Nationals won't rush host of young prospects

Nationals Report: Minor league update

Date published: 6/15/2007

By TODD JACOBSON

BY TODD JACOBSON

Whenever there's a bump in the development road for Nationals' prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden just has to remember one thing: At 17 years old, Gonzalez would likely be finishing up his junior year in high school.

"He's only 17 years old," Bowden said. "He's going to be a great player."

It's just going to take some time.

The Nationals have been extremely cautious with Gonzalez, the switch-hitting Dominican shortstop given a $1.4 million signing bonus last summer. After talk of starting him at Single-A Hagerstown this season, Gonzalez spent the last two-and-a-half months at Washington's minor league complex and will make his professional debut with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League affiliate Tuesday.

"The competition there is more his age," Nationals farm director Bobby Williams said, "and it'll be the right spot for him to start his career where he can play and compete and have some success."

With the glove, Nationals officials say he's ready to move up the team's minor league ladder, but he's been slow to adjust at the plate to professional pitching. He hit .216 in 102 extended spring training at-bats, Williams said, driving in 10 runs and stealing five bases, but he's experimented with several different batting stances, getting away from what made him successful before the Nationals signed him.

"He needs at-bats and he'll get those at-bats this summer and he just needs to continue to improve his swing from both sides of the plate," Williams said. "He's working hard on getting in a good hitting position. He makes good contact. He just needs to get stronger and physically mature."

Gonzalez will be paired up in Vermont with Stephen King, the Nationals' 2006 third-round pick who will move to second base.

"We would like to bring them up together as a double play combination," Bowden said. "They are three, four years away from the big leagues. Bringing them up together we think is going to be the best way to develop them."

Outfielder Stephen Englund, the Nationals' second round pick a year ago, and recently-signed Venezuelan catching prospect Sandy Leon will also start the year in the GCL.

Right-hander Colton Willems, the 22nd player taken in last year's draft, will anchor a rotation in short-season Vermont that also consists of 2006 fourth-rounder Glenn Gibson, 2006 13th-rounder Hassan Pena and 2007 draft picks Jordan Zimmermann (second round) and Adrian Alaniz (eighth round) and Jeff Mandel (19th round). Vermont also opens its season Tuesday.

Todd Jacobson: 540/735-1974
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 6/15/2007