Nats to select No. 11 in 2021 First-Year Player Draft

The order for the 2021 First-Year Player Draft was unveiled Monday with the Nationals selecting at the No. 11 position in the first round.

The 2021 draft will take place on July 11-13, 2021, in conjunction with the 2021 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

The order repeats itself in the second round. So the Nats will pick No. 40 with their second selection. There are only 29 teams in the first two rounds because the Astros forfeited their picks as punishment for the sign-stealing scandal.

These selections can be adjusted before next summer based on qualified free agents lost or gained in the coming months. For instance, the Nats received the No. 71 selection last summer as compensation for the loss of free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon, who signed with the Angels.

Last season, the Nats had picks at No. 22, No. 55 and No. 71. At No. 22, they selected Oklahoma right-hander Cade Cavalli. At No. 55, the Nats picked LSU pitcher Cole Henry, and at No. 71, the Nats selected high school shortstop Sammy Infante.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was limited to five rounds and totaled just 160 players. The Nats made six selections.

There were 87 pitchers selected, 28 outfielders, 22 shortstops and 10 catchers. Twenty-eight players were selected from the Southeast Conference, 16 from the Atlantic Coach Conference and 12 players from the Pac-12 Conference.

The No. 11 selection for the Nats in the upcoming draft will be the earliest they have drafted since 2011:

2019 - No. 17, right-hander Jackson Rutledge
2018 - No. 27, right-hander Mason Denaburg
2017 - No. 25, left-hander Seth Romero
2016 - No. 28, shortstop/third baseman Carter Kieboom
2015 - No. 58, outfielder Andrew Stevenson
2014 - No. 18, right-hander Erick Fedde
2013 - No. 136, right-hander Nick Pivetta
2012 - No. 16, right-hander Lucas Gioilito
2011 - No. 6, third baseman Anthony Rendon

Baseball America has released a 2021 mock draft listing 15 players. Hovering around where the Nats will pick are outfielders Ethan Wilson from South Alabama and Colton Cowser from Sam Houston State, as well as right-handers Jaden Hill from LSU and Andrew Painter from Calvary Christian High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Another intriguing possibility that might be available at No. 11 would be third baseman Alex Binelas of Louisville.

Here is the complete draft order for 2021:

1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. Texas Rangers
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Boston Red Sox
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. Arizona Diamondbacks
7. Kansas City Royals
8. Colorado Rockies
9. Los Angeles Angels
10. New York Mets
11. Washington Nationals
12. Seattle Mariners
13. Philadelphia Phillies
14. San Francisco Giants
15. Milwaukee Brewers
16. Miami Marlins
17. Cincinnati Reds
18. St. Louis Cardinals
19. Toronto Blue Jays
20. New York Yankees
21. Chicago Cubs
22. Chicago White Sox
23. Cleveland Indians
24. Atlanta Braves
25. Oakland Athletics
26. Minnesota Twins
27. San Diego Padres
28. Tampa Bay Rays
29. Los Angeles Dodgers