THE Washington Nationals Top Prospect List, #11-#20

On Monday NatsGM ranked our picks for the Top-10 prospects in the Nationals’ system – Today we select our picks for prospects #11-#20. 

#11        Tanner Rainey RHP

Acquired from Cincinnati last month for Tanner Roark, the 26-year-old Rainey was the Reds’ 2nd round pick in 2015.  Rainey was dominant in 2018 at Triple-A, throwing 51 innings and allowing only 25 hits and 35 walks against 65 strikeouts, which earned him a late season major league cameo.  Rainey is blessed with elite stuff, including an upper-90s fastball that can reach triple digits, a hard upper-80s slider and a changeup.  As the walk total confirms, Rainey struggles with his command, which is below-average or worse.  He will need to improve this to reach his ceiling as a high-leverage late-inning reliever, with his likely outcome being a major league role in middle relief.

#12        James Bourque RHP

Washington selected Bourque in the 14th round in 2014 following a strong career at the University of Michigan.  The 25-year-old spent his first few professional seasons as a starter, before flourishing in a move to the bullpen last year.  Bourque was dominant across two levels last season, posting a 1.70 ERA over 53 innings pitched, with 76 strikeouts against only 30 hits and 26 walks. 

Bourque features a three-pitch arsenal consisting of a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a devastating mid-80s changeup with split-finger movement, and a low-80s slider.  He is an intriguing relief prospect due to his velocity and a changeup that can neutralize lefties, but his below-average command likely limits his ceiling to a 7th or 8th inning reliever.

Full Scouting Report -> http://natsgm.com/2018/11/23/introducing-washington-nationals-james-bourque/

#13        Kyle Johnston RHP

Johnston was Washington’s 6th round pick in 2017, following a strong career at the University of Texas.  The 22-year-old stands 6’0” 190lbs with a well-built frame and powerful legs.  Johnston features a 3-pitch repertoire of a 91-95mph fastball, a low-80s slider, plus a mid-80s changeup with movement.  Washington has developed him as a starter, but his build and inefficient delivery likely profile better in relief.  Johnston has a ceiling of a #5 starter, with a likely outcome he works in middle relief.  He is one of my favorite prospects in the system.

Full Scouting Report -> http://natsgm.com/2018/06/13/prospect-spotlight-kyle-johnston-rhp-hagerstown-suns/

#14        Reid Schaller RHP

Washington’s 3rd round pick last June from Vanderbilt University, Schaller was a rare draft-eligible freshman after undergoing Tommy John surgery while in school.  Schaller worked out of the bullpen for the Commodores in 2018, overwhelming the competition with an upper-90s fastball and a powerful slider.  He has the frame at 6’3” 210lbs to work as a starter, but his funky delivery should make him a reliever long-term.  Schaller has the ceiling as a high-leverage late-inning reliever.

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#15        Jake Irwin RHP

The Nationals’ 4th round selection last June, Irvin is a massive 6’6” 225lbs blessed with long limbs and a solid 3-pitch arsenal.  Irwin’s fastball sits 90-93mph with heavy sink, a quality slider and an improving changeup.  He pounds the strike zone with above-average command, and gets excellent extension toward home plate.  Irwin has a ceiling as a durable, back-end starting pitcher, with the fallback option being a move to the bullpen.

#16        Malvin Pena RHP

Signed by Washington as an international free agent in 2013, the 21-year-old Pena missed all of 2015 and 2016 with injuries, and has only thrown 134.1 innings since turning professional.  When healthy, Pena is an intriguing prospect, possessing a three-pitch arsenal and improving control of the strike zone.  Pena features a mid-90s fastball that can touch 96mph, a hard breaking slider and a promising mid-80s changeup.  There are obvious concerns about his long-term health, and his “herky-jerky” delivery might work better in a relief capacity.  Washington will continue to develop him as a starter, but Pena’s future might ultimately be in a relief capacity.

#17        Joan Adon RHP

Yet another impressive international free agent signee from the July 2016 class, Adon is a wiry 6’2” 185lbs blessed with a lightning-fast arm.  The 20-year-old Adon has easy mid-90s fastball velocity, along with a nasty mid-80s slider.  He is inconsistent repeating his mechanics and his arm slot, causing him to struggle with below-average present command.  Adon is extremely risky as a prospect, but has 7th or 8th inning reliever upside if everything comes together.

#18        Raudy Read Catcher

Signed by Washington as an 2011 international free agent, Read spent most of 2018 on the restricted list after testing positive for PEDs last winter.  Defensively Read has a strong arm and does well controlling opposing base stealers, but struggles blocking and framing errant pitches.  The right-handed hitting Read struggles making consistent contact, yet flashes plus raw power and punishes fastballs on the inner-third.  The loss of the majority of 2018 is a major detriment to his development, but the 25-year-old Read still projects as an offensive-first backup major league catcher.

#19       Jose Sanchez SS

Washington signed Sanchez for $950,000 in July 2016 as an international free agent based on his strong arm, excellent speed and defensive wizardry at shortstop.  Unfortunately his bat lags behind his defense, as he hit only .209/.280/.247 in 2017 and followed it up by hitting .230/.309/.282 at Auburn last summer.  Scouts like the 18-year-old Sanchez’s compact swing and feel for the barrel, but at 5’11” 155lbs, he must add strength to take the next step offensively. He has a long-term ceiling as a defensive-oriented major league shortstop, but the development risk is extreme.

#20        Gage Canning OF

Canning was Washington’s 5th round pick last June after a sterling three-year career at Arizona State.  Listed at 5’10” 175lbs, the 21-year-old Canning is a wiry athlete blessed with easy plus speed and excellent baseball instincts.  Defensively Canning split time in both center and right field in college, but profiles best in center due to his terrific speed and solid-average arm.  At the plate, the left-handed hitter has a line drive approach and some raw pull power, but he does rack up strikeouts more often than a non-power hitter should.  Canning’s defensive skills should allow him to carve out a role as a major league backup, and if he reaches his ceiling, perhaps he becomes a below-average starting center fielder. 

Full Scouting Report -> http://natsgm.com/2018/09/05/prospect-spotlight-gage-canning/

Please return Friday when we rank prospect #21-#30 in Washington’s system. Thanks for reading!

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