| Rank | Hitters | Pitchers |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Kory Casto | Marco Estrada |
| 17 | Andrew LeFave | Adrian Alaniz |
| 18 | Leonard Davis | Cory VanAllen |
| 19 | Dani Arias | Martin Beno |
| 20 | Bill Rhinehart | Hassan Pena |
| 21 | Mark Gildea | Yader Peralta |
| 22 | Aaron Seuss | PJ Dean |
| 23 | Edgardo Baez | Federico Tanco |
| 24 | Garrett Bass | Jack Spradlin |
| 25 | Alejandro Hodge | Marcos Frias |
| Francisco Soriano | Juan Jaime | |
| Yeurys Tejeda |
Coming in at #16 is a former #1 overall for the Nationals, 3B/OF Kory Casto. Casto was a 3rd round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in the 2003 draft. He had a really disappointing 2007 hitting 246/334/384 in 114 games with the Columbus Clippers. It’s not too late for Casto but at 26 years old his best case scenario is a lefthanded bat off of the bench filling in at 3B and LF. With the overabundance of outfielders already ahead of him on the depth chart, expect him to start the 2008 season in Columbus.
Estrada was a 6th round draft pick in 2005 out of Long Beach State. He has four average pitches with a low-90s fastball. His 2007 was a mixed bag, disappointing in low-A Hagerstown was 1-5 with a 5.25ERA and 1.56WHIP with 35K and 17BB in 36IP. But in Potomac, better 5-3 with a 4.94ERA and 1.44WHIP with 54K and 17BB in 58.33IP. His upside is realistically as a back of the rotation #5-starter stype. He should be a member of the Harrisburg rotation in 2008.
chas | 06-Feb-08 at 10:49 pm | Permalink
I mean no disrespect to him,but its nice to see him so low
Positively Half St. (8 more days) | 07-Feb-08 at 5:04 am | Permalink
I agree. It was a bad sign when Casto was rated much higher, because he was never that exciting a prospect. He got his cup of coffee, and may get another taste, but the Rule 5 picks are an indication to me that the Nats wouldn’t even consider bringing him up.
Estrada finishes ahead of Alaniz because of the power of his fastball, I suppose? He would be older than Alaniz, and on the same trajectory, based on where he played last year.
Sam | 07-Feb-08 at 8:56 am | Permalink
::sputters::
;)
Pilchard | 07-Feb-08 at 11:12 am | Permalink
I will be mildly surprised if Casto ever makes it back to the big leagues with the Nats again. He is clearly not in their plans for 2008, and there are better OF coming up. He also does not fit the profile of the OFers that Bowden prefers (power and/or speed).
John | 07-Feb-08 at 11:15 am | Permalink
Off topic, but here are some articles on IFAs.
On some top players… http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=733
On this one, I wonder if this is Brown or Rizzo… http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=737
Since I’m completely OT… I’m hoping that either Beckham or Melville will slip to #9 in June. Melville is from Alexandria and pitches in the same twon as Detwiler is from.
Sorry for the randomness:) I’m enjoying the prospect reports.
Hendo | 07-Feb-08 at 11:35 am | Permalink
The prospect of Detwiler and Estrada being two-fifths of the Opening Day 2009 rotation is most tantalizing. Can’t wait to see one or both of ‘em in Bowie this season.
Yuma | 18-Feb-08 at 3:51 pm | Permalink
I am and always have been a Casto fan, the reason he was #1 prospect is obvious, the kid can hit, last year he struggled some but look back at the farm system, he was the best they had. I still think he can and will come back. Maybe not with the Nats but I dont think we’ve seen the last of this guy