Been posting a Nationals Top 10 Prospect list occasionally on ESPN and drew some interest, figured I'd put it up here and find potentially a few interested Nationals fan. All stats gathered from Baseball-Reference as of a few days ago, and the scouting report-like blurbs are based on reports done by Baseball America, Fangraphs, Johnathan Mayo, Baseball Prospectus, Keith Law, etc... If enough people are interested in this I'll update it on off days for the Nationals throughout the rest of the season. Enjoy.

Nationals Mid-Season Top 10 Prospects: Updated list that includes a couple new faces that have moved up/down due to performance and/or in the case of Lucas Giolito, being drafted.

1. Lucas Giolito, 18, SP, Giolito is currently rehabbing and is with pitching coordinators are meeting with Giolito to figure out a timeframe for him to begin pitching professionally, if he were to pitch this season, it would likely be with the A- Short Season Auburn Doubledays.

The high school right-hander entered the year as one of the most talented draft eligible players, but suffered an elbow injury in March. “I’m confident that this issue is behind me,” he said the day after the Nationals selected him. The Nationals felt safe drafting Giolito after having him checked out by the same doctors who performed the Tommy John surgeries on Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg, saying the elbow was ‘all clear’. “I’m looking forward to getting on the mound soon.” Giolito's fastball can reach 99 mph and he sits at 94-96 mph, according to Baseball America. He also throws a plus-plus curveball and a plus change-up. Drawing Roy Halladay comps, he profiles as a top of the rotation starter.

Pre-Season Ranking: Unranked

2. Anthony Rendon, 22, 3B (Injured 4/7, activated 7/19, A-, Rookie, A+, 9 games, Currently rehabbing with the A- Short Season Auburn Doubledays): 7 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7/5 BB/K Ratio, .333/.500/.952

Considered the most polished hitter coming out of his draft, projected by some to put up a .300 average while hitting 20+ homeruns to go along with gold glove defense on the hot corner. Injury questions with his ankle and shoulder have bugged him the past few years and could result in Rendon moving away from 3B.

Pre-Season Ranking: 2nd

3. Alex Meyer, 22, SP (18 GS, A, A+, Called up to A+ Potomac July 20th): 2.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 102 IP, 73 H(6.4 H/9), 36 BB (3.2 BB/9), 119 K(10.5 K/9) 3.31 SO/BB

If he can harness some control and develop a changeup, he can be a #1 starter, if not, he has a plus upper 90’s fastball to go with a nasty plus slider that will make him a dominant late inning reliever.

Pre-Season Ranking: 3rd

4. Brian Goodwin, OF (Injured between 4/10-5/17, 69 G, A, AA, Called up to AA-Harrisburg on July 19th): 78 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 44 RBI, 15 SB, 49/52 BB/K Ratio, .304/.419/.518

Has shown flashes of 5-tools, defense is a work in progress

Pre-Season Ranking: 4th

5. Sammy Solis, 22, SP (Tommy John Surgery in February) 2011 numbers (A, A+): 17 GS, 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 96.2 IP, 100 H (9.7 H/9), 23 BB (2.1 BB/9), 93 K (8.7 K/9), 4.04 K/BB Ratio

Above average fastball which has increased in velocity, plus changeup, and an above average curveball with great command profile Solis, as a mid-rotation innings eater.

Pre-Season Ranking: 5th

6. Matt Purke, 22, SP (Injuries and strength conditioning have limited Purke to 3 starts for A Hagerstown, shut down on June 18th with shoulder tendinitis)

When healthy, Purke has a plus fastball, plus slider, and an above average changeup and profiles as a top of the rotation starter.

Pre-Season Ranking: 6th

7. Matt Skole, 23, 3B (88 G, A): 85 H, 14 2B, 22 HR, 76 RBI, 6 SB, 83/100 BB/K Ratio, .284/.437/.552

Glove leaves uncertainty to where on the diamond Skole will play, but the ability to hit for average and power will be what potentially takes Skole to the major leagues, think Daniel Murphy with more power

Pre-Season Ranking: 12th

8. Destin Hood, 22, OF (Injured in late May with a wrist injury, returned to AA Harrisburg on June 26th, 69 games, AA): 63 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 5 SB, 21/62 BB/K Ratio, .241/.306/.341

Extremely raw athlete with above-average speed and raw power that scouts believe could turn into a 20/20 guy on the corner; patience is the key with Hood.

Pre-Season Ranking: 8th

9. Robbie Ray, 20, SP (Activated 5/3, 15 G, 14 GS, A+): 5.26 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 78.2 IP, 90 H (10.3 H/9), 30 BB (3.4 BB/9), 60 K (6.9 K/9), 2.00 K/BB Ratio

Lefty with 3 pitch mix, relies heavily on command, fastball in the high 80’s, average curve, average changeup, drawn comparison to Mike Minor, ceiling as mid-back of rotation starter

Pre-Season Ranking: 9th

10. Michael Taylor, 21, OF (100 G, A+): 86 H, 31 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 36 RBI, 18 SB, 40/102 BB/K Ratio, .246/.327/.371

Shifted from SS to OF after the 2011 season, good mix of speed and power, raw in terms of defense and base running, needs improvement with batting eye, like with Hood, patience is key and Taylor profiles as a future major league CF

Pre-Season Ranking: 10th

Harper, Lombardozzi removed due to time with major league club

Giolito added after 2012 MLB Draft

Matt Skole joining Top 10 due to performance.