NationalsProspects.com

The NationalsProspects.com Top 10 Position Players

I was hoping for a bit more ballots than I got, but you work with what you have…

With the Nationals rebuilding, most of last year’s Top 10 has graduated from prospect status (e.g., Keibert Ruiz) and/or turned into a pumpkin (e.g. Jackson Cluff).

Believe it or not, only 16 different players were nominated across the seven ballots (including mine), giving us…

  1. James Wood
  2. Robert Hassell
  3. Elijah Green
  4. Brady House (2)
  5. T.J. White (5)
  6. Chrithian Vaquero
  7. Jake Alu (9)
  8. Jeremy De La Rosa
  9. Armando Cruz (3)
  10. Trey Lipscomb

Others receiving votes: Israel Pineda, Will Frizzell, Daylen Lile, Darren Baker, Jared McKenzie, Roismar Quintana

We’re now back to the list being almost half newbies, and half holdovers as it was from 2015-2019 – four to be precise (last year’s rank in parentheses).

Four more were acquired: Two by trade (guess which two!) and two by draft. The Nigel Tufnel on this list very nearly fulfilled the inference made in this space from last year’s poll (“Pineda will resume hitting like Raudy Read”). To be honest, I was expecting more votes for Frizzell.

Unlike last year, only one or two of these guys have a chance at making the big club next summer; assuming, of course, his surgery went well (Relax, Jake Alu is fine). Given how slow promotions were this past summer, we might only see one or two of the rest make it to the upper minors.

Next up: the reliev…er, pitchers.

6 Commments

  1. I think while every body watches the Friar fellas fly up the chain TJ White is going to make our jaws drop with his ascension .
    DeLaRosa how does he too his 2022 development ! What does he need to work on to enhance his toool package ?

  2. Of the 16 players receiving votes, 12 have been added to the system in the last two years, plus Alu and Quintana didn’t play until post-COVID. So only Pineda and de la Rosa played at all in the system before 2021 . . . and are the only ones to reach the Rule 5 eligibility date. What a total turnover, albeit much-needed.

    1. I guess Alu also was reaching the Rule 5 eligibility date as a 2019 college draftee, even though he had only played two seasons.

  3. The other key point is that it isn’t unreasonable to think that all 16 who received votes could make the majors. Not saying they WILL, but they COULD. It’s hard to remember the system ever having that much depth.

    I voted for Frizzell in the top 10, although it’s hard to know what to make of him. He started late and was old for his league, but he certainly raked. He’s one of three or four players in the system with a chance at the magic mark of 30 homers in 2023, rarely achieved on the Nats’ farm.

  4. This is the 1st list anywhere that includes Jake Alu. Shows this group is smarter than anything out there.

    1. Just pointing out that this is the 2nd list to include Alu. The first was last year’s list, when we ranked him 9th. A pretty prescient call.

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