Nationals Farm Authority

I mentioned that once I finished the top 25 lists, I’d give by “back of the envelope” guess on the roster compositions of the four full-season Nationals affiliates (it’s an exercise in futility to try and figure out the Vermont or GCL rosters because a large portion of those rosters will be 2008 draft picks).

Roster Limitations

• International League (Columbus): 24 active
• Eastern League (Harrisburg): 24 active from Opening Day through the 30th day of the season and from August 10 to the end of the season; 23 active from 31st day of season until Aug. 10
• Carolina League (Potomac): 25 active
• South Atlantic League (Hagerstown): 25 active

My 24-man rosters will have 13 bats and 11 arms. The bats will include the starting nine (including a DH), one backup catcher, one backup middle infielder, one backup corner infielder, and one backup outfielder. In the cases where the rosters are 25, I’ll add an infielder or an outfielder. Pitching will include five starters, two long relievers/spot starters, one closer (if possible), and three short relievers (trying to make at least one a lefthander). There are going to be quite a few guys left unassigned (especially when you get to Columbus), but keep in mind that minor league teams can control more players than they can have active. This means the players can be accounted for on a given team but not be in uniform. Some of these players will often travel with the team (like a third catcher).

Starting with Hagerstown …

• Catchers. Sean Rooney & Agustin German.
• First baseman. Bill Rhinehart.
• Second baseman. Stephen King.
• Third baseman. Anthony Benner.
• Shortstop. Dan Lyons.
• Utility infielders. Jake Rogers, Jake Dugger, & Jean Alvarez. With Mark Gildea as the DH, I’m guessing on an extra infielder here vice a fifth outfielder. Dugger missed the 2007 season with an injury. I could also see Ricky Caputo getting a shot here. UPDATE: And as quickly as that, it’s changed. The Nationals released IF Jean Alvarez today (per Baseball America), plug in Caputo.
• Left fielder. Boomer Whiting.
• Center fielder. Stephen Englund.
• Right fielder. Michael Burgess.
• Designated hitter. Mark Gildea.
• Fourth outfielder. Garrett Bass.
• Starting pitchers. Colton Willems (R), Josh Smoker (L), Brad Peacock (R), Hassan Pena (R), & Cole Kimball (R).
• Long relievers. Wuillys Bravo (L) & Luis Atilano (R). I’m rolling the dice that the Nationals push a DSL guy in Bravo and try and see if they have anything in Atilano who is recovering from Tommy John surgery from late 2006.
• Closer. Martin Beno (R)
• Short relievers. Jeff McCollum (R), Ryan Buchter (L), & Juan Jaime (R)

As you can tell, this is pretty close to the end of year roster in Vermont.

Once again, the fans in Hagerstown should get the opportunity to see some of the higher prestige Nats prospects in 2008. After getting to see Chris Marrero, Justin Maxwell, and Mike Daniel in 2007, the Nationals seem likely to place high ceiling bats like Burgess, Englund and King (for a second time) with the Suns in 2008. But this season, they should see some interesting pitching as well with Willems, Peacock and Pena. I have Smoker there as well though he could also be held in extended spring training depending upon how the Nationals feel he has performed thus far and whether a challenge of this level is prudent this early in his development path.

On the outside looking in are guys like CA Craig Stinson, OF Robert Tolan and RHRPs Aaron Jackson, Josh Wilkie, Terry Engles, James Lehmanm & Don Levinski.

Keep in mind, this is an educated guess on my part, and with all of the moving parts, there is fluidity here and at all levels. But, all in all, this is a pretty solid roster which shows the progress the Nationals have made in short order.