Baseball America released its top 10 Nationals prospects list in its digital edition this week.
Here is the Nationals top 10:
1. RHP Lucas Giolito
2. SS Trea Turner
3. CF Victor Robles
4. RHP Erick Fedde
5. RHP Reynaldo Lopez
6. SS Wilmer Difo
7. RHP A.J. Cole
8. CF Andrew Stevenson
9. RHP Austin Voth
10. 3B Anderson Franco
Franco is 18 out of the Dominican Republic and hit a combined .269 for two teams in 2015. Voth has advanced well and has shown stuff that plays at higher levels; he can get a look in spring training. Stevenson has shown a very impressive baseball IQ from his days at LSU and is advanced for his age. Cole continues to build with amazing stuff and a good repertoire. He now just has to deliver at the top level to stay.
Difo has the five-tool skills and needs to be able to build professional games and at bats to gain consistency. Lopez had serious heat, and at 6-foot surprises with his endurance and ability to mix his pitches from the beginning of each at-bat.
Fedde has bounced back well for his first season after Tommy John surgery and displays ability and grit to be able to pitch at higher levels.
Robles has been the sensational find in the organization, showing tremendous athletic skill, power and five tools, and will surge to the top spot if and when Giolito joins the Nationals.
Giolito has all the tools, Stephen Strasburg stuff, and just needs to gain Joe Ross-type focus under pressure to handle high-leverage situations late in games and get out of jams. The 21-year-old Giolito might be able to build towards a mid-season call-up next season, or if he is sensational in spring training, have an outside shot at making the team out of camp.
Turner has a good chance to earn a full-time job within the Nationals infield with the departure of Ian Desmond. His acquisition was one of the best in Mike Rizzo's tenure.
I will speak with Baseball America in the next few weeks to get a top 10 countdown during the holidays on each of these prospects as we get ready for the 2016 campaign.
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