Round 12: Blake Monar, LHP, Indiana University

(from Warehem Gatemen Baseball)

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MiLB                                                                                                                                       Indiana Bio


2011 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2011	22	2 Teams	2 Lgs	Rk-A-	WSN	0	1	.000	2.70	5	0	0	0	0	0	10.0	5	5	3	0	3	0	11	1	0	2	40	0.800	4.5	0.0	2.7	9.9	3.67
2011	22	Nationals	GULF	Rk	WSN	0	1	.000	4.50	3	0	0	0	0	0	6.0	5	5	3	0	1	0	7	1	0	2	26	1.000	7.5	0.0	1.5	10.5	7.00
2011	22	Auburn	NYPL	A-	WSN	0	0		0.00	2	0	0	0	0	0	4.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4	0	0	0	14	0.500	0.0	0.0	4.5	9.0	2.00
1 Season						0	1	.000	2.70	5	0	0	0	0	0	10.0	5	5	3	0	3	0	11	1	0	2	40	0.800	4.5	0.0	2.7	9.9	3.67

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/29/2012.

Sean's one sentence analysis: Monar bounced back from a shoulder injury in 2010 to throw well for the Hoosiers  and Doubledays in 2011.

Thoughts from the community: 
"Monar was one of few coming-off-an-injury (shoulder, 2010) gambles that the Nats made with the '11 draft, taking the 23-y.o. junior in the 12th round. Invited to instrux after tossing just 10IP between the GCL and Auburn, which makes a 2012 start at Hagerstown possible, though it might be out of the bullpen." - Luke Erickson, Nationals Prospects (@nats_prospects)

"An incredible story of perseverance, LHP Blake Monar showed promise as a freshman at