The Washington Nationals acquired third baseman Cayden Wallace and competitive balance draft pick (No. 39 overall) from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Wallace, 22, is Kansas City’s No. 2 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline.com and their No. 5 prospect, per Baseball America. He joins the Nationals organization after hitting .280 with nine doubles, three home runs, 18 RBI, 10 walks, three stolen bases and 19 runs scored in 41 games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and the Arizona Complex League Royals.
Wallace led Royals Minor Leaguers with 47 extra-base hits and ranked second with 84 RBI in 2023. He also ranked among Kansas City Minor Leaguers in triples (2nd, 7), runs scored (2nd, 75), hits (3rd, 128), doubles (3rd, 27), total bases (3rd, 208) slugging percentage (7th, .414) and OPS (9th, .745).
Originally selected in the second round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arkansas, Wallace has hit .265 with a .340 on-base percentage and a .420 slugging percentage in 198 games across three professional seasons. He’s clubbed 43 doubles, 10 triples, 18 home runs, 118 RBI and has drawn 76 walks along the way.
With the acquisition of Kansas City’s competitive balance draft pick, the Nationals will now have three selections on the first day of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, picks 10, 39 and 44 overall.
Please see the attached document for the updated 40-man roster.
