Yesterday, the boys in Durham released their annual SEO for the Prospect Handbook, and as you might’ve already guessed, it was the usual suspects – Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia.
Coming in at #15, Carter Kieboom. With the departure of Anthony Rendon via free agency, Kieboom has been tabbed by the Nats beat writers and manager Dave Martinez to take over third base, despite having played just 10 games there (and made four errors). Scouts feel he is better suited to second base, but given the Nats’ propensity to choose offense over defense (see: Ramos, Wilson; Murphy, Daniel), if he hits, he’ll stick.
Tumbling 12 spots, from #79 last year to #91 this year, is Luis Garcia. The biggest question for 2020 for the #2 Nationals prospect is whether he’ll repeat the Eastern League or get sent to the Pacific League. Either is certainly possible, given that Kieboom was pushed up to AAA last year after just 62 games at AA. Garcia has played 129 games for Harrisburg thus far, though as I’m sure someone will remark, as a teenager who turned 19 in May vs. a 20-y.o. turning 21 in September.
