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MiLB Names Organization All-Stars for Nats Minors


While a bit specious, yesterday MiLB.com released its 2019 All-Stars for the Washington system.

To justify this post make things a bit more interesting (and relevant), I decided to add two more columns for age – under 26 and appropriate to the level. I’m sure some of you will disagree 😉

POSITION MiLB.COM UNDER 26 APPROPRIATE TO THE LEVEL
C Jakson Reetz Taylor Gushue Jakson Reetz
1B K.J. Harrison K.J. Harrison Leandro Emiliani
2B Cole Freeman Cole Freeman J.T. Arruda
SS Carter Kieboom Carter Kieboom Carter Kieboom
3B Ian Sagdal Drew Ward Drew Ward
OF Yadiel Hernandez Chuck Taylor Justin Connell
OF Andrew Stevenson Andrew Stevenson Andrew Stevenson
OF Jose Marmolejos Nick Banks Landerson Peña
UT Matt Reynolds Jake Noll Angel Geraldo
RHSP Mario Sanchez Steven Fuentes Steven Fuentes
LHSP Tim Cate Tim Cate Tim Cate
Reliever Aaron Barrett Matt Cronin Alfonso Hernandez

Now before you go off half-cocked into the comments, for 2B it was extremely difficult to find an age-appropriate player. Likewise for utility players. Technically, Angel Geraldo fits the bill for both, but I felt like naming both would make the point that the system is pretty damn thin at that position. Freeman only played seven more games at 2B than in the infield.

It’s a similar situation with Cronin and Hernandez. On paper, Cronin is better but Hernandez pitched more than twice as many innings (50⅓ vs. 22). Take away his time at Hagerstown, and Hernandez may be the better reliever over more innings (and more innings per appearance).

I also found it odd that Sagdal got the nod over Ward. Granted, Ward is gone (and so is Marmolejos) and Sagdal is better on defense… but not that much better.

Finally, while MiLB didn’t make much of an effort to align the OFs, I did try to match up LF, CF, and RF as best as I could, given the dearth of true RFs. Perhaps that may be why MiLB.com chose to dip into the pool of 1B (Marmolejos, 48G at 1B; 44 in the OF) to get three OFs for its list.

Have at it in the comments!

14 Commments

      2. For all the chorus in this cyber choir who have been singing Free , Yadiel – sing Hallelujah now
        Yadiel has a WPB 2020 camp invite !!

    4. Keep an eye on Tigers stashing CJ Cron and Jon Schoop for trade deadline
      Which will happen in AAA/ AA: seed Sagdal , Corredor and Banks with Ward @ F troop or have them repeat AA as F troop stashed with 4Aers/ free agents ???

  2. Wow, didn’t see that coming. MILB still has him as a free agent. He just turned 25 so he’s still has a shot. Look forward to seeing him in 2020.

  3. I’m glad to have Ward back for one more look. His K numbers in 2019 were ungodly, though: 36.1% at AA and 39.3% at AAA. He makes Espinosa look like a contact hitter. Also, for all his power potential, Ward is still yet to top 20 homers in a season.

    Speaking of high school draftees who’ve been kicking around for a while, what’s the status of Reetz and his knee injury? Neither FG nor MLB.com mentioned it, but I recall concern when it happened that he would be out for a good part of 2020. He took a nice step forward at the plate in 2019 after barely hitting for four seasons.

  4. I laughed when I first looked at this list, not because it’s particularly bad or skewed, just that it’s SO different from what we’ve been looking at for the last couple of days from FG. The FG list is so much about potential, while these (including Luke’s) are about actual performance.

  5. Great to hear Yadiel will get a major league spring training invite. I’d be surprised if he gets serious consideration for a roster spot, but hey, you never know, and at the very least, it’s a nice gesture.

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