Washington Nationals: 2016 MLB Draft Day 2 Recap

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Yesterday, the Washington Nationals made eight selections in the 2016 MLB Draft. Check out how they did in our draft recap.

The Washington Nationals had a solid first day of the MLB Draft, as they selected players that could hopefully be a big part of future success for the franchise. The Nats followed the same formula during the second day of the draft.

So let’s recap who they selected on Day Two of the draft before going into detail on some of the picks:

Third Round: Pick #94. Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)

Luzardo was someone that people were excited for, as the high school southpaw touched the mid-90s with his fastball. However, Luzardo lost steam, when he had to undergo Tommy John surgery. In addition to his fastball, he features a curveball and changeup.

Fourth Round: Pick #124. Nick Banks, OF, Texas A&M

Banks was on Team USA last summer and made a lasting impression. The outfielder led them in hitting (.386) and on-base percentage (.491). He did win the Southeastern Conference tournament MVP last month. Banks could thrive in the role as a bench player, depending on the opportunity he receives.

Fifth Round: Pick #154. Daniel Johnson, OF, New Mexico State

Johnson was the Western Athletic Conference player of the year this season He hit .416, slugged .720, crushed eight home runs and swiped 15 bases for the Aggies.

Sixth Round: Pick #184. Tres Barrera, C, Texas

Barrera split time between first base and third base while fulfilling his catching duties with the Longhorns. He hit .289 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 2016. The ability to play multiple positions is something that could be a huge asset down the road.

Seventh Round: Pick #214. Jacob Noll, 2B, Florida Gulf Coast University

Noll bats from the right side and compiled a .367 average with 12 homers and 67 RBI 2016. He posted a .326 average in the Cape Cod League in 2015. He was also the Atlantic Sun Player of the year.

Eighth Round. Pick #244. A.J. Bogucki, RHP, North Carolina

Bogucki was a reliever for the Tar Heels and experienced some success. The right-handed pitcher posted a 2.89 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings.

Ninth Round. Pick #274. Joey Harris, C, Gonzaga University

Harris hit .247 with two home runs and 22 RBI in his senior year at Gonzaga.

Tenth Round. Pick #304. Paul Panaccione, SS, Grand Canyon University

Panaccione hit .363 with 14 extra-base hits, 26 RBI, and a .440 OBP in 41 games. He was named the Preseason WAC Player of the year by the conference’s coaches.

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the picks, starting with Luzardo:

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports” width=”590″ height=”371″ /> May 29, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; General view of Nationals Park during the game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Jesus Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo was the lone high school player taken by the Nats on day two of the draft. He’s certainly a long-term project for them, considering he underwent Tommy John surgery back on March 22.

The fact that the lefty went under the knife wasn’t a red flag for the Nats. They have a pitcher in their rotation (Stephen Strasburg) and another in the minors (Lucas Giolito) who have already gone through the recovery process. The organization and medical personnel must feel confident that Luzardo will come back strong, or they wouldn’t have selected him in the third round.

According to MLB.com, “Luzardo over the summer was touching 93 mph and sitting in the 89-91 mph range. It played up thanks to its sinking action and how well he commanded it. He also changes speeds on his curveball well and has a good feel for his changeup.”

Luzardo is still very young, as he ‘s just 18 and there’s still time for him to mature. It’s possible through the recovery process that his arm becomes stronger.

His fastball could increase from 93 mph to 96 and he already has terrific command of the pitch so far.

The young pitcher already has an understanding of how to change speeds with his secondary offerings and this will improve with more starts under his belt.

The Nats have a good history of developing young arms in the minors and Luzardo could be another success story

I think since he’s a high school pitcher and has not thrown a pitch at the collegiate level, there wasn’t too much risk involved. Luzardo could be a major contributor for the team in several years as he the stuff to be a quality pitcher.

