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Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects for 2012


(Nov 28/11)

Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects for 2012

1. OF Bryce Harper

Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and he's the most talked about name in the minor leagues, but he lived up to the hype in his debut season in Washington's minor league system. After making his debut in the 2010 Arizona Fall League, Harper spent the first half of his 2011 season playing for Class-A Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League. He batted .318/.423/.554 with 14 HR, 17 doubles and 19 stolen bases in 72 games before receiving a promotion two levels up to Double-A Harrisburg.

It took Harper a while to get acclimated to the Double-A Eastern League, but he ended up hitting .256/.329/.395 with three HR, seven doubles and seven stolen bases. His year end totals of .297/.392/.501 with 17 HR and 26 stolen bases indicate Harper's massive potential.

2. 3B Anthony Rendon

Rendon was the biggest name coming into the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, as he was definitely the most hyped college hitter the previous two years. However, he stock slid during his final year at Rice university as a shoulder injury relegated him to playing DH for most of the season. Rendon's bat is his ticket, as he's a plus hitter with plus power, but he's no slouch with the glove either. He flashes Gold Glove potential at third base, as he has a strong arm and reacts quickly to well hit balls at the hot corner.

Teams were mixed on his medical reports and Rendon slipped to the Nationals at 6th overall, allowing the team to draft what many people would consider the top player in the draft three years in a row. Rendon joins Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg to give the Nationals a trio of talented young players to build their franchise around. He'll likely make his much anticipated pro debut in the Class-A South Atlantic League, but could possibly start up a level in Potomac. From a fans point of view, it would be great to see Rendon wind up on the same team as Harper as soon as possible. That team might just be the Washington Nationals, perhaps as early as 2013.

3. LHP Matt Purke

Purke was an absolute steal for the Nationals in the third round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Originally drafted by Texas in the first round out of high school, Purke was projected to be a top pick coming into this draft before a shoulder injury limited him during his season with TCU. Slipping to the third round due to the injury concerns, Purke signed for an overslot bonus and joins a Washington organization that's loading up on high profile young talent. The Nationals have RHP Stephen Strasburg and RHP Jordan Zimmerman in Washington, RHP Brad Peacock, RHP A.J. Cole, Purke, and RHP Alex Meyer in the minor leagues.

Purke is very competitive, hustles on and off the mound, and is regarded for his mound presence. He throws a mid 90's fastball, a plus curve, slider and fringy changeup giving him an array of pitches to attack opposing hitters. Where he starts his pro career is an interesting question. Like Rendon, he could possibly start up with Class-A+ Potomac, but there's really no reason not to start him out with Class-A Hagerstown and let him work his way up.

4. OF Brian Goodwin

Goodwin is an extremely toosly outfielder and was selected with the first pick of the supplemental first round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Drafted in the third round by the White sox out of high school, Goodwin is a five-tool player with possible future above-average power. He has good speed which should be a weapon both on the bases and in the outfield. Odds are that Goodwin starts his pro career with a potentially stacked Class-A Hagerstown Suns team, and joins OF Bryce Harper among the best outfield prospects in the system.

5. RHP Alex Meyer

Meyer was the Nationals second first-round pick in 2011, after 3B Anthony Rendon, and he's come a long way in his development since pitching in high school back in Indiana. He really seemed to put things together in his third year at the University of Kentucky and is a tall, dominant power pitcher. He projects as a front of the rotation type starter, possibly a number 2, or a dominant power reliever. Meyer's fastball and slider both project as plus pitches and he's working on a changeup that has the potential to be an average Major League offering. He'll probably start out with Class-A Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League and is another very talented young arm in the organization.

6. LHP Sammy Solis

Sammy Solis was the Nationals second round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, after the team selected RHP Stephen Strasburg first overall. Solis is a 6'5" left-hander with good arm action and control of a three-pitch arsenal. His best pitch is his changeup with he throws with good arm speed and deception. He throws a sharp downward breaking curveball and is poised on the mound.

After an impressive debut season in which Solis went 8-3 with a combined 3.26 ERA across 96.2 innings pitched for Class-A Hagerstown and Class-A+ Potomac. He allowed 100 hits and 23 walks but struck out 93 batters. His ERA dropped from 4.02 with Hagerstwon to 2.72 with Potomac, and head back to the Arizona Fall League for the second time at the end of the season. He had problems with his control in the AFL as he walked 16 batters in just 26 innings pitched for the Scottsdale Scorpions. There's a very good chance that Solis could earn a spot in the Double-A Harrisburg rotation out of Spring Training.

7. OF Destin Hood
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8. 1B Tyler Moore

Moore was drafted three times by the Nationals, before he finally signed after being the 481st overall selection in the 2008 draft out of Mississippi State University. After a weak debut in 2008, he's been very impressive with the bat ever since. After hitting just 15 home runs in his first two seasons, he's hit 31 in each of the last two years, ascendingly steadily through the Nationals system. The 24-year-old is a fringe defender who is limited to first base, so he'll need to make an impact with his bat to become a regular in the Majors. Poised to open 2012 with Triple-A Syracuse, Moore has above-average power potential and could potentially help the Nationals lineup at some point during the season.


9. 2B Steve Lombardozzi
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10. LHP Daniel Rosenbaum
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    More Notable Washington Nationals Players (No Order): 1B Chris Marrero, LHP Robbie Ray, OF Archie Gilbert, OF Erik Komatsu, LHP Josh Smoker, OF Eury Perez, 2B Jeff Kobernus, 3B Zach Walters, 1B Steven Souza, RHP Paul Demny, RHP Cameron Selik, SS Jason Martinson, C David Freitas, OF Michael Taylor, OF Kevin Keyes, LHP Bobby Hansen, RHP Matt Swynenberg, RHP Taylor Jordan, 3B Matthew Skole, 2B Justin Miller, LHP Kylin Turnbull
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    4 comments:

    1. At the beginning of the season, when everyone was talking about Rendon, Cole, Purke.. NOBODOY would ever have thought the Nationals would get 1, LET ALONE 2, of those prospects when their first draft pick was sixth overall!!

      WHOOOO!!!! GO NATS!! BEST FARM SYSTEM IN MLB!!

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    2. Strasburg, Harper, Rendon.. oh ya, AND Purke! WOW

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    3. Cant wait to see Purke on the hill in 2012

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    4. Even with the Gio Gonzalez trade, this system is looking very promising! Love the '11 draft

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