MLB Draft 2018: Washington Nationals reportedly sign 2nd Round pick Tim Cate...

Washington’s Nationals selected left-hander Tim Cate, 20, with the 65th pick in the 2nd Round of the 2018 MLB Draft after he went (5-4) in 11 games (seven starts) for the UConn Huskies this season with a 2.91 ERA, 19 walks, 67 Ks, and a .258 BAA in 52 2⁄3 IP.

“Tim Cate is an advanced collegiate starter who gained even more experience playing with Team USA for two summers,” Assistant GM and VP of Scouting Ops Kris Kline said in a press release on the selection.

“He has one of the best left-handed curveballs in the Draft to go along with a really good fastball. He is a strike thrower with good, smooth delivery.”

“Cate has a chance to be a No. 3 [starter],” in the majors, Kline added when he spoke to reporters after the completion of Day 2 of the Draft.

The Nationals selected the lefty in spite of some injury concerns after Cate experienced tightness in his forearm which clouded the picture going into the Draft.

Kline addressed those concerns and said they were comfortable with what they learned about him.

“He had a little discomfort in the middle of the season so they shut him down temporarily,” Kline explained.

“It was precautionary. Clean bill of health from the doc, so that’s all it was.”

This afternoon, MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported on Twitter that the Nationals signed Cate to a $986,200 bonus, the full slot value for the 65th overall pick:

Here’s a look at Cate on the mound from Adam McInturff at 2080 Scouting, who is looking at each of the Nationals’ 2018 picks:

Washington’s official 2018 Draft Tracker doesn’t have any of the Nationals’ 2018 picks listed as signed at this point, though at least one other pick has posted on social media saying he was part of the organization already:

UPDATE: As we were writing this, the Nationals announced that 22 of their 2018 Draft picks have now signed.

Here’s the list: