2017 Washington Nationals Top 10 Insider
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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The Nationals won 12 more games than they did in 2015 and wound up with the second-best record in baseball despite a down year by 2015 MVP Bryce Harper, getting 20 or more homers from six different players to win the National League East.
HIGH POINT: For all the offensive balance, Max Scherzer continued to be the team’s ace, going 2007, 2.96 and leading the majors with 284 strikeouts in 228.1 innings. Scherzer had 13 double-digit strikeouts games, none better than his record-tying 20 strikeouts against his former team, Detroit, on May 11. Scherzer threw an absurd 96 strikes out of his 119 pitches, walking none.
LOW POINT: The Nats continued to struggle in the playoffs, losing their third division series in five years. This time, it was the Dodgers who did in the Nationals and Dusty Baker, the third manager to lose a playoff series for the franchise in D.C. Washington led the series two games to one but lost Game Four in L.A. 6-5, then lost 4-3 in Game Five when its offense couldn’t dent Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw, who got the final two outs on one day’s rest to clinch the series.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: The Nats didn’t open a spot for Trea Turner, but he seized one, shifting to second base and then center field. No matter where Turner played, he hit, igniting Washington’s offense with blazing speed and surprising power. He led rookies with 33 stolen bases despite playing less than half the season in the majors, and his .567 slugging percentage ranked third, behind Gary Sanchez and Trevor Story, among rookies with 200 or more at-bats. Righty Reynaldo Lopez and lefty Sammy Solis logged key innings down the stretch.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Offseason free-agent pickup Daniel Murphy (.347, 25 homers) was one of the majors’ best hitters. GM Mike Rizzo’s big in-season moves involved releasing Jonathan Papelbon and replacing him with Mark Melancon, acquired from the Pirates for lefthanders Taylor Hearn and Felipe Rivero. Washington also traded for lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski, giving up top performer Max Schrock.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Washington affiliates posted a .508 winning percentage and had two playoff clubs, led by low Class A Hagerstown going 83-57, the South Atlantic League’s best record. Double-A Harrisburg outfielder Rafael Bautista tied for the minor-league lead with 56 stolen bases during a .282/.344/.341 season.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $141,652,646 (11th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Victor Robles |
| Best Power Hitter | Matt Skole |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Austin Davidson |
| Fastest Baserunner | Rafael Bautista |
| Best Athlete | Victor Robles |
| Best Fastball | Koda Glover |
| Best Curveball | Joan Baez |
| Best Slider | Erick Fedde |
| Best Changeup | A.J. Cole |
| Best Control | Jaron Long |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Pedro Severino |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Jose Sanchez |
| Best Infield Arm | Kelvin Gutierrez |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Victor Robles |
| Best Outfield Arm | Victor Robles |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Pedro Severino |
| First Base | Daniel Murphy |
| Second Base | Wilmer Difo |
| Third Base | Anthony Rendon |
| Shortstop | Trea Turner |
| Left Field | Adam Eaton |
| Center Field | Victor Robles |
| Right Field | Bryce Harper |
| No. 1 Starter | Max Scherzer |
| No. 2 Starter | Stephen Strasburg |
| No. 3 Starter | Erick Fedde |
| No. 4 Starter | Joe Ross |
| No. 5 Starter | Austin Voth |
| Closer | Koda Glover |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Collin Balester, rhp | Korea |
| 2008 | Chris Marrero, 1b | Red Sox |
| 2009 | Jordan Zimmermann, rhp | Tigers |
| 2010 | Stephen Strasburg, rhp | Nationals |
| 2011 | Bryce Harper, of | Nationals |
| 2012 | Anthony Rendon, 3b | Nationals |
| 2013 | Lucas Giolito, rhp | Nationals |
| 2014 | Lucas Giolito, rhp | Nationals |
| 2015 | Lucas Giolito, rhp | Nationals |
| 2016 | Lucas Giolito, rhp | Nationals |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | |||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org | |
| 2007 | Ross Detwiler, lhp | Athletics | |
| 2008 | *Aaron Crow, rhp | Cubs | |
| 2009 | Stephen Strasburg, rhp | Nationals | |
| 2010 | Bryce Harper, of | Nationals | |
| 2011 | Anthony Rendon, 3b | Nationals | |
| 2012 | Lucas Giolito, rhp | Nationals | |
| 2013 | Jake Johansen, rhp (2nd round) | Nationals | |
| 2014 | Erick Fedde, rhp | Nationals | |
| 2015 | Andrew Stevenson, of (2nd round) | Nationals | |
| 2016 | Carter Kieboom, ss | Nationals | |
| *Did not sign | |||
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Stephen Strasburg, 2009 | $7,500,000 |
| Bryce Harper, 2010 | $6,250,000 |
| Anthony Rendon, 2011 | $6,000,000 |
| Yasel Antuna, ss | $3,900,000 |
| Brian Goodwin, 2011 | $3,000,000 |
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