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Washington Nationals land five prospects on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects

Baseball America released its list of the Top 100 Prospects in Baseball for 2016 late last night and there were five from the Washington Nationals' organization on the list, with Lucas Giolito the highest-ranked member of the Nats' system at no.5 overall.

By Patrick Reddington
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball America released both its Organizational Talent Rankings and its Top 100 Prospects list for 2016 late this week, with the Washington Nationals landing at no.5 overall on the organization rankings while five Nationals' prospects cracked BA's Top 100 list.

Washington has been up and down on BA's Organization Talent Rankings over the past few years as they've built up, graduated and restocked the system with the Nationals landing at no.14 in 2011, no.1 in 2012, no.16 in 2013, no.21 in 2014 and no.12 in 2015 before jumping up to no.5 this season.

Highest on the list, of course, is the top right-handed pitching prospect on the Top 100, Lucas Giolito, at no.5, followed by the top infield prospect in the organization, Trea Turner, at no.9, the Nats' top outfield prospect, Victor Robles, at no.33, 2014 1st Rounder Erick Fedde at no.82 and hard-throwing right-hander Reynaldo Lopez at no.92.

Giolito, 21, was (3-5) with a 2.71 ERA, a 1.96 FIP, 20 walks (2.58 BB/9) and 110 Ks (11.11 K/9) in 13 games, 11 starts and 69 ⅔ IP at High-A Potomac in 2015, before he moved up to Double-A Harrisburg, where he finished his fourth professional season (4-2) in eight starts with a 3.80 ERA, a 3.18 FIP, 17 walks (3.23 BB/9) and 45 Ks (8.56 K/9) in 47 ⅓ IP.

The 16th overall pick of the 2012 Draft, Giolito gets an 80 grade (on the scout's 20-to-80 scale) for his fastball, a 70 grade for his curve, 55 for his change and 60 for his control.

Turner, 22, who debuted in the majors late in 2015, after putting up a combined .322/.370/.458 line with 24 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 29 stolen bases in 35 attempts over 116 games at Double-A in the San Diego Padres and Nationals' organizations and Triple-A with the Nats, gets a 75 grade for his speed, 60 for his "Hit" tool, 40 for power, 50 for his fielding and 55 for his arm.

Robles, 18, who was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $225K in 2013, played for the Gulf Coast League Nats and New York-Penn League's Auburn Doubledays in 2015, putting up a combined .352/.445/.507 line with 11 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 24 stolen bases in 61 games and 261 plate appearances.

He gets a 55 grade for his bat from BA's scouts, a 50 for power, 70 for speed, 65 for his fielding and 70 for his arm, with an major league ETA of 2019 for the outfielder.

Fedde, 22, who underwent Tommy John surgery days before he was selected 18th overall in the 2014 Draft, returned to the mound in 2015, going (4-1) with the Doubledays and posting a 2.57 ERA, a 2.60 FIP, eight walks (2.06 BB/9) and 36 Ks (9.26 K/9) in 35 innings before he moved up to make six starts for the Low-A Hagerstown Suns, for whom he was (1-2) with a 4.34 ERA, 3.48 FIP, eight walks (2.48 BB/9) and 23 Ks (7.14 K/9) in 29 innings.

BA's scouts gave the right-hander a 60 grade for his fastball, a 55 for his slider, a 50 for his changeup and a 55 for his control, with an ETA of 2017.

Lopez, also 22, pitched at High-A Potomac in the Nats' system last season, going (6-7) in 19 starts with a 4.09 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 28 walks (2.55 BB/9) and 94 Ks (8.55 K/9) in 99 IP.

He got a 75 grade for his fastball, a 55 for his curve, 45 for his changeup and a 50 grade for his control.

• Check out Baseball America's entire Top 100 Prospects list through the link below:

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