Gabrielle O. Alvarez-Tillman - Contributing Reporter.
The Washington DC has made quite a few top half draft picks over the last few seasons, let's take a quick dive into them (yes, he's given his permission).
- S43
- #18 Graham Hitchcock (CF) - Released before his Arb3 in S53, was not picked up by anybody. After a solid rookie season, it was downhill from there; only receiving one more season of full time at-bats.
- S44
- #9 Boone Hines (2B)- Released before his Arb3 in S53, and currently on the last year of a 3/$16.2M deal he signed with Anaheim Diablos. Received full time at-bats throughout the 5 seasons with DC but was not very productive.
- S45
- #5 Avisail Mujica (P) - Traded as a 26 yr old to the Hartford Rising Stars who promptly moved him from the bullpen to the starting rotation where he's been solid in their play at the top of the NL. Coming back to DC were Harold Eiland (C) and Rocky Steenstra (3B). Eiland left and signed with the San Juan Fudds this season to a 2/$8.8M deal. Steenstra was quickly promoted and is still playing for DC today, and unless traded will be through S57 at $4M per season. Steenstra funny enough had been traded to the same team, just under a different owner only a year prior to be reacquired by DC.
- S46
- #3 Rocky Steenstra (3B) - was sent packing along with S44 supplemental round pick Domonic Malone (2B) prior to S48 for a single season of Doc Cortes. For compensation, DC selected Rigo Plata (2B), who has yet to make his ML debut, and Britt Bergmann (P), who was left unprotected and drafted in the Rule 5 by Houston in S54. Steenstra would eventually be reacquired by DC the very next season.
- S47
- #4 Randall Kennedy (P) - Did not sign, Type D pick (S48 - #4) was used on Albert Tomlin (P) who is being used as the ace of the DC rotation and topped 200 innings for the first time last season, going 8-14 with a 5.24 ERA.
- S48
- #1 Olmedo Nunez (DH) - Drafted ahead of future MVPs - Juancito Martin and Kyle Crain. His 3rd ML season has by far been his best, hitting 53 HR and recording 153 RBI. Traded just a game into this season (S55) to Salt Lake City Punk! Coming back to DC were three prospects - Benny Ward (LF), Gerry Holt (C), and Fausto Silverio (P). We'll see which ones end up making it to the majors and having an impact even remotely close to Nunez.
- S49
- #7 Bernard Morton (RF) - At the age of 26, he's on his 4th ML season with his rookie year being his best, totally over 180 hits, 32 HR, and 108 runs, 100 rbi, on a .285 average. His OPS has gone down every year since.
- S50
- #6 Erik Henry (P) - Did not sign, Type D pick (S51 - #7) was used on Daniel Federowicz (RF) who has shown promise after two full seasons in the majors. Last year's 23 HR, 14 SB, and .298 average was his best. At just 26 his numbers are shaking out to be his best season yet.
- S51
- #4 Zach Fussell (SS) was left until protected and drafted this season, S55, in the Rule 5 draft by the Columbus Corgis at pick #1.
- S52
- #5 Dee Valle (2B) - Shifted to 1B, but promoted to the majors at 21 years old but seems to be struggling. We'll see if he can come around and eventually be worth that 5th overall pick. The blog projected him as a .280ish hitter with 12-15 HRs on the season.
- S53
- #4 Brook Page (P) - Currently starting for the AAA team. Given the history of the team, I wouldn't be surprised by a call-up next season at age 21.
- S54
- #20 Cameron Kelly (SS) - Currently starting SS for the AA team. Being outside the top 15 picks, he was not covered by the blog in the draft recap.
- S55
- Lined up for the #8 pick in this year's draft.
- S56
- As the waiver stands today, they are looking at pick #2.