1 | 1. Victor Robles | |
---|---|---|
2 | Position: OF | He received a surprise promotion to the majors last year, but could spend the first half of 2018 refining his skills in the minors. A future plus-plus hit tool and top-of-the-scale speed gives him an incredibly high floor. He is growing into 15-to-20 homer power, making the whole package a bit unfair. |
3 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
4 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Syracuse | |
5 | Overall rank: 3 | |
6 | ||
7 | 2. Juan Soto | |
8 | Position: OF | Three separate injuries limited Soto to a quarter of a season, but he once again displayed future middle-of-the-order skills when in the lineup. If he stays healthy this year, he could finish his age-19 season as a top-five prospect for dynasty leagues. |
9 | Age on 4/1/18: 19 | |
10 | Likely assignment: High-A Potomac | |
11 | Overall rank: 17 | |
12 | ||
13 | 3. Carter Kieboom | |
14 | Position: SS | A hamstring injury cost Kieboom a half season, but he did enough damage with the bat to emerge as a shortstop with the potential to hit for a high average, get on base a ton and hit 25-plus homers. He won't do any damage on the bases, and while his defense is adequate, he may end up at second base or third base. |
15 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
16 | Likely assignment: High-A Potomac | |
17 | Overall rank: 40 | |
18 | ||
19 | ||
20 | 4. Yasel Antuna | |
21 | Position: SS/3B | If you want to roll the dice on an 18-year-old making the leap from borderline top-100 prospect to top-10 prospect by year’s end, Antuna is a solid bet. He has the potential to offer a plus hit tool and plus power, although he will likely move to third base. Don't look for him to contribute with his legs. |
22 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
23 | Likely assignment: New York-Penn League | |
24 | Overall rank: 67 | |
25 | ||
26 | 5. Luis Garcia | |
27 | Position: SS/2B | I'm quite a bit higher on Antuna’s bat, but considering Garcia has plus-plus speed and a chance for a plus hit tool at shortstop, his ceiling is still quite appealing. The fear is that he gradually slows down and the power never comes, but even then he would be an Andres Gimenez-level prospect. In other words, the realistic floor is high. |
28 | Age on 4/1/18: 17 | |
29 | Likely assignment: New York-Penn League | |
30 | Overall rank: 110 | |
31 | ||
32 | ||
33 | 6. Daniel Johnson | |
34 | Position: OF | Johnson has the power/speed combo we crave in outfield prospects. He could be a 15/25 threat early on and eventually flirt with 20/20 seasons. The big question is whether or not he will hit enough at Double-A and Triple-A to profile as a regular. His upside is similar to Corey Ray, he just lacks name value. That could change soon. |
35 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
36 | Likely assignment: Double-A Harrisburg | |
37 | Overall rank: 178 | |
38 | ||
39 | 7. Erick Fedde | |
40 | Position: RHP | As things stand, Fedde should be given a chance to compete for the fifth starter spot this spring, but I have a hard time envisioning the Nationals breaking camp with him in the rotation. While a No. 3 starter has seemingly been promised with Fedde for a couple years, the bullpen and back of the rotation are emerging as ever more realistic possibilities. |
41 | Age on 4/1/18: 25 | |
42 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Syracuse | |
43 | Overall rank: 207 | |
44 | ||
45 | ||
46 | 8. Seth Romero | |
47 | Position: LHP | The Nationals are typically drawn to the riskiest pitchers with upside in the first round, and Romero, due to significant makeup concerns, fits the bill from the 2017 draft. I tend to peg guys like this for the bullpen until proven otherwise. There's No. 2 starter upside if he grows up. |
48 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
49 | Likely assignment: Low-A Hagerstown | |
50 | Overall rank: 235 | |
51 | ||
52 | 9. Raudy Read | |
53 | Position: C | Read is a solid defensive catcher and is good at making contact, so he has a chance to be a starting catcher who doesn't sink a fantasy team's batting average. There's 15-to-20 homer pop too, so in his peak seasons he could be a top-15 fantasy catcher. |
54 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
55 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Syracuse | |
56 | Overall rank: 328 | |
57 | ||
58 | 10. Andrew Stevenson | |
59 | Position: OF | Stevenson is close to the majors and has 70-grade speed, so he needs to be listed here, even if it's very unlikely that he ever gets everyday at-bats in Washington without a string of injuries. As a one-category guy, he doesn't need to be rostered in most formats until it looks like a spot is opening up for him. |
60 | Age on 4/1/18: 23 | |
61 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Syracuse | |
62 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
63 | ||
64 | 11. Kelvin Gutierrez | |
65 | Position: 3B | Gutierrez really looks the part of a future power-hitting third baseman, but he has not yet produced like one. He turns 24 in August, so this may be his last year on this list if the power doesn't show up in 2018. |
66 | Age on 4/1/18: 23 | |
67 | Likely assignment: Double-A Harrisburg | |
68 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
69 | ||
70 | 12. Blake Perkins | |
71 | Position: OF | Perkins is where Stevenson was a couple years ago. While he is further from the majors, the range of outcomes on the high and low end are more expansive. Like Stevenson, his 30-plus steal speed would drive his fantasy value if he can find a way to get regular playing time. |
72 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
73 | Likely assignment: High-A Potomac | |
74 | Overall rank: Not ranked |