The problem is that all most of those were on the mound and very few at the plate, so this is not going to be the most upbeat post for the Nationals and Suns fan to read.
However, hang in there, because in the second part of the series when I write about the pitchers there are many more that perhaps could hold a chance at prospect status over the next few seasons.
K.J. Harrison was obtained from Milwaukee late in the 2018 season in a trade and as a college player (Oregon State) and a 3rd round pick in 2017, Harrison being assigned to low A for the second year was a surprise to many.
Harrison's sixteen games in Hagerstown showed that he was far above the level as he hit over .400 with two homers before a deserved promotion to High A Potomac.
Harrison didn't hit as well there with 11 homers to go with a .244 average.
Harrison struck out 98 times, but I did like the 51 walks.
I'd think Harrison would start at AA Harrisburg, but a return to Potomac/Fredericksburg is possible with a hoped-for fast start to move him quickly to AA.
My favorite prospect with the bat was 6'5 third baseman Drew Mendoza, who was the Nationals third-rounder this season from Florida State.
Mendoza hit .264 with four homers in 201 at-bats after skipping short-season Auburn and being assigned straight to the Suns.
Mendoza played a little at first and might wind up at first in the long term, but his average would have been higher, if not for a two-week slump in August.
Mendoza does have to work on contact as he struck out in 57 of his 201 at-bats, but I think he'll hit for power and looks the part of a possible breakout performer next season.
Mendoza is likely to start next season at High A.
Gilbert Lara was the other half of the 2018 trade to arrive from the Brewers with K.J.Harrison and like Harrison, I was surprised to see him in Hagerstown.
Lara didn't hit for average (.249) in his 81 games at Hagerstown before receiving the call to High A Potomac but did hit nine homers to show some pop and he hit four more in his 50 games or so with the P-Nats.
Lara played mostly shortstop for the Suns, but played some third as well and is now listed as a third baseman on his MILB webpage.
Lara still will be only 22 to start next season, but I have a feeling next year will be a pivotal season for him and it should start back at High A Potomac/Fredericksburg.
Nineteen-year-old catcher Israel Pineda was the highest-rated young prospect entering the season with the Suns, but he missed a chunk of time and in his 101 games, he struggled to a .217 average with over 100 strikeouts.
The good news for the Venezuelan was his seven homers, but the Nationals likely expected more after an excellent 2018 with Auburn.
I would return him to Hagerstown, considering his age, but he may go to High A by default unless the Nationals acquire a journeyman to catch there.
The final player that I found interesting was 2019 sixth-round shortstop Jackson Cluff from Brigham Young, who like Drew Mendoza, skipped Auburn to go straight to Hagerstown.
Cluff's average wasn't great at .229, but the interesting part was the power with eighteen extra-base hits with five homers and five triples.
Cluff could return to the Suns or possibly start in High A, where at 23 he's a better fit for the Nationals.
Outfielder Jacob Rhinesmith made the SAL all-star team (as did Gilbert Lara) but never received a callup to High A.
Rhinesmith's season was a tale of two halves as he hit over .300 in the first but with only one homer.
The power improved in the second as he hit nine longballs, but his average dipped to a mere .229.
Rhinesmith finished at .264 and his ten homers, 64 RBI all led the team (he was also second in steals with 18), but he'll turn 24 in May and I'm not sure if he rises above AA unless he shows more next season when he starts in High A.
That's about all as far as even moderate prospects to watch.
I'm keeping the players in the next tier to those that played more than 20 games in Hagerstown which only eliminates Gage Canning, who was promoted to Potomac after ten games.
Outfielder Justin Connell played the second-most games in Hagerstown but hit only .249 and three homers in 120 games.
Connell played the season at 20 years old, so he's not without hope to develop.
Third baseman Cole Daily hit a punchless .251 with just nine extra-base hits (all doubles) in 71 games.
Utilityman Phil Caulfield hit four homers in 35 games and might be one of those players that the Nationals can use as a fill-in player at any level of the system.
Caufield will be 25 to start next season, so he'd have to surprise in 2020 to reach prospect status.
Kyle Marinconz fits the same profile as Caulfield except he's a year younger and played over 100 games for the Suns.
Marinconz finished with an average of .247 with five homers on the year.
Omar Meregildo missed most of April and was promoted to Potomac after 29 games.
I mentioned Meregildo last season as someone to watch after a somewhat interesting 2018, but his combined numbers of .230 and eight homers have cooled my interest a bit.
Meregildo's still only 22 and I wouldn't write him off yet, but he'll have to pick up the pace next season where he could return to High A or even possibly try AA in Harrisburg if the Nationals feel racy.
Cody Wilson hit only .215 with five homers in 77 games and struck out roughly a third of the time.
Wilson did lead the team in steals, so he might have a chance to stick around as a journeyman minor leaguer.
The same could be said of Armond Upshaw, who hit the same .215 in 62 games and stole 18 bases in his second tour of Hagerstown duty.
Infielder Trey Vickers hit .204 in 83 games with three homers.
Two more young Venezuelan players struggled in small sample sizes.
Nineteen-year-old outfielder Ricardo Mendez struggled to a .194 average in 23 games without a homer.
Infielder Jose Sanchez hit a paltry .181 with only two doubles in 37 games before an injury.
Sanchez was returned to Auburn after he recovered.
Catchers Nic Perkins and Tyler Cropley in 100 combined games, didn't hit a homer between them and hit around the Mendoza Line (Perkins .209 Cropley .187).
Both will play next season at 24 and are organizational soldier types.
First baseman Jamori Blash began the season as the starter but hit only .190 with two homers in 21 games before being assigned to the team's Florida base and wasn't heard from after that.
Juan Pascal hit .181 in 23 games with all of his hits (13) singles.
Pascal can play second or third but has now had 2 short stints with the Suns, not hitting well in either.
I'll work on the pitchers later this week and there are some players that are worth keeping tabs on.
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