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It has been a few years now that Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana have headlined the Nationals’ pitching prospects.
This season, the Nats bulked up their Minor League pitching depth to join Susana and Sykora in the pool of promising young arms. Among those acquired at the Trade Deadline were right-handers Jack Cebert and Ben Grable and lefty Josh Hartle.
COMPLETE NATIONALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
MLB Pipeline projects this trio will debut next season. Here's more about three prospects on the rise in 2027.
RHP Jack Cebert, No. 14 prospect
Age: 24Finished the season: Triple-A Rochester
The Nationals acquired Cebert from the Yankees in the Luis García Jr. trade. In his first full season of pro ball, the 2025 15th-round Draft pick out of Texas Tech advanced from High-A Somerset (Yankees) to Triple-A Rochester (Nationals).
Cumulatively, Cebert went 5-6 with a 4.03 ERA in 20 starts (24 appearances total). He recorded a 10 K/9 rate and a 3.5 BB/9 mark across 109 1/3 innings. Cebert was 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in three starts (five games total) with the Red Wings. He also pitched two scoreless innings as the starter in the Triple-A National Championship series.
MLB Pipeline evaluated Cebert with the following scouting grades: Fastball: 50, Curveball: 50, Slider: 55, Cutter: 50, Control: 50, Overall: 45.
RHP Ben Grable, No. 20 prospect
Age: 24
Finished the season: Triple-A Rochester
Like Cebert, Grable was part of the García trade with the Yankees. A 2025 11th-round Draft pick out of Indiana University, Grable did not pitch in pro ball until this season. He also advanced from High-A to Triple-A.
Grable made 48 relief appearances this season. He went 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA and four saves, and he posted a 13.6 K/9 rate and a 3.6 BB/9 rate across all levels. In nine appearances with the Red Wings, Grable pitched to an 8.10 ERA in 6 2/3 frames. Grable retired the side in a scoreless inning during the Triple-A National Championship series.
MLB Pipeline evaluated Cebert with the following scouting grades: Fastball: 70, Slider: 55, Control: 55, Overall: 45.
LHP Josh Hartle, No. 30 prospect
Age: 23
Finished the season: Double-A Harrisburg
Hartle came to the Nationals from the Guardians in the Foster Griffin deal boasting one of the best ground-ball rates in the Minor Leagues. A third-round pick of the Pirates in 2024, Hartle was teammates with Nats No. 3 prospect Seaver King at Wake Forest.
Hartle spent the entire season at the Double-A level with both organizations. He went 5-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 24 starts (25 games total).
Across 122 2/3 innings, Hartle recorded a 3.6 BB/9 rate and an 8.4 K/9 rate.
MLB Pipeline evaluated Hartle with the following scouting grades: Fastball: 45, Slider: 55, Cutter: 50, Changeup: 50, Control: 55, Overall: 40.