This is a move that could pay off in the future for the Nats. Now, let’s take a look at the selection of Banks in round four:

Next: Nick Banks, OF, Texas A&M

Jun 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A Washington Nationals hat sits on the bench during the game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

Nick Banks

Nick Banks was the first of many college players selected by the Washington Nationals on day two of the draft. He was a stud for Team USA last summer, but his performance regressed this spring.

One major factor for the decreasing performance is that he had a cyst removed from his lower back last fall. It’s possible that he wasn’t at full strength and it had a negative impact. This season, he hit .289 with nine home runs, 49 RBI’s, and an on-base percentage of .380.

The Washington Nationals are likely drafting Banks on the potential that he showed with Team USA. He was the best hitter on the team that included Corey Ray from Louisville and Buddy Reed from Florida.

Those two are phenomenal players and for Banks to lead the team in hitting speaks volumes to his talent level.

According to MLB.com, “Banks has a sleek left-handed swing and delivers line drives from gap to gap. He has above-average raw pop and became more aggressive and began to drive the ball more in 2015. Banks possesses solid speed and arm strength and profiles as someone that can play right field.”

The Nats could definitely use an outfielder with the skill set of Banks in a couple of years. If he flashes the form that was evident with the U.S. collegiate national team, the Nats may have found a key piece for their future.

It goes to show you there is talent in various portions of the draft. A team can find an integral piece in the later rounds.

Next: Tres Barrera, C, Texas

Apr 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; A general view of Nationals Park during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Tres Barrera

Tres Barrera was one of two catchers selected by the Washington Nationals on day two. Barrera was a smart pick by the team for two reasons.

For one, he has some pop in his bat, which is excellent for a catcher. The other reason is his versatility, as he also played games at first and third base during his tenure with the Longhorns. Although he hit six home runs last year, that total is three fewer than what he hit in 2015.

If the Nats are able to sign him, Barrera will give the organization some depth at the catcher position. It’s unique to have an individual be a catcher and play two other positions on the infield as well. Barrera is one of two catchers the Nats took on Day 2 as they selected Gonzaga catcher Joey Harris in the ninth round.

I made mention he had power, and according to MLB.com, “his most impressive tool is his plus raw right-handed power. He generates with a combination of bat speed and strength.”

The unknown is whether or not he can reach that power as he often attempts to do too much at the plate. He is sound defensively, as MLB.com also mentioned that his “receiving and blocking skills are fine, and he has an accurate arm.”

If he refines his swing, it’s possible Barrera can be a serviceable backup catcher for the Nats in a couple of years and maybe push for more playing time if the offense continues to progress.

Next: Draft Day 2 Impressions

Feb 24, 2015; Viera, FL, USA; A Washington Nationals baseball cap lies on the field during spring training workouts at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Day 2 Takeaways

In my opinion, the Washington Nationals did a stellar job on day 2 of the draft, as they focused on several key areas. The selection of Luzardo is a long-term option for the rotation, Banks has the potential to provide an impact in the lineup and Barrera is someone that can play multiple positions when he’s not behind the plate.

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I even like the selection of Daniel Johnson in the fifth and A.J. Bogucki in the eighth round.

Johnson is a player that could develop into a solid corner outfielder with some power, considering he did hit well last season for New Mexico State.

Bogucki is a pitcher can be a major piece in the bullpen down the road for the Nats. The one thing teams can never have enough is pitching, and adding to that depth was a wise move.

The favorite pick for me from day two is Luzardo. It will take patience, but I think the left-handed pitcher will pay huge dividends many, many years later.

The trend with all of the picks is that the Nationals love collegiate players, considering just one player was taken from high school. There’s some logic to drafting mostly college players as they will, on most occasions, be more polished than their high school counterparts.

Next: Nats Select Neuse With 58th Pick

All in all, it will be interesting to see how all of these players do in the organization if the Washington Nationals can sign them. The MLB Draft will conclude tomorrow with rounds 11-40. You can watch the draft at 12:00 p.m ET on MLB.com.

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