Nationals draft Day 2: Here are all the players they added Sunday

The first draft for the Nationals under the new leadership of president of baseball operations Paul Toboni has come to a close.

As slot values declined with each successive pick, making it increasingly difficult to ensure a high school prospect will agree to a contract rather than going to college, the Nationals opted to draft mostly from the collegiate talent pool.

The next step is to sign the picks. Washington has the 14th-largest bonus pool at $12,278,300. The deadline for signing players is July 27 at 5 p.m.

If you missed Day 1 of the draft, catch up with The Banner’s coverage. Now, here’s what you need to know about the Nationals’ second day of the draft.

Round 5, No. 138: 3B Daniel Cuvet, Miami

Coming out of high school Cuvet was touted for his slugging ability, but a 17th-round flier by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 draft was not enough to lure him away from Miami.

Cuvet, 21, batted .305 with a 1.086 on-base-plus-slugging percentage while playing for the Hurricanes in the Atlantic Coast Conference this year. The team finished with a 38-18 record in the regular season, earning Miami the No. 2 seed in the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA tournament. The Hurricanes were eliminated after two straight losses to Florida.

Cuvet was one of the best freshmen in the country in 2024, when he homered 24 times in 57 games, setting a freshman program record. He finished his career with 54 home runs, third most in program history.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Cuvet is one of the premier sluggers in the class, pairing raw power with improved plate discipline after three productive seasons at Miami. The report notes that he is a well-below-average runner with below-average defense at third base despite a big arm.

Baseball America ranked Cuvet as the 97th-best prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 120.

Round 6, No. 167: RHP Cooper Allen, UNC Wilmington

As a starting pitcher for the Seahawks in the Coastal Athletic Association, Allen, 21, posted a 2.79 ERA over 15 starts and 87 innings in 2026. He earned second-team All-CAA and all-tournament honors after striking out 96 batters — tied for second in the conference and 14th most in program history.

Among his best outings were his first career shutout against Hofstra on April 18 and a complete-game performance with a career-high 11 strikeouts against Monmouth in the CAA tournament. Allen was also a semifinalist for the College Baseball Pitcher of the Year Award.

Round 7, No. 196: RHP Gage Peterson, Appalachian State

After spending two seasons at Walters State Community College, Peterson, 21, transferred to Appalachian State and emerged as one of the Sun Belt Conference’s top pitchers.

He was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year after going 8-1 with a 3.28 ERA while striking out 107 batters in 85 innings, the second-most strikeouts in a season in program history.

Peterson also held opponents to a .196 batting average and was named a first-team All-Sun Belt selection and a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Peterson’s biggest strength is a fastball that sits 90-94 mph but generates plenty of swings and misses because of its elite extension and riding life. The report notes he has a four-pitch mix and projects for more velocity in the future, though he’ll need to improve his command and refine his secondary pitches to remain a starter in professional baseball.

Baseball America ranked Peterson as the 344th-best prospect in the class. MLB Pipeline had him at No. 247.

Round 8, No. 226: RHP Max Hansmann, Evansville

The right-handed pitcher once appeared in Sports Illustrated – Kids, not for baseball but for sailing. At 12, he was the youngest competitor in the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac, the longest freshwater sailboat race in the world, at 333 miles.

On the mound, Hansmann, 22, was a mainstay on Evansville’s pitching staff throughout his three-year career, making 68 appearances as a reliever and starter.

He struck out a team-high 55 batters in 50 2/3 innings during the 2025 season and was ranked by D1Baseball as the No. 13 draft prospect in the Missouri Valley Conference before the year. During the summer, he pitched for the Frederick Keys in the MLB Draft League, recording 15 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.

Hansmann was not ranked as a prospect by Baseball America or MLB Pipeline going into the draft.

Round 9, No. 256: C Cashel Dugger, UCLA

Dugger, 20, grew up around the major leagues. His father, Keith, spent more than two decades as an athletic trainer in professional baseball, including serving as the Colorado Rockies’ head athletic trainer from 2004-21.

