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Eddy Yean originally signed with the Washington Nationals as a 17-year-old in the 2018 international class. After seven seasons in the minors with the Nationals and Pirates, bringing him into camp now on a minor-league deal is a low-risk move given that he’s still just 24. His first full year in the organization came in 2019, when he made his stateside debut in the Gulf Coast League before moving up to Auburn in the New York-Penn League. Early on, Yean was a tall, lean, hard-throwing right-hander; since then he has added significant strength, now sitting in the mid-200s, and seen his velocity tick up while maintaining his athletic delivery.
Yean was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the deal for Josh Bell, going over as one of three prospects and ranking as the Nationals’ No. 12 prospect at the time. Pittsburgh viewed him as the headliner, with evaluators pointing to his “electric” arsenal and projecting him as a potential power arm for the future rotation.
On the mound, Yean works with two fastballs: an explosive four-seamer and a two-seamer with late sink. He typically sits in the mid-90s and can touch 97 mph. Despite the power, the heaters have not generated as much swing-and-miss as the raw velocity suggests, but the sinker has become a real weapon. Last season, 55 percent of the balls put in play against him were on the ground, which could be especially valuable if the Nationals bolster their middle-infield defense and allow him to lean into inducing double plays. His fastballs grade out as “elite” for velocity and movement, and his slider has developed into his best swing-and-miss offering, grading above average. A developing changeup rounds out the mix and currently projects as an average pitch.
Yean reached Triple-A late in 2024 with Indianapolis and appeared in two games, then spent all of last season there and posted the best ERA of his minor-league career at 3.06. He became a minor-league free agent at season’s end, and Paul Toboni made him his first signing, bringing him back to Washington on a minor-league contract with a spring training invite. In 2024, Yean pitched in 50 games for Indianapolis, with 46 relief outings, going 8–5 with a 3.06 ERA and seven saves. In 70 innings, he induced 10 double plays with his sinker. Right-handed hitters managed just a .212 average against him, while left-handed hitters did more damage at .323.
What clearly intrigued Toboni is Yean’s big, powerful arm, but the next step is refining his approach in the zone. The primary area for improvement is attacking hitters early and consistently working in favorable counts. Last year he averaged six walks and seven strikeouts per nine innings, and the split by count tells the story: when Yean was ahead, opponents hit just .204; when he fell behind, that number jumped to .344.
Yean’s time in the Pirates’ system was marked by inconsistency, but the raw ingredients are still intact. If he can sharpen his command, trust his stuff in the zone, and sustain that approach, he has a realistic chance to pitch his way onto the Nationals’ Opening Day roster—and make his second stint in Washington the one that finally lands him in the major leagues.