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Matt Skole Born: 7/30/89 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 220 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
This is the sixth watch to which Skole has been named, which says more about the state of the Nationals’ corner infielders than the 2011 5th Rd. pick. In his first two seasons, he flirted with a .300 BA with double-digit HRs and walks aplenty (141 in his first 192 games). Since then, the BA and BB have dropped, but the power and whiffs remain. Barring an injury or a monster spring training, he’ll return to AAA in ’17 to serve as backup to the backup in MLB. |
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Jose Marmolejos Born: 1/2/1993 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 185 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
Like Skole, “the Orange” has been listed here since 2012, steadily moving up the organizational ladder and producing at each stop. 2016 was the first year Marmolejos was challenged with multiple levels, and he responded with .751 OPS in 33G at AA and was protected from the Rule 5 Draft. Not terribly fast, but he is solid-average on defense and has some power, but will probably need to show more in ’17 to get more notice (respect) outside of our bubble. |
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Conner Simonetti Born: 2/10/1995 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 205 Bats: L Throws: L Career Stats |
With power and true first basemen in short supply, a “too old” (turns 22 in February 2017) Conner Simonetti makes the watchlist as a 2016 draft pick (13th Rd.) out of Kent state. Simonetti produced decent numbers last summer in the GCL (.280/.333/.446) and committed just two errors on defense in 33 games (.993 FA). Only legacy pick Ryan Ripken blocks his path to Low-A in ’17, but if he’s sent to Auburn instead, this may be his only appearance here. |