2016 MLB Draft: Nationals' top pick Carter Kieboom expects to make decision on signing tomorrow

Washington Nationals' Assistant GM and VP of Scouting Kris Kline was excited about the Nats' top pick of the 2016 Draft, the 28th overall selection, Carter Kieboom.

"He's a very athletic high school shortstop and I think [he] stays at shortstop," Kline told reporters last night, after the end of the second round of this year's draft.

The bat, Kline said, really impressed.

Kieboom went 37 for 101, putting up a .366/.504/.644 line with nine doubles, two triples, five home runs, 24 walks and seven stolen bases as a senior, leading Marietta, Georgia's Walton High School to its first state title.

"It's an advanced approach at the plate," Kline said. "Very good tools with some above average, some solid average. He's going to be a really good big leaguer. Good makeup, just has a really good feel for the game, he's a baseball player."

If the name sounds familiar, there's a good reason for that. Carter's older brother Spencer Kieboom is already a catcher in the Nationals' organization.

The youngest of three Kieboom brother said today he was excited about getting drafted by the same organization that took his older brother.

"To be selected by the Nationals is actually very special," he said.

"I've never been able to play with my older brothers, just because of how much older they are than me, and now to be given the opportunity to potentially play with Spencer in a few years, I think that would be a very cool scenario to take place."

Getting picked by the Nationals came as something of a surprise to him, he explained, though he had some idea which teams were interested.

"I really had no idea who was going to take me," Kieboom said.

"I had narrowed it to a few teams who were likely or had a higher chance of taking me, but I found out probably 10 or 15 minutes beforehand that the Nationals were going to take me and it was really a dream come true of mine and it's really just the beginning now."

Did he hear from his brother after he got picked?

"Yes, I talked to my older brother, I talked to both my brothers. They were just really more congratulating me, [saying] 'Enjoy it... now you're about to embark on one of the greatest years of your life.' 'It's going to be a grind, but remember why you started playing the game because you love it and have fun with it.'"

Kline told reporters last night that the Nationals had Kieboom in for a workout in the nation's capital that went very well, and the 18-year-old infielder said he was happy with his performance as well.

"I thought I had a great workout," Kieboom said. "I've been to a few workouts and those workouts certainly typically don't hurt players, but it can -- this late in the game, it can be something that can really help you out, kind of be reassuring of what you're capable of doing as a player.

"And I went up there, I had a phenomenal workout, I hit very well, was very sound defensively.

"These workouts, they don't really tell you -- they don't try to give you tips or advice or anything, they just want to see you go out and do what you do and I was able to do that very well that weekend."

MLB 2016 Draft: Asst. GM Kris Kline on Kieboom, Dunning and Neuse

Photo © and courtesy @Nationals on Twitter

Kieboom has a commitment to Clemson, but he said he'll make a decision on whether to sign and go pro or attend college by tomorrow.

"It's something I've been thinking about a lot. I haven't told anyone 100% what I'm going to do yet, and I plan to make that [decision] here within the next day, probably tomorrow I'll make that decision.

"But I'm very thankful for the Nationals organization -- to give me this opportunity I've been dreaming of my whole life and we'll find out tomorrow what the decision is."