As we continue to preview the 2016 Washington Nationals, today we’ll be be discussing another non-roster invitee to big league Spring Training: Austin Voth.
The Washington Nationals have long been known for their pitching depth, especially among some of their top prospects. Whether it’s Stephen Strasburg, Lucas Giolito or any of the other arms that have climbed the farm system in recent years, the team has drafted and developed several star pitchers, and the next one may very well be right-hander Austin Voth.
Voth will join a number of the team’s most talented young prospects at this year’s big league Spring Training. Headlining the list, of course, is No. 1 prospect Giolito. Voth also joins several non-roster invitees this spring: Erik Davis, Paolo Espino, Taylor Hill, Wander Suero, Jason Martinson, Matt Skole and Tony Campana.
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Of all of those players, Voth may be the most intriguing and he could be the first to make it to the big leagues.
The Nationals drafted Voth, 22, in the fifth round of the 2013 draft and the young right-hander has quickly made his way up the minor league ladder.
After joining the Nationals in 2013, Voth made his way from the team’s Gulf Coast League affiliate to Class-A Hagerstown in just half a season. The right-hander went 3-0 with 55 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA in 46 1/3 innings in 2013.
Voth made even more strides in 2014. The right-hander continued his rapid ascent up the Nationals’ farm system, starting the year at Hagerstown before being promoted to High-A Potomac and making it all the way to Double-A Harrisburg by the end of the year.
Voth had another solid year in 2015, going 6-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 157 1/3 innings with Double-A Harrisburg.
While Voth has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, the right-hander will have a chance to showcase his skills to the big league club this spring. And although he’s unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, there’s a good chance we’ll see Voth at Nationals Park at some point in 2016.