The Washington Nationals went shortstop with their first-round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, taking Brady House from Winder, Georgia. House is committed to the University of Tennessee.
The high school talent is considered a power-hitter. MLB Pipeline rated him as the fifth-best high school prospect and eighth overall heading in this year’s draft class. While catcher seemed like an obvious need for Washington, House was too good to pass on, as he slid right into the Nationals’ lap.
At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds with plenty of strength and bat speed, House looks the part of a power hitter and has well-above-average raw pop to all fields. But after showing the ability to crush good velocity and handle quality breaking balls in past years on the showcase circuit, he got excessively aggressive and his right-handed stroke got longer and slower. Since learning what happens when he sells out for home runs, he has made adjustments, shortened his swing and gotten back to doing damage.
An average runner, House likely will move to third base in pro ball but may be athletic enough to stay at shortstop. The Tennessee recruit should be at least a solid defender at the hot corner and possesses a plus arm that can pump fastballs up to 96 mph off the mound. Scouts compare him to a more athletic version of Joey Gallo or 2018 Cardinals first-rounder Nolan Gorman.
MLB Pipeline on Brady House
House becomes just the second position player taken in the last eight drafts by the Nationals. The other was Carter Kieboom, who happened to also be a high school shortstop out of Georgia.
House stands 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. In 31 spring games, he hit .549 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs at Winder-Barrow High School. He has a cannon of an arm throwing which have scouts believing he will ultimately transition to third base, along with his height and frame.
If he is able to transition to third, it will check off a glaring need for the Nationals. Kieboom’s development has stalled. He was expected to make a huge leap going in 2021. However, he’s been in Triple-A since the start of the season.
Could the pair be the future two stud infielders for the Nationals? Or will House have to transition into a backup plan for Kieboom?
