Nationals Farm Authority

Minors 2006 (1 of 7) - Dominican Summer League

The Gulf Coast League (GCL) team is located in Melbourne, FL and was the place where eleven of the 2006 draft picks made their professional debut. Much like the DSL, the GCL is considered a strong pitcher’s league, and for the GCL Nationals that was most certainly the case.

Record: The East division of the GCL is comprised of Rookie teams for the Nationals, Marlins, Mets and Dodgers. These are the only three teams the Nationals play during the season. The GCL Nats finished with a 23-31 record, last place in the division, one half game behind the GCL Mets. However, their record was not the worst in the GCL overall. Improvements in their international scouting/signing and continued focus on drafting the best available talent in the First Year Player Draft are the first steps toward re-establishing the foundation of the Nationals farm system.

Statistics: While the pitching performed roughly to league average, the hitting in the GCL, with a few exceptions, was terrible.

Offense:

Team	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
GCL Nats	1775	220	402	70	5	15	184	202	450	34	18	226	312	297
Lg Avg	1716	230	423	75	13	21	195	171	380	59	25	246	315	341

Pitching:

Team	IP	ERA	WHIP	K/9	BB/9	HR/9	OppBA
GCL Nats	476.00	3.35	1.36	7.7	3.6	0.3	252
Lg Avg	452.33	3.63	1.31	7.6	3.4	0.4	246

Players: As previously mentioned, the Nationals had eleven 2006 draft picks make their professional debuts in Melbourne, they were Chris Marrero (1st round), Colton Willems (1st), Stephen Englund (2nd), Sean Rooney (8th), Desmond Jones (11th), Adam Carr (18th), Chris French (21st), Robert Jacobsen (22nd), Brett Logan (26th), Joseph Welsh (32nd), and Cory Anderson (43rd).

Top 10 GCL Nationals Prospects

1. Chris Marrero OF: The 18-year old Monsignor Pace HS (FL) 3B was the first of six high schoolers selected starting off the Nationals 2006 draft (all but SP Sean Black signed).  Marrero shows average to plus tools in the five traditional areas (hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability and fielding abilities) with his greatest asset of power. Scouts have compared him to Pat Burrell. This is apt given that like Burrell, Marrero has been shifted from 3B to LF given the presence of Ryan Zimmerman at 3B. His season was cut short by viral meningitis batting 309/374/420 in 81AB. I’d expect Marrero to begin 2007 with the replacement for Vermont.
2. Colton Willems RHSP: The second of the Nationals first round draft picks, the 18-year old graduate of John Carroll HS in Florida arguably becomes one of the top pitching prospects in the Nationals system. Armed with three solid to above average pitches: a 92-94mph fastball, a 80-84mph slider, and a developing changeup; all done with a smooth and clean delivery. If he can refine his changeup and develop even an average curveball, the righthander is well on his way to success. In five starts, he was held to a minimum workload of 16 innings pitched with a 3.38ERA, 1.65WHIP, 4.5K/9, and 1.7BB/9. While the strikeout numbers need to increase, his transition to professional baseball was solid. He will likely join Marrero in the replacement for Vermont.
3. Stephen Englund OF: Yet another 2006 draft pick, the 18-year old Bellevue HS (WA) SS was drafted with the Nationals second 2nd round pick. He was immediately shifted to CF, based upon his incredible athleticism. He has amazing raw speed which translates well to his shift to CF, allowing him to cover the outfield from gap to gap. He needs to focus on his hitting 183/307/235 but he the righthanded hitter has shown developing plate discipline for an 18-year old (17BB in 115AB). He will provide the Vermont replacement with another premium prospect to watch.
4. Yunior Novoa LHSP: The 21-year old was the #1 Dominican Summer League (DSL) prospect and didn’t let up with his promotion to the GCL. In seven games (six starts), Novoa threw 31 innings with an ERA of 1.74, 1.10 WHIP with 10.2K/9 and only 2.6BB/9. He held GCL hitters to a 221 BA. His performance earned him a promotion for his final start for Vermont. A return to the Vermont replacement is possible but the Nationals may challenge him with a spot in the newly acquired Hagerstown affiliate.
5. Adam Carr RHSP/1B: The 22-year old 2006 18th round draft pick out of Oklahoma State University had a very interesting professional debut. After playing primarily as an offensive player for Oklahoma State, the Nationals drafted Carr with designs of converting him to a RH RP (a role he filled at times during his college career). Upon his arrival in the GCL, Carr showed why the Nationals thought a RP role would be ideal, throwing a mid-90s fastball. In ten games, Carr pitched 17.67 innings with a 3.06ERA, 1.13WHIP, 9.7K/9, and 3.6BB/9. What was pleasantly surprising was his abilities with the bat, serving as a DH/PH in the GCL when he wasn’t pitching, Carr batted 343/425/629 in 35AB with six extra-base hits out of his twelve total hits. All of this earned Carr a jump up to A level Savannah. He could be bumped up to Potomac in 2007 as a RP with PH/DH appearances on his non-pitching days.
6. Jean Alvarez SS: The 19-year old righthanded SS from the Dominican Republic impressed with an above average glove at SS for the GCL Nats. His peformance was not limited to the glove as he showed the best plate discipline for the GCL Nats, with a 46/25 K/BB ratio in 146AB. He still has some work to do at the plate (219/350/274) but he has put himself into a position to begin the season one step up from the GCL in 2007.
7. Edulin Abreu RHP: Another solid performer promoted from the DSL, the 22-year old Abreu split his time in the GCL between starting (five games) and relieving (five games). In 33 innings, Abreu had an ERA of 1.91, WHIP of 1.27, 7.1K/9, and 2.2BB/9. He was a bit old for the GCL but for his first experience in the US, Abreu showed he has the potential for the future. His next step will likely be in the bullpen one level up in 2007.
8. Marco Estrada RHSP: The 2005 6th round draft pick out of Long Beach State had a breakout appearance in the GCL in 2006. The 23-year old impressed in five appearances (four starts) with 23.67 innings, an ERA of 1.52, 0.84 WHIP, 10.3K/9, and 2.3BB/9. He has a repertoire of a low-90s fastball, low-80s curveball, and a developing changeup. His performance earned him a jump up to Savannah where after initially struggling, he finished the year acceptably. His 2007 will likely begin in Hagerstown and he needs to continue his development with designs on getting to Potomac not too far into the 2007 season.
9. Robert Jacobsen 1B: A guy with local connections as a 22nd round draft pick out of George Mason, the 22-year old righthander was the best baserunner in the GCL stealing 14/15 bases. While his performance at the plate was not typical of what one would expect out of a 1B (249/321/290), Jcobsen raised enough eyebrows to earn a promotion to Vermont in 2006. He needs to improve on his SLG if he hopes to remain a 1B, but the bserunneing acumen he demonstrated make him worth watching.
10. Desmond Jones RHRP: The 2006 11th round draft pick out of Middle Georgia Junior College is a promising raw talent the Nationals hope develops into a solid RP. The 20-year old righthander has a low-90s fastball, a high-80s cut fastball, and low-80s changeup, but the team is most excited about his slider. It’s a plus pitch already, in the high-70s/low-80s. What he needs now is work. He only threw 8.67 innings in 2006 and he needs the experience. Expect him to begin 2007 in the Vermont replacement.

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