One of my favorite articles to write each year is my annual list of the top prospects in the Washington Nationals farm system: in fact, I enjoyed this exercise so much I decided to make it into 2-parts this year. As a prospect nerd who spends far too many summer nights in minor league ballparks, I feel I have an excellent feel for the prospects currently with the Nationals.
The Nationals farm system was ranked #1 by Baseball America just three years ago. However, the graduation of Anthony Rendon and Taylor Jordan, along with trades of Nathan Karns, Billy Burns, and Robbie Ray in the past 12 months has depleted much of the talent in the organization. In general, the Nationals farm system still has impressive depth throughout their top 40 players, although the Top 10 feels somewhat underwhelming.
In developing this list, I prioritize the prospects’ possible ceiling, their potential defensive positional value, their likelihood to fulfill their potential, and finally how far are they from contributing to the big leagues. With that in mind, here is Part-1 of the 2014 NatsGM Washington Nationals Top Prospects List, counting down from 30.
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Honorable Mention: Rafael Bautista OF, Erik Davis RHP, Cody Gunter 3B, Rick Hague INF, Taylor Hill RHP, Neil Holland LHP, Nick Lee LHP, Estarlin Martinez OF, Narciso Mesa OF, Shawn Pleffner 1B, Blake Schwartz RHP, Blake Treinen RHP
30) Christian Garcia RHP
Blessed with three above-average pitches, including a mid-90s fastball, Garcia comes with extreme risk after undergoing three elbow surgeries in his career. A true boom-or-bust pitcher, Garcia could never pitch another big league inning, or carve out a solid career as a late-inning reliever.
29) Paul Demny RHP
Nationals prospect Paul Demny
A big, physical Texan blessed with a heavy mid-90s fastball, Demny has an impact quality arm and could blossom as a reliever.
28) Anderson Franco 3B
The Nationals gave this 16-year-old Dominican prospect $900,000 to sign last summer, something the organization has shied away from since the Smiley Gonzalez situation a few years ago. His future potential warrants a spot on this list, even if he may not see action in the States for a few years.
27) Pedro Encarnacion LHP
An overlooked left-handed arm, Encarnacion impressed me last season at Low-A Hagerstown, and is a name to remember in the Nationals’ system.
26) Nic Pivetta RHP
The Nationals 4th round pick in 2013, Pivetta is a massive 6-5 220lbs pitcher blessed with a mid-90s fastball, and with intriguing secondary offerings in his slider and changeup. Pivetta is quite raw, but the physical tools are there for him to develop into a major league pitcher.
25) Richie Mirowski RHP
A 45th round pick of the Nationals in 2010, Mirowski has slowly climbed the organizational ladder thanks to a career 10.2 K/9 ratio and a promising curveball. His career path should lead him to be a middle reliever, which is a testament to the Nationals scouting and development people who have developed this late round pick into a potential contributor.
24) Jason Martinson SS
Jason Martinson May 2013
Martinson is an outstanding athlete with excellent power for a middle infielder, but his swing-and-miss tendencies and advancing age, he’s 25-years-old, keeps much of the shine off of this prospect. However, the talent is legitimate and his ceiling places him on this list.
23) Robert Benincasa RHP
A personal favorite of mine, Benincasa is a pure reliever with three quality pitches, a low-90s sinking fastball, a slider, and a changeup. Benincasa has posted career 11.62 K/9 and 2.06 BB/9 ratios, which portends a future a quality right-handed setup man.
22) Brandon Miller OF
Sleeper Alert! One of my favorite prospects in the system, this 2012 4th round pick has impressive speed and raw power, along with a cannon-like arm. The swing-and-miss is real, but Miller could be the next in a long line of late developing corner outfielders for the Nationals.
21) Jeff Kobernus 2B/OF
Kobernus is one of the better athletes in the farm system capable of playing multiple positions defensively. While he may not live up to the expectations of a 2nd round draft pick, Kobernus’s speed and versatility should allow him to have a successful big league career as a reserve.
20) Brett Mooneyham LHP
LHP Brett Mooneyham
A late-blooming left-handed pitcher from Stanford University, Mooneyham has a good three-pitch mix with a low-90s fastball, an inconsistent slider, and an average changeup. A solid athlete blessed with a quiet motion, Mooneyham still has the talent to blossom into a major league quality lefty.
19) Aaron Barrett RHP
Added to the Nationals 40-man roster last fall, this former 9th round pick possesses a quality low-90s fastball and an above-average to plus slider. Barrett has a chance to be an effective middle reliever, perhaps as soon as late 2014.
18) Eury Perez CF
His lack of power and on-base skills limits his ceiling, but Perez’s elite speed, bat-to-ball skills, and outstanding defense in center field should allow him to carve out a career as a reserve outfielder.
17) Tony Renda 2B
Tony Renda
This former 2nd round selection, Renda’s only above-average tool is his hitting ability, but his excellent ability to hit a baseball should allow him to hit his way to the major leagues.
16) Drew Vettleson OF
Coming off a down season in High-A in 2013, Vettleson looks to rebound with a change of scenery after being acquired from Tampa Bay in the recent Nathan Karns trade. An excellent defensive right fielder with a strong throwing arm, Vettleson has a chance to become an above-average 4th outfielder in a few years.
15) Drew Ward 3B
The Nationals 3rd round pick last summer, Ward skipped his senior year of high school to enroll in the draft a year earlier. Questions exist about his defensive profile, but Ward has a strong arm and excellent raw power and could be in store for a breakout season a Low-A Hagerstown in 2014.
14) Zach Walters SS/3B
A terrific athlete capable of playing multiple positions defensively, Walters is a switch-hitter with excellent power, slugging 29 home runs in 2013. Acquired from Arizona in exchange for Jason Marquis, Walters has a chance to carve out a career as a valuable, super-utility player.
13) Austin Voth RHP
The Nationals 5th round selection last June, Voth has an intriguing three-pitch mix and could move quickly through the minors with a shift to the bullpen. Voth is a sleeper to remember from the 2013 draft class.
12) Felipe Rivero LHP
A smallish lefty with three quality pitches, Rivero has a future in the big leagues, either as a back-end starter or quality reliever.
11) Jefry Rodriguez RHP
The top prospect from the Nationals ultra-successful GCL team in 2013, Rodriguez features a prototypical pitchers’ body and a mid-90s fastball. Perhaps he already warrants a spot in the Top-10, but expect Rodriguez to skyrocket up this list after his debut in Hagerstown this season.
I urge you to return tomorrow, February 2oth, when I publish Part-2 and count down the current Top 10 Nationals prospects. Thanks for reading.