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[ed. note - “First in a series on pitchers the Washington Nationals drafted in 2020.”]
WASHINGTON – “Funky” is the word that Brad Holman used to describe the delivery of Mitchell Parker several times during 2020.
A lefty drafted in the fifth round from San Jacinto junior college in Texas, Parker is 6-foot-4 and turned 21 in September.
He took part in Instructional League in West Palm Beach, Florida in October.
“He has a little bit of funk, and of course being left handed is always a bonus,” Brad Holman, the pitching coordinator in player development, told Federal Baseball.
“He is a four-pitch guy,” added Holman, who was at Instructional League. “He is a four-pitch guy and he has two changeups.
“He throws the breaking ball well. You can tell he is a competitor. He gets up there and comes after hitters. The jury is still out on him on the running game” and keeping runners close.
Justin Lord, who was to be the pitching coach for Single-A Fredericksburg this year, also was able to see Parker during instructs.
“He provides some deception for hitters,” Lord told Federal Baseball. “He has a good four-seam fastball and curveball, too.”
“He has the ability to throw strikes in the bottom of the zone and change the eye level of the batter. He can throw his curveball for strikes and expand the zone with his curve. He has a lot going for him.”
Parker played at San Jacinto in Texas.
“I like JUCO guys. He played against my old JUCO (Chipola JC in Florida) a couple of times,” said Lord, who pitched in the minors for the Pirates and Pirates. “It looks like he has a bright future.”
Jackson Rutledge, another Nats’ prospect, went to San Jacinto. Parker was drafted by the Cubs out of high school and the Rays in 2019 after freshman year of college but turned down both before signing with the Nationals this summer.
Next: Third-round pick Holden Powell