Dec 4, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson answers questions from the media during the Major League Baseball winter meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The Nationals drafted Cole in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He was considered a top prospect but a difficult sign heading into the draft, with a strong commitment to the University of Miami. His commitment allowed him to slip in the draft until the Nationals scooped him up and swayed him to go pro by offering him a fourth-round record $2 million bonus. He only pitched one inning the remainder of that season, a scoreless one in rookie ball. In 2011, he had a 4.04 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 89.0 IP at A-level Hagerstown. While on the surface, these stats may seem unimpressive, his peripheral stats remained good, including his 10.9 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. The following offseason, Cole was the centerpiece of a package to Oakland, along with Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone, and Derek Norris, for Gio Gonzalez. While Gonzalez thrived in D.C., Cole initially struggled with Oakland’s High A team, with a 7.82 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in eight starts (38.0 IP). After a demotion back to A-ball, he regained his form and dominated, with a 2.07 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 95.2 IP. His setback this year, while discouraging, has not significantly changed his path as a prospect, and as unimpressive as he was in High A, he made up for it the rest of the season. The Nationals reacquired him from Oakland in a three-team trade this past offseason when they sent Mike Morse to Seattle, who sent John Jaso to Oakland, who sent Cole and prospect Blake Treinen to Washington.

Verdict: Cole’s arrival in the majors was likely delayed by a year by his demotion this year, but his skills appear to be intact. He rebounded quickly in A after losing his mechanics in High A.  He still has the potential to be a front-line starter, and as he returns to the staff that drafted him and knows him, he should restore his elite prospect stock with a good year in High A this year.

Jun 5, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets third baseman Matt Skole (16) runs past Mississippi State Bulldogs catcher Wes Thigpen (31) and the throw to score a run during the fifth inning in the Atlanta regional of the 2011 NCAA baseball tournament at Russ Chandler Stadium. Mississippi State defeated Georgia Tech 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Skole was the first prospect ranked at #108. In it, S2S says that he is still quite a bit away from earning a spot in the Major Leagues and predicts that his ability to avoid the strikeout (or lack there of) will remind people of Mark Reynolds.

Lucas Giolito was #98 and most of that is due to injury concerns and the fact he has yet to throw a professional pitch and likely won’t until 2014. The talent that he has shown in order to earn himself a first round selection is the same that allowed him to break in the top 100.

Newly-acquired A.J. Cole came in at #95. S2S notes what everybody will be thinking once the season gets underway – how much of Cole’s struggles last year was due to the tough California League and how much was it due to mechanics or something long term? In S2S’s crystal ball, they have Cole ending the season in AA.

Keep on checking out the prospect list as it comes out, and we will keep you updated as more Nationals are named. Presumably, two Nationals remain uncalled – Anthony Rendon and Brian Goodwin.

1. Bryce Harper
2. Anthony Rendon
3. Brad Peacock
4. A.J. Cole
5. Brian Goodwin
6. Alex Meyer
7. Matt Purke
8. Sammy Solis
9. Tom Milone
10. Stephen Lombardozzi
11. Derek Norris
12. Chris Marrero
13. Cole Kimball
14. Eury Perez
15. Robbie Ray

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