Sean Paul Liñan, a right-handed pitcher, was acquired by the Nationals from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal that sent Alex Call to the West Coast was originally signed out of Colombia for just $17,500, Liñan wasn’t even listed among the Dodgers’ Top 30 prospects at the start of the season, according to MLB Pipeline.
Fast forward to now, and Liñan is making waves as the biggest riser in the Nationals organization following the trade deadline.
The 20-year-old made a strong impression across four levels this season. In 19 appearances (15 starts), he logged 77.1 innings with a 3.03 ERA and racked up 106 strikeouts—good for a stellar 12.3 K/9 rate.
His most dominant stretch came in Single-A and High-A. In six Single-A outings, Liñan pitched 29.1 innings, allowed just four earned runs, struck out 50 batters, and posted an elite 0.843 WHIP. That performance earned him a promotion to High-A, where he continued to shine. Over 10 appearances in the Dodgers’ High-A affiliate, he threw 37.1 innings, struck out 39, and maintained a 2.65 WHIP.
Liñan also made brief appearances at Triple-A, where he struggled, giving up eight runs in 7.1 innings. After being traded to Washington, he pitched three innings in one outing, allowing three runs before landing on the injured list.
Despite the setback, Liñan is now ranked 14th in the Nationals’ prospect rankings. He typically sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and features an average slider, but his standout pitch is a devastating changeup—graded a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale.
“Liñan has one of the best changeups in the Minors,” reads his scouting report. “It’s a high-spin combo that dives sharply down and to the right at around 80 mph.”
Liñan is slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League this year, which will be the toughest competition he’s faced so far. A strong showing there could propel him even higher in the Nationals’ rankings and solidify his status as a top pitching prospect.