Washington Nationals 2018 minor league awards

Washington Nationals Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Austen Williams

Level(s): AA Harrisburg, AAA Syracuse, MLB Nationals
Stats: Minors: 32 G, 2 GS, 68 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 17/89 BB/K; Majors: 10 G, 9 2/3 IP, 5.59 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 6/8 BB/K

Moved from the rotation to a multi-inning reliever in 2018, Austen Williams became one of the best relievers in the entire Washington Nationals minor league system. He received plenty of notice in national awards for one of the top relievers in all of the minor leagues in 2018 with his exceptional performance.

Williams struggled some at the big league level, but in watching his appearances versus his minor league appearances, it’s notable that he allowed 5 major league home runs in less than 10 innings and did not use one of his better pitches at the major league level while he did not allow a single home run in 68 innings of minor league work.

There’s much more to come for Williams at the big league level. Washington Nationals fans have plenty to be excited about here.

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Runners-up

Drafted in 2016 in the 18th round, Ben Braymer pitched in a hybrid role in 2018 across both A-ball levels. He made 28 appearances, 11 of them starts, tossing 114 2/3 innings. he won 9 games and even saved a pair of games, with a 2.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 34/118 BB/K ratio.

The Nationals selected Wil Crowe in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft knowing that he would take time to return to full strength after Tommy John surgery after the 2016 season essentially ended his 2017 collegiate season. He spent most of his 2018 in high-A, but did make it up to AA by the end of the season. Combined across three levels, he tossed 116 1/3 innings, with a 3.40 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 48/94 BB/K. He’ll likely open 2019 in AA.

In his second season in the Washington Nationals system, Kyle McGowin flew up the system, starting the year in high-A and finishing in the major leagues. He tossed 141 2/3 innings in the minors, with a 2.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 31/152 BB/K ratio. He struggled out of the bullpen at the major league level, but he did strike out more than a batter per inning.

The Washington Nationals may be in for fierce competition in the NL East for the next few seasons, but they have some very high-level talent on the way up to make their return to the top quick.