MLB Draft 2020: Washington Nationals reportedly sign 4th and 5th Round picks, Brady Lindsly and Mitchell Parker

Mitchell Parker, a sophomore from San Jacinto College in Texas, was selected by the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals in the fifth and final round of the 2020 MLB Draft last Thursday.

This afternoon, MLB.com’s Jim Callis is reporting that the 6’4’ lefty has signed for $100,000, well below the slot value for the 153rd overall pick ($346,800).

Parker went (5-0) with a 1.19 ERA, 18 walks, and 64 strikeouts in six starts and 30 ¹⁄₃ IP before the 2020 season ended prematurely amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Nationals’ Assistant GM and Vice President of Scouting Ops Kris Kline offered the following scouting report on Parker when he spoke about the 20-year-old southpaw after Day 2’s last picks were made this past Thursday.

“It’s a funky, unconventional delivery, mechanics,” Kline said.

“It’s deceptive. It’s overhand slot. It’s 90-97, but he’s going to pitch around 92-93. He’s got an above-average curveball. Right now he commands the curveball better than the fastball.”

Kline also noted that they had seen Parker before this season, while he was scouting 2019 1st Rounder Jackson Rutledge at San Jacinto before making the right-hander their top pick last June.

“I did see him last year when we saw Rutledge,” Kline said.

“The velocity was not quite where it was when we saw him this year. Breaking ball is much improved.

“A lot can happen over the course of a year for these young kids. He’s just 20 years old, so he’s just starting to come into his own. The delivery is — it’s funky like Alex Wood, it’s a little different. I’m not comparing him to Alex Wood, I’m just saying the delivery are similar.”

MLB’s Callis offered a mini-scouting report in announcing the lefty’s deal with the Nationals:

According to Callis, the Nationals also signed 4th Round pick Brady Lindsly to a well-well-well-below slot value deal, inking the catcher, who was a surprise pick at No. 94 overall to what’s reportedly a $20,000 deal, which is what eligible, undrafted free agents were limited to under the rules of this year’s draft implemented by Major League Baseball. The slot value for the 94th overall pick was $464,500.

These two signings follow the reports yesterday on the Nationals’ first post-Draft free agent signing of infielder Gio Diaz, who hit .396 as a junior at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA.

More info on these deals and any new ones when it is available...