It was supposed to be the draft that stockpiled the Nationals’ farm system and produced multiple star players within five years. The 2007 draft didn’t quite work out as planned for Washington. But there is still hope for some.
1. Jordan Zimmermann » Already off to a good start this spring training, the 25-year-old from Division II Wisconsin-Stevens Point is poised for a breakthrough. It wasn’t an easy road after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009, but he showed flashes in his return last year. Zimmermann was Washington’s second-round pick in 2007 — No. 67 overall.
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2. Derek Norris » He’s on most top 100 prospect lists this offseason, including as high as No. 33 by ESPN’s Keith Law. Not bad for a fourth-round pick. Norris has an innate understanding of the strike zone and good power to boot. He has a strong arm, but his defensive skills remain a work in progress. Even with the organizational depth, he’s still the best bet to take over at catcher.
3. Ross Detwiler » A hip injury last offseason derailed Detwiler’s hopes of making the team out of spring training. He no longer is considered an elite prospect, and the Nats would settle for a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2007 draft. They hope Detwiler’s tweaked mechanics have him on the way.
4. Josh Smoker » Scouts loved this flame-throwing high-schooler from Georgia, and Washington grabbed him with the first supplemental pick — No. 31 overall. But the $1 million signing bonus hasn’t bought them much. Injuries cut short his starting career, and his future — if any — is in the bullpen.
5. Jack McGeary » Washington’s unique agreement with McGeary gave him a $1.8 million bonus as a sixth-round pick, but he would remain a student at Stanford during the school year and play minor league ball in the summer. He never pitched with much consistency, however, and needed Tommy John surgery in June.
