Nationals Farm Authority

The Nationals had several draft prospects in for a visit at RFK this weekend. All of them high schoolers with the exception of Kyle Page

Lars Anderson, Chris Parmelee, Billy Rowell, Cedric Hunter, Steve Englund, Stephen King, Dustin Dickerson, Chris Marrero, David Christensen and Kyle Page were all working out for the Nationals’ think tank, which included Robinson, general manager Jim Bowden, scouting director Dana Brown and farm director Bob Boone

Who are these guys?

Billy Rowell - A 17-year old SS/3B, Rowell is Baseball America’s #17 draft prospect. He’s from Bishop Eustace Prep in Sewell, NJ. He is another power bat and the 6′4″ 198 lb LH hitter likely projects as a corner OF. He is expected to go before the Nationals pick in the first round at #15, possibly to the Cincinnati Reds at #8. From the AFLAC High School All-American Baseball Classic website … Rowell is a power hitting shortstop who had a tremendous season, batting .529, with 14 home runs, nine doubles, two triples and 62 RBIs. His RBI and home run totals were single season school records and tops in South Jersey. Billy also led South Jersey in Home Runs (12) as a sophomore while helping his Bishop Eustace team to the state championship. Billy was named to the Associated Press’ New Jersey All-State Baseball team and the Philadelphia Inquirer’s South Jersey Baseball Player of the Year.

Chris Parmelee - The 18-year old OF/1B from Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, CA is BBA’s #26 draft prospect. He profiles best as a LF/1B. Early reports have him available when the Nationals select at #15. From AFLAC … Chris Parmelee is a 6’1, 200 pound first baseman and pitcher from Chino Hills, CA. One of the top power hitters in the class of 2006, Chris has the bat speed and contact ability to hit with power to all fields. This season Chris batted .412 with 28 hits, 24 RBI’s and 11 home runs. On the defensive side, Chris has great agility, a strong arm and soft hands when playing first base. On the mound this season Chris recorded five wins and 50 strikeouts. He was a First Team All-District selection for Chino Hills.

Chris Marrero - The 17-year old RH 3B is Baseball America’s #23 draft prospect. He’s from Monsignor Pace High School in Miami, FL. He was BBA’s #2 high school prospect entering the 2006 season. His calling card is his power but he still needs to work on going the other way with pitches vice trying to pull everything. Reports have him going to the Cubs with the #13 pick in the first round. From the AFLAC … Marrero features a rare blend of baseball savvy and premium tools, making for an adept player in all phases of the game. Holding down the starting third base job at Monsignor Pace High as a sophomore and a junior, Marrero played an integral role on teams that spent parts of 2004 and 2005 ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association poll. Chris is also a stellar performer in the classroom as he compiled a 4.5 cumulative GPA. Chris hit .445 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs and made just five errors as a junior, garnering First Team All-Dade County honors. He set USA Baseball youth national team records with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 36 at-bats, helping the youth team capture a silver medal at the 2004 Pan-Am Championship Qualifier in Lagos De Moreno, Mexico. Chris’s brother Christian was drafted in the 20th round in 2004 by the Braves.

Lars Anderson - Anderson is BBA’s #41 draft prospect. The 18-year old LH 1B from Jesuit High School in Fair Oaks, CA comes with a solid bat and average defense. Anderson projects a solid power hitting 1B. He would likely be available when the Nationals select at #22 but may not last until their first second round pick at #59

Stephen King - The 18-year old SS is BBA’s #42 draft prospect out of Winter Park High School in Orlando, FL. King is a 6′3″ RH hitter who scouts believe has the arm strenght to remain there in the majors. Scout.com has a profile of King. The Nationals could target King if he is still available in the second round, he would likely be a reach at #22.

Dustin Dickerson - The 18-year old 3B/1B out of Midway High School in Texas is considered the #54 draft prospect by BBA. He projects best as a 1B or corner OF. He has committed to Baylor so it would likely take an early 2nd round selection to entice him to sign, not out of the question at #59.

Cedric Hunter - The 18-year old OF from Martin Luther King High School in Decatur, GA is BBA’s #81 rated draft prospect. He could be a late 2nd (#70)/early 3rd round (#91) selection. From AFLAC … Suburban Atlanta boasts a pair of Aflac All-Americans this year and Hunter and friendly rival Brent Brewer are two of the class’s most dynamic players, as well. The twosome has played against each other since Little League and together in the summer of 2004 with the East Cobb (Ga.) Astros. Hunter earned Dekalb County Hitter of the Year honors as a junior, edging 2004 Aflac All-American P.J. Phillips among others for the award. He posted a .584 average with eight home runs, 19 doubles and 34 RBIs in 89 at-bats, including an impressive 12-for-13 performance in the Georgia Class 3-A playoffs. Cedric spent time as a sophomore pitching, flashing a fastball that touched 87 mph. He also batted .450 as a sophomore, earning All-Area honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

[No photo] Steve Englund - The 17-year old SS out of Bellevue High School in Washington is the #105 ranked draft prospect by BBA. Scouts believe he has the potential to be successful, but it could be a long road to reach it. He may be worth a 4th round or later pick.

David Christensen - An 18-year old OF from Douglas High SChool in Parkland, FL. He is the #128 rated draft prospect by BBA. He has committed to Miami. AFLAC … One of the top outfield prospects in the class of 2006, David Christensen has what it takes to succeed on the field and off. David batted a staggering .426 this season with 29 hits, six home runs and 13 stolen bases. Those stats were good enough for David to earn First Team All-County by the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald. He also was one of the few juniors in Florida to earn All-State Honors. David helped lead Stoneman Douglas to the District title and a 26-3 record by driving in a team leading 38 RBI’s. David has a powerful bat and is an aggressive base runner. Christensen’s tools really stand out. He threw 93 from the outfield and ran 6.69 60 yd at the Perfect Game National in June. This past April during a home varsity game David hit a tape measure shot over the trees behind the batters eye to straight away center field 475 feet. Head Coach Dean Florio said “That was the longest home run that has been hit on this field in the seven years that I have been coaching here”. During his freshman and sophomore season’s David had a combined .370 batting average with 48 hits, two home runs and 41 RBI’s. David’s accomplishments don’t end on the field as he carries a 4.46 GPA in the classroom and is an AP scholar.

[No photo] Kyle Page - Page is the only non-high schooler of the ten invited, he went to Broward Community College. The OF/1B is scheduled to play for the Vienna Senators in the Clark Griffith wood-bat league in Northern Virginia this summer. He was unranked by BBA.