Looking back at the former Top-10 Prospect lists, 2018 featured the most players that either succeeded with the team, got released by the team, or got traded by the team. But what happened to the former top 10 guys from 2018?
1. OF Victor Robles
At the top of the list, the Nationals signed OF Victor Robles for 225,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013. Robles made his MLB debut in 2017 where he would appear in 13 games hitting .250. Robles became an everyday player in 2019 where he would have his best career offensive season, hitting 17 homers over 155 games in Center Field. Robles was nominated for 5 Gold Glove awards but would fall short in all 5 races. After 2019, the offensive numbers would dwindle and lead to him being released in 2024. Robles would sign with Seattle and revamp his career, hitting .328 over 41 games. Robles received a 2-year extension with Seattle in 2024.
2. OF Juan Soto
Yes, Juan Soto was a lower-rated prospect than Victor Robles. Soto's Nationals story is pretty self-explanatory. Soto became the youngest player to homer in the World Series in 2019 during the championship run. Soto was a 2x Silver Slugger, 2020 batting title winner, and 2022 Home Run Derby Champion. Soto would be traded to San Diego for CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, Robert Hassell III, Jarlin Susana, and Luke Voit. Soto would be traded again to New York, and sign the largest contract in MLB History this past offseason, signing a 15-year, $765 million deal.
3. SS/3B Carter Kieboom
Infielder Carter Kieboom would make his MLB debut in 2019, after Trea Turner suffered a finger injury that landed him on the IL, by hitting a homer in his first big league at bat. Kieboom took over the starting 3B position in 2020 and didn't live up to the expectation. The bat never panned out, and Kieboom was sent to AAA in 2022. Kieboom elected free agency in 2024 and signed a minor league deal with the Angels.
4. RHP Erick Fedde
Erick Fedde has had a Cinderella career so far. Fedde became a free agent in 2022 and signed with the Korean Baseball League, where he would pitch to a 20-6 record, 2.00 ERA, and won the KBO's version of the Cy Young Award. Fedde signed a 2-year deal with the White Sox in 2024 and was traded to the Cardinals mid-season.
5. LHP Seth Romero
Romero made his MLB debut in 2020 and would have a forgettable season. In 3 games, Romero pitched to a 13.50 ERA. Seth Romero would be arrested twice for DWI charges and was released from the team after the 2nd DWI.
6. 2B Luis Garcia Jr.
Luis Garcia Jr is the only remaining prospect that remains on the team to this day. Garcia became the first player born in the 2000s to hit a homer when he hit his first career homer in his 2020 debut season. Garcia was originally called up as a shortstop but transitioned to 2B in 2022. After multiple up-and-down seasons between AAA and MLB, Garcia broke out in 2024, hitting .282 with 18 homers and 70 RBI, being nominated for a Silver Slugger and becoming a Top-10 second baseman in MLB.
7. SS Yasel Antuna
The former shortstop-turned-outfielder never managed to hit well at the AA level, which led to Yasel Antuna electing free agency and remaining a free agent in 2023. Antuna would be the team's number #4 prospect in 2021 before shooting down the list following the trades that occurred that season.
8. RHP Wil Crowe
Crowe made his MLB debut in 2020, pitching to an 11.88 ERA in 3 starts. Crowe would be traded alongside RHP Eddy Yean to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 1B Josh Bell. Crowe pitched across 3 seasons with Pitt before electing free agency in 2023 and remaining on the market to this day.
9. OF Daniel Johnson
Johnson would be included in a trade that sent him to Cleveland in 2018 in exchange for Catcher Yan Gomes. Johnson made his MLB debut in July 2020 and spent 3 seasons in the Land, Johnson elected free agency in 2023 and signed with Baltimore in 2024. Johnson only appeared in 1 game last season and struck out in his only at-bat. Johnson is a free agent.
10. 3B Kelvin Gutierrez
The Nationals traded Kelvin Gutierrez and others to Kansas City in 2018 for RHP Kelvin Herrera. Gutierrez made his debut in 2019 with Kansas City and hit .260 over 20 games. Gutierrez would be sent to Baltimore in 2021 and play his final big league season in 2022. However, Gutierrez is still active in the DR and played for Team DR in the WBC.