 |
A.J. Cole DOB: 1/5/92 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 215 Bats: R Career Stats |
Prospect fatigue, thy name is A.J. Cole. The now 25-y.o. has been on the AAA/MLB cusp for the past two seasons, and little has changed on his scouting report: he can work in the low 90s, dial it up to the mid 90s, has two good pitches (FB, CH) a passable third (SL), and below-average fourth (CV). He has become more HR-prone (23 in ’16, 10 in ’15) but all signs point to Cole fighting for the No. 5 spot in ST, returning to AAA if there are no injuries. |
 |
Austin Voth DOB: 6/26/92 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 215 Bats: R Career Stats |
Are you a fantasy baseball player looking for a sleeper? Voth may just be your guy. [Straightens skirt]. The ’13 5th Rd. collegiate pick went from the GCL to AA in just 30 starts and has been a stalwart the past two seasons at AA and AAA (314⅓IP total). He features a FB/SL/CH arsenal and can hit 95, but tends to work in the low-90s and rely on his command. The knock on him continues to be the lack of an “out pitch,” but his durability could earn him a No. 5 SP job. |
 |
Austin Voth DOB: 2/25/93 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 180 Bats: R Career Stats |
With the Eaton trade, the Fedde-Giolito comparisons shift from being a fellow TJer to the title of the top Nats’ pitching prospect. A strong showing in his first full professional season, highlighted by a Pedro-esque run of 0.77/2.23/1.01 over his final nine High-A starts doesn’t hurt either. Sorry velo whores, but Fedde’s arsenal (FB/SL/CH) is about stuff, not speed. His pitches sink, have late life, and are usually strikes. He’ll return to AA in Apr. but could be in DC by Sept. |
 |
John Simms DOB: 1/27/92 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 205 Bats: R Career Stats |
Simms is a longtime favorite here, a so-called soft-tosser who just gets guys out and knows how to pitch. This, of course, probably means if he ever makes The Show, it won’t be with Washington. That he was bounced back and forth between starting and relieving last summer with Harrisburg despite actually being better as a SP than a RP is also a clue. We root for guys like this because they’re both useful and valuable to their teams and would like to see that rewarded. |
 |
Phillips Valdez DOB: 11/16/91 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 160 Bats: R Career Stats |
Valdez was one of five pitchers to exceed 150IP (Voth, Mapes, Espino, Hill) in the minors last summer. When he was moved up from High-A to AA in early June, it was hard to call it a promotion (plus, he had gotten his prosterior delivered to him in his last start). But the then-24-y.o. held his own in AA and finished strong, pitching seven or more innings in seven of his last nine starts. It’s doubtful he’ll be tested with AAA to start ’17, so look for a return to AA. |
 |
Joan Baez DOB: 12/26/94 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Career Stats |
It’s pronounced “yo-han” folks. His backstory is similar to Reynaldo Lopez: an old (19) Dominican pitcher signed for peanuts ($7.5K) in ’14 who developed an elephant fastball (100) in his second season, in which he bounced around three levels. Last year, he stuck at Low-A and had modest-to-subpar results (9-7, 3.94/3.81/1.46) but threw a career-high 126IP and finished 3-0, 2.19/2.88/1.24 in his last seven starts. Ticketed for Potomac to start ’17. |
 |
Weston Davis DOB: 7/6/96 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 185 Bats: R Career Stats |
A Hill-Sachs lesion sidelined the Nats’ 11th Rd. pick of the ’14 Draft just before he was set to return to the GCL in ’15. Davis was sent to the NYPL last summer nevertheless and turned in a solid 2.67/3.07/0.93 mark over 11 starts (54IP). The 20-y.o. from Bradenton, FL features a mid-90s fastball, slider, and a changeup. Presuming he’s healthy, he’ll likely begin 2017 in Hagerstown and perhaps allowed to throw more than 80 pitches. |
 |
Sterling Sharp DOB: 5/30/95 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Career Stats |
Sharp was drafted by the Barves in the 30th Rd. in ’13 but enrolled in E. Michigan instead, had a mediocre ’14 season, transferred to Div. II Drury Univ. (MO) after sitting out ’15. Despite pedestrian numbers (5.90 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) he was drafted in the 22nd Rd. and pitched in both the GCL and the NYPL with decent peripherals (1.2 BB/9. 7.3 K/9). Reportedly throws in the low-90s and has low mileage on the arm, but will probably return to Auburn in ’17. |
 |
Francys Peguero DOB: 10/4/95 Ht. 6’2″ Wt. 170 Bats: R Career Stats |
I can’t explain the picture, but I can explain the pick. Peguero was one of the ’16 DSL Guys and Top 5 pitcher in the GCL last stummer, posting a line of 2.20/2.59/1.10 in 32⅔ IP before getting bumped to Auburn where he took some lumps (6.14/3.21/1.57). Scouting by boxscore, he’s either got vicious movement or high heat as he’s averaged 11.4 K per 9IP while walking just 13 in 82IP thus far in his career. Either Auburn or Hagerstown is possible in ’17, if not both. |