Nats prospect Juan Soto has hamate surgery; new top 10 list revealed

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 26, 2017, 1:15pm

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The Nationals' No. 3 prospect, outfielder Juan Soto, has been out recently because he had the hamate bone removed from his right hand, according to Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba. Soto will be able to return to the lineup in a few weeks.

Soto fractured his ankle back in early May with low Single-A Hagerstown and returned for several rehab games at the end of June and into July with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals.

Baseball America has updated its top 10 Nationals prospects list for midseason with the addition of players selected in June's First-Year Player Draft.

The top five are what you might expect, with outfielder Victor Robles No. 1, followed by right-hander Erick Fedde, Soto, shortstop Carter Kieboom and left-hander Seth Romero.

It is interesting to note that Baseball America reiterated that the Nationals have been reluctant to include any of these top prospects trade talks. The club was able to swing the Ryan Madson/Sean Doolittle deal with the Oakland A's by trading veteran Blake Treinen and only giving up a pair of top 20 minor leaguers.

But if the club is willing to part with any of the Robles/Fedde/Soto trio, they could get the big-name return they might be coveting.

Recently called-up center fielder Andrew Stevenson is No. 6 and shortstop Luis Garcia is No. 7. Another new draft pick, left-hander Wil Crowe, is No. 8. Catcher Raudy Read is No. 9 and third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez rounds out the top 10.