An all-prospect trade went down on December 15. Per reports, the Nationals acquired hard-throwing pitching prospect Luis Perales from the Boston Red Sox. Boston, meanwhile, acquired former second-round pick Jake Bennett from the Nats.

The Nationals’ Return

• SP Luis Perales (7.71 ERA, 4 K over 2.1 IP (AA and AAA))

Pitching prospect Luis Perales missed most of 2025 on the injured list. Perales had UCL reconstruction that wiped out almost all of 2025 and most of 2024. But before the injury, Perales was in the midst of a breakout.

The 23-year-old struck out 56 over 33.2 IP between High-A and Double-A. Perales walked 12 during that season. Back in 2023, Perales began to show what he was capable of, as he struck out 115 over 89.2 IP in full-season ball.

He came back late in 2025, as he made two appearances with Triple-A Worcester after one with Double-A Portland. To make up for it, Perales pitched in the Arizona Fall League but was one of several notable pitchers to struggle.

The ex-Red Sox prospect walked 11 over 11.1 IP, although he did strike out 19.

Perales possesses an overpowering fastball, one that regularly hits the 99-100 MPH range. In fact, Perales’ average four-seam velocity was 99.1 IP in the AFL, the highest in that circuit. That pitch does have some rising action.

However, the one thing to note with Perales is that his release comes from a very high arm slot — somewhat similar to Blue Jays Trey Yesavage. Short arm action, and will also follow through on the delivery with the back leg.

Aside from the booming fastball, Perales will also showcase a low-90s cutter/slider, as well as a slower changeup that sat in the high-80s down in Arizona.

Walks have been a problem for Perales. He posted a 5.0 BB/9 in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The Red Sox’s Return

• SP Jake Bennett (64 K over 75.1 IP (A, A+, and AA))

Like Perales, Jake Bennett is a recent pitcher to recover from UCL reconstruction. He had the surgery two years ago and didn’t pitch at all in 2024. This past season, Bennett worked at three levels as he worked his way back to full strength.

Bennett, who was added to the Nationals’ 40-man roster back in November, was a second-round pick by the Nationals in 2022. The left-handed pitcher worked very well in 2023, as he struck out 73 over 63 innings that campaign. In 2025, he struck out 64 but walked only 19 between the three levels he worked at this past season.

He went to pitch in the Arizona Fall League in October and performed very well despite a 4.50 ERA. Bennett finished the circuit with the most swings-and-misses with 69.

With Bennett, it’s primarily a three-pitch mix. Bennett will work with a low-90s four-seamer that’s not a plus pitch in its own right. Down in the AFL, it capped out at 95 MPH and played up thanks to plus extension that, at some points, went over seven inches.

What makes him very dangerous is a low-80s changeup with sink and run that works very well off the changeup. It’s a pitch that not only opposing hitters have to respect but also one that can throw off timing.

Aside from those two offerings, Bennett will also throw a low-80s slider, sinker, cutter, and occasional curveball.

Analysis

Current Nationals baseball ops head Paul Toboni worked in the Red Sox’s office before moving to the nation’s capital. Thus, he’s fully aware of the kind of pitcher Luis Perales can become.

Perales flashed high upside in 2023 and 2024. The problem is that he’ll need to build up to work as a starter again — he was limited to one-inning outings late last season in the Minors — and fine-tune once more as he looks to make a push towards the Majors.

The fact that Perales’ velocity was back post-surgery was a strong sign. And, he’ll join a Nationals’ farm system that is lacking high-upside pitchers. Arguably, the Nats’ two best pitching prospects are Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana, with Alex Clemmey and Miguel Sime Jr. among the tier-two pitching prospects to watch.

As for the Red Sox, Bennett is a very different pitcher. While he may not have the same ceiling — or perhaps the same floor, depending on whether Perales sticks as a starter long-term — the left-hander has the arsenal to be a starter in the Majors. Plus, it does help that Bennett is more of a controlled pitcher.

Bennett joins a lengthy list of left-handed pitching prospects in the organization, which includes Payton Tolle and Connelly Early.

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