The Nats hold the 5th pick in this year’s MLB draft. Below is a quick synopsis on who some of us at HSHH think the Nats will select in the first round:

Monty: If I was Rizzo, I’d want Brooks Lee or Termarr Johnson here, because they have the two best hit tools in the draft class. I also wouldn’t mind either Jackson Holliday or Elijah Green. I think we end up taking Kevin Parada, a catcher out of Georgia Tech.

Nick: Someone they will fail to develop.

Ryan: They’re taking Parada.

Danny: Elijah Green. I think all the Kevin Parada hype is a smokescreen. I mean, it just doesn’t make sense to me. If they want the best college bat, then they’d be hoping Brooks Lee falls to them (which maybe he will) or they’d just take Jacob Berry (assuming he’s there). I think if Green is sitting there, the Nats take him. He has the highest upside of any player in the draft not named Druw Jones. He could be a true 30/30 player and if that value is there at #5, I think you have to take it.

Trey: Jacob Berry. If Elijah Green is still on the board, the Nationals should take him at #5, but I don’t expect that to be the case. Jacob Berry would be solid compensation. He’s closer to being an MLB ready bat than other top draft picks. Berry may end up being the best pure power bat in the draft, he slugged .630 in the SEC during 2022. And he’s a switch hitter.