By Aaron Fitt
December 22, 2010



Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2011.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Bryce Harper, of 2. Derek Norris, c 3. Danny Espinosa, ss/2b 4. A.J. Cole, rhp 5. Wilson Ramos, c 6. Sammy Solis, lhp 7. Cole Kimball, rhp 8. Eury Perez, of 9. Chris Marrero, 1b 10. Brad Peacock, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Bryce Harper Best Power Hitter Bryce Harper Best Strike-Zone Discipline Derek Norris Fastest Baserunner Eury Perez Best Athlete Bryce Harper Best Fastball Cole Kimball Best Curveball Brad Peacocok Best Slider A.J. Morris Best Changeup Josh Wilkie Best Control Tommy Milone Best Defensive Catcher Wilson Ramos Best Defensive Infielder Danny Espinosa Best Infield Arm Danny Espinosa Best Defensive Outfielder Eury Perez Best Outfield Arm Bryce Harper

PROJECTED 2014 LINEUP

Catcher Wilson Ramos First Base Derek Norris Second Base Danny Espinosa Third Base Ryan Zimmerman Shortstop Ian Desmond Left Field Jayson Werth Center Field Eury Perez Right Field Bryce Harper No. 1 Starter Stephen Strasburg No. 2 Starter Jordan Zimmermann No. 3 Starter A.J. Cole No. 4 Starter Sammy Solis No. 5 Starter John Lannan Closer Drew Storen

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2010 2001 Donnie Bridges, rhp Out of baseball 2002 Brandon Phillips, ss Reds 2003 Clint Everts, rhp Blue Jays 2004 Clint Everts, rhp Blue Jays 2005 Mike Hinckley, lhp Blue Jays 2006 Ryan Zimmerman, 3b Nationals 2007 Collin Balester, rhp Nationals 2008 Chris Marrero, 1b Nationals 2009 Jordan Zimmermann, rhp Nationals 2010 Stephen Strasburg, rhp Nationals

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2010 2001 Josh Karp, rhp Out of baseball 2002 Clint Everts, rhp Blue Jays 2003 Chad Cordero, rhp Mets 2004 Bill Bray, lhp Reds 2005 Ryan Zimmerman, 3b Nationals 2006 Chris Marrero, of Nationals 2007 Ross Detwiller, lhp Nationals 2008 *Aaron Crow, rhp Royals 2009 Stephen Strasburg, rhp Nationals 2010 Bryce Harper, of Nationals

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Stephen Strasburg, 2009 $7,500,000 Bryce Harper, 2010 $6,250,000 Ryan Zimmerman, 2006 $2,975,000 Justin Wayne, 2000 $2,950,000 Josh Karp, 2001 $2,650,000

NATIONALS LINKS

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For the first time since the franchise arrived in Washington five years earlier, Nationals fans had legitimate reason to be excited in 2010. The team still finished in last place for the fifth time in six seasons since moving from Montreal, but the anticipated arrival of top prospect Stephen Strasburg infused Nationals Park with energy—and fans.

Strasburg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, made his major league debut on June 8. Before that, the Nationals averaged 21,560 fans a game. They drew more than 40,000 fans for each of his first two starts, and averaged 33,446 fans in his seven home outings.

Strasburg held up his end of the bargain, electrifying the baseball world with 14 strikeouts over seven innings in his debut against Pittsburgh. He continued to pitch well, going 5-3, 2.91 with 92 strikeouts in 68 innings before his rookie season ended abruptly in August when he tore an elbow ligament. He had Tommy John surgery that will sideline him for most if not all of 2011.

The Nationals are optimistic Strasburg can regain his pre-surgery form, and they hope to pair him with another phenom before too long. Washington had the No. 1 choice for the second consecutive draft and chose 17-year-old slugger Bryce Harper. A year after giving Strasburg a draft-record $15.1 million major league contract, the Nationals handed Harper a $9.9 million big league deal, the largest ever for a position player in the draft.

For the second straight year, the Nationals set a record for bonus spending. They spent $11.51 million in 2009 and $11.93 million in 2010. In addition to Harper, they also gave over-slot deals to A.J. Cole, Sammy Solis and Robbie Ray last summer. Those three immediately ranked among the best starting pitching prospects in an organization short on impact arms.

Washington's big league staff ranked 12th in the National League in runs allowed, and among its six most regular starters, only 35-year-old Livan Hernandez posted an ERA below 4.65. The lineup provided more reason for optimism, albeit while finishing 14th in the NL in scoring. Franchise cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman put together another strong season, homegrown shortstop Ian Desmond enjoyed a solid rookie campaign and Danny Espinosa, Desmond's double-play partner of the future, reached the big leagues in September. Adam Dunn gave the Nationals another 38-homer season before leaving for the White Sox via free agency.

The franchise made a huge move just before the Winter Meetings, signing free agent Jayson Werth for seven years and $126 million—more money than it had spent on free agents in the previous 20 years combined. General manager Mike Rizzo said the deal signaled the start of the next phase in the club's plan, when it plans to "really compete for division titles and championships."

The farm system remains thin in premium prospects, but Rizzo did pick up one of the minors' top catchers in Wilson Ramos when he traded all-star Matt Capps to the Twins in July. The Nationals' Latin American operations have yielded little fruit in recent years, but second-year international director Johnny DiPuglia did make a splash two days later with the signing of Cuban defector Yunesky Maya. Maya reached the big leagues six weeks after signing a $7.4 million contract.

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