Big things have been expected of Brady House since he was selected with the 11th pick in the 2021 draft. His growth curve has been a roller coaster, with some very high periods and some very low periods.
In 2023, House proved how special he can be. House over three levels strike .312, OPS.862. He also showed a lot of promise defensively in his first season as a third baseman. House looked like a surefire third baseman of the future heading into 2024.
Although he remains highly regarded, his future as the Nationals’ third base spot is even more in jeopardy. His name appeared virtual trade Especially pitching scenarios. The reason is that the performance in 2024 was lackluster. House is still expected to crack the top 100, but he’s not the surefire top 50 player he was a year ago.
Upper minor pitchers were able to take advantage of House’s aggressive approach. This is reflected in his .297 on-base average and .699 OPS. That free-swinging nature is the biggest challenge he has to solve. Even in 2023, his Tracking rate 37% That was a bit of a red flag.
The ceilings in the house remain high. He has a Matt Chapman-like combination of slugging and defensive ability. But if he wants to reach those heights offensively, he’ll need to move the ball further off the ground. He has some positive raw power, but it doesn’t always show up in the game. But his 19 home runs last season was a step in the right direction.
For House to optimize his play at the plate, he will need to resolve at least one of these two issues. He’s going to have to be more patient at the plate or get the ball in the air more consistently. If he can do one of these things, he will be an above-average everyday third baseman. If he can solve both problems, he could become a star. But if you can’t clean up, the future becomes even more uncertain.
A player who chases a lot and hits a lot of ground balls is bound to be a very flawed hitter. Now that he has moved from shortstop to third base, the hurdles for the offense have become even higher. House will need to prove he can be an above-average hitter to complement his excellent defense at third base.
The Nationals have a lot of faith in the 21-year-old, so he’ll definitely get that chance. If he starts the season well in Triple-A, he should be called up to the big league roster soon. Jose Tena and Trey Lipscomb currently occupy the third base position, but neither is a possibility for House. But if he has another difficult year in 2025, the Nationals should look for options at third base outside of the organization.
The Nationals are in a rebuilding phase and need to start improving their record. They can’t wait to see guys working out like they did years ago. Brady House will have a chance, but he’ll have to pass it up.
