There has been a lot of talk about what the Nationals could do at the first base position in 2026. Most have assumed the Nats would bring in some sort of veteran option at the position. Toboni hinted on that idea during the Winter Meetings. However, as we get deeper into the offseason, we need to explore some internal solutions.
The man I want to look at today is Yohandy Morales. Despite having a strong pedigree and decent performance, he’s a bit lost in the shuffle. Morales was one second round pick left the University of Miami in 2023. He has slowly worked his way up in recent years, heading to Triple-A in 2025.
Morales has never blown up as a potential candidate, but he’s also never been terrible. In his Minor League career, Morales has done that hit .285 with an .800 OPS. While he has plenty of raw power, it hasn’t fully manifested in games, with just 22 home runs in 944 professional at-bats. If he gets his hands on one, though, it could go a long way.
Morales has been drafted as a third baseman play more first base lately. He can still play third, but is probably a better fit at first base. As a first baseman, there will be a lot of pressure on his bat. There are questions about whether the bat is good enough to survive as a first baseman in the MLB. That’s why he’s been slowly sliding down the Nats prospect rankings.
Right now, Morales is the Nats 21st ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Given his pedigree and solid performance, that seems a bit surprising at first glance. However, as you delve into the offending profile, you begin to notice some warning signs.
Morales had a strong start to the season at AA, but after a promotion to AAA he ran into problems. He was starting to get some visibility pitching at the next level. Morality knocked out more than 30% of the time and hit the ball on the ground more than 50% of the time in Rochester. That’s a dangerous combination, especially for a first-time bat.
Morales has tapped into even more power this year with a career high 15 home runs. However, he still has a lot to figure out to become the Nats’ long-term answer at first base. Scouts are concerned about Morales’ long swing, and some think he has a complete swing change to survive at the next level.
His swing causes him to be late on many pitches. Morality almost never pulls the ball into the air and is often hit to the spot by high speed. Now that the new regime is in place, Morales is more likely to be able to make the necessary adjustments. It didn’t seem like his swing had changed much in recent years, despite scouts’ concerns.
Interestingly enough, Morales has played Winter League ball in Puerto Rico, and he did well in a small sample size. In his first seven games, Morales hit .387. Puerto Rican winter ball isn’t as competitive as Dominican winter ball, but it’s still nice to see him doing well.
I have my questions about his profile and it’s pretty clear that he needs to make some adjustments. However, if those adjustments come, he could be a breakout candidate. The output speeds are elitemeaning he would have plenty of home run power if he put the ball in the air more. At 24 years old, 2026 will be a big year for him.
Yohandy Morales is one of the players I most want to see during Spring Training. This feels like the year Morales takes the next step and becomes a major league player, or becomes somewhat of a non-factor in the organization. He has kept his head above water, but this is the year he has to prove he can become a big leaguer.
If Morales has a good year, he can stake his claim for the top spot, but he needs to make improvements. He is currently at a crossroads in his career. However, the new player development team could be the best thing that ever happened to him. I’m curious to see how his season goes because it will tell us a lot about him, for better or for worse.
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