Scouting Washington Nationals Prospect Erick Fedde

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Last Friday evening I braved the traffic south on I-95 to visit Woodbridge, as the Potomac Nationals were hosting the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the High-A affiliate for Kansas City.  In particular, I was interested to observe and evaluate the first home start this season for right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde, one of the top prospects in the Nationals’ farm system.

Drafted 18th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, Fedde was a projected top-10 prospect before succumbing to injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery mere weeks before draft day.  Listed at 6-4 180lbs Fedde possesses an ideal pitchers’ frame with a high waist, long limbs and projection remaining throughout his physique.  He is an obvious athlete who possesses good speed and fields his position fairly well.

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The 23-year-old Fedde throws from a 3/4s release point and utilizes a big leg-kick through his drop-and-drive delivery.  He has a fast arm but there is plenty of effort in his delivery for a starting pitcher.  Also he reaches the infamous “reverse W” position in his motion, often seen a precursor to arm injuries.  However and most importantly, Fedde repeats his delivery relatively well overall.

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I left the game Friday both extremely cold and impressed with the overall talent of Erick Fedde.  Overall I feel comfortable putting future grades of an above-average to plus (55/6) on his fastball, (55/5) on his slider and a (40/45) on his changeup with average to solid-average command of the strike zone.  Combined with a repeatable delivery and noticeable athleticism, this package profiles as a low-end #3 or strong #4 starter in a big league rotation, far from a superstar but a solid mid-rotation arm.  Fedde could reach Double-A later this season and arrive in Washington sometime late next season.

https://youtu.be/j7wTfs4fo_Q

Scouting D.J. Stewart

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This past Sunday I took advantage of a break in the rainy weather to travel to Hagerstown to watch a doubleheader between the home Suns and the visiting Delmarva Shorebirds.  Certainly my eyes were focused on Victor Robles and the Suns, but I was curious to watch Delmarva’s D.J. Stewart, the Orioles 1st Round pick  last summer as well.

Stewart was drafted following a standout career at Florida State with the reputation as a polished collegiate hitter who could move quickly through the minor leagues.  Stewart is kindly listed at 6-0 230lbs, with thick legs and a round midsection.  This hinders his foot speed, making the 22-year-old already a below-average runner.

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At the plate Stewart shows a solid awareness of the strike zone, which allows him to see pitches and produce a healthy walk rate.  His left-handed swing has some length to it, and he struggles hitting velocity on the inside half of the plate.  Stewart does show some power, particularly to the pull side, though it feels more like his raw strength muscling the ball rather than a product of a quality swing.  He does not possess elite bat speed or the sweetest swing, but I can envision a ceiling as a future “45-50/45-50” bat, hitting .260-.270 with 12-17 home runs a year.

Defensively Stewart has a solid, accurate throwing arm, but his poor speed and thick midsection makes him profile as a long-term left fielder.  Stewart does show quality instincts in the outfield and a baseball savvy that should allow him to play a passable left field, but unless he reshapes his body, his defense will not play better than mediocre.  This puts extreme pressure on his bat to carry him to the major leagues.

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Overall Stewart is an interesting prospect, as he has a keen batting eye and obvious pull power, but his lack of athleticism is uniquely surprising for a 1st round pick.  His ceiling is not particularly high because of his lack of a standout tool, but his ability to draw walks and hit the occasional home run, plus his draft pedigree, should give him a strong chance to reach the major leagues.  The best case scenario has him serving as a starting everyday left fielder or the strong-side of a platoon, with the most likely result being Stewart settling in as a backup.  This may feel slightly underwhelming for a 1st rounder, but Stewart should move quickly and could arrive in Baltimore in 2018.

Short Hops

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LHP Garrett Cleavinger, Baltimore’s 3rd round pick last summer, entered in the 5th inning of Game 1 for the Shorebirds and immediately caught the attention of the entire scouting section.  Cleavinger flashed an 89-93mph fastball with some late life, a hammer 73-77mph curveball with hard downward movement and a 82mph changeup.  The almost 22-year-old is a thick, well-built, 6-1 210lbs with little projection remaining in his frame.  His age, plus his lack of physical projection and a 3rd pitch, limits his ceiling as a prospect, but Cleavinger is a solid arm not receiving enough attention in Baltimore’s system.  With some development, Cleavinger could develop two above-average pitches in his fastball and curveball, allowing him to profile as a future 7th/8th inning lefty reliever.

THE NatsGM Show Episode #57 Part 2 – Guests Nick J. Faleris and CJ Wittmann Jr. from 2080Baseball

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We’re back to THE NatsGM Show Episode #57, Part-2, with special guests Nick J. Faleris and CJ Wittmann Jr. from 2080Baseball.com.

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A sincere THANK YOU to Nick and CJ for graciously joining the show this week and to you for listening!  Please follow @Nats_GM on Twitter and consider Rating & Reviewing our show on iTunes.

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

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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

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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.

https://youtu.be/ugInkAvJRhk