| Rank | Hitters | Pitchers |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Esmailyn Gonzalez | Shairon Martis |
| 9 | Stephen King | Adam Carr |
| 10 | Ian Desmond | John Lannan |
| 11 | Derek Norris | Garrett Mock |
| 12 | Josh Whitesell | Brad Peacock |
| 13 | Matt Whitney | Brad Meyers |
| 14 | Garrett Guzman | Jhonny Nunez |
| 15 | Roger Bernadina | Zech Zinicola |
| 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 |
Yet another middle infielder. Esmailyn (Smiley) Gonzalez was trumpeted by the Nationals as their re-introduction into the international market. Gonzalez was signed to a $1.4 million deal as much for the statement it makes to the “buscones” (player agents) as for the potential he has to develop into a viable major leaguer. He played the 2007 season as a 17-year old in the Gulf Coast League where he batted 245/382/311 over 33 games. His plate discipline was remarkable for someone his age. The concern is with his extra-base power, he managed only five extra base hits in 106 at-bats. Reports were he was struggling with a sore shoulder which could be a reason for the lack of pop. Drafted as a shortstop, scouts believe his future is at second base as his movement to the right is not what a team expects from a shortstop. Gonzalez is still a work in progress. He might get a shot in Hagerstown but I would hope that the Nationals tread cautiously with a young player and start him in Vermont in 2008.
Shairon Martis was acquired by the Nationals from the San Francisco Giants in 2006 in exchange for Mike Stanton. Martis pitched well in Potomac in 2007 as a 21-year old. The righthander has an above average fastball (sits in the 87-90 range) and an above average change-up. His breaking stuff still needs work. If he can fine tune his slider (or curve), Martis has the chance to be a solid middle of the rotation starting pitcher. He should pitch in Harrisburg in 2008 at the relatively young age of 21.
Positively Half St. | 20-Feb-08 at 5:25 pm | Permalink
I am not sure what I like better: contemplating the kids in the low minors that you know but I don’t, or the kids who are closer to to majors and should get us excited.
Granted, in our organization, “closer to the majors” could mean Potomac or Harrisburg, but I am thrilled nonetheless. No blog gives as much useful information as yours, Brian.
VladiHondo | 20-Feb-08 at 6:23 pm | Permalink
Smiley over King, or as BA would compare, young Vidro (Switch hitter line-driver) vs. young Kent (power bat! Interesting comparison, Vidro was amazing in his 20’s. Hopefully King doesn’t compare with Kent’s attitude.
VladiHondo | 20-Feb-08 at 6:36 pm | Permalink
PS also interesting that the guy who tied (with Lannan) for the most wins in the organization (Martis), is pretty a forgotten man as far as raving about our young pitchers.
Plus, two pitchers gotten for Stanton in 2 separate deals make the top 20 pitchers! (Peralta the other).
Tulsa Fan | 20-Feb-08 at 8:53 pm | Permalink
It’s disappointing to hear that they are already suggesting that he won’t have the range to play SS when that was supposed to be his strength. That Ozzie Smith hype sure didn’t last too long.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 20-Feb-08 at 9:08 pm | Permalink
VH - I think the reason why Martis slips under the radar is that there isn’t any one thing that WOWs you him. Average height, average build, two above-average pitches, two below-average pitches. (OK, I do think he’s much better looking than most of us here, but that’s kind of a given, right ;-)
But he actually doesn’t turn 21 until the end of March, and like Balester the year before, he was a regular with the scouts behind home plate in Woodbridge, watching and learning. I’m partial to guys like that and can’t help but root for them.
VladiHondo | 21-Feb-08 at 8:13 am | Permalink
Does Potomac grade out as a pitcher’s park or a hitter’s park?
Only asking since Martis only allowed 9 HRs in 150 innings, wondering if park effect had anything to do with it. Don’t know much about Carolina League parks (and alot of other stuff :) )
Brian Oliver | 21-Feb-08 at 8:43 am | Permalink
Potomac plays as roughly a neutral H/HR ballpark (hat tip to BBTF). It’s three year weighted average park factor was 0.99 for hits and 0.98 for HRs (1 is neutral)
Jeff | 21-Feb-08 at 9:44 am | Permalink
We’ve seen Smiley for pretty much one year and already he’s destined to be a 2B after all of the Miguel Tejada bat/Ozzie Smith glove hype that he originally had. Wow.
Chris | 21-Feb-08 at 11:45 am | Permalink
Cant wait to see this Vermont team again this year. With Smiley, Smolinski, Norris, and maybe Burgess, McGeary and some college draft picks. Should be a good team again
Pilchard | 21-Feb-08 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
You really think that there is a chance Burgess plays in Vermont in 2008?
Hope not. Pretty sure that he is starting in Hagerstown, and would only play in Vermont if he really struggled in full-season A (which I doubt).