Coy James is yet another exciting infield prospect for the Washington Nationals

Coy James may have been a 5th rounder in the 2025 draft, but he is not your average fifth round pick. The Nats gave James a $2.5 million signing bonus, paying him approximately the slot value of the 39th overall pick in that draft. With that in mind, big things were expected from the high school shortstop, and so far he has lived up to expectations.

It has not been a perfect first season for James by any means. He is only hitting .222 and is striking out 25.4% of the time in Low-A. However, he is showing flashes of immense upside with 16 homers and 27 steals. His .755 OPS is also above league average. James remains a work in progress, but his upside remains tantalizing.

We got reminded of how loud those tools are last night. While the Nats were lifelessly meandering to a 7th straight loss, James hit a 456 foot bomb. That is some crazy raw power for a 19 year old. When James is firing on all cylinders, he is one of the most impressive of the Nats many infield prospects.

James’ season has been interesting because going into the draft scouts were split on if he were a power first guy or a hit first profile. Baseball America gave him a 55 hit tool with 50 power, while MLB Pipeline gave him a 45 hit tool with 55 power. So far the Pipeline projection has been more accurate, though his raw power might be closer to a 60.

Interestingly, it also seems like James’ athleticism got undersold coming out of the draft as well. Both BA and Pipeline graded him as an average runner. However, he has looked more explosive in pro ball. He has 27 steals, but Fangraphs also gave him a 60 run tool in their early season update. 

So instead of being a polished prep bat, James is more of a highly athletic project with big upside. This change has not really changed his overall stock, it is just a change in the profile. The hit tool is a bit worse than expected while the power and speed is better.

While that hit tool is not outstanding, it is good enough to work with. James’ contact rates on pitches in the zone this season is average, and his whiff rates are slightly worse than average. The hit tool needs some polish, but this is not an Elijah Green situation by any means.

James has also done a good job tapping into his power this season. He is pulling the ball in the air at a high clip and the home run totals are high for a teenager. This is an exciting profile who likely will need a lot of time in the minors, but I believe his progress will be steady.

When you watch James swing, his bat speed and quick hands are easy to see. This kid is just bursting with raw ability. He has shown plenty of flashes this year, but has not fully broken out. I think James will get on more radars next season.

 It is tough to adapt in your first season in pro ball. The Nats also gave him a tough assignment, sending him straight to Low-A instead of giving him some time to adapt on the complex. That shows you the belief the Nats have in the youngster.

Mike DeBartolo’s first draft is just brimming with upside a year later. Between James, Eli Willits, Miguel Sime Jr. and Landon Harmon, there is so much potential here. Willits is the only one here who doesn’t have some warts, but the other three all have big upside.

Another thing that makes me buy into James is his defensive upside. The Nats have had him playing all over the place this season. He has gotten reps at shortstop, third base, second base and even left field. James is not an elite defender, but he could be at least average at multiple positions. His athleticism and arm strength allow him to make some crazy plays, which we saw last night.

Since Eli Willits got promoted to High-A, James has mostly played shortstop though. I think with James’ tools and versatility, it is easy to picture a big league role for him. If his development does not totally stall, he is likely to be at least a solid bench utility guy who can provide power and speed. His ceiling is an everyday infielder who can be a 20-20 guy though. However, as such a young player there is still plenty of time for things to change for better or worse.

With all of these young, exciting infielders, you would think at least a couple of them will hit. James is one I am very intrigued by though. This has been a solid season for him, but 2027 could be the year where he really takes the leap and becomes a household name in the prospect world.