Nationals prospects - from BP

[Angels]

6. Erick Fedde, RHP
DOB: 2/25/1993
Height/Weight: 6’4” 180 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 18th overall in the 2014 MLB draft out of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (NV); signed for $2.5111 million
Previous Ranking(s): #5 (Org.)
2015 Stats: 3.38 ERA, 64 IP, 62 H, 16 BB, 59 K at Low-A Auburn and Single-A Hagerstown
Future Tools: 60 fastball, 60 slider, 50+ command
Role: 50+–No. 3 starter

Less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery, Fedde’s primary goals for the 2015 season were staying healthy and building up arm strength, with on-field performance being the tertiary concern. All told, Fedde successfully accomplished the first two goals, while showing encouraging flashes of the pre-injury stuff that motivated his inclusion among the top 10 or so 2014 Draft prospects.

With a three-pitch mix and a projectable frame, Fedde carries mid-rotation upside with a nice fallback option as a late-inning reliever. He gets excellent extension from a three-quarters arm slot and is able to get on top of his pitches thanks to slightly manipulated shoulder posture at release. He has a well-paced, controlled delivery that features loose arm action, coupled with mild but not particularly concerning inversion at landing. He creates good sinking action with an easy low-90s fastball that he can locate to both his arm- and glove-side. Fedde matches fastball arm speed well when throwing his two-plane slider, which was a plus pitch pre-injury and has a chance to regain its prior form as the surgery moves further into the rearview. It’ll hang at times without showing an abrupt point of trajectory deviation but it should firm up once he regains confidence in really finishing the pitch. The changeup lags behind the other two offerings (boy if I had a nickel…) but his arm speed and athleticism suggest it’ll be able to reach at least a fringe-average level and thus be a usable repertoire component.

On top of all the pitching-related attributes, Fedde is an excellent athlete who fields his position brilliantly. As you’d expect, everything was just a bit crisper pre-draft than what he showed in 2015, but that’s to be expected. There’s a pretty compelling argument for Fedde being a spot higher on this list, given his upside, but with Difo as an major-league-ready asset and considering the uncertainties that come with pitching prospects, sixth is the most reasonable position.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: There’s a great debate to be had as to whether Fedde or Lopez is the better fantasy arm in this system; and frankly, my money's on Fedde. The fastball/slider combination portends potentially strong strikeout numbers and ratios that will be above-average (especially his WHIP). He’s looking more and more like an SP3 now that he’s on the other side of his recovery.


Rafael Bautista ... and Juan Soto have major-league upside.