Nats 3rd and 4th picks, Kobernus and Holden

With the first pick in the second round, the Washington Nationals selected an athletic utility infielder, Jeff Kobernus from California University.

At six foot two, 195 pounds, Kobernus has a long lean body with very fluid movement on the field.

Kobernus was used a primarily a second baseman in college, though he played all over the infield. With his height he is not your prototypical second baseman, but that has not stopped players like Chase Utley from playing there. He has the athleticism and the range to someday convert to shortstop if that is the direction the Nationals chose to take, however it is unlikely.

Kobernus has a very quick bat. He batted .341 for the Bears in 2009, his junior season. He also hit 14 doubles, 8 homers, and stole 20 bases. In his career at Cal he batted .324.

Scouts project Kobernus to develop into a Major League number-two hitter. While they think he only projects to have average power once he develops, scouts think that he is likely to someday be a starting second baseman in the MLB.

Opinion: The Nationals need middle infield help, especially in the future. Anderson Hernandez isn’t more than a current fix to that problem. Kobernus has a chance to be a solid major leaguer in the next several years in the mold of an Adam Kennedy. The Nats filled a needed hole here, just like they did with their second overall pick. Kobernus goes along with the evident strategy for the Nats yesterday, draft players who can help, soon.

Third Round Trevor Holder- Georgia
  

With their fourth overall pick the Nationals surprised many by drafting Trevor Holder, a senior from Georgia University.

In 15 games started this year Hoder went 7-5 with a 4.48ERA. in 92 IP Holder struck out only 72 and walked 30.

Opponents batted .260 against him last season.

Holder has a low 90’s fastball to combine with average off-speed stuff. 

While he faced solid competition in the SEC, Holder’s stats leave much to be desired. He was expected to be drafted in about the 10^th round.

Opinion: This pick made little sense, so I’m going to put faith in Mike Rizzo that he knows something now one else does. Holder never had a ERA below 4.00 his entire career at Georgia, and doesn’t seem to have major league stuff.

Other picks:

4^th Rd. Anthony Morris, RHP, Kansas St.
5^th Rd.Miguel Pena, RHP, La Joya HS
6^th Rd. Michael Taylor, SS, Westminster Academy HS
7^th Rd. Andrew Weaver, RHP, Georgia
8^th Rd. Roberto Perez, SS, Dorado Academy HS