Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects for 2017

9. A.J. Cole, RHP

Birthdate: 1/5/92 (24 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: 124 2/3 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.58 BB%, 20.49 K% (minor league stats only)

Perhaps it’s prospect fatigue, perhaps it’s that he’s moved back and forth from the Nationals elsewhere in trades, perhaps it’s that he’s not overwhelmed with numbers in the minor leagues, but for some odd reason, everyone seems to have written off Cole.

A lanky 6’5″ righty, Cole has a solid four-pitch mix that has always been one that get rave reviews for its blend more than its elite quality. He’s never been a guy who’s likely to profile as an ace, but his quality control should give him a chance to be a solid back-end starter.

He may not profile as an ace, but Cole should be a guy to keep an eye on

Cole has a fastball that sits in the low-90s and can run up to 95-96 with excellent location and good plane from his long arms. He works his change up well off of the fastball, getting plenty of weak contact on the pitch from both sides of the plate.

Cole’s slider and curve are both average pitches, but he does locate them well to get swings on the slider and weak pop ups on the curve when he’s going well.

Cole got eight starts in the big leagues in 2016, and from my viewing, he was pressing in those starts, as his typical easy, free-flowing delivery seemed tempo’d and forced. As a result, he didn’t get the extension on his pitches, leaving them up in the zone, and he saw plenty of them get hit well.

He may not profile as an ace, but Cole should be a guy to keep an eye on, especially in trade talks, as he could be a guy to step into the back end of a lot of rotations in baseball right now and do quite well.

Cole is likely going to be returning to AAA with no openings in the Washington rotation, unless he’s traded before season’s beginning.

Next: #8