MLB Draft 2020: Washington Nationals select Cole Henry with their 2nd Round pick (No. 55 overall)

With their 2nd round pick (No. 55 overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals selected right-hander Cole Henry out of Louisiana State University.

Henry, a 20-year-old, 6’4’’ righty, posted a 1.89 ERA, six walks, and 23 Ks in four starts and 19 IP for LSU as a sophomore.

MLB Pipeline’s scouts note that Henry has a 94-96-ish MPH and plus curve, and changeup.

For the Nationals, it’s back-to-back, big, college-age right-handers with their first two picks of the 2020 draft.

Eight of the top ten players picked on Day 1 were college players, and the defending World Series champions were one of the teams that went with a college-age arm with their top pick last night, selecting right-hander Cade Cavalli with the 22nd overall selection.

Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo talked about the college-heavy first round at the end of the first day of this year’s two-day draft.

“Obviously college players are often-times 2 1/2-3 years older than the high school players,” Rizzo explained, “so you’ve got two or three summer seasons to see them play, so you have a better comfort-level. You have more history with the college players than you do with the high school players.”

What will the Nationals do with their next pick? Stay tuned...