Washington Nationals

Baseball Instinct 2012 | Top 2B Prospects List

by Thomas Belmont on February 6, 2012

Continuing our run through the Top 10 Lists for prospects and we find ourselves here with the 2B. It leads off with a rumored position switch with Rosario and includes some high probability 2B in Wong and Spangenberg. After that the position really thins on surefire major league talent. But there are some players here who change the public opinion in 2012. So once again, let’s take a step back and take a broad look at the minor leagues as we go position by position and bring to you the Top Position Lists with some additional players and information.

Because as we said, we’ll be analyzing the Baseball Instinct 360° not only full circle, but 365 days a year. The deeper we get into the video and our customized Instinctools Stat System the more the view changes from the top.

So let’s get into the catchers position and give you the list and some of the current thoughts.

In the Top 100 

Minnesota Twins23°. Eddie Rosario, OF/2B, Twins, 9/28/1991 - Rosario had an impressive debut in 2010 as an 18-year-old in the Gulf Coast League.  He hit .294 with 5 HRs and 22 SB in 194 at bats in 2010. He followed up that impressive season by displaying an awesome power/speed combination in the Appalachian League by posting a triple slash of .337/.397/.670. It was one of, if not the, best minor league performances in 2011. He still has to prove he do it against advanced pitchers and the FSL will be his first true test. He may start 2011 in Fort Myers. ETA 2014.

Update InstinctRumor still has it that, Rosario, an OF in 2011 will be making a transition to 2B. I guess the Twins think that Levi Michael will stick at SS or that they already have their SS in Brian Dozier. Either way, Rosario, seems to be in line for a shot at being a 2B. If this pans out, you have one the top bats as far as potential goes, taking on a premium position. It’s not an easy transition, and Levi Michael will be in line to slip right into the 2B of the future role if Rosario falters defensively. [click to continue…]

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Nationals and Athletics agree on SP Gio Gonzalez trade

by George Utter on December 23, 2011

The Washington Nationals believe that their time is now.  On Thursday they sent four of their prized prospects to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for All-Star LHP Gio Gonzalez.  Going to Oakland will be RHP A.J. Cole, RHP Brad Peacock, LHP Tommy Milone, and Catcher Derek Norris for Gonzalez and minor league RHP Rob Gilliam. [click to continue…]

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Washington Nationals 2012 Top 10 Prospects List

by George Utter on November 21, 2011

It’s the time of the off season when Baseball Instinct goes from Club to Club and we take a look at the Top 10 prospects from each team before opening it up to our Top 21s later in the winter.  In this installment, I take a look at a very loaded Washington Nationals’ Top 10.  As with last year, Bryce Harper is the easy number 1, but throw in Anthony Rendon and now it would be hard to argue that the Nationals didn’t get the best player in the Draft 3 years in a row;  Rendon in 2011, Harper in 2010, and Stephen Strasburg in 2009.  Let’s take a look at these prospects working their way towards our nation’s capitol.   [click to continue…]

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2011 MLB Draft | Catchers Review

by George Utter on November 12, 2011

Welcome back to our review of the 2011 draft. In this series we’re taking a look at players from the 2011 draft who signed and got into game play in 2011.  We’ve separated the High School players from the College players and compiled which players had the best season statistically.  This isn’t a prospect ranking, rather simply a report on how they did.  Right now, we are going to look at the group of Catchers.  Speaking of catchers, it was great news to see that Washington Nationals’ catcher Wilson Ramos was rescued from his abductors today.  What a very odd situation, but fortunately he’s well.  Now let’s dive into Catchers from the 2011 draft. [click to continue…]

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2011 MLB Draft | Shortstops Review Part 2

by George Utter November 7, 2011

Welcome back to our review of the 2011 draft.  In this series we’re taking a look at players from the 2011 draft who signed and got into game play in 2011.  We’ve separated the High School players from the College players and compiled which players had the best season statistically.  This isn’t a prospect ranking, rather [...]

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Prospect Instinct | Brad Peacock, RHP Washington Nationals

by Thomas Belmont November 6, 2011

Brad Peacock was drafted by the Nationals in the 41st round of the 2006 draft out of Palm Beach Community College, now Palm Beach State College. Peacock attended Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington, FL and I got the chance to see him as an amateur on many occasions. But the player I got to see was primarily a SS with a great arm and very little bat. So kudos to the Nats for seeing his potential as a SP and signing him as a draft and follow in 2007 for just $110,000.

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2012 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game Preview

by George Utter November 4, 2011

The Arizona Fall League will have it’s showcase game on Saturday, November 5th 2011.  It will feature 50 of the top prospects in baseball, including the top 2 prospects in baseball; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.  In addition, the top 2 draft picks and the #15 draft pick [...]

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Touch’em All | Eastern League Top MLB Prospects – Pitchers

by David Reiffer October 19, 2011

Welcome to another edition of Touch’em All! We are going through the minor leagues with one goal in mind: Give you the fan, or fantasy player, the info and analysis that you need. This time, we are reviewing some of the top performances in the Eastern League. Players were selected for this list with age [...]

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2011 MLB Draft | Third Basemen Review

by George Utter September 29, 2011

In this series we’re taking a look at players from the 2011 draft who signed and got into game play in 2011.  We’ve separated the High School players from the College players and compiled which players had the best season statistically.  This isn’t a prospect ranking, rather simply a report of how they did.  We start things off by taking a look at Third Basemen, and while there was no shortage of College 3B to choose from, there was very few High School 3B who signed.  Typically though, this isn’t too surprising as a lot of 3B were former Shortstops who out grew their position.

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Prospect Instinct | Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals

by Thomas Belmont September 26, 2011

Cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16 year old? Check. Juco HR record as a 17 year old? Check. Number one overall draft pick as a 17 year old? Check. So… Pro debut at 18. Check.

Drafted #1 overall in the 2010 draft by the Washington Nationals as a 17 year old, Bryce Harper, signed at the deadline for a record setting $9.9mm Major League deal. The record smashing all other deals for a position player. He was a catcher in High School and Junior College but the Nationals quickly into’d him to the nation as an outfielder. Obviously looking at their system and the time frame needed to train a professional catcher, there would have been a 2+ year stretch where the Nationals would be hitting on all cylinders with their young rotation while their top bat would be learning in the minors.

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