THE 2016 Washington Nationals Top Prospect List #10 – #1

Mr. Giolito May 2014

No reason for delay, here is THE NatsGM 2016 Washington Nationals Top Prospect List #10-#1.

#10 – Jakson Reetz    Catcher

One of my favorite prospects in the 2014 draft, Washington selected Reetz in the 3rd round (93rd overall) from a Nebraska high school. Reetz possesses a muscular 6-1 195lbs body built to withstand the rigors of catching every day. An intriguing 2-way catcher, Reetz is a quality athlete with an above-average throwing arm and solid receiving skills, giving him the profile of a potential above-average defender down the road.

Offensively Reetz flashes solid bat-to-ball skills and should develop extra base power as he matures physically. Newly 20-years-old, there is plenty of development risk involved with Reetz’s profile but he possesses the ceiling of an above-average starting catcher if he reaches his potential.

#9 – Anderson Franco    Third Base

Signed from the Dominican Republic in 2013 for $900,000, the 18-year-old Franco showed well in 2015 during his first experience with baseball in the United States. The 6-3 190lbs Franco shows excellent bat speed in his right-handed swing, with the potential for easy above-average or plus future raw power. He needs to cut down on his swing to improve his contact rate, but Franco has the potential to be an impact hitter.

Defensively Franco flashes a powerful arm and soft hands at third base, although there is risk he might outgrow the hot corner as he matures. However, this question aside, Franco has the tools to play an above-average third base. He has tremendous risk throughout his profile, but there is the upside of a two-way above-average third baseman if things come together.

#8 – Austin Voth    Right-Handed Pitcher

Selected in the 5th round two years ago, Voth has quickly climbed the organizational ladder, posting a 2.92 ERA and 148 strikeouts last season in 157.1 Double-A innings. Voth has a solid 3-pitch mix, showing a low-90s fastball with good movement, a high-70s curveball with solid vertical drop, plus a quality changeup. These offerings “play up” due to Voth’s above-average command and control of the strike zone. He should begin 2016 at Triple-A and profiles as a quality #4/#5 major league starter.

#7 – A.J. Cole    Right-Handed Pitcher

RHP AJ Cole

Drafted by Washington in the 4th round in 2010, Cole was traded to Oakland in the Gio Gonzalez deal and returned a year later as part of the Mike Morse swap. The 24-year-old Cole is currently suffering from “prospect fatigue”, as he has been on prospect lists for much of this decade and struggled in his brief 9.1 inning cameo in Washington last season.

The lean, gangly 6-5 195lbs Cole has an intriguing 4-pitch repertoire, featuring an above-average mid-90s fastball, an above-average changeup with excellent deception and fade, along with a fringe-average slider and a below-average curveball. He has solid pitching mechanics and repeats his delivery well, though his inconsistent slider and long arm action keep his ceiling in check. If he can improve these weaknesses, he has the potential to be a #3/#4, with the floor as a back-end starter or impact reliever.

#6 – Erick Fedde    Right-Handed Pitcher

The Nationals 1st round pick in 2014, Fedde fell to 18th overall after succumbing to Tommy John surgery mere weeks before the draft. He spent the majority of last year recovering from surgery and building arm strength, throwing only 64 innings for Short-Season Auburn and Low-A Hagerstown.

Before injury, Fedde featured a powerful 3-pitch mix, with a 92-95mph fastball with outstanding life, a devastating mid-80s slider with swing-and-miss potential and a developing low-80s changeup. In addition, Fedde showed above-average command, allowing him to profile as a #3 starting pitcher. He will spend this year further building up his innings, with the potential he reaches the majors sometime in 2017.

#5 – Reynaldo Lopez    Right-Handed Pitcher

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Signed for $12,000 as an international free agent in June 2012, Lopez has skyrocketed up prospect rankings the past two years, going from an afterthought signing to a possible top-100 to top-150 prospect in baseball. Immediately one notices the physicality of the 22-year-old Lopez, who appears bigger than his listed 6-0 185lbs., with muscular, thick legs and a well-developed upper body. His delivery has some excess activity throughout and he throws off a stiff front leg, but his athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery fairly consistently.

Lopez has a powerful 3-pitch mix, featuring a 96-98mph fastball with late life and heavy punishing action. In addition Lopez has an above-average but inconsistent 77-79mph curveball with sweeping movement, along with an 81-85mph changeup with quality arm action. His curveball and changeup currently lag behind his monster fastball, but both secondary offerings have the potential to be above-average with refinement.
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Lopez is a dynamic pitching prospect due to his effortless fastball and elite arm speed, but there are concerns about his long-term future as a starter. He does not own prototypical size and has had a shoulder injury in the past, leading some to believe his future is in the bullpen. That said Lopez has a solid floor as a high-leverage late-inning reliever and if he can overcome concerns about his size and shoulder, he has a ceiling as a legitimate #2/#3 starter. While he has flaws, Lopez possesses a special arm and could arrive in the major leagues sometime in 2016.

