Nationals Farm Authority

• Future Focus - Catchers
• Future Focus - First Basemen
• Future Focus - Second Baseman

As a reminder, the Nats picks are as follows:

• 1st round: #9
• 2nd round: #55
• 3rd round: #87
• 4th round & out: #121 +30 (i.e. 151, 181, etc)

The first nine picks are

1. Tampa Bay
2. Pittsburgh
3. Kansas City
4. Baltimore
5. San Francisco
6. Florida
7. Cincinnati
8. Chicago White Sox
9. Washington

The number of total picks in each round is as follows:

• 1st round: 1-30
• Supplemental 1st: 31-46
• 2nd round: 47-78 (two extra picks due to unsigned 2007 2nd rounders)
• 3rd round: 79-108
• Supplemental 3rd: 109-112
• 4th round: 113-142
• 5th round and on: +30 to each end

It’s true that the Nationals are not in need of a thridbaseman at the major league level. With Ryan Zimmerman manning the hot corner, the Nats are in the enviable position of having a position covered more than competently for the next three plus seasons at a minimum. However, there is always room for more depth in the farm system and there are a handful of college third baseman that would be attractive to the Nats if they are available. One as a potential first rounder and three or four others who could be good value selections with their second rounder. I’m again going to lean on MiLB.com along with PGCrosschecker, and Baseball America for some background on the potential 2008 draft picks.

1. Pedro Alvarez - Entering the 2008, season, the 21-year old Alvarez was the consensus top prospect in the draft. A broken hamate bone short-circuited the start of his season at Vanderbilt but the talent remains. In the 25 games since he returned, he is hitting 311/416/538 with 18 homers and 57RBI. He has the talent to remain at 3B moving forward but some scouts believe he may slide over to 1B or to a corner outfield spot. His bat plays well at any of those positions. There have been rumblings that the Alvarez might slide some in the draft and if by some miracle he were to be there at #9, I’d hope the Nationals would grab him. But the odds he lasts past the top 3 or 4 picks seems remote at best.
2. Ethan Martin -Better known as a right-handed pitching prospect, the 18-year old Martin was initially considered a two-way player. Per MiLB.com, he can throw “three above-average pitches for strikes” As a third baseman, he is a raw prospect who projects well. Martin is committed to Clemson, but is likely to sign if drafted in the first round. He is an overdraft at #9 and won’t make it out of the first round. I’d imagine he goes in the 15-20 range.
3. Lonnie Chisenhall - The 19-year old Chisenhall was considered a top talent in 2006 out of high school. PGCC had the following scouting report on him back then “++ LH bat with a ++ approach to hitting; ++ in BP early in year and gradually took power/hitting ability into games; uses the whole field . . . some scouts believe he is one of the best bats in the country—ranking ahead of even Chris Marrero and Travis Snider . . . getting just a bat only for some; he’s heavy legged, doesn’t run that well and is not overly athletic . . . a SS in HS, he’ll be a 3B at next level . . . on mound, FB is 88-91/92 with + movement, CU at 74-75 . . . a gamer and hard-nosed kid.” Drafted by the Pirates in the 12th round (due to signability concerns), Chisenhall ran into legal problems in college that led to his (and Nick Fuller, another top prospect) from the South Carolina team. They were arrested on grand larceny and burglary charges in connection with the theft of some computers. The lefthanded Chisenhall is playing for Pitt (NC) Community College where he is currently hitting 401/511/769 mainly playing 3B (he also pitches). There are makeup questions, for certain, but the talent is there. I’d imagine he’ll go some time in the supplemental first round but would be worth strong consideration at #55 on talent alone.
4. James Darnell - PGCC has the following scouting report, “Darnell is a complete package, but power is understandably his best tool. He attacks balls when he gets a pitch he can drive, and his balls leave the park quickly. Darnell also has above-average arm strength and adapted well to playing third base in 2007, both in college and summer ball, after spending the previous year in the outfield.” Darnell is currently hitting 309/373/583 with 15 homers and 65 RBI over 48 games for the Gamecocks. He might not be able to remain at 3B going forward and might ahve to move to a corner outfield spot. This is getting repetitive but he is without question a value pick at #55.
5. Conor Gillaspie - The 20-year old Gillaspie is currently batting 398/488/661 for the Wichita State Shockers. While he throws right-handed, Gillaspie has added value as a lefthanded hitter. PGCC scouting report …”He consistently hit the ball hard to all fields and showed much more power with wood than he did during the spring (.325-6-53). Gillaspie is a steady defender at third base but only an average athlete.” In there most recent draft rankings, Baseball America has Gillaspie ranked #23 overall. He appears to be a guy who could go anywhere from the mid-first round to mid-second round. My gut says he comes off the board in the supplemental first round. Likely a MLB team who traditionally focuses on college players. If available at #55, a value pick.
6. Zach Cox -Another two-way high schooler the 18-year old Cox has committed to the University of Arkansas. PG scouting report reads “Strong, mature frame. Top 2-way prospect. Heavy FB to 93, hard sweeping SL, fast arm, high energy delivery. Power hitting 3B, short swing, has bat speed/juice in bat, squares up very well. Quick actioned athlete, can play D at high level. Could excel either way” I’d imagine he’ll be around at #55 and is likely ranked right around that level overall.
7. Logan Fosythe - The 21-year old righthander is currently hitting 311/431/483 for the Razorbacks. PGCC scouting report … “Forsythe may be the most well-rounded player in college baseball, based on what he brings to the field in hitting, power, plate discipline, defense, base running and leadership.” He looks like a late second round option. #55 is likely too early but he’d be an intriguing option at #87 in the 3rd round.
8. Jermaine Curtis - The 20-year old Curtis is hitting 316/442/456 for UCLA. PGCC scouting report … “Curtis won’t blow you away with his raw tools, but he plays hard, has excellent makeup and finds a way to get the most out of his ability. He has a good line-drive swing … He should add power as he continues to get stronger. He’s an above-average defender at third base with good hands and excels at coming in on balls, though his arm strength—his weakest tool—is considered just marginal.” It appears a move to 2B might be in his future. He looks like a 3rd rounder. At #121 he might be available.
9. Ricky Oropesa -One more high schooler. One more two-way player. Though with the 18-year old Oropesa, his future appears to be on offense. Scouts rank him as one of the top high school pwer bats in the draft. His father was a member of the Cuban national track & field, baseball and basket ball teams in 1948. He’s committed to USC (SoCal) and there could be concerns about his signability. His talent makes him a second round option but the concerns about signability might lead to a slide into the 4th round or later. This is a potential 5th or 6th round gamble if a team believes they can encourage him to forego college with a large bonus.
10. Alex Buchholz - Blue Hen pride! I’m including him just because he plays for my alma mater (Universtiy of Delaware). He is currently hitting 331/407/523 in 38 games for the Hens. PGCC scouting … “He shows power to all fields and has a very strong throwing arm that has landed him at third base this season after spending his first two years at Delaware at second.” He is likely a fifth round selection or later.