Nationals Area Code Roster
The Nationals unveiled their 2016 team to represent the Southeast region at the Area Code Baseball Games in Long Beach, Calif., on Aug. 6-10. Standouts from last year’s Southeast team included MLB draft picks Bo Bichette, Jesus Luzardo and Joe Rizzo.
This year’s roster has some depth on the mound and in the infield. Lefthanded pitchers Jake Eder and Hugh Fisher have both shown promising fastballs and athleticism so far this summer. Matt Golda is one of the better pure defenders in the class, but has been fire and ice offensively. Mark Vientos has a quick righthanded bat with power potential. Jeremy Arocho has shown some of the best infield hands in the class, though it remains a question whether or not he has the arm strength for shortstop. Jeter Downs and Tanner Morris are also intriguing.
Christian Robinson and Xavier Edwards are some of the younger players on the team. Robinson, who was originally a 2018 prospect, reclassified for this year’s class this past spring. He has shown promise with all of his tools, though his feel for the bat may be his most exciting attribute, and will be closely monitored in Long Beach. Edwards is a 2018 prospect, and stood out at the 2015 Area Code Underclass Games. He lacks ideal size at 5-foot-9, but he’s shown game instincts that far exceed his age and height.
The Nationals are well-represented behind the plate. MJ Melendez, the son of new Florida International head coach Mervyl Melendez, has a very strong arm, though he continues to iron out the mechanics of his transfer and release. Tyler Solomon is a 6-foot-4 catcher, and showed intriguing game power at this year’s Metropolitan Baseball Classic.
| Name | Pos | Yr | B | T | Ht | Wt | High School | City | State |
| Jordan Anderson | OF | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 190 | James Clemens | Madison | AL |
| Jeremy Arocho | INF | 2017 | S | R | 5’10 | 160 | Old Mill | Glen Burnie | MD |
| Justin Connell | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’0 | 182 | Charles Flanagan | Pembroke Pines | FL |
| Matt Cooper | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’3 | 210 | Norfolk Academy | Virginia Beach | VA |
| Zach Daniels | OF | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 186 | Eagles Landing Christian | Stockbridge | GA |
| Pat DeMarco | OF | 2017 | R | R | 5’11 | 205 | Winder-Barrow | Winder | GA |
| Jeter Downs | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’0 | 180 | SLAM Charter | Miami | FL |
| Jake Eder | LHP | 2017 | L | L | 6’4 | 210 | Atlantic | Ocean Ridge | FL |
| Xavier Edwards | INF | 2018 | S | R | 5’9 | 180 | Trinity Christian Academy | Wellington | FL |
| Hugh Fisher | LHP | 2017 | R | L | 6’5 | 180 | Briarcrest Christian | Eads | TN |
| Matt Golda | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’0 | 182 | Inspiration Academy | Bradenton | FL |
| Kody Gratkowski | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 180 | Fairhope | Fairhope | AL |
| Cody Greenhill | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’4 | 210 | Russellville | Russellville | AL |
| Beau Hanna | C | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 210 | Winder-Barrow | Winder | GA |
| Mason Hickman | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’6 | 229 | Pope John Paul II | Hendersonville | TN |
| Bryce Jarvis | RHP | 2017 | L | R | 6’2 | 170 | Brentwood Academy | Franklin | TN |
| Levi Kelly | RHP | 2018 | R | R | 6’4 | 210 | IMG Academy | Cape Coral | FL |
| Brandon McCabe | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’2 | 190 | Trinith Christian Academy | Boynton Beach | FL |
| MJ Melendez | C | 2017 | L | R | 6’1 | 175 | St James | Montgomery | AL |
| Tanner Morris | INF | 2017 | L | R | 6’2 | 190 | Miller | Crozet | VA |
| Joseph Perez | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’3 | 205 | Archbishop Edward McCarthy | Pembroke Pines | FL |
| Shane Roberts | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 165 | William Dwyer | Jupiter | FL |
| Christian Robinson | OF | 2017 | L | L | 6’2 | 208 | Viera | Melbourne | FL |
| Deandre Shelton | INF | 2017 | S | R | 5’10 | 185 | West Orange | Winter Garden | FL |
| Blaine Smith | RHP/INF | 2017 | S | R | 6’0 | 175 | Bessemer Academy | Bessemer | AL |
| Tyler Solomon | C | 2017 | S | R | 6’4 | 215 | Battlefield | Haymarket | VA |
| Jason Swan | OF/INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’1 | 178 | Atlantic Coast | Jacksonville | FL |
| Bubba Thompson | OF | 2017 | R | R | 6’2 | 175 | McGill-Toolen Catholic | Theodore | AL |
| Mark Vientos | INF | 2017 | R | R | 6’4 | 190 | Charles Flanagan | Pembroke Pines | FL |
| Jose Visaez | RHP | 2017 | R | R | 6’3 | 200 | University Christian Academy | Jacksonville | FL |
| Ryan Weathers | LHP | 2018 | R | L | 6’1 | 195 | Lorette | Loretto | TN |
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