LHPs

	Grant Borne DOB: 4/6/94 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 205 Bats: R Career Stats	As is always the case, southpaws remain in short supply in the Nats organization. But if you’re lefthanded and can throw strikes, you’ll get LOTS of chances. Borne pitched all of 2017 in Potomac, missing a month for disciplinary reasons from mid-April to mid-May, making four long relief appearances before starting 10 games then going on the DL again to finish the season. A soft-tosser with the typical repertoire (FB/CH/CV), he seems most likely to repeat High-A.
	Hayden Howard DOB: 3/26/94 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 193 Bats: R Career Stats	Howard was drafted in the 12th round out of Texas Tech, which was preceded by two seasons at Seward C.C. in Kansas. After an unimpressive debut at Auburn in 2016, Howard was nevertheless bumped up to Hagerstown in 2017 where he had a breakout season: 4-2, 5 SV, 2.95/3.63/1.31 in 31G (2GS, 16GF). Doesn’t throw terribly hard, and gives up his fair share of hits (105 in 99⅔ pro IP), but also gets strikeouts a nearly a batter per inning. Like most college draftees, he’s old for the level, which appears to be High-A in 2018.
	Ben Braymer DOB: 4/28/94 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 215 Bats: L Career Stats	Next in our parade of turning-24-in-2018 southpaws: Ben Braymer. At Auburn, he was dominant, though he did not pitch more than five innings in any start. In Low-A, he managed to go five or more innings in six times in seven tries and registered four quality starts. Unlike the others, Braymer does throw hard and has a slider to work with, which will probably delay a shift to the bullpen. Seems to a be a coin flip which “A” team will have him on their staff in April.
	Alex Troop DOB: 7/19/96 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 210 Bats: L Career Stats	Like the erstwhile Andrew Lee, Troop was considered by some to be a possible hitting prospect (.305/.411/.480 in 71G at Michigan State) as a 1B/COF type but the Nats chose to have the 9th Rd. pick pitch. Troop appeared at three levels (GCL/NYPL/SAL) with lion’s share at Auburn, and mostly in relief (nine and 10 of 13, respectively. He features a ‘tweener FB (88-91) and a ‘tweener CH (84-86) an a serviceable CV. Best bet: Hagerstown in 2018 and possibly as a starter.
	Gilberto Chu DOB: 11/19/97 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 160 Bats: L Career Stats	Chu was leapfrogged over the GCL in 2017 after spending two seasons in the DSL (and a two-time “DSL guy”). The 19-y.o. was also shifted back to the bullpen after starting 11 games in 2016. He was sent down to the GCL for six weeks but brought back up to New York to make four more appearances. As is always the case with non-Top 30 guys in the short season, it’s scouting by boxscore and statistics (i.e. SSS alert and take with a pound of salt) but his peripherals were good.
	Seth Romero DOB: 4/19/96 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 240 Bats: L Career Stats	Serious questions about his makeup, maturity, and self-discipline made Romero available to the Nats in the 1st round. Kicked off the Univ. of Houston team in April, he wouldn’t pitch until August, with one start in the GCL and six in the NYPL. Scouts say he can command a mid-90s FB, throws a plus slider, and has a fringe-average changeup. Like most collegiate pitchers, Romero will have to adjust to shorter rest and more innings. Low-A seems a likely starting point for ’18.
	Nick Raquet DOB: 12/12/95 Ht. 6′ Wt. 215 Bats: R Career Stats	Raquet parlayed two strong summers in the summer collegiate leagues to offset two uneven seasons at North Carolina in 2015 (12IP) and William & Mary in 2017 (4.66 ERA, 1.60 WHIP). After one game in the GCL, Raquet made 11 starts for Auburn and put up a strong line of 2.45/3.45/1.23. Raquet has the classic arsenal (FB/CH/CV/SL) and tops out at 96. Scouts are divided on the quality of his secondary pitches, but seem to agree he probably will end up in the bullpen.
	Nelson Galindez DOB: 7/26/98 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 220 Bats: L Career Stats	American-born HS picks are unicorns in the Nationals system, as the turning-19 Galindez was last summer. He pitched the third-most innings on the GCL Nats and was second in games started with seven. As a 22nd rd. draft pick in the 2017 Draft, the inference is that the Nationals used him that much because he showed promise. [Repeat scouting by box score, small sample size warnings]