2 weeks Ago
Jarlin Susana already has a fastball that captures everyone’s attention. The 21-year-old righthander also has developed a level of professionalism that helped land him his first invitation to major league spring training. His fastball touches 103 mph and sits at or near 100, and now he also has improved command of his sinker, cut-slider and changeup.
“As a man, he grew up,” Wilmington pitching coach Mark DiFelice said just prior to the start of spring training. “At my level, I don’t hold your hand. I like to see if they have that routine already, and with him I never had to circle back.
” DiFelice credited Low-A Fredericksburg pitching coach Justin Lord with helping Susana. The 6-foot-3 hurler adjusted his pregame preparation with 20 to 25 pitches from the bullpen mound compared with the 10 to 12 he threw previously. “In 2024, he started out OK and then had three or four starts that didn’t go his way,” Lord said.
“We had a pretty heart-to-heart meeting. The message was: ‘The only thing keeping you out of the big leagues is consistency. It’s not stuff.
’ “ After posting an 8.89 ERA in his first 26.1 innings with the FredNats last year, Susana turned it around.
He went five innings—the max allowed him by the Nationals—in each of his last six starts, posting a 0.60 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 30 innings. His new routine included more drills every day and a touch-and-feel bullpen of 10 to 15 pitches the day before each start.
Overall, Susana pitched to a 4.34 ERA in 103.2 innings at two Class A stops last season.
He struck out 157 and walked 48 while allowing just two home runs in 24 starts. Susana’s breaking ball had a 35% chase rate in 2024. Meanwhile, he has added movement and depth to his 92 mph changeup.
The Nationals liked Susana enough to get him included in the 2022 trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres, and they may be even more excited about what they see this spring. CAPITAL GAINS — Catcher Caleb Lomavita was also among the non-roster invitees to major league camp. The 22-year-old starred at California and was the 39th overall pick in the draft last year.
— Venezuelan shortstop Brayan Cortesia , who has grown to 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, highlights the Nationals’ 14-player international signing class. He received a $1.92 million bonus.
“Cortesia is a guy we believe is a five-tool player who can play shortstop,” Nationals director of international operations Victor Rodriguez said. “He’s very exciting with physical upside.”.
