Washington Nationals: Five Impact Prospects For 2019

Andrew Stevenson, OF

Andrew Stevenson is not a flashy prospect nor is he highly-ranked. However, due to lack of depth, he could play a huge role for the Nationals if injuries test the team’s depth. Taylor’s injury didn’t just allow Robles to take the starting center fielding job. It allowed Stevenson to make the Opening Day roster.

Stevenson, the light-hitting lefty out of LSU made the team as the fourth outfielder. His 132 at-bats coming into 2019 helps him retain his rookie status, though there isn’t much to be said about those previous appearances. In 100 career games over parts of two seasons, he hit just .213 with one home run and 14 RBI.

He’s featured in a few games for the Nats this season almost entirely as a pinch hitter and made a big impact on April 3rd against the Philadelphia Phillies after the bullpen had seemingly blown another game. With the Nationals trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the 8th, Stevenson led of as pinch hitter for the pitcher. He’d end up singling to left field for his first hit of the season as the catalyst for the tying rally that allowed the Nats to later walk-off the Phillies and split the series.

Stevenson is likely never going to be a starting outfielder for a contending team. Even though he’s only got 136 Major League at-bats to his name, it’s pretty clear that the youngster is probably nothing more than a depth outfielder. Stevenson has been optioned to the minors with Taylor back, but because the Nationals organization is thin in outfield depth, he will likely have a role on the roster for some or most of 2019.