After becoming Colorado’s player of the year in high school, Dugger developed into UCLA’s starting catcher and helped lead the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the country in 2026. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and was a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award for the nation’s top catcher.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Dugger is a defense-first catcher whose receiving, blocking and ability to manage a pitching staff are his strengths. The report notes he has improved his plate discipline and contact skills but has shown limited power production, making offensive development the key to his long-term major league outlook.

Baseball America ranked Dugger as the No. 333 prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 227.

Round 10, No. 286: OF Nick Williams, Michigan State

Williams, 22, spent three seasons at Michigan State after transferring from Wabash Valley College, where he earned National Junior College Athletic Association first-team all-America honors and helped lead the Warriors to the junior college national championship game.

He capped his collegiate career by hitting .333 with a .974 OPS in 2026, earning Michigan State’s Kirk Gibson Co-Offensive Player of the Year award while finishing the season on a 16-game hitting streak during which he batted .508.

Following the season, Williams played for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League, batting .293 with an .843 OPS over 23 games.

Round 11, No. 316: RHP Weston Moss, Texas A&M

Moss, 22, was the second Aggie the Nationals selected in this draft after they took Chris Hacopian with the 11th overall pick Saturday.

After serving primarily as a reliever during his first two seasons at Texas A&M, the righty transitioned into the starting rotation in 2026. He made 14 starts, posting a 5.46 ERA while striking out a career-high 69 batters over 64 1/3 innings, including a career-best 10-strikeout performance against Texas State in the NCAA College Station Regional.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Moss is a projectable right-hander whose best pitch is an above-average changeup that generated plenty of swings and misses. The report says he throws strikes and has the makings of a reliable starter, though he’ll need to improve his fringe-average slider and take another step forward with his overall stuff.

Before arriving at Texas A&M, the Texas native was ranked among the nation’s top 200 high school prospects by Perfect Game and earned an invitation to the 2023 draft combine. Baseball America ranked Moss as the 348th-best prospect in the class.

Round 12, No. 346: LHP Matthew Dallas, Wake Forest

Dallas, 22, is the ninth player coming out of Wake Forest to be drafted by Washington.

After spending his freshman season at Tennessee, where he made 15 appearances and struck out 22 batters in 17 innings as a reliever, Dallas transferred to Wake Forest.

In his first season with the Demon Deacons in 2025, he earned a spot in the weekend rotation, going 5-1 with a 4.90 ERA and 63 strikeouts across 60 2/3 innings. Injuries limited him to two starts in 2026, but he posted a 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings.

Round 13, No. 376: RHP Cody Howard, Texas

After redshirting his true freshman year to preserve eligibility at Baylor, Howard transferred to Texas.

Used primarily as a reliever, he appeared in eight games during his redshirt senior season in 2026, starting one. Across 14 1/3 innings, Howard, 23, posted an ERA of 8.79 while striking out 16 and walking three.

The Longhorns finished 46-15 and advanced to the College World Series before losing to Georgia.

Before college, Howard was one of Texas’ top prep pitchers, ranking among Perfect Game’s top 350 prospects nationally and leading the state’s Class 6A pitchers in ERA during the shortened 2020 season.

Round 14, No. 406: RHP Zack Konstantinovsky, Rutgers

Konstantinovsky, 21, missed the 2025 season after suffering an injury but returned to anchor Rutgers’ rotation in 2026, making 15 starts and striking out a team-high 83 batters over 70 2/3 innings with an ERA of 5.48.

The Scarlet Knights finished 26-30 and their season ended after two straight losses in the Big 10 tournament.

Konstantinovsky’s season included three games with at least nine strikeouts, highlighted by a career-high seven scoreless innings against Western Carolina and a nine-strikeout performance against Maryland.

He also spent the summer of 2025 pitching in the Cape Cod League, where he recorded an ERA of 3.68 across 14 2/3 innings.

Round 15, No. 436: C Francisco Rivero, Canyon del Oro HS (Arizona)

Rivero, 18, was Washington’s first high school pick of Day 2. His path to the draft was an unconventional one.

Born in the United States, he spent several years living and training in Venezuela with the expectation of signing as an international free agent in 2025. After Major League Baseball ruled him ineligible to sign internationally, Rivero returned to Arizona and reentered the domestic draft pool, putting together standout seasons in 2025 and 2026.

The Tucson native hit .450 as a senior at Canyon del Oro High School with six home runs, 34 RBIs and a 1.365 OPS. He is committed to Arizona.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Rivero is a defense-first catcher with improving receiving skills, solid bat-to-ball ability and the leadership qualities to remain behind the plate long term. The report notes he has a pull-heavy offensive approach and questions remain about how much impact he’ll produce.

Round 16, No. 466: OF Anthony Murphy, Corona HS (California)

Murphy, 19, entered the draft as one of the top high school outfield prospects, and it may be difficult to convince him to forgo his commitment to LSU. During his senior season, he batted .394 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Murphy stands out for his defensive instincts in center field, above-average athleticism and plus arm, while projecting for above-average raw power. The report notes that his biggest question is the hit tool, citing his power-over-hit profile, swing-and-miss tendencies and the need to improve his pitch recognition and consistency against breaking balls.

Baseball America ranked Murphy as the No. 158 prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 108.

Round 17, No. 496: SS Isaiah Galason, Houston County HS (Georgia)

Washington took a flier on one of the top prep prospects in Georgia.

Galason, 18, reclassified from the 2027 class and emerged as one of the state’s top middle infielders. He is committed to Georgia Tech, making him one of the tougher high school signees in the Nationals’ draft class.

According to Baseball America, Galason’s best tool is his speed, which pairs with quick-twitch athleticism and polished defense. The report also notes that his smaller frame (5-foot-11) limits his power projection and his arm strength may fit better at second base than shortstop.

Baseball America ranked Galason as the No. 344 prospect in the class.

Round 18, No. 526: IF Avery Ortiz, Oklahoma State

Ortiz, 21, spent the past three seasons with the Cowboys. As a freshman, he started 51 games and hit .258 with nine home runs before appearing in just 17 games the following season. After battling injuries in 2025, Ortiz returned in 2026 to hit .261 with four home runs and an .851 OPS in 20 games, earning a spot on the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional all-tournament team after homering in the regional final against Alabama.

Although Ortiz has flashed power, his defense has become one of his biggest calling cards. He has experience at second base, shortstop and third base, and he drew praise this summer for his defensive play in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a perfect fielding percentage while splitting time between the middle infield spots.

Round 19, No. 556: OF Jack Brooks, Oregon

Brooks, 22, had a limited role during his first two seasons at Oregon, appearing in 54 games while making just 10 starts and missing much of 2025 because of injury.

He broke through as a redshirt junior in 2026, starting 55 of 58 games while batting .236 with six home runs, 27 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .370 on-base percentage. His patient approach showed in 31 walks, though he also struck out 56 times.

Before earning regular playing time in Eugene, Brooks was a productive summer ball performer. He stole 30 bases in 42 games in the West Coast League in 2025 while hitting .282 with a .422 on-base percentage.

Round 20, No. 586: RHP Anson Seibert, Johnson County CC (KS)

With its final pick, Washington selected its first junior college player.

Coming out of high school, the right-hander was ranked the No. 1 player in Kansas by Perfect Game. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round in 2024 but honored his commitment to Tennessee. After redshirting his freshman season with the Volunteers, he transferred to Johnson County Community College.

Seibert, 20, made seven relief appearances for a team that went 67-3 and captured the program’s first JUCO national championship, posting a 2.08 ERA with nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.

He also pitched for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League this summer, recording a 2.45 ERA over two relief appearances while allowing one run across 3 2/3 innings.

Tennessee described Seibert as a high-ceiling arm with an imposing frame and a high-velocity fastball, noting that the biggest areas of development in his game are his secondary pitches and command.