Baseball America has begun to release their listing of league top 20s with the Gulf Coast League and the Nationals have two, #8 is OF Destin Hood and #14 is OF Eury Perez.
Here are a couple of highlights:
- Hood … “has tremendous bat speed, giving him above-average raw power, and he has adopted a more balanced approach after getting out on his front too often in his pro debut”
- Perez … “fits the profile of a leadoff man with his plus-plus speed and ability to make contact”
#1 by John - September 23rd, 2009 at 12:58
Brian: i wonder if the Nats will look into Wagner Mateo. You may recall a friend of ours telling us they had Mateo work out at their complex as a way to get in good with the agent.
I’m going to go ahead and say that Eury Perez winning the batting title by 49 points probably makes him better than the 14th best prospect. Call me crazy.
#2 by e - September 23rd, 2009 at 13:23
Brian –
what’s your take on Hendry Jimenez? He’s only 20 (ok, he’s Dominican 20) and seemed to do a very good job with the bat in the GCL (.333/439/.438) with more walks than K’s (28-24). Don’t know much about his defense at 2B, but is he someone that could sneak his way up the organizational ladder sooner rather than later?
#3 by Brian Oliver - September 23rd, 2009 at 13:26
e – He’s one of those guys where time will tell. He could develop slowly over a longer period of time.
#4 by Nick - September 23rd, 2009 at 13:41
Brian – Any news on who the Nats’ next international scouting director will be?
#5 by joNAThan - September 23rd, 2009 at 14:49
Nick–I’m thinking Brian might just be the next guy.
#6 by Brian Oliver - September 23rd, 2009 at 15:08
joNAThan – Very flattering, but mi español no es bueno.
I would hope the next choice is someone with solid network of contacts throughout both Central & South America. And their assistant needs to be well-versed in the Pacific Rim and/or Europe
#7 by BinM - September 23rd, 2009 at 17:28
Agreed: I’d like to see someone with some vision outside la isla Dominica (Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Netherland Antilles, etc.). Help in the Pacific Rim might be a “reach” for the team at this point.
#8 by cjrugger - September 24th, 2009 at 11:34
I’m going to go ahead and say that Eury Perez winning the batting title by 49 points probably makes him better than the 14th best prospect. Call me crazy.
There’s a reason scouts get paid to go watch games, and not sit back and read box scores
#9 by John - September 24th, 2009 at 11:52
There’s also a reason that BA’s scouts work for them and not an MLB team.
#10 by cjrugger - September 24th, 2009 at 13:59
The scouting reports come predominantly from taking to pro scouts and the league managers, but whatever dude.
#11 by Softball Girl - September 24th, 2009 at 14:03
Sorry if this was addressed elsewhere but buried in the print edition of the Post was the fact that the giants are moving their AA team to Richmond next year. How much longer do the Giants have on that contract, and could/would the nats ever swap harrisburg for Richmond?
#12 by Mark L - September 24th, 2009 at 14:14
In a related note, Harrisburg was named a week or two ago by Milb.com ( I think ) as the best minor leage city in America. I’m sure Brian will have more on this later.
#13 by Pilchard - September 24th, 2009 at 14:23
The Nats Instructional League team opens play today. Will this be SS’s debut performance as a professional?
#14 by Brian Oliver - September 24th, 2009 at 14:27
Pilchard – Not sure.
#15 by Softball Girl - September 24th, 2009 at 15:18
I saw that what with the Senators and Hershey Bears drawing good crowds. We’d be hard-pressed to want to leave an environment like that, I imagine.
#16 by Berndaddy - September 24th, 2009 at 16:25
I wouldn’t know as a certainty, but isn’t Harrisburg the older or longest running minor league affiliate that the Nats/Expos have. I’m not sure if it’s Harrisburg or Vermont. Brian, Freda !!! Help !!!
#17 by BinM - September 24th, 2009 at 17:42
Brian: An off-topic question, but I’m wondering how many system players are participating in the Winter leagues this year, and where?
#18 by Mark L - September 24th, 2009 at 20:16
SG — I was in Richmond in August for about a week or more and the local paper was all about the negotiations to bring that AA team to town. Apparently, the AA team in Conn. wouldn’t even begin negotiations until they were guaranteed rebuilt front offices, nevermind the non-upgraded balfield and stands. Apparently, it’s all in very bad shape.
#19 by Sue Dinem - September 25th, 2009 at 08:00
Harrisburg has been a Natspos affiliate since 1991; Vermont since 1994.
It’s mystifying to me why people keep asking/hoping for Richmond to become a Nats affiliate. Clearly, none of these folks have ever been to Harrisburg.
What would be better news is if Vermont could relocate to Norwich. It would help swing the rep of every affiliate having the worst facility in its league.
#20 by Jeff E. - September 25th, 2009 at 11:24
Brian, ex-po speaking, spend the money and buy Junior Noboa away from AZ??? aloha!!! long walks on the beaches….nice… fast forwarding to org. meetings & the Dec. meetings (aka. minor league draft): this fan wonders how much of a cupboard cleaning the new farm director will do to the big board especially on the SYR chart. will the org. bring back E. baez. Could we see several infielders purchased off AA/Aplus rosters for SYR/HARR/POT. I am sure, Brian, you might chart that pre-december. Does King/Burgess/Volez jump to the fine enviorn on City Isle. Does Souza, Arata and lombardozzi compose the POT infield???? Who dons the 1b glove @ SYR- a journeyman after Eldred and Casto exit??? time will tell.