Nats’ Triple-A affiliate earns first league title since 1997 behind these prospects

Rochester sandwiched a pair of decisive one-run wins on either side of a 15-0 loss to punch tickets to Las Vegas. 

The Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate finished off its first International League championship since 1997 with a 3-2 victory over Memphis at AutoZone Park on Thursday night. The Red Wings now advance to Saturday’s Triple-A National Championship Game at Las Vegas Ballpark against the winners of the Pacific Coast League.

Rochester deployed eight arms to secure the title in thrilling fashion in the clincher. Riley Adams put the club on the board with a first-inning RBI single before Memphis took a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Rochester clawed back to regain the advantage with an RBI double from Andrew Pinckney in the eighth, followed by a go-ahead RBI single from Cortland Lawson -- who entered when Sam Petersen (WAS No. 28) exited the game mid-at-bat in the sixth.  

“We’ve been the 'never say die' Wings all year long,” Rochester manager Matthew LeCroy said in his on-field postgame interview. “Luckily for us, we scored one more than they did. And I’m super proud of everybody.”

Rochester led the Minors during the regular season with 90 wins before earning their two most important ones of 2026 over the past three days. Now, the Red Wings bring a talented core to Las Vegas for the chance to bring another title back to western New York. 

Here are four prospects who fueled Rochester throughout the season en route to a championship game appearance.

Seaver King, INF (WSH No. 4/MLB No. 68)
The Hitter of the Year in the Nationals’ system, King boosted the lineup upon his arrival on May 18. He slugged 16 home runs with an .858 OPS in 77 regular-season games for Rochester. He led the Washington system in batting average (.303) and OPS (.898) among full-season qualifiers, which included his time with Double-A Harrisburg. King has defensive versatility around the infield but can also change the game with his 70-grade run tool. 

The 23-year-old turned up the intensity in postseason play, headlined by a three-hit night against Memphis in Game 1, which included a solo homer.

Trey Lipscomb, INF
Lipscomb authored the thump in the Rochester lineup with 32 home runs in 134 games -- the most in the Nationals’ organization and the third-most at Triple-A in 2026. He also drove in 94 runs with an .861 OPS. Another player built on defensive versatility, Lipscomb sports 64 games of MLB experience and showed improved abilities in his age-26 season to once again contribute in D.C. in the future.

Luis Perales, RHP (WSH No. 12)
Perales joined the Washington organization in an offseason flip of pitching prospects with the Red Sox that sent lefty Jake Bennett in the other direction. Perales threw the ball well at Triple-A before a late August MLB promotion. 

The right-hander compiled 25 appearances (19 starts) for Rochester and posted a 7-5 record with a 3.64 ERA. Perales struck out more than a batter per inning (97 in 96 1/3 innings), leading his four-pitch mix with a 70-grade fastball that revved up to 100.8 mph in his big league debut for the Nationals. He pitched in relief later in the year and should be a significant factor in future pitching plans in Washington. 

Yohandy Morales, 1B
The Rochester first baseman impressed as a mainstay in the order with 25 home runs in 104 games while leading the club with an .882 OPS. He quickly brought that production to The Show upon his promotion to the Nationals on Sept. 1 with four long balls in his first 15 MLB games. 

The 24-year-old corner infielder took a significant stride forward at the Minors’ highest level in 2026 as he boosted his Triple-A OPS by over 150 points from his 95-game stint with Rochester last year.