Judging by their ample farm system, the Washington Nationals are not a team to be written off in the National League East race.
Washington is well stocked to add reinforcements from Double-A Harrisburg or Triple-A Syracuse, or use the highly touted farm hands to bring in battle-tested talent to make a push for the pennant and run down the injury-slowed Atlanta Braves.
Two of the hottest prospects in the system, second baseman Anthony Rendon and right-hander Taylor Jordan, have already been called up to the big leagues.
Rendon is hitting .301 and Jordan has a 0-2 record with a 3.32 ERA in four starts with the Nationals. On Sunday, Jordan did not factor into the decision but worked six innings, allowing two runs with no walks and four strikeouts for the quality start.
General manager Mike Rizzo has not shied away from risks or going against popular opinion (see Operation Strasburg Shutdown in 2012), but if it is plug-and-play roster pieces he is seeking, there will be plenty of other sharks in the water.
Of his National League peers, Rizzo can expect little help from division rivals on the verge of sell-offs and knows there are deeper pockets — Ned Colleti in Los Angeles, for one — willing to wade to any depth to secure big names at the deadline.
Based on a survey by team correspondents for The Sports Xchange, here is a closer look at the top candidates to be the Next Big Thing for all 15 National League teams (listed alphabetically):
Arizona Diamondbacks — SP Archie Bradley.
Bradley has the stuff, as he showed in the Futures Game, when he hit 98 mph, pitched consistently at 96 and mixed in a few 80 mph curves in a 1-2-3 inning. He was drafted out of high school and does not turn 21 until August, and the D-backs have preached patience. But if the need is great, he is there. 3B Matt Davidson was the MVP of the Futures Game and had 14 homers at Triple-A Reno, but the D-backs don’t have a need for a position player on the current roster.
Atlanta Braves — None.
The Braves expect to get a second-half lift from a player brought up from the minors — Brandon Beachy, who was developing into one of the top young pitchers in NL before needing Tommy John surgery last June. He should be ready to rejoin the Braves by late July after a minor setback during his rehab delayed his return.
Chicago Cubs — INF/OF Junior Lake.
The Cubs are sticking with their mantra of not rushing their kids. “We have to stay true to our vision,” said team president Theo Epstein. “You start taking shortcuts and rushing prospects through the system and shortchange their development, you pay for it with struggles at the big-league level.” That might change in September. Lake has responded well to a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs like his versatility and offensive potential. Most of the organization’s prospects are at the lower levels, so call-ups should be minimal in September.
Cincinnati Reds — CF Billy Hamilton.
Hamilton is the prospect fans want to see because he swiped 155 bases last year. But he went into the break hitting .243 with a .300 on-base percentage. He’s gotten better defensively in center field after a switch from shortstop late last year.
Colorado Rockies — OF Corey Dickerson.
Dickerson appeared in 15 games with the Rockies, including seven starts, in a short stint from June 21 through July 10 and hit .212 (7-for-33) with four doubles and two RBIs. When Dexter Fowler came off the disabled list July 11, the Rockies optioned Dickerson, 24, back to Triple-A Colorado Springs so he could play every day rather than sporadically. Dickerson is hitting .383/.426/.659 at Colorado Springs with 11 homers and 46 RBIs in 290 at-bats and figures to return to the Rockies in September, if not before.
Los Angeles Dodgers — SP Zach Lee.
If injuries once again hit the starting rotation, the Dodgers might consider reaching down to Double-A for their top pitching prospect, Lee. But after pulling Yusiel Puig from Double-A to the majors, that would seem a desperate measure. Then again, who can argue with those early results?
Miami Marlins — OF Christian Yelich.
Yelich, Miami’s top prospect, is on track for a September call-up, according to farm director Marty Scott. The team had hoped Yelich would have been up sooner, but his production was limited because of two injuries. He projects as Miami’s left fielder in 2014, so this will be an audition of sorts. Left-hander Brian Flynn has been more impressive than his record indicates (2-6, 3.38). He had a 1.32 ERA after two starts in July and could win a September call-up.
Milwaukee Brewers — SP Johnny Hellweg, SP Jimmy Nelson.
Hellweg, a flop in three first-half starts (10.97 ERA), likely will get another chance. Nelson has a shot to make his big-league debut and second baseman Scooter Gennett, who got a brief trial in June, could resurface in September if not sooner. And the injury-riddled first base position could prompt the Brewers to finally summon prospect Hunter Morris.
N.Y. Mets — C Travis d’Arnaud.
Right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero might have headlined this list were it not for a strict innings limit that should keep him confined to the minors. d’Arnaud is the bat that everyone wants to see, but he has been slow to heal from the fractured left foot he suffered in April. The hope is that d’Arnaud will be up in September for a short trial run. Infielder Wilmer Flores has been playing mostly second base in Las Vegas, and his strong first half could have him up even well before September.
Philadelphia Phillies — 2B/OF Cesar Hernandez.
When Chase Utley was out with an oblique strain, the Phillies tested Hernandez and were pleased with his performance. Phillies officials said on Sunday that Hernandez was being sent to Double-A Reading through the All-Star break to get extended time in centerfield. Hernandez has speed and has shown decent instincts, so he could get the nod in the outfield if the Phils don’t swing a deal for an outfielder to replace Ben Revere.
Pittsburgh Pirates — RHPs Ryan Reid, Vic Black and Duke Welker.
The Pirates have used their bullpen heavily but have reinforcements at Triple-A Indianapolis in Reid, Black and Welker. Reid is 6-1 with one save and a 0.89 ERA in 23 games, Black is 1-2 with 15 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 28 games and Welker is 3-3 with four saves and a 3.50 ERA in 32 games. All three pitchers are already on the 40-man roster, so the Pirates would not have to do any extra maneuvering to call them up.
St. Louis Cardinals — OF Oscar Taveras, 2B Kolten Wong.
Right-handers Carlos Martinez, just brought up again last week, and Michael Wacha are certain to be at Busch Stadium by Sept. 1 if they aren’t traded. Of the farmhands who haven’t been summoned this season, outfielder Oscar Taveras, once his high ankle sprain (which has kept him out for more than a month) allows and second baseman Kolten Wong, are obvious picks. Both have hit over .300 at Triple-A Memphis. 1B Brock Peterson, a career minor leaguer who has more than 20 homers at Memphis, figures as a reserve player down the stretch.
San Diego Padres — SP Robbie Erlin.
The Padres have very few, close-to-the-majors, position prospects who are not already in the major leagues. Erlin and right-handers RHPs Matt Andriese, Keyvius Sampson and Matt Wisler are outside possibilities. None of the latter three are currently on the 40-man roster. But right-handers Edinson Volquez and Jeff Marquez won’t likely be around after July 31, when the Padres will need to fill out the rotation.
San Francisco Giants — OFs Roger Kieschnick, Gary Brown.
Kieschnick is a Pacific Coast League All-Star, and Brown has been considered the team’s top hitting prospect. Management doesn’t think either is ready to face big-league pitching. At the very least, they could be September call-ups, though by then the Giants might be too far removed from the pennant race for Kieschnick or Brown to help.
Washington Nationals — RP Aaron Bennett.
Bennett impressed in the closer role at Double-A, and the thought is he could pitch in a late-inning role for the Nationals in September. Triple-A Syracuse INF Zach Walters has 19 homers and 49 RBIs and could get a look next month. Syracuse CF Eury Perez has been up before and his speed has been helpful. OF Tyler Moore spent most of last season with the Nationals and will be back up at least by September when they expand rosters.