Souza gets well-deserved recognition from the team. Photo Nats official/Tommy Gilligan
The Nationals on 9/24/14 announced that Lucas Giolito and Steven Souza were named their minor league players of the year for 2014 (announcement made on twitter, h/t to FederalBaseball for the initial posting on the topic).
No surprise for Souza, who sported an OPS above 1.000 in AAA. I was a bit surprised Giolito got the nod over someone like Taylor Hill, Austin Voth‘s 2-level rise, or especially what A.J. Cole did this year, but you cannot argue with his season all in all.
Here’s an look though at the history of the Nats’ minor league players of the year. Does earning the award guarantee future success?
- 2014: Steven Souza, Lucas Giolito
- 2013: Billy Burns, Taylor Jordan
- 2012: Matt Skole, Nathan Karns (also BA’s two POTY for the org)
- 2011: Steve Lombardozzi, Brad Peacock
- 2010: Tyler Moore, Tommy Milone
- 2009: Derek Norris, Brad Meyers
- 2008: Leonard Davis, Jordan Zimmermann
- 2007: Justin Maxwell, John Lannan
- 2006: Kory Casto, Zech Zinicola
- 2005: Kory Casto, Mike O’Conner
I’d say that it is quite hit or miss. Of the 9 distinct hitters named in the Nats franchise history, I think the only guy you could claim has lived up to his minor league success is Derek Norris. Leonard Davis never even made the majors. Kory Casto barely did: hitting below .200 in parts of two major leagues seasons before getting DFA’d. Most of the rest of these guys at best are no more than role players (with “too early to tell” labels on Skole and Souza of course).
Of the pitchers; clearly Jordan Zimmermann has blossomed into the real thing, and a couple of the other names here have turned into serviceable #4/#5 starters (Lannan, Milone). Perhaps its indicative of just how poor the farm system was upon the team’s arrival in Washington that the first two pitchers of the system were a guy who never pitched in the majors (Zinicola) and another who had a career 5.30 ERA in 35 MLB apperances over several years. Meyers never came back from a shoulder injury; no shame there.
Before 2005, my information is a little spotty on who the Expos named. Here’s what I do know:
2004: Ryan Church
2003: Terrmel Sledge
2002
2001
2000: Brad Wilkerson
1999:
1998: Michael Barrett, Noah Hall
1997:
1996: Vladimir Guerrero
1995: Vladimir Guerrero