Washington Nationals: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Nationals' System

It is a great time to be a fan of the Washington Nationals.

The big league team is showing signs of improvement. And it is all thanks to some shrewd—though some might say questionable—moves in free agency and trades, as well as aggressive drafts that have made this system one of, if not the best in all of baseball right now. 

The future is bright in the nation's capital, and they are on the verge of challenging for the postseason when their next wave of prospects arrives. The system did take a hit in the Gio Gonzalez trade, but there is enough high-ceiling talent to offset those losses. 

Here are the future faces of the Nationals franchise that will make the team a postseason contender for much of the next decade.   

1. Bryce Harper, OF, 19

Surprise, surprise, right? Harper was the most hyped draft prospect in history when the Nationals took him with the top pick in the 2010 draft, and he somehow managed to exceed expectations by hitting 23 home runs against competition that was at least two years older than he was in low Class A and Double-A.  

Strengths

Harper is an incredible athlete with some of the best raw power that you will ever see. He can launch balls over the fence with a simple flick of the wrist. He also has one of the best arms in the minors, which he showed off in the Futures Game by throwing a ball from the wall to home plate on a line.  

Weaknesses

Harper did struggle against left-handed pitching early in 2011, but he became more comfortable as he had more at-bats. His swing can be a little long at times, which could open him up to a lot of strikeouts, thus holding down his batting average.  

Report

Harper is an incredible athlete with the chance to be a dominant five-tool player. He has the speed and instincts to play center field, though the Nationals are likely to keep him in right. He will be a regular MVP candidate when he gets comfortable against big league pitching. 

ETA: Mid-2012 

2. Anthony Rendon, 3B, 21

Coming into the 2011 season, Rendon was probably the best college player in the country. A shoulder injury prevented him from showcasing his abilities, and he slid down some draft boards as a result.

The Nationals were more than happy to pounce on him with the sixth overall pick. 

Strengths

Rendon is an excellent hitter, with great bat speed and plate discipline. He has the potential to develop more power as he adjusts to advanced pitching, thanks to his great approach. He has gold glove potential at third base, though he could move to second if the team wants to get his bat in the lineup with Ryan Zimmerman manning the hot corner.  

Weaknesses

As great as Rendon's tools are, he does have an injury history that could be a problem. In addition to the shoulder injury he had last year, he has had two surgeries on his right ankle in the last two years.  

Report

As long as he is healthy, Rendon will be a star. The only unknown with him right now is where he will play. He could slide over to second base, depending on his health and that of Zimmerman.

ETA: 2013

3. Brian Goodwin, OF, 21

Another 2011 draft pick, Goodwin is a tremendous athlete with the potential to have five average or better tools in center field. The Nationals acquired the 33rd pick to use on Goodwin by letting Adam Dunn leave via free agency.

Safe to say, that is a deal they would make 10 times out of 10.  

Strengths

Goodwin has great athleticism to go along with good bat speed. He is also a burner on the basepaths and in the field. He could develop into a 20-20 player in the future.  

Weaknesses

Despite being 21 years old and playing major college baseball, Goodwin is still very raw. He was able to get away with certain things in college because he is such a great athlete, but he won't be able to do that against professional players.  

Report

Goodwin has true five-tool potential as a center fielder. He is going to have to refine his skills against better competition, so right now his ranking is based more on upside than proof of performance.

ETA: 2014 

4. Alex Meyer, RHP, 21

In case you couldn't tell, the Nationals had a very good draft in 2011. Meyer was the second of three first or supplemental first-round picks they had, going No. 23 overall. He is one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in baseball, thanks to his fastball-slurve combination.

Strengths

Meyer has an electric arm, with a fastball that has been clocked at 100 mph regularly. He also has a slurvy breaking pitch that has the potential to be a dominant pitch when he learns to control it.

Weaknesses

As good as Meyer's stuff is, he doesn't have great command of any pitch. He tries to overthrow too much, which throws off his arm slot and could put extra stress on his shoulder. His changeup is a work-in progress, and he will have to throw it more often in the minors to keep left-handed hitters honest.  

Report

If he can figure out how to command his pitches while making slight tweaks in his delivery to take stress off his shoulder, he could develop into a No. 1 starter. Even if that doesn't work out for him, he should turn into a dominant late-inning reliever. 

ETA: 2014

5. Steve Lombardozzi, 2B, 23

Unlike the other players on this list, Lombardozzi is not going to wow you with any special tool or athleticism to make you think that he is going to be a star. Instead, he uses his understanding of the game and situations to play up his skills on the field.  

Strengths

He has succeeded at every level of the minor leagues by being a smart, instinctive player. He has a solid approach at the plate, which helps him hit for average and draw his share of walks. His defense at second base is solid, thanks to his soft hands and ability to read the bat off the ball.

Weaknesses

As successful as Lombardozzi has been in the minors, he has never had one tool that really stands out. Eventually the competition could catch up to him, and he will find himself overwhelmed. It hasn't happened yet, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt.  

Report

He has a vast, deep knowledge of baseball, which helps him look better than he is. He has a chance to be a solid everyday player if his hard work and approach to the game continues to evolve as he gets broken in to the big leagues. Worst-case scenario, he will be a utility player for this team. 

ETA: 2012

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