Nationals Farm Authority

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

Shortstop. It’s the position where you typically find some of the best players in the draft. It’s also a position where the Nationals have an organizational need. The 2008 draft has a nice mixture of established college bats and promising high schoolers. With an assist from MiLB.com, Pefect Game Crosschecker (PGCC), and Baseball America, here are the top 12 shortstops:

1. Tim Beckham - Entering the 2008 season, this Beckham was considered an odds on favorite to go #1 overall in the draft. The 18-year old right-handed hitter has drawn comparisons to two other HS SS, the Upton brothers (BJ and Justin). PGCC describes him as the best true shortstop in the draft. He’s a five-tool player who projects to remain a shortstop moving forward. I find it difficult to believe he’d be there at #9 but if he is, Beckham is a no-brainer for the Nationals. His commitment to USC (CA) is not considered an impediment to getting him signed.
2. Gordon Beckham - The 21-year old switch hitter has been coming on strong all season. His performance for the University of Georgia thus far has been amazing. Over 52 games played, he is hitting an astounding 401/508/817 with 22 home runs, 55 RBI, and 16/17 stolen bases in a tough SEC. Scouts were impressed by his performance in the Cape Cod League last season (a wood bat league) where he hit 284/370/529 with 9 home runs over 42 games (155AB). PGCC scouting report entering the season … “Beckham has the knack for the acrobatic play on defense and the big home run on offense, but needs to become steadier on both sides of the ball.” Another guy who seems unlikely to slide until the 9th selection but as with Tim (no relation), he’d be a great pick for the Nationals. In my opinion, if both were available at #9, I’d lean towards Gordon who has demonstrated his abilities against higher levels of competition.
3. Casey Kelly -The 18-year old Kelly is one of the better athletes in the upcoming draft. Scouts rave about him as a SS, a RHP and crossing sports, QB. He’s committed to University of Tennessee. He’s all about projectability at this point given how raw he is developmentally. The son of former major leaguer Pat Kelly, Casey is a likely pick in the 20-30 range of the first round. I’d imagine if he slips farther than that, signability becomes a question.
4. Brett Lawrie - The 18-year old Lawrie is likely to be the first Canadian player drafted this year. Scouts are impreseed with his above average raw power. Right now he’s playing shortstop but there have been reports that scouts see him moving to catcher as a professional. Signs now suggest he’s a late first round selection. Odds are he will not be around much past the supplemental first round. If he’s still on hte board at #55, he’d be worth a gamble (depending upon how they go with #9)
5. Tyler Ladendorf -The 20-year old Ladendorf might be the top junior college player in the upcoming draft. He is hitting 0.542 with 16 home runs and 31/32 stolen bases for Howard College (TX). He’s been drafted in the 34th round in each of the last two drafts and it’s a lock he’ll go significantly earlier than that in 2008. He had a severe shoulder injury a few years back but has bounced back well enough that he’ll come off the board in the late 1st/early supplemental first round. Like Lawrie, he’d be a great value at #55.
6. Reese Havens - The 21-year old lefthander is currently hitting 363/489/637 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI for the Gamecocks. He is often overshadowed by teammate Justin Smoak who is a likely top 10 pick. But Havens bat makes him worthy of consideration in the late first round of the draft. PGCC scouting … “Though he made all the routine plays and committed just six errors in 41 games at shortstop last summer in the Cape Cod League, questions persist whether Havens has the speed and range to remain at shortstop in the long term. But his new-found power and hitting prowess makes a potential move to third base more palatable.” It’s another instance of a player likely being off the board before the Nats pick at #55. But I’ll echo it again, a great value if on the board at #55. 
7. Anthony Hewitt - Hewitt plays for Salisbury School in Connecticut. PGCC reports “Though he has faced substandard pitching, Hewitt has the most explosive bat in the Northeast, college or high school, and his other tools are first-round quality.” The latest conjecture has him as a supplemental first rounder. The 19-year old is committed to Vanderbilt.
8. Destin Hood -The 18-year old Hood is another two sport star. He has a football scholarship waiting for him at the University of Alabama. Hood is very raw, while he currently plays SS, a move to the OF is likely in the future. His football commitment seems likely to lead to a slide to the second round. While he’d be an intriguing option for the Nationals at #55, the Nats might not take another prep guy who is a likely outfielder. At #55, there will still be value on the board that makes this a difficult gamble. If he slides even further due to his football commitment/signing demands, this is the type of guy the Nats could draft late a la Jack McGeary and try and steal a guy in the later rounds.
9. Brandon Crawford - The 20-year old Crawford has had a down year at UCLA, hitting 280/374/433 over 49 games with 52 strikeouts in 189AB. Entering the season, PGCC scouting read … “Crawford is a potential five-tool talent with excellent defensive skills and some power in his bat, along with a polished approach to the game. He struggled hitting with wood in the Cape last summer, which worries scouts.” He appears likely to be on the board at #55 and might be an option for them there.
10. Ryan Flaherty - Another player who has faded into the background due to a high profile teammate, the 21-year old Flaherty is hitting 321/412/547 playing in the shadow of Pedro Alvarez. PGCC scouting … “his future may be as a utility player as his range is a little short for shortstop and arm just playable from the hole. Flaherty has a sound approach at the plate. He can work counts efficiently but lacks the bat speed to hit for power—especially with wood.” He’s likely available at #55 but that might be a bit early. Could be worth a shot at #87.
11. Harold Martinez -The 18-year old Martinez has probably slid the most of all the players in 2008. Entering the season, scouts viewed him as a mid first rounder, Martinez has slid into the late second round according to some reports. His performance thus far in 2008 have not lived up to scout’s lofty expectations and that subsequent slide may make him more likely to honor his commitment to the University of Miami (FL) and re-enter the draft in three years. He’s another guy like Hood who would be worthy of a fifth or sixth round gamble with hopes of buying him out of his college commitment.
12. Niko Vazquez -The 19-year old Vazquez is another project. Scouts believe he has the potential to develop into a 20 HR middle infielder. But those same scouts worry he won’t have the quickness to stick at SS. He’s a top 100 guy but might not be worth the pick at #87.