A big year upcoming for Solis

The ability and potential that Sammy Solis possesses are clear.

A 6-foot-5, 250-lb. left-hander who was a second-round pick out of the University of San Diego in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Solis has been highly ranked on various lists of the top prospects in the Nationals organization since being drafted.

The question now is whether Solis, 26, can stay healthy long enough to showcase the talent that has led scouts to believe he could one day be a middle to top-of-the-rotation big league starter.

Solis needed Tommy John surgery in 2012, but came back from that (and a shoulder issue that caused him to miss part of 2013) to post a 3.43 ERA in 14 games at high Single-A Potomac two years ago. The Nats then put Solis on their 40-man roster going into 2014, and the lefty showed up to big league spring training ready to show the coaching staff what he can do and possibly even compete for a spot in the Nationals bullpen.

Instead, Solis made just two spring appearances before a back issue caused him to be shut down. He eventually worked his way off the minor league disabled list in May following two strong rehab starts, but was then shut down again after his first start for Double-A Harrisburg, this time with left elbow discomfort. That's the same elbow, obviously, that had the Tommy John surgery in 2012.

After nearly three months off, Solis finished the 2014 campaign by appearing in two games for the Gulf Coast League Nationals, allowing just a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Now, more than four frustrating, injury-plagued years after being drafted, the 26-year-old Solis will again show up to big league spring training looking to show he can stay healthy and deliver on his ability.

The two appearances for the GCL Nats in August were an encouraging sign that the back and elbow injuries were behind Solis, and the hope is that he'll be ready to compete this spring, then follow that up with a full minor league season.

Solis has been jumped on the Nats' prospect rankings by some high-upside arms including Lucas Giolito and A.J. Cole. But should Solis be able to stay on the field and pitch the way Nats' talent evaluators know that he can, he still holds lots of value. Big lefties who throw hard with strong off-speed stuff are tough to come by.

Solis' body just needs to cooperate in 2015.