The NationalsProspects.com Top 10 Position Players
There are four players we can agree on: Victor Robles, Andrew Stevenson, Drew Ward, and Carter Kieboom. They’re the only ones named on every ballot. This is actually pretty normal, since the Nats aren’t typically deep in position players.
Twenty different players were named on 12 ballots (including mine), down one from last year. Robles was the clear #1 player, named #1 on eleven ballots. Juan Soto got the most second-place votes, but finished third behind Stevenson, who was in everybody’s Top 5.
Without further ado, ze list:
- Victor Robles
- Andrew Stevenson
- Juan Soto
- Drew Ward
- Carter Kieboom
- Pedro Severino
- Jose Marmolejos
- Brian Goodwin
- Anderson Franco
- Rafael Bautista
Others receiving votes: Osvaldo Abreu, Nick Banks, Kelvin Gutierrez, Yasel Antnua, Sheldon Neuse, Jakson Reetz, Raudy Read, Austin Davidson, Rhett Wiseman, Blake Perkins, Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
For those wondering, that’s five names carrying over from 2015, same as last year from 2014. Two players graduated (Trea Turner, Wilmer Difo), one was traded (Christopher Bostick), and the other two (Osvaldo Abreu and Spencer Kieboom) dropped out.
The Dominican presence also remains strong with six of the Top 10, ten of the 20 nominees being born in the D.R. or to Dominican parents. This ought not to be a shock to the mindful watchers of the Nationals minors (a.k.a. the regulars), but given the reaction to Washington refusing to overpay for a “closer,” I feel obligated to point this out for the folks who are new (and welcome) here.
Next up: The pitchers, which just got a whole less interesting (or more difficult to pick) with four would-be nominees traded in the last week.
I thought Sagdal got at least one top-ten vote.
I’m the one who kept it from being unanimous for Robles. I voted for Soto for #1 (with Robles #2) as I think Soto may have a higher ceiling than Robles, and his OPS for the year was nearly 200 points higher, admittedly at lower levels. (Robles’ OPS at the same levels was very comparable.)
I’m sort of surprised to see that faith in Anderson Franco hasn’t dimmed.
Sickels’ Nat rankings are up. Good thing he waited until after the trade:
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/12/9/13903682/washington-nationals-top-20-prospects-for-2017
Hagerstown might be more interesting in 2017 than 2016 since some kids will spend entire year, some for a cup of coffee until Auburn opens season or some might plow through to PotomAc
Okay, so Neuse is on everybody’s top ten list so far. (Referring to the ‘experts’). And obviously the Nats must have liked him.
What is your take, Luke’s? And any other comments from you guys who follow this site.
That is, what is your take, Luke? Hey, just discovered that typo was my iPad’s fault.