Top prospect lists for 2016 season

[BrandonK]

Sickels list: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/2/23/11103520/washington-nationals-top-20-prospects-list-for-2016

[monkeyhit]

Good read.  Will have to keep an eye on Anderson Franco. Thanks.

[BrandonK]

Good read.  Will have to keep an eye on Anderson Franco. Thanks.

He's creeping up lists. I'm surprised to see Cole rated the same as Lopez and higher than Fedde. I'm still on the hype train, too.

[Slateman]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-2016-prospects-washington-nationals/

Fangraph's take on our 2016 prospect class is up.

Short take:

1. Lucas Giolito, RHP
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Victor Robles, OF
4. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
5. Erick Fedde, RHP
6. Andrew Stevenson, OF
7. Wilmer Difo, 2B/SS
8. AJ Cole, RHP
9. Taylor Hearn, LHP,
10. Koda Glover, RHP
11. Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B
12. Austin Voth, RHP
13. Telmito Agustin, OF
14. Osvaldo Abreu, SS/2B
15. Anderson Franco, 3B
16. Blake Perkins, OF
17. Jakson Reetz, C
18. Rafael Bautista
19. Max Schrock, 2B/OF
20. Andrew Lee, RHP
21. Pedro Severino, C
22. Jefry Rodriguez, RHP
23. Rhett Wiseman, OF

[whytev]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-2016-prospects-washington-nationals/

Fangraph's take on our 2016 prospect class is up.

Short take:

1. Lucas Giolito, RHP
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Victor Robles, OF
4. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
5. Erick Fedde, RHP
6. Andrew Stevenson, OF
7. Wilmer Difo, 2B/SS
8. AJ Cole, RHP
9. Taylor Hearn, LHP,
10. Koda Glover, RHP
11. Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B
12. Austin Voth, RHP
13. Telmito Agustin, OF
14. Osvaldo Abreu, SS/2B
15. Anderson Franco, 3B
16. Blake Perkins, OF
17. Jakson Reetz, C
18. Rafael Bautista
19. Max Schrock, 2B/OF
20. Andrew Lee, RHP
21. Pedro Severino, C
22. Jefry Rodriguez, RHP
23. Rhett Wiseman, OF

Need a this year thread!

[Squab]

Need a this year thread!

Ask and you shall receive.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-2016-prospects-washington-nationals/

Fangraph's take on our 2016 prospect class is up.

Short take:

1. Lucas Giolito, RHP
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Victor Robles, OF
4. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
5. Erick Fedde, RHP
6. Andrew Stevenson, OF
7. Wilmer Difo, 2B/SS
8. AJ Cole, RHP
9. Taylor Hearn, LHP,
10. Koda Glover, RHP
11. Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B
12. Austin Voth, RHP
13. Telmito Agustin, OF
14. Osvaldo Abreu, SS/2B
15. Anderson Franco, 3B
16. Blake Perkins, OF
17. Jakson Reetz, C
18. Rafael Bautista
19. Max Schrock, 2B/OF
20. Andrew Lee, RHP
21. Pedro Severino, C
22. Jefry Rodriguez, RHP
23. Rhett Wiseman, OF

wait, we have another "Taylor" pitching in the system to go with Jordan, Hill, and Cole?

[Mr Clean]

AJ (Taylor) Cole needs to be removed from that list. Totally and completely hammered today--12 hits and 8 runs in 4+ innings.

[HalfSmokes]

Either that or him being 8 is a reflection on how bad the rest of the system is

[whytev]

Ask and you shall receive.

This is the best modded forum I have ever been on.

[zimm_da_kid]

This is the best modded forum I have ever been on.

it really is.

Although I do love Fairfax underground

[varoadking]

it really is.

Although I do love Fairfax underground

Get out!   

[whytev]

wait, we have another "Taylor" pitching in the system to go with Jordan, Hill, and Cole?

Yes! tAAAAylor!

[zimm_da_kid]

i like taylor Hearn a lot from what ive read.  Big lefty (6'5")  fastball up to 97, sits low 90s with an above average slider that flashes plus.  If he develops a change up and command he's David Price.  If he gets neither he's Aroldis Chapman lite.  Either way he's a 6'5" lefty with a mid 90s fastball and ggood slider

[Elvir Ovcina]

i like taylor Hearn a lot from what ive read.  Big lefty (6'5")  fastball up to 97, sits low 90s with an above average slider that flashes plus.  If he develops a change up and command he's David Price.  If he gets neither he's Aroldis Chapman lite.  Either way he's a 6'5" lefty with a mid 90s fastball and ggood slider

"Low 90s," "mid 90s," "97," and "Aroldis Chapman lite" are four very different things.  So is the combination of any of those with an "above average" slider versus a "plus" slider and changeups or the actual ability to pitch ("command").  That range encompasses everything from AAAA LOOGYs to Ross Detwiler to the two very good players you mentioned.  In other words, basically all you've said is that he's 6'5" and lefthanded.  You might as well have mentioned the fact that he'll get a spot start or two just for being named Taylor.

[zimm_da_kid]

"Low 90s," "mid 90s," "97," and "Aroldis Chapman lite" are four very different things.  So is the combination of any of those with an "above average" slider versus a "plus" slider and changeups or the actual ability to pitch ("command").  That range encompasses everything from AAAA LOOGYs to Ross Detwiler to the two very good players you mentioned.  In other words, basically all you've said is that he's 6'5" and lefthanded.  You might as well have mentioned the fact that he'll get a spot start or two just for being named Taylor.

My whole point was that he'll at least be a good reliever, if not a great one or even a starter. 

[zimm_da_kid]

http://www.federalbaseball.com/2016/5/2/11551628/washington-nationals-top-10-minor-league-prospects-update


good breakdown of this seasons performance.

[BrandonK]

Has anyone seen any midseason updates, now that we've gotten to a lot of the ASGs + draft picks?

[Matugi]

The top-4 is as good as any in the league.

[imref]

Cole might be behind guys like Schrock and Abreu now.

[BrandonK]

Cole might be behind guys like Schrock and Abreu now.

I had a hard time dropping him and Difo much further, but I was tempted to. Both came into the season highly regarded. I dropped them 12-14 spots. Still a half season for both to turn it around (Cole looked good in his last start). I still think he'd make a lights-out RP.

[imref]

I had a hard time dropping him and Difo much further, but I was tempted to. Both came into the season highly regarded. I dropped them 12-14 spots. Still a half season for both to turn it around (Cole looked good in his last start). I still think he'd make a lights-out RP.

I had almost forgotten about Difo.  He seems to barely be mentioned anymore since we got Turner.  Pretty mediocre numbers this year in AA: .224   .297   .295

[BrandonK]

I had almost forgotten about Difo.  He seems to barely be mentioned anymore since we got Turner.  Pretty mediocre numbers this year in AA: .224   .297   .295

Yup. Very disappointing year for him so far. Surprised he's not the one being moved around as a super-sub. Plus arm, good range, solid speed. The bat sucks, but at least defensively,  he could be a piece.

[sportsfan882]

Cole is a non-factor at this point IMO. Probably should convert to reliever soon to hope to salvage something.

[BrandonK]

I totally blanked on Byran Harper. I'm revising my full listing now.

Cole is a non-factor at this point IMO. Probably should convert to reliever soon to hope to salvage something.

He's only 24. Sammy Solis is 27, and just switched to RP role solely last season. I think it's far too early to discard Cole, but he's definitely taking a bump in the rankings.