Nationals Farm Authority

John Sickels has his preliminary ranking of the Nationals Top 20 prospects.

1. Chris Marrero, OF, Grade B+  (solid all-around bat)
2. Kory Casto, 3B-OF, Grade B  (old for Double-A but I think he will hit)
3. Colton Willems, RHP, Grade B (very young, a long way from the majors)
4. Zech Zinicola, RHP, Grade B  (will get there a lot faster than Willems but ceiling not as high)
5. Shairon Martis, RHP, B  (this is a generous grade but I like his arm)
6. Shawn Hill, RHP, C+  (gets grounders)
7. Matt Chico, LHP, C+  (number four starter perhaps)
8. Garrett Mock, RHP, C+  (good arm but shaky results)
9. Glenn Gibson, LHP,C+  (like Willems, promising but a long way away)
10. Jhonny Nunez, RHP, C+  (see Gibson and Willems)
11. Stephen King, SS, C+  (Good name but bat a question)
12. Larry Broadway, 1B, C  (getting old, needs a position)
13. Collin Balester, RHP, C  (good arm, terrible numbers)
14. Clint Everts, RHP, C  (good arm, terrible numbers)
15. Brett Campbell, RHP, C  (decent middle relief type)
16. Ian Desmond, SS, C  (I don’t think he will hit)
17. Alexis Morales, RHP, C  (can’t throw strikes)
18. Josh Whitesell, 1B, C  (85% as good as Broadway)
19. Dee Brown Mark II, OF, C  
20. Marco Estrada, RHP, C

While I don’t necessarily agree with his placement of a few players (Balester is too low and Shawn Hill is too high, in my estimation), we do agree the Nationals farm system was empty enough that the acquisitions in the 2006 season heavily populate the tops of our lists (nine of Sickels top eleven; ten of my top thirteen).

John puts together one of the best prospect guides on the market. I highly recommend you checking it out.