Washington Nationals Top prospects 2014

Tier 1:
1. Lucas Giolito-RHP
B: Right T: Right Drafted: Round 1 (16) by WAS in 2012
Height: 6'6'' Weight: 225 DOB: 07/14/1994

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	IP	ERA	FIP	GB%	BABIP	K%	BB%	HR/9	K/9
2013	18.92	Nationals	GCL	ROK	WAS	8	22.2	2.78	2.32	49.2%	.322	26.6%	10.6%	0.00	9.93
2013	18.92	Auburn	NYP	A-	WAS	3	14.0	0.64	3.41	63.6%	.250	26.4%	7.5%	0.64	9.00
2013	18.92	Total	-	-	-	11	36.2	1.96	2.74	54.3%	.297	26.5%	9.5%	0.25	9.57

Bluff: Highest ceiling of any pitcher in the minors. Possesses heavy fastball that comfortably sits in the mid 90's and he can run up to triple-digits. Pitches have tremendous down-hill plane because of his size. His knock-out 12-6 curve is also a bonafide swing-and-miss pitch. Change-up currently lags behind, but should develop into another weapon for him as he gets more feel for it; should play very nicely off his heater. If he learns how to repeat his delivery and he can continue to log innings, his upside is of a No. 1 starter. Both of his parents are Hollywood actors, so he has that going for him too.

Tier 2:

2. A.J. Cole- RHP

B: Right T: Right Drafted: Round 4 by WAS in 2010
Height: 6'4'' Weight: 180 DOB: 01/05/1992

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	IP	ERA	FIP	GB%	BABIP	K%	BB%	HR/9	K/9
2013	21.42	Harrisburg	EAS	AA	WAS	7	45.1	2.18	2.49	36.2%	.248	28.0%	5.7%	0.60	9.73
2013	21.42	Potomac	CAR	A+	WAS	18	97.1	4.25	3.54	35.7%	.317	25.1%	5.7%	1.11	9.43
2013	21.42	Total	-	-	-	25	142.2	3.60	3.21	35.9%	.296	26.0%	5.7%	0.95	9.53

Cole has had a pretty volatile career path; he fell in the 2010 draft and signed by Washington as an over-slot guy, got traded to Oakland, got demoted, and then got traded back to Washington. But he finally settled in a after a mid-season promotion to Harrisburg. In just over 45 innings of work, he put up really impressive numbers that matched the leagues other top hurlers, i.e. Sundergaard, Gausman, Stroman, Workman. He has a lively fastball that sits in the mid 90's and he pounds the strike-zone. He doesn't really have much of a breaking ball, but even if can just develop a decent offering he should develop into a very solid No. 3 starter with the ability to endure a lot of innings. 

Tier 3:

3. Brian Goodwin- CF

B: Left T Right Drafted: Round 1(s) in 2011 by WAS
Height: 6'1'' Weight: 195 DOB: 11/02/1990

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	HR	BABIP	K%	BB%	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	wRC+
2013	22.58	Harrisburg	EAS	AA	WAS	122	533	10	.321	22.7%	12.4%	19	.252	.355	.407	.762	115

Although it may have seemed like a disappointing season of Goodwin, his peripheral stats are still quite good. He has a nice approach at the plate and walked at a pretty solid 12.4 percent clip last year. He gets poor routes in the outfield and if he doesn't improve he will have to move from center. This is key because while although he possesses solid tools all around, he doesn't have the power to profile at a corner. If this is the case he is probably just a glorified fourth outfielder. 

4. Jake Johansen- RHP

B: Right T: Right Drafted: Round 2 in 2013 by WAS
Height: 6'6'' Weight: 235 DOB: 01/23/1991

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	IP	ERA	FIP	GB%	BABIP	K%	BB%	HR/9	K/9
2013	22.42	Auburn	NYP	A-	WAS	10	42.1	1.06	2.77	63.2%	.200	26.0%	10.7%	0.21	9.35
2013	22.42	Hagerstown	SAL	A	WAS	2	9.1	5.79	4.70	50.0%	.364	15.2%	10.9%	0.96	6.75
2013	22.42	Total	-	-	-	12	51.2	1.92	3.12	60.0%	.239	23.7%	10.7%	0.35	8.88

Johansen is a big body with a big-time fastball. His curve  needs refinement but he does have a pretty nice cutter he recently added. I am not sure if he has good enough command or a deep enough repertoire to stick as a starter, but if not he profiles as a high-leverage reliever or even as a closer. 

Tier 4:

5. Matt Skole 1B

6. Sammy Solis LHP

Tier 5:

7. Nate Karns RHP

8. Drew Ward 3B

9. Michael Taylor OF

10. Steve Souza OF

11. Tony Renda 2B

Disclaimer: I am not a scout, I am a writer. Please do not confuse the two, as I would not like to discredit scouts in any way, they are the true backbone of baseball and make huge sacrifices to keep the game the way it is. I only see a limited number of players each year, and compile most of my information from videos, statistics, and occasionally from contacts inside the game. 

Tier system: 

1. Elite prospects, top 25-30 in the game. All-Star potential (full write-up)

2. Very Good prospects, not enough tools or too risky to be elite; top 100 or so in the game (full write-up)

3. Solid prospects, could be or have been top 100 guys in the past top 100-200 in baseball (full write-up)

4. Big league contributors, but either not a lot of upside or extremely risky

5. Guys worth mentioning