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Matt Skole DOB: 7/30/89 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 225 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
Skole was given a pass for the 2013 season, but it’s hard to call 2014 anything but a disappointment. His offensive rate statistics fell 50 to 100 points apiece while the K rate still remains roughly one a game. While he can fill in from time to time at 3B, his lack of range is why he’s at 1B. Why is he here? Because for all these flaws he still has plus raw power and bats lefthanded. Given the bevy of 1B/DH free agents recently signed, it’s not a given he’ll open 2015 in AAA. |
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John Wooten DOB: 1/19/91 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Is Wooten a first baseman, third baseman, or an outfielder? Only the Nationals know for sure, and they’re only telling us by his usage: 39, 35 and 9 games respectively in 2014. Wooten, who was acquired in a trade with… wait for it… Oakland, spent most of last year at Low-A but did well when he got the promotion in late July, showing a nice touch of power with four HRs in five weeks after hitting eight in the three months prior. A start at AA is possible, but A+ more likely. |
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James Yezzo DOB: 2/27/92 Ht. 6’0″ Wt. 200 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
Yezzo graduated from the “Notables” section to here, thanks to a decent 2014 where he hung a .270/.306/.406 line for Hagerstown. Among left-handed batters in the organization, His 13 HRs was second to Skole, while his good-but-not-great.406 SLG% was fifth-best. Thus, with lefty power in short supply, the hope is that he’ll develop the other requisite skills that one would need with limited speed and range. Best bet for 2015: a move up to High-A Potomac. |
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Jose Marmolejos-Diaz Born: 1/2/1993 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 185 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
First base is a thin position in the Nationals minors, which is one reason why “Orange” remains on the watchlist despite declining power numbers (.490-.433-.385 in SLG from ’12-’14). Another is that he is one of the few who’s age-appropriate to the level. “Orange” should finally play full-season ball in 2015 in Hagerstown, where the hope is that he’ll regain some of that power and also improve upon his OBP, which took a dip of nearly 30 points (.373 to .341). |