First-round draft pick Brady House intends to sign with the Washington Nationals, the Georgia high school shortstop told reporters Sunday evening, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.
The Nationals selected House 11th overall in the MLB Draft. The 6-foot-4 power-hitter has been committed to Tennessee since 2018. But he has now made his intentions clear of wanting to turn pro this year.
House has familiarity with the Nationals, playing for the Nationals’ Area Code squad for two years.
He also got to watch the Nationals play after playing in Washington with his travel team.
MLB Pipeline rated him the No. 8 overall prospect heading into this year’s draft. However, he was still on the board when the Nationals came up to pick at No. 11. He was simply a talent Washington’s GM Mike Rizzo could not pass up on.
He has a cannon of an arm, pumping out a 96 miles per hour fastball. He also has throwing range, which have scouts believing he will transition to third base at the next level.
In the rare case the Nationals aren’t able to ink House, they’ll lose the slot value assigned at No. 11. However, they’ll receive a compensatory pick in next year’s draft at the original draft slot plus another pick as atonement. Meanwhile, House would have to wait for his junior year in college to re-enter this draft.
The Nationals’ potential gain will be the Tennessee Volunteers’ lose for sure. It will be hard for a teenager to pass on $4.5 million for college. Throw in the fact the Nationals are a class-run organization, it’s certainly leaning to a deal getting done.