#4 – Wilmer Difo    Shortstop / Second Base

Signed by Washington as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic, Difo broke out as a prospect in 2014 and continued his meteoric rise last season, reaching the majors for a 15 game cameo. The 23-year-old is a physical specimen for a middle infielder, looking much thicker than his listed 6-0 195lbs. In addition, this tremendous athlete possesses plus or better speed, which when coupled with a solid-average arm, makes him profile as a capable major league shortstop. However, due to the shortstop depth within the organization, Difo has experience at second base, where he profiles as above-average to plus.

Offensively the switch-hitting Difo is extremely aggressive at the plate, often to the detriment of his on-base percentage. However, he has excellent barrel skills and can pound pitches on the inside half of the plate because of his lightning-fast hands. He does not have huge home run potential but should pepper the gaps and collect plenty of extra base hits.

Difo’s defensive profile and potential for four average or better tools give him a high floor, but the lack of power or a cannon arm keeps his ceiling in check. He projects as a league-average starting middle infielder, perhaps a tick better a second base, or a high value utility player in the mold of former major leaguer Tony Phillips.

#3 – Victor Robles    Center Field

Another tremendous acquisition from the Dominican Republic, Robles received a $225,000 bonus in July 2013 and has exploded as a prospect since signing. A lithe, well-built 6-0 185lbs the 18-year-old Robles has true “5-tool” potential and profiles as a pure centerfielder. Robles has shown an above-average or better arm and plus speed, giving him the potential to be a plus defensively.

Robles is obviously quite raw offensively but the precocious youngster has shown the potential to be an above-average hitter with some fringe-average to solid average power. He has quick wrists and outstanding bat speed in his right-handed swing, and the raw tools are present to develop into an impact major league hitter.

As the prodigious rapper Eminem would say, “The hype is real” in regards to Robles and his future potential. He should begin 2016 at Low-A Hagerstown and could propel himself into the discussion of the top-10 prospects in baseball next year.

#2 – Trea Turner    Shortstop

Trea Turner

Acquired with Joe Ross in the complicated 3-way trade with Tampa Bay and San Diego for Steven Souza, Turner made several adjustments to his swing in 2015 and exploded up prospect rankings. Turner, a right-handed hitter, has solid bat-to-ball skills and healthy bat speed, allowing him to profile as an above-average hitter. Also, he has added muscle mass since being drafted, giving him more power than one might expect from a speedy shortstop. At his peak Turner could become a .280-.290 type hitter with 40+ extra base hits per season.

In the field Turner utilizes his excellent speed and agility to show quality range for the position. He has an above-average arm, but not elite, though his quick release and solid accuracy help his arm “play up”. Turner profiles as solid big league defender, which when combined with his outstanding speed and offensive potential, should make him an above-average long-term major league shortstop.

#1 – Lucas Giolito    Right-Handed Pitcher

The current top pitching prospect in baseball, Giolito was signed to an over-slot $2.925 million bonus as Washington’s 1st round selection, 16th overall, in the 2012 MLB Draft. Almost immediately after signing, Giolito underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively costing him both 2012 and 2013. Once he returned to the mound, Giolito has overwhelming hitters with his powerful 93-99mph fastball with excellent downward plane. In addition, Giolito features a legitimate plus or better mid-80s curveball with outstanding vertical drop, along with a potential plus low-80s changeup with sink. Finally, he shows average to above-average command and control, allowing his offerings to dominate minor league batters.

Listed at 6-6 255lbs., Giolito is a decent athlete still growing into his body and learning to repeat his pitching motion. Although he reached Double-A last season, he is still quite raw and needs further repetition on the finer points on the game. Nevertheless, Giolito’s arm is truly special and he has the potential for two true plus-plus pitches and an above-average changeup. If he can avoid injuries and learn to pitch deeper into games, Giolito has the change to become a true major league “Ace”. He could reach Washington sometime this year and projects to form an impressive 1-2 punch with Max Scherzer in the Nationals’ rotation beginning in 2017.

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1 thought on “THE 2016 Washington Nationals Top Prospect List #10 – #1

  1. Harrisburg infield mix should be
    Varied as will be the incubation
    Period for kids @ April assignment
    Posts
    Wooten and smith should buy time for
    Ward @ PotomAc ??

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