Potomac Nationals center fielder Justin Maxwell has been voted the Topps Player of the Month for August in a poll of Carolina League managers.
The right-handed hitter batted .343 and had 28 RBI in 27 August games. During the month, Maxwell also tied two others for the league lead with 10 August home runs.
The 23-year-old batted .263 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI in only 58 games with Potomac and hit .281 with 27 home runs, 83 RBI and 35 stolen bases overall in 2007. Maxwell is the only player in the minors to record at least 25 doubles, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases this season.
Maxwell is expected to be called up to Washington this week, as the big league rosters expand to 40.
The Bethesda, Md. native was drafted by the Nationals in the fourth round of the 2005 June draft out of the University of Maryland. Maxwell’s first professional season was in 2006, when he batted .252 with five home runs and 40 RBI.
Louis J. | 04-Sep-07 at 4:39 pm | Permalink
Brian
Nationals just traded Ray King to Brewers for a PTBNL. Have you heard what type of player the Nats could receive? Since King will not result in a very good young prospect fro the Brewers, would Joe Dillon, a 31 year old power hitting 3B/1B/OF/PH bench player, be a good player to receive. He may have been a career minor leaguer, but he can hit and relieve Zimmerman/Johnson during the season and become the RHH-power bat off the bench instead of Tony Batista. Currently he’s hitting 400-415-550 (21gms/40AB) since the Brewers called him up in July.
Also, have the Nationals received the PTBNL from the A’s for Jermaine Van Buren?
Alan | 04-Sep-07 at 5:56 pm | Permalink
I’m sorry to see Ray go, but the Brewer’s need him so let’s hope he gets into the playoffs with them, while also hoping the Nats are getting value in return.
Also great news about Maxwell’s August award. It seems to me that calling up Maxwell has value beyond helping him learn the ropes - as a local, if he makes it in the bigs he also has potential to become a/the “face of the Nats” for Terps fans as well help enhance identification for DC area’s potential black fans.
As for promoting Detwiler, what a great way to encourage high draft picks to sign early - “we have a history of rapid promotion of first rounders who come into the fold in time to get some innings.” The promise worked for Detwiler - wasn’t he among (if not THE) first of the first rounders to sign?
Benji | 04-Sep-07 at 6:20 pm | Permalink
Please give me a good reason why Josh Whitesell wasn’t called up
Ric | 04-Sep-07 at 9:58 pm | Permalink
On the PTBNL — don’t expect too much. King will be ineligble for the post season, can’t believe that the Brewers gave up anyone who would be considered a top prospect or a prospect with significant potential. Maybe something just a bit better than the return from Boston in the trade for Mike Stanton a few years ago (Yader Peralta and Rhys Taylor (since released)). I’m not sure that Joe Dillon would be attractive to the Nationals, though; probably looking for someone younger with a tool or two that could develop if the stars align.
Hartmanbirge | 05-Sep-07 at 4:55 am | Permalink
It is going to be very interesting to see how the Nats posture Maxwell for next year. He’s probably at least one year away and could use a year btwn AA and AAA. Still it’s nice to envision him patrolling CF. The big question - should the Nats go out and sign a big name FA center fielder to address the lack of offensive production or should they continue to ride Logan’s excellent glove and wait for Max Man? In my mind the main offensive problem going into next year is Kearns. You just can’t have a corner OF who doesn’t hit for power. I know he’s got power but he has to start producing or else he becomes a liability. I am banking on that improving once he’s in the new ballpark with Pena hitting behind him.
Ref Whitsell I’ve read that he’s attrocious as a defensive 1B - and has gaping holes in his swing… not sure how true that is but I suspect that he’s not in our top 40 prospects (I can get to a top 35 without even getting close to his name). I’d guess that Rhinehart to name one ranks higher and he was just drafted.
I just asked Jim Callis to rank some of the Nats top pitching prospects top to bottom so we’ll see if he comes through….
Louis J. | 05-Sep-07 at 8:45 am | Permalink
Josh Whitesell is not a bad 1B..He’s better than Dmitri Young but I don’t think Bowden et al have him in the future plans.
The Joe Dillon swap with the Brewers isn’t that bad of an idea regardless of his age. Zimmerman needs a day off ocassionally both physically & mentally and Dillon is a power bat who has hit in the No. 3 spot often. And keeping with Manny’s versatility role players, he also has played 1B and LF and his bat would be a great weapon off of the bench. Ray King who can only finish the season for the Brewers (not eligible for post-season play) and will be a free agent after the season, will not result in any substantial PTBNL. And, Dillon is expendable.
Terry Byrom | 05-Sep-07 at 9:15 am | Permalink
Just FYI, Josh Whitesell was picked by the Eastern League Managers as the Defensive 1B of the Year. Defensively first base was a little off this year in the Eastern League, but Josh improved steadily all season long, and was MUCH better than last season.
Offensively, he finished second in the league in on base pct (.425) (87 walks which is pretty impressive) and he finished fifth in the league in slugging.
Josh’s numbers this season could have been much worse but he showed tremendous patience at the plate. He did strike out 107 times, but as I mentioned, 87 walks.
Is he a “top” prospect, probably not. But is he a guy that could play first base everyday in the big leagues, I’m beginning to think he could. In talking with several different scouts towards the end of the season, they were very impressed this season that he used the entire field and has great power to all fields.
I’m feel fairly confident in saying that if he can get/stay healthy, he’s going to be a big leaguer for someone.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing all the draft picks and all the “young” guys get to Harrisburg over the next couple of seasons. But I caution everyone to realize they aren’t all going to pan out. If things go incredibly well, fantastic, unbelievable… then maybe 10 of the group in Vermont, Hagerstown and Potomac will become regular contributing major leaguers. It’s a LONG LONG way from being a top draft choice… to a major league regular.
I hold in my hand a book with the entire history of the draft, and I could put down a ton of names over the past ten years that have been first and second round picks that you’ve never heard of.
Terry
Hartmanbirge | 05-Sep-07 at 10:00 am | Permalink
The ghost of Todd Van Poppel looms large - the next Nolan Ryan….. I went out and bought a ton of his rookie cards with great expectation. I wonder what he’s doing these days.
estuartj | 05-Sep-07 at 12:24 pm | Permalink
Whitesell has been out with a sore back, I don’t know if he would have been called up anyway though, he didn’t get invited to the fall instructional league and Bowden hasn’t talked about him much, leading me to believe he isn’t in the clubs plans.
That said, Larry Broadway will probably be gone for ‘08 and if Josh can put up similair numbers at AAA to those from Harrisburg (and his defense is as improved as reported) then he will be hard to ignore.
Then again since he isn’t a Bowden acquasition he migjht never get The Call, since Bowden seems to favor “his guys” over pre-existing organization players.
steve | 05-Sep-07 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
Congradulations MAX from your fans & friends in Hagerstown!!!!!!!!!!