18-year-old Fien ready for next chapter with Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Gavin Fien was at the Rangers’ training complex in Arizona rehabbing for his first full season of pro baseball when he received the surprising news. Fien, the 12th overall pick in the 2025 Draft, had been traded to the Nationals as the headline prospect in the MacKenzie Gore deal.

Fien made the five-hour drive back home to Southern California, spent a few days resetting with family and friends, and then flew to West Palm Beach to begin the next chapter in his very young baseball career.

“It happened quick,” Fien, 18, said.

Fien was acquired by the Nats in a deep prospect package that also sent right-hander Alejandro Rosario, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, outfielder Yeremy Cabrera and first baseman Abimelec Ortiz to Washington. He is ranked as the Nationals’ No. 5 prospect following the 2025 season, per MLB Pipeline.

“[President of baseball operations] Paul [Toboni] called me, [assistant general manager] Devin Pearson called me, and [they] were just so welcoming, excited to have me,” Fien said on Tuesday. “To get traded, obviously, it is what it is. But to get traded to people that want to have me and look forward to progressing me and seeing who I am as a player is even better, honestly. So it was not a bad scenario at all.”

Fien arrived at the Nationals' training complex in late January, where pre-camp workouts were underway. He started to get acclimated to his new teammates, including 2025 No. 1 pick Eli Willits (Nationals No. 1, MLB No. 13). The pair of promising teenage infielders played together on Team USA Baseball and have begun building chemistry in the Nats organization. Fien, who was drafted as a shortstop out of Great Oak High School, has been playing third base in Spring Training while also getting in work at second and shortstop.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Fien said. “We're taking grounders at short and third right now … training together, hitting in the same group, being able to push each other, too. I can take stuff from his game, maybe he can take stuff from mine. To have that level of talent that you can train with, I think it only enhances you and makes you better.”

Manager Blake Butera watched Fien and Willits take ground balls during Minor League workouts on Monday. Fien’s presence has made a strong impression.

“A super mature kid, and he seems like he’s been playing for 15 years,” said Butera. “I told Gavin, we’re so fired up to have him here. When you get traded – especially at that young an age – your head can spin a little bit, and you can start to think, ‘Man, they didn’t want me. That’s why I got traded.’ I just kept telling him, ‘We really wanted you, and we’re so happy you’re here.’ So just making sure he understands that.”

Growing up, Fien wanted to emulate his hometown Angels’ slugger Mike Trout. As he developed, he took note of the offensive consistency of Matt Chapman and Austin Riley. MLB Pipeline evaluated Fien with a scouting grade of 55 for both hitting and power. Fien underwent surgery in late November on a bone spur in his right hand that had been causing swelling and discomfort last season. He had resumed throwing and recently began hitting.

“I have a lot of confidence in my bat and that profile,” Fien said. “Right now, I’m playing third. So I’m just a third baseman with a lot of confidence in his bat, kind of good contact rates, good power. I think as long as I trust that and kind of stick through that, the ceiling is unlimited as long as I trust myself and stay right mentally.”

Fien also learns about the journey in pro baseball from his older brother, Dylan, who was drafted by the Athletics in 2024. He was even coached by former Nationals coach Tony Tarasco in his sophomore year of high school.

“I love watching the game,” Fien said. “I love watching some of the best hitters in the game, seeing what they do, maybe I can learn from them. I just love watching the guys in the big leagues, seeing how I could be there one day.”