Just released by the Nationals
Washington Nationals 18 year-old shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez today won the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League batting title. Gonzalez went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI this afternoon at GCL Marlins to complete his second domestic season with a .350 batting average. Gonzalez signed with the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2006.
In addition to batting .350 (62-for-177), Gonzalez finished the GCL regular season with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 33 RBI, 23 walks nine stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .436 in 50 games.
Ronny | 27-Aug-08 at 2:16 pm | Permalink
This kid is going to be pretty good in the future.
Berndaddy | 27-Aug-08 at 2:16 pm | Permalink
Wow, maybe Smiley is a real prospect, eh…Cool…
Andrew S. | 27-Aug-08 at 2:18 pm | Permalink
Hopefully the power continues to develop. Power hitting 2bs (He is probably a 2b) are the thing these days.
Mark | 27-Aug-08 at 3:21 pm | Permalink
Hmmmm…. I say he starts in Hagerstown in 2009 to see how he floats - if its too much for him they can float him back don to Vermont in June. If the progress continues, 2010 in Hagerstown to Potomac & on to Harrisburg. 2011 I suspect he could start in Columbus, on the 40 man roster and see his first MLB action w/ spot duty. By 2012 a contributor with the Nats and by 2013 a starter. Any earlier would be nice, but difficult being that he started playing in the org at age 16.
VladiHondo | 27-Aug-08 at 3:39 pm | Permalink
Way to go Esmailyn!!
Nice kid, the Mrs. and me saw him in the accelerated Spring Training back in 2k7, we asked if he could pose for a pix with my wife and did. Two days later we went back there and he saw us, smiled, and said “Hi!”
If they do start him in H-town in 2k9, prefer they don’t rush him. Glad he stayed in the GCL all season.
Boone, et. al. seem to rush people, they seem frantic to show results. King last year in H-town, Desmond the year before in H-burg, even Marrero jump to Potomac last year. The Nats seem to shift people between levels more than a normal teams does.
rookie ball | 27-Aug-08 at 3:55 pm | Permalink
So, [warning: dumb question ahead] is that how you pronounce his name? eh-smilin’?
Mark | 27-Aug-08 at 4:29 pm | Permalink
Ez-mail-in?
Es-mail-in?
Pilchard | 27-Aug-08 at 5:05 pm | Permalink
Great news.
This points up the question as to why the Nats did not have any marquee international signings this year (an issue that to my knowledge the Nats have not been forced to address). Given that the “Plan” is to invest in player development, the Nats failure to take action in the international market is worse than not signing Crow IMO.
Either the Nats did not sign significant international free agents because of the accusations about the Nats scouts pocketing bonuses to Dominican players (bad) or the Lerners decided to tighten the purse strings (bad) or both (doubly bad).
Berndaddy | 27-Aug-08 at 5:09 pm | Permalink
In spanish you pronounce all vowels.
EZ- MA-E(long e)Lin
VladiHondo | 27-Aug-08 at 5:27 pm | Permalink
It “may” be pronounced almost like his nickname, put an ‘E’ in front of “Smilin’” :) Es-MI-lin