2. Juan Soto, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/25/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Gulf Coast League Nationals, low-A Hagerstown Suns
2017 Stats: .351/.415/.505, 123 PA, 3 HR, 1 SB, 12/9 BB/K
Info: If Soto had not been essentially hurt all season in 2017, he could have possibly shown out with his incredible talent. Soto signed with the Washington Nationals in 2015 and simply dominated the Gulf Coast League in his debut in 2016.
Soto has very good zone and pitch recognition at the plate, and he has a lightning-quick swing that allows him to put good wood on balls throughout the zone, even when he’s initially fooled on the pitch. His quick bat and developing frame portends future power, though he’s more contact than power currently in game. Some scouts project plus power and plus contact coming from Soto’s sweet lefty swing.
Defensively, Soto is not a lost cause in the outfield, but he’s certainly not elite defensively due to average speed and below-average arm. That means his bat will have to be his feature skill, but as good as that bat is, it very well could be good enough to have Soto be incredibly elite. He should be at an A-ball level to open the year, but what level will be determined by his spring.
1. Victor Robles, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/19/1997 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Potomac Nationals, AA Harrisburg Senators, MLB Washington Nationals
2017 Stats: Minors: .300/.382/.493, 496 PA, 10 HR, 27 SB, 37/84 BB/K; Majors, .250/.308/.458, 27 PA, 0/6 BB/K
Info: Robles has been exploding through the minor leagues since signing with the Washington Nationals out of the Dominican Republic in 2013 for “just” $225,000. His advanced approach at the plate has significantly impacted this meteoric rise up he Nationals system.
Where Robles is best and should really excite Washington Nationals fans is on defense
While the BB/K ratios may not shine, it’s primarily due to Robles’ aggressive approach at the plate, but it is notable that he did not strike out in even 17% of plate appearances in 2017 in the minors, and combined between both levels, he had a strikeout rate of just barely over 17%, certainly not a rough K rate by today’s standards.
Robles may not ever be a guy to hit 30 home runs, but he makes excellent contact with his line-drive swing, pounding the gaps and then using his plus-plus speed to leg out plenty of extra base hits. He’s shown a knack for taking an extra base on the bases, though his stealing still needs polish.
Where Robles is best and should really excite Washington Nationals fans is on defense, where he is a plus to plus-plus center fielder, with a plus arm. He uses his speed to overcome any misreads off the bat, but he has not rested on his laurels, instead working hard to improve his defensive abilities beyond the plus defender that he’s already regarded.
While the Nationals don’t have a space in their 2018 outfield, barring injury, Robles likely will be looked to to ease the loss of Bryce Harper in the 2019 Washington Nationals outfield.
Next: Newcomers to watch