Baseball America ranked the Nats’ farm system No. 21 before the 2010 season started. Since then general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff have worked to improve that number. But it isn’t just young prospects such as Bryce Harper — who we likely won’t see for at least two years. There are several players at the upper levels of the system who fans will see in September and should contribute next season.
Jordan Zimmermann
The organization’s top pitching prospect not named Stephen Strasburg has made a remarkable recovery from Tommy John surgery. Just over a year later he already has made nine minor league starts at multiple levels of the organization with a 1.82 ERA in 34 2⁄3 innings. Zimmermann, 24, has 26 strikeouts and just five walks. You’ll see him back in the big league rotation as soon as next week.
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Danny Espinosa
Nats made a key decision this week when Espinosa, 23, was moved from shortstop to second base at Triple-A Syracuse. Washington already has traded Cristian Guzman and holds a club option on Adam Kennedy for next season, so second base is wide open. Espinosa, a third-round pick in 2009, has moved quickly through the system after leaving Long Beach State. He’s a good defensive player with range and a strong arm. Scouts have questioned his skills at the plate at the big league level. But Espinosa, a switch hitter, has obvious power with 22 home runs split between Double-A and Triple-A.
Wilson Ramos
He made his Washington debut Thursday after being acquired in the Matt Capps trade last month. The 23-year-old catcher is a plus defensive player with a strong arm. Ramos threw out more than 40 percent of baserunners in 2008 and 2009, which is excellent. This year he’s even better at 51 percent in Triple-A. Don’t expect a middle-of-the-order bat, though; Ramos’ plate discipline in the high minors is poor, and his power numbers (seven homers, 16 doubles, one triple) are just OK. He likely will split time with Ivan Rodriguez in 2011.
