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Matt Crownover DOB: 3/5/93 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 205 Bats: R Career Stats |
Let’s get this out of the way: The Nats are short on southpaws. Then again, most organizations are. Crownover dominated at Low-A (1.17/2.98/1.02) in April and May to earn a jump to High-A, where batters had their way with him in his first five starts. Things started to gel in late July and he finished the season strong: 3-0, 3.07/2.96/1.12 in his last 7GS. He’s got a ‘tweener FB (88-92) and works in a CH and CV, with no one pitch standing out (good or bad). |
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Grant Borne DOB: 4/6/94 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 205 Bats: L Career Stats |
Apparently, Borne’s greater effectiveness as a reliever than starter for the Doubledays in ’15 shifted him into (mostly) middle relief for the Suns in ’16. Our spy in Hagerstown liked how he was able to keep the ball down, generating lots of grounders (2.36 GO/AO ratio), which of course, is always valuable for any pitcher. He was held back, except for one appearance in late April, until June but it would appear that he’ll progress to Potomac to begin ’17. |
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Taylor Guilbeau DOB: 5/12/93 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 180 Bats: L Career Stats |
Guilbeau was the third collegiate LHP taken by the Nats on Day 1 of the ’15 draft (10th Rd. Alabama). While the 23-y.o. mostly started in ’15, he began ’16 in the ‘pen for Hagerstown and was knocked around before he was put in the rotation. There, he actually flourished, posting a line of 2.55/2.86/1.34 in 13 starts. Walks were his bugaboo in college (5.13BB/9) but as a pro, it’s not been a problem (2.15). Given his age, his next stop would appear to be Potomac. |
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Tyler Watson DOB: 5/22/97 Ht. 6’5″ Wt. 200 Bats: R Career Stats |
Watson followed up his stellar-but-brief debut in ’15 with an All-Star campaign in Auburn (1-2, 1.88/2.05/0.91 in 43IP) and a three-start cameo in Hagerstown (1-1, 4.80/2.87/1.47 in 15IP). Despite his size, the fastball velocity is just upper-80s, but should break into the low-90s as he matures. He throws his fastball, curve, and changeup for strikes, and scouts still like his tools and (*ack*) “pitchability.” He’ll go back to Hagerstown to start ’17. |
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McKenzie Mills DOB: 11/19/95 Ht. 6’4″ Wt. 205 Bats: L Career Stats |
Like Watson, Mills is an American-born HS pick (’14, 18th Rd). However, he struggled in his first pro season (5.87/6.12/2.13) and was worse in his second (7.04/6.48/1.87) before he was sent up to Auburn for three starts. Last summer, his peripherals improved dramatically – the BB rate falling to 4.73/9IP from 7.31, and the K rate rising from 5.77 to 7.76/9IP. No recent reports on his FB/CV/CH arsenal. It’s anyone’s guess as to where he’ll begin ’17. |
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Yonathan Ramirez DOB: 4/13/97 Ht. 5’11” Wt. 165 Bats: L Career Stats |
Ramirez was a “DSL Guy” for the past two watchlists, so it might not be that big of a shock that he was skipped past the GCL for the NYPL in ’16. As is common with the short-season guys in general, and Dominicans in particular, there’s very little to be found online about Ramirez. Given his instrux invite, his decent nos. (3.69/3.50/1.30) and his usage (13G, 11GS) last summer, a full-season assignment to begin ’17 seems more probable than not. |