Washington Nationals’ Draft Recap 2020: 5th Round pick Mitchell Parker

[ed. note - “This is the first story in a series looking at 2020 draft class.”]

WASHINGTON – Mitchell Parker, 22, fits the profile of other recent draft picks by the Nationals.

He is 6-foot-4 and was selected in the 5th and final round of the 2020 Draft earlier this year out of San Jacinto North, a junior college in Texas.

The Nationals are not afraid to take a high pick from a JUCO – their first pick in 2019 was Jackson Rutledge, a 6-8 righty from the same school.

Parker, a lefty, like every minor league prospect, missed out on the season as the pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league campaigns.

But he got experience as part of the Instructional League roster in Florida.

“We are really impressed with Mitchell,” said Mark Scialabba, assistant general manager, player development. “He has a great work ethic.”

“He is a bulldog and comes right at you. He also has a split and a change. His curveball has a steep break to it. His fastball has some hop to it.”

Scialabba said Parker is able to move the fastball up and down and in and out on all four quadrants.

“We are excited about his potential,” Scialabba said.

Parker, a native of New Mexico, went 11-0 in two years at San Jacinto in 19 starts and had an ERA under 1.55 both seasons.

Next: catcher Brady Lindsly, fourth round, University of Oklahoma