Nats AFL prospect: 3B Kelvin Gutierrez

The Nationals have been pleased with the progress of third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. Despite an injury in 2017, they thought so much of him they placed him on their Arizona Fall League entrant, the Mesa Solar Sox.

3B Kelvin Gutierrez
Age: 23
6-3, 185 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Pimentel, Dominican Republic
Round 5 (2016)
2017 season: POT, GCL

Gutierrez played well for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nats and Single-A Potomac this season. The 23-year-old slashed .278/.340/.408 in 68 games, with 13 doubles, seven triples, two homers, 17 RBIs and five stolen bases.

He was out from June 9 to August 21 with a sprained ankle. He started the season as the 16th-ranked prospect for the Nationals and rated as the best infield arm for Washington, according to Baseball America. He was also selected to participate in the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Game. Gutierrez played in the best-of-three GCL finals won by the Yankees.

Before Gutierrez headed to Arizona, I got low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson's take on the youngster and his potential.

"I'm really excited for Gutierrez. I think that's really going to find out what he's about," Anderson said. "We love him here. He's a plus defender at third. We laugh because there are plays he made last year and we were spoiled. The swing and his bat, having an approach at the higher-up level is going to allow him to be able to find out who he is. I think that challenge for him is going to be great."

His time with the Mesa Solar Sox has been slowed again, this time due to a hand injury. He played in one game on Oct. 10 and went 0-for-4. Then on October 12, he left the game in the top of the first on a defensive substitution and did not bat.

Gutierrez had his hand spiked on a play in the top of the first. He has been getting treatment. The Nats will find out more information today.

But regardless, there's a bright future for Gutierrez, and hopefully he can get healthy and ready to go in the offseason in preparation for 2018.