The Washington Nationals have been busy the past few weeks tying up the loose ends with the Max Scherzer deal. Before this deal happened though, the Nationals were making quieter moves, drafting players to minor league contracts. These players have to potential to be the future of the organization and should not be overlooked even with the Scherzer deal.
Here are a few of the recently added Washington Nationals’ minor league players.
Derrick Robinson
Derrick Robinson was the fourth-round pick by the Royals in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. The outfielder had some injury issues last season and had surgery on his shoulder. Although the Nationals have given Robinson a minor league contract, they have not extended an invitation to Spring Training.
The lack of a Spring Training invitation could be attributed to his injury and his little experience in the majors. In the long run, Robinson could be an asset for the Nationals, with experience at all three outfield positions. He also specializes in stealing bases, with 317 bases stolen over the course of his minor league career.
Evan Meek
Evan Meek is one of the Nationals’ better picks. Meek has major league pitching experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles. During his time with the Pirates he was selected to play in the 2010 All Star Game for the National League.
The reliever had a rough time in 2011, when Meek had several injuries that messed with the speed of his fastball. If he can overcome the struggles he had in Baltimore, Meek has the potential to bring real depth to the Nationals’ bullpen.
Kila Ka’aihue
The first baseman Kila Ka’aihue is a good player for the Nationals to have in their back pocket. For starters, he has some major league experience, playing for Kansas City in 2008 and the Oakland Athletics in 2012. For the past two seasons, Ka’aihue has played for the Hiroshima Carp of the Japan Central League. In the few major league games he has played in, Ka’aihue had a batting average of .221 and 15 home runs, showing that he still has some work to do in the minors. He was, however, invited to Spring Training, which shows the Nationals are willing to invest in him.
Mike Carp
Mike Carp is another minor league player, who is thought to be able to improve the Nationals’ bench. The fielder is able to play both the infield and outfield, which is good for the Nationals’ organization because it gives them more options.
Carp has postseason experience with the Boston Red Sox, playing on the 2013 World Series winning team. During that same year he had his best season, with a batting average of .296 and a .362 on-base percentage. Along with a minor league contract, Carp was also invited to attend Spring Training, where the Nationals hope to see a promising fielder.
Steven Lerud
Catcher, Steven Lerud is a smart pick on the Nationals’ part because he may be able to bring the depth behind the plate, which the team is currently lacking. Lerud lacks a lot of major league experience, only playing nine games for the Philadelphia Phillies between 2012 and 2013. During his time with the Braves’ minor league organization, he showed some offensive power, hitting a .250 with four home runs. The catcher was also invited to Spring Training and we will see what he brings to the table in the months coming up.
