5 Nationals to Know: 2014 MiLB All Stars
By Wayne Cavadi
July 17, 2012; Washington, D.C., USA; Washington Nationals first round draft pick Lucas Giolito in the dugout before a game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals were at it again in 2014. They won the NL East again and finished with the best record in the National League at 96-66. Although they upgraded their pitching staff the past few seasons with big names like Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez, their rise to prominence has been helped by waiting patiently for their homegrown talent to take over on a major league level. Backed by names likes Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, and the Zimmerman boys, the Nationals have become a perennial NL power.
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2014’s crop looks like they are ready to make their big move. Three of their minor league affiliates captured league titles or appeared in the championship games on their respective leagues. Most notably, their Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, won the International League North Division behind an 81-62 record, tops in the IL. Heading into 2015, Ricky Keeler of District on Deck, reports they may have even gotten stronger. When the Nationals shipped of Ross Detwiler to the Rangers this winter, they received even more elite prospects in Chris Bostick and Abel De Los Santos in return.
Recently, MiLB.com dove into the Nationals 2014 farm and put together their annual list of Organizational All Stars. The Nats list is deep and has some talent that seems ready to continue the upward trend in our nation’s capital. Here are the five biggest names to keep an eye on in the Nationals organization.
Harvard Westlake pitcher Lucas Giolito (Photo Credit: Eric Dearborn Photography)
Giolito is the 20-year old right-handed star in the making drafted by the Nationals 16th overall in the first round of the 2012 draft. He is the No. 1 overall prospect in the Nationals system and is a Top 50 prospect across the board according to the experts. His 2014 campaign did everything to back up those loft expectations.
Giolito spent the season in South Atlantic League pitching for the Hagerstown Suns. Much like the sun, he shined all season long and was never able to be cooled down. Giolito went 10-2 with a remarkable 2.20 ERA. He struck out 110 batters in 98 innings and had a 1.00 WHIP.
All of this earned Giolito a mountain of accolades. He was the SAL 2014 Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. He won the Suns’ 2014 MVP Award and was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the SAL after a season that consisted of two Pitcher of the Week Awards. He appeared in the MLB Futures Game and was the Nationals’ Prospect of the Year in the SAL. The sky is the limit for Giolito who will look to dominate Double-A in 2015.
Taylor is the 23-year old high-flying speedster in the farm system. Picked in the 6th round of the 2009 draft, Taylor has climbed the system ranks with his blazing speed. He struggled with consistency at the plate over the course of his four first seasons, unable to put together a season with a higher batting average than .263. You can’t score runs or steal bases with speed if you aren’t on base.
This past season, it all clicked for Taylor. He set career highs across the board batting a combined .304 with 23 home runs, 64 RBI and 37 stolen bases between AA and AAA ball. His many 2014 accolades included taking home the Eastern League Rookie of the Year, an invite to the Future’s Game and Mid and Post-Season All Star nods from the EL. Taylor’s season was not unnoticed by the boys in D.C., as Taylor’s monster season earned him a call up late in August. He struggled at the big league level, batting just .205 over 39 at bats, but the Nationals aren’t worried.
"“His power is great,” Mark Scialabba, the Nationals’ director of player development told MiLB.com. “He’s starting to realize what he needs to do and he’s improving as a baserunner. He’s got tremendous tools, he’s exciting, has tremendous range — he definitely has an above-average arm, an accurate arm, the ball stays true and on a line. He’s someone who can impact the game on both sides, he’s special to watch.”"
Matt Skole (Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE)
The former Minor League Player of the Year for the Nationals bounced back nicely after a wasted 2013 due to injury. Skole is the top first base prospect in the Nationals farm system and their No. 6 overall prospect.
The 25-year old lefty looms large over at first base, standing at 6’3” and 225 pounds. He was drafted in 2011 in the fifth round by the Nationals. In 2012, his first full season, it looked as if the Nationals found themselves a steal. Skole would bat .291 with 27 home runs and 104 RBI between two levels. He was an All Star and the 2012 South Atlantic League MVP en route to being named the top prospect in the Nationals system.
The Nationals were excited to see what he could do on the next level, but had to curb their expectations. Skole was injured in the second game of the season in 2013 and missed the entire year recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned this season at AA and was half the player he was in 2012. He batted .241 with 14 home runs and 68 RBI.
Look for Skole to compete at AAA Syracuse this season. With the oft-injured Ryan Zimmerman expected to become the everyday first baseman, the Nationals could definitely use an insurance policy. Should Skole excel in the first half of the season, he could be in D.C. sooner than later.
Difo is the 22-year old shortstop out of the Dominican Republic. The switch-hitting shortstop had bounced around the Gulf Coast League and Class A ball for the first four years of his career and didn’t appear to be adjusting well. His batting average was in a yearly decline, dropping to .217 in 2013 and his base running skills seemed to be questionable at best.
Difo really put it together in 2014 however. His monster season earned him Mid and Post-Season All Star nods from the South Atlantic League as well as an MVP nod for Hagerstown. He batted a career-high .315 while belting in 14 home runs and driving in 90. He showed his speed by swiping 49 of 58 bases and legging out seven triples. He also scored 91 runs on the season.
Difo will most likely get his first glimpse of Double-A ball this season. He proved how invaluable he is this past season splitting time successfully between second base and shortstop. With Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa holding it down in D.C. there is no rush in the development of Difo.
Mar 16, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Steven Souza (21) high-fives teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
Souza’s season was one for the ages. He did just about everything right for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and that earned him a late season call-up. Once there, he held his own and made a highlight reel catch that saved Jordan Zimmerman’s no-hitter. Despite all of his heroics, Souza was shipped off to Tampa this past December.
Still, there is no denying the amazing season Souza had that merited him the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year. The 25-year old right-handed right fielder was the 2007 third round draft pick of the Nationals. He had a steady beginning to his career until he exploded last season in Syracuse. Souza batted .350 with 18 home runs and 75 RBI while adding 26 stolen bases.
Souza took home a Mid and Post-Season All Star nod from the International League as well as MVP honors for Syracuse and Triple-A Rookie of the Year honors for the Chiefs in the IL. It was the third consecutive year he was recognized as an Organizational All-Star. And now he has moved on to the American League.
Perhaps the Nationals felt with Jayson Werth around there wasn’t room for the budding young star in the making. Whatever the case is, Souza will have an immediate chance to be the Opening Day right fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays.