Toboni addressed the Nats’ Minor League system on Monday by swapping pitching prospects with the Red Sox, the organization for which he previously worked.
The Nationals acquired right-hander Luis Perales (ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 7 prospect at the time of the deal) in exchange for left-hander Jake Bennett (Washington’s No. 11). Following the trade, Perales slotted as the Nats’ No. 5 prospect and Bennett as Boston’s No. 7.
Perales, 22, underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He returned toward the end of the ’25 Minor League season and made three appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. Perales went on to start six games in the Arizona Fall League. With the Salt River Rafters, he was 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA, 31.7% strikeout rate and 18.3% walk rate.
Perales, who signed with the Red Sox in July 2019 for $75,000 out of Venezuela, has a Major League estimated time of arrival of 2027. MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra evaluated him with an overall scouting grade of 50 (fastball, 70; slider, 50; cutter, 55; splitter, 55; control, 40). Dykstra wrote the following of Perales:
The Nationals traded Bennett, 25, who also recently came back from Tommy John surgery. A 2022 second-round Draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Bennett missed the entire ’24 season. He returned in ’25 and went 2-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) across three levels, finishing in Double-A. Like Perales, Bennett played in the Arizona Fall League. He led the AFL in strikeouts (25), ranked second in innings pitched (20) and was named to the Fall Stars Game.
COMPLETE NATIONALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Earlier this month, the Nationals traded southpaw Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for catcher Harry Ford and righty prospect Isaac Lyon.
