Zimmerman (not Ryan) Gets Well Deserved Recognition

No, not Ryan Zimmerman.  2007 second round darft pick Jordon Zimmerman gets well deserved props from the Washington Post.  Zimmerman is on a fast track because of the success hehas had at each level of the minor league system.

They noticed how Zimmermann’s fastball hit 94 mph, and how it brushed the plate’s edges. They noticed how his wind-up depends on a driving lower-body push, mechanics that make Harrisburg Manager John Stearns think of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. They noticed how he cleaned up a first-and-third, no-out mess with a popup and a double play. When scouts see something that cannot be measured, they become most convinced of talent.

“When you need to get somebody out, can you do it?” said Washington scouting director Dana Brown, who watched the game from behind home plate. “You see that, like with Zimmermann, you see somebody very close to being major league ready, if not right there scratching at the surface.”

Zimmerman deserves the recognition. We here ar DCPSR have been touting Zimmerman since his arrival last season with the Vermont Lake Monsters.  While prospect websites rate Ross Detwiler as the top pitching prospect in the Nationals system, we easily placed Zimmerman over Detwiler.  In fact, Detwiler for us has fallen to 4 or 5, heck, we’ll just give your our top five right here (our ratings are based on who we think is closest to ready for the Nats combined with who we think will have major league succeess)
1.  Jordon Zimmerman
2.  Marco Estrada
3.  Joshua Smoker
4.  Ross Detwiler
5.  Colton Willems
Somewhere near the top of that list are Jack McGeary, Corey Van Allen (on the DL), and Adrian Alaniz. In addition, let’s not forget about Nationals 2008 first rounder Aaron Crow, who may very well catapault up that list. Only reason we don’t add Colin Balestar to that list is because we are hoping the  nationals will show patience with Balestar and let him play at the DC level for the remainder of 2008 season.
I don’t really share the assessment some scouts have of the average to a little above average pitching prospects inthe Nationals system.  I think guys like Zimmerman, Alaniz, and Estrada have shown they can dominate at each level of the system.  But I do agree with the one scout that Ross Detwiler appears to be ‘broken’ somehow.  With an ERA over 5.00 in Single A, Detwiler is also giving up big numbers in hits allowed.  In his last 7 games, Detwiler has given up 8 or more hits in 9 of those.  Over that span, he has an ERA of 5.89.  Something is wrong. While guys liek Zimmerman, Alaniz, and Estrada climb the letter with success, Detwiler struggled in Single A.
Other Minor News:
Washington agreed to terms with second round draft pick Destin Hood.  Hood was a football recruit to Alabama and said if he weas a top third round pick, he would likely go the baseball route (as a Tenneeesee Vols fan, this makesme happy).

By signing with the Nationals — a deal that includes a $1.1 million bonus, spread over five years — Hood, from Mobile, Ala., formally chose a professional baseball career over a football scholarship with the University of Alabama. “He was certainly a first-round talent,” Washington General Manager Jim Bowden said, “and he fell to us only because of football and signability.”

Hood will begin his professional career joining the Gulf Coast League Nationals, Rookie League.  First rounder Aaron Crown is not yet signed.
Again, keep your eye on 1B Bill Rhinehart.  Rhinehart is an 11th round pick of the 2007 draft and could be a long term solution at first base.  He has steadily risen over the coruse of a year, hitting .299 with 5 HRs and 43 RBIs last season in Vermont.  After starting off hitting .295 with 9 HRs with Hagerstown this season, he was promoted to Potomac when Chris Marrero went to the disabled list.  He played a total of 7 games, htting .320 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs.   Rhinehart was quickly promoted to AA Harrisburg, where he now resides.  Last night Rhinehart was 3 for 3 raising his AA average to .359 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.

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