NationalsProspects.com

Good, Bad, Interesting – Vol. 12

Our weekly look at the leaders, trailers, and outliers in the Washington Nationals minor leagues.

SYRACUSE 38-47, 4th place I.L. North, 11 games behind

Good Steve Lombardozzi .367/.383/.443 since callup (17G)
Bad Yunesky Maya 5.67 ERA, 1.45 WHIP since return (4G)
Interesting Matt Antonelli .850 OPS (on-roster team leader)

HARRISBURG 51-34, 1st place E.L. West Division, 5½ games ahead

Good Erik Arnesen 6-1, 2.05 ERA, 1.04 WHIP
Bad Stephen King .579 OPS
Interesting Derek Norris 13PB, 19CS (38%)

POTOMAC 9-6, 1st place C.L. North Division, 1½ games ahead (38-46 overall)

Good J.P. Ramirez .344/.355/.508 since All-Star Break
Bad Cameron Selik 0-2, 6.60 ERA, 1.73 WHIP since All-Star Break
Interesting Joe Testa 5-0, 1.25 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

HAGERSTOWN 9-6, T1st place Sally League Northern Division, 1 game ahead (49-36 overall)

Good Taylor Jordan 8-4, 2.68 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Bad Mills Rogers .513 OPS
Interesting Manno still here with 0.82 WHIP, 14.5K/9IP

AUBURN 12-9, 2nd place, Pinckney Division, New York-Penn League, 1 game behind

Good Bryce Ortega .432/.532/.541 in 15G
Bad Travis Henke 7.20 ERA, 1.80 WHIP
Interesting Ben Grisz (NDFA) 0.58 WHIP in 6 appearances (8⅔ IP)

GCL NATIONALS 7-7, 4th place, GCL East, 2 games back

Good Erick Fernandez .346/.379/.500 in 26AB
Bad Anthony Marcelino 10.45 ERA, 1.94 WHIP
Interesting Gregory Baez 0.98 WHIP

DSL NATIONALS 14-17, 5th place, Boca Chica South Division of Dominican Summer League, 7 games behind

Good Adderling Ruiz .344/.447/.438 in 12G
Bad Miguel Navarro 11.17 ERA, 1.97 WHIP
Interesting Daury Vasquez 6 HBP in 16⅔ IP

10 Commments

  1. Is Eury Perez the only CF “prospect” in the organization, and if so are there any candidates to be moved to a new spot? Are there any SS or 2B that could/should get moved in the minors? With Lombardozzi doing a great job at AAA, seems like they’d want to consider moving someone like Jeff Kobernus?

    Riffing on that, could Desmond get moved there if they decide Espinoza at SS with one of the other 2B options is the way to go? That’s an admittedly bad idea if Desmond’s SS issues are hitting, not fielding.

    1. Michael Taylor is another CF candidate and has been moved there from 2B this past offseason.

  2. ck: I admittedly championed moving Desmond to CF when his fielding was his obvious flaw. His skillset would still fit there, but apparently the FO really likes his range at SS. That, and the fact that Espinosa is playing brilliantly at 2B could have an effect on MI development down the chain.

    1. BinM — You’re overlooking the fact that Desmond is hitting incredibly bad, over 200 points BELOW league average OPS. Just pathetic; good thing this is a throwaway season.

      1. I didn’t bring that up, since he hit reasonably well in his rookie season in the bigs (.269/.308/.392 slash, with 17SB). I felt like he could turn into at least a poor man’s Robin Yount down the road. This year, he looks more like a poor man’s version of Frank Taveras, and that’s a generous comparison.

  3. I think Lombardozzi being moved up before the Eastern League AS break means Desmond could end up being part of a surprise trade as the deadline nears. Hint: he is the exact same age as B.J. Upton.

  4. With Lombardozzi’s offensive production it should be difficult for the FO to ignore to possibility of moving Desmond to a defensive specialist/utility guy or a trade altogether. If we could put Espinosa at SS and Lombardozzi at 2nd, they would (probably) instantly provide more runs and hits. The question is: does putting Lombardozzi at 2nd offer more errors and higher defensive liability?

    1. Lombardozzi offers less range and a weaker arm than Espinoza at 2B, but is very steady with the glove. He’ll become a good 2B for some MLB team in the next year or two; It just might not be the Nationals.

  5. @Mark H

    We’re all *assuming* that Lombardozzi will pan out, but there’s no guarantee. Prospect, not guarantee, is the term of the day. There’s a good reason why the FO is being measured in their approach. And Davey Johnson has made it very clear that his approach is with the future in mind, and finding out if the Nats have the pieces to the puzzle going forward.

    I don’t think Desmond is going anywhere till the end of the year.

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