the command was erratic, especially with his fastball. He only walked one batter, but there were a lot of deep counts. The stuff was absolutely filthy and when he was executing, he was getting whiffs.
This year, the Nats are going to have to decide whether Perales is a starter or a reliever. He is likely to start the year in the AAA rotation. However, the bullpen is a strong fall back option. He is already on the 40 man roster, so the Nats will have to make a decision on him before too long. I am really excited to see Perales pitch though.
A position player I am excited to watch is Marconi German. There are a ton of middle infielders on this roster, so there is no guarantee he plays much in the game. However, I want to just see what he looks like out there. He has yet to make his stateside debut, but lit up the Dominican Summer League last year. I know his stats, but I feel like I do not know the player yet.
Getting to know the player beyond just the stats is a lot of what this Spring Breakout is all about. This is the first time fans are able to see a lot of these players. It can also be the first time these players ever play in their team’s uniform. 2025 draft picks like Coy James, Miguel Sime Jr., and Landon Harmon have yet to play a professional game. That means the Spring Breakout game is the first time any fans will see them.
The teams are also all in on this idea, which makes it really work. 91 of the top 100 prospects will be playing in the Spring Breakout game. The only ones that are not are injured players like Jarlin Susana or guys who are locks to make the team like Nolan McLean of the Mets.
This participation is part of what makes the event so fun. Basically every relevant Nats prospect that is able to play is on the roster. This might be my favorite part of Spring Training and it is such a great idea from the MLB. Set your calendars for March 19th at 4:30.