It is no secret that 2025 was a rough year for Nationals first round pick Seaver King. We have talked about it at length. While players selected after him are littered on the top 100 prospect lists, or dominating in the playoffs like Trey Yesavage, King really struggled at the plate. His poor approach is limiting his natural athleticism and is cutting into his numbers.
After hitting .244 with a .631 OPS in High-A and Double-A, the Nats sent King to the Arizona Fall League for more reps. Prospects are sent to the AFL for a variety of reasons. Some are pitchers who need more innings after missing some time due to injury. Others are hitters who need more at bats. Some, like King, just need the AFL to find some mojo.
Confidence is such an important thing in baseball. You can make all the adjustments you want, but you need self belief to succeed. The Nats figured the AFL could be an opportunity for King to reset and get some momentum entering 2026.
So far that looks like a smart move because Seaver King has been raking so far in Arizona. It has been a small sample size, but so far, King is 5/13 with a double and a homer. That strong start gave him a spot on the Baseball America Arizona Fall League hot sheet.
One thing I have noticed is that King is really driving the ball with authority so far. Obviously, he has the home run, but when I have checked the game logs, I have seen a lot of hard contact from King. There are plenty of 100 MPH plus exit velocities, which is great to see. King has the raw power, but tapping into that has been a struggle due to his approach and ground ball hitting tendencies.
Another great thing about the AFL is that you are around players from different organizations. With that comes exposure to new ideas. That is particularly useful for Nats prospects given the state of player development in the organization.
King actually credited Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle with giving him a tip that has been helpful. He said that McGonigle told him to not focus as much on his swing and pay more attention to the pitches and his timing. King said that tip was very useful for him.
The fact a 21 year old Tigers prospect is doing more to help the development of our prospects than the coaches being paid to develop them is a bit concerning. But hey, sometimes advice from a peer can be more helpful. Hopefully this can be the start of something for King.
Seaver King has a lot of physical tools. He can really run, has good raw power, actually has decent contact skills and can play good defense. However, that feel for the game is what is missing for him. Given the fact he was playing D2 baseball not that long ago, that makes some sense. He was always going to be a slower burn.
Even with that in mind, his first pro season was still disappointing. As a top 10 pick out of college, you should be able to hold your own more than he did at AA. However, this AFL gives the fans some hope for Seaver King.
Next year is a massive season for him. He can re-establish himself with a big season, but if he struggles again, hope will really fade for him. As a raw but athletic talent, King could be a guy who really benefits from the regime change. If they make the right changes to his game, King has the ability to take off. Hopefully this AFL success is a sign of things to come.