On Sunday, the Washington Nationals traded infielder Luis García Jr. to the New York Yankees in exchange for four pitching prospects. Below is a detailed breakdown of three key arms in the deal: Jack Cebert, Ben Grable, and Yovanny Cruz—provided by Aaron Lichstrahl, a prospect writer for The Yankees Farm Report and a former contributor to Nats Report.

Jack Cebert – The lone starter in the deal

Selected in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, Jack Cebert is the only starting pitcher included in this trade. After closing out the 2025 season as a reliever, he moved into the rotation in 2026 and dominated at High-A before earning a quick promotion to Double-A.

Despite a couple of rough outings—including back-to-back starts where he allowed 20 hits and 15 runs—Cebert has shown consistent strike-throwing ability and swing-and-miss stuff.

Pitch Profile:
Cebert pitches from a low arm slot using a modified stretch, creating a flat approach angle and increased horizontal movement. His arsenal is built around a “tri-force” fastball approach:

  • Sinker: His best pitch, averaging 13 inches of horizontal movement—effective against right-handed hitters and deceptive on the outside edge to lefties.

  • 4-Seam Fastball: Sits 92–95 mph and overlays well with his sinker.

  • Cutter: High 80s, though it’s the weakest of his three fastball variants.

  • Breaking Pitches: A sweeper and curveball that serve as chase weapons, complementing his fastball mix.

Mechanics & Projection:
Cebert’s repeatable mechanics help him find his release point consistently, resulting in excellent control. While his velocity isn’t elite, his polish and pitchability project him as a potential back-end starter. MLB Pipeline currently ranks him as the Nationals’ No. 14 prospect with a 2027 ETA.

Ben Grable – High-velocity reliever with a 70-grade fastball

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