0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
“Steven Souza has been very, very impressive this spring, in all phases,” Director of Player Development Doug Harris said. “He’s swung the bat well. He’s defended well. He’s a very athletic kid.”The Nationals drafted Souza in the third round in 2007, and he is one of those players who could be easy to cast aside because he has been in the organization for so long. But he’s still only 23, and after a winding path to where he is now, the Nationals view him as a future big leaguer. After finishing the 2012 season at Class A Potomac, Souza figures to start this season as the right fielder for Class AA Harrisburg.Souza’s career has been bumpy at times. He was suspended for 50 games in 2010 for violating baseball’s drug rules. He struck out 131 times in 478 plate appearances for Potomac in 2011, and he began his 2012 season down a level in Low-A Hagerstown.Last year, it clicked for him. He hit .297/.366/.572 with 23 home runs over 400 plate appearances between Hagerstown and, after a promotion, Potomac. He has a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame, and still has the athleticism that allowed him to start his minor league career as a shortstop. In a nod to Souza’s size and speed, Harris said he’s the Nationals minor leaguer who middle infielders would least want to see breaking up a double play.Souza’s power stands out. Today, Harris sat in a golf cart and watched Souza take batting practice. “That ball’s crushed,” he said, time and again. This weekend, facing Ross Ohlendorf in an intrasquad game, Souza blasted a home run over the batter’s eye in center field.“He turned a corner,” another Nationals official said. “He’s had some ups and downs, but it looks like he figured it out. He’s a five-tool guy.”
Does he have a position defensively?When does he have to be on the 40 man to be protected from Rule 5/Minor League free agency?
Guessing he can be a minor league FA at the end of the year if it is 6 seasons in the organization and he's not on the 40 man.
putting up some nice numbers at Harrisburg, batting .409/.519/.742 with 5 HRs. Looks an awful lot like Morse.
Other than hitting for power and being suspended for PED... how does he look like Morse?Souza walks, Morse doesn't. Morse is 2 inches taller, 45 pounds heavier and a much worse defender than Souza who has played CF in the minors. Souza also has speed, something that Morse has never shown.
Has Souza replaced Goodwin in CF at Harrisburg? Goodwin witting about .245. Souza at .376 after 85 at-bats: .470 OB%, .647 slugging, OPS around 1.1.
Souza with another bomb last night. The turnaround he's made from 2011 is nothing short of phenomenal. Can't believe he just turned 24. Seems like he's been around for a decade. He's gotta be in the discussion for a top 10er in the farm system next year, right?
What do we make of Souza? His numbers are very good. A bump to AAA wouldn't be out of the question.4/4 with 2 Doubles, Triple, HR, 3 RBIs, 4 Runs tonight so far after 5 innings for the AA Senators.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't a bump up to AAA have him facing less talented pitchers as most of the young, high ceiling fireballers are in AA?
