Editors Note: Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Part 5, and our top ten list!

After explaining the ranking methodology and revealing the first tier of players in our top fifty Nats prospects, we are back with the next level, a group of seven players mostly from the lower levels (only one has reached AA thus far) who all have something to prove to move on up. All but two of them will be 22 or younger for the bulk of the 2025 season, so time is on their side, but they all come with question marks. You might find your personal favorite sleeper prospect in this tier.

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Tier 2: Future Bench & Bullpen Pieces?

#42 Sam Petersen

Pos: OF | 2025 Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | 2024 Level: A | 

MLB Comp: Jacob Young

Acquired: 2024 amateur draft, 8th round/230th Overall

AVG/OBP/SLG: .364/.400/.591 | HR: 0 | SB/ATT: 5/5 | wRC+: 177

Petersen’s referenced stat line is among the smallest sample sizes, as he only played in seven minor league games after being drafted this summer. Still, he also hit .333/.459/.571 with 17 bags in 18 tries for Iowa last spring. The profile is very Jacob Young-ish, albeit with a bit of pop, but otherwise, he is an athletic and fast outfielder who will probably open 2025 as a regular in Fredericksburg. He should spend most or all of next season with the Fredericksburg Nationals stabilizing an outfield picture that otherwise has lots of question marks, and then he will probably get a chance to move through the system starting in 2026.

#41 Roismar Quintana

Pos: 1B | 2025 Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | 2024 Level: A/A+ | 

MLB Comp: Juan Yepez

Acquired: signed as an amateur international free agent, 7/2/2019

AVG/OBP/SLG: .250/.354/.350 | HR: 4 | SB/ATT: 2/4 | wRC+: 114/107

Quintana, laughably listed at a mere 175 pounds, is already thick enough (I would bet the over on 225) that he is more of a first baseman than an outfielder at 21. He has been a pretty slow mover to this point but is still young for the level at high-A and gets some grace for having his professional debut delayed by a year because of the pandemic. He has produced double-digit walk rates in the last two seasons, but his swing has many moving parts (slow rocking load, sometimes collapsing backside). It has also produced unimpressive power, with a slugging percentage of .364 beyond rookie ball. If he can scrape a .400 SLG in the hitting graveyards of Wilmington and Harrisburg in 2025, he might have a chance to be the short side of a DH platoon.

#40 Jared McKenzie 

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