Yesterday, I presented a view of the Nationals’ draft picks from the offensive side. Today, I’ll take a look at the pitching (ages and statistics through 7/15/06).
The Nationals drafted and signed 13 pitchers in 2005.
| Player | Age | Tm | G | GS | GF | SV | IP | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrada | 23 | GCL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23.67 | 1.52 | 0.85 | 10.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 |
| Spradlin | 21 | VER | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 26.00 | 2.42 | 1.31 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| SAV | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30.67 | 4.70 | 1.57 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 0.3 | ||
| Lannan | 21 | SAV | 19 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 88.67 | 5.58 | 1.64 | 7.6 | 4.2 | 0.9 |
| Stammen | 22 | SAV | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 102.33 | 3.08 | 1.17 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| Enriquez | 22 | VER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.67 | 27.00 | 6.00 | 0.0 | 26.9 | 0.0 |
| Watkins | 18 | GCL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | inf | inf | 0.0 | inf | inf |
| Palm | 23 | DNP | ||||||||||
| Pichardo | 18 | GCL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.67 | 15.43 | 3.21 | 9.6 | 23.1 | 0.0 |
| Clark | 19 | DNP | ||||||||||
| Shefka | 22 | SAV | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 48.67 | 5.18 | 1.42 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 |
| Mavroulis | 23 | SAV | 15 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 22.33 | 4.84 | 1.70 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 0.4 |
| Evangelista | 23 | DNP | ||||||||||
| Taylor | 22 | VER | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6.33 | 0.00 | 1.42 | 11.4 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
As with the bats, it is clear that the Nationals focused almost entirely on college-aged pitchers practically to the exclusion of any high school aged arms. Michael Watkins’ 2005 was cut short by injury and it appears that 2006 has presented the same issues with only one appearance that resulted in a walk. Bradley Clark was drafted in 2005 with a high ceiling but some possible make-up issues. His 2006 season was short circuited before it started due to a suspension for violating team rules. The final young arm, Eduardo Pichardo, has struggled with walks (9 in 4.33IP). Of the older arms, there are: some promising possibilities in Marco Estrada (recently promoted to Vermont), Craig Stammen providing solid IP as a SP for Savannah, and Jeff Taylor in brief relief appearances for Vermont; injuries to Josh Palm (Tommy John surgery); but mostly average to poor performances.
The Nationals signed one 2005 selection as a Draft and Follow in 2006:
| Player | Age | Tm | G | GS | GF | SV | IP | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchter | 19 | GCL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.67 | 7.94 | 3.00 | 6.3 | 9.5 | 0.0 |
Buchter was likely signed for one reason, he is left-handed.
The Nationals have signed 12 of their 2006 Draft picks so far:
| Player | Age | Tm | G | GS | GF | SV | IP | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willems | 17 | GCL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.00 | 1.80 | 1.20 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Van Allen | 21 | VER | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 15.00 | 2.40 | 1.20 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Zinicola | 21 | VER | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 9.00 | 0.00 | 0.78 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| POT | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.00 | 6.00 | 2.00 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Jones | 20 | GCL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 2.50 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 0.0 |
| Kimball | 20 | VER | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10.33 | 5.23 | 1.94 | 4.4 | 7.0 | 0.9 |
| Arnesen | 22 | VER | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 | 3.24 | 1.44 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Carr | 22 | GCL | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5.67 | 1.59 | 0.88 | 9.5 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Tavarez | 22 | DSL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.33 | 0.00 | 2.26 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pfau | 22 | VER | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.33 | 1.42 | 0.79 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
| Baldwin | 23 | VER | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15.33 | 4.70 | 1.76 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 0.0 |
| Welsh | 21 | GCL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9.33 | 0.96 | 0.86 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.0 |
| Anderson | 22 | GCL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.67 | 0.00 | 0.75 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| VER | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | 4.50 | 1.50 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
As with the bats, the jury is still out. But the targeting of Colton Willems early as a high ceiling high school arm is a promising change in direction. And it is clear that unlike 2005, high schoolers were the focus. And if the Nationals can wrap up their draft class by signing up two other high school picks in Sean Black (committed to Seton Hall) and Glenn Gibson (committed to the University of Central Florida), the foundation on the mound will begin.
As a whole, it appears the Nationals have begun to unveil their strategy to rebuild the farm system. It’s going to take several more drafts to feel comfortable that they are headed in the right direction.
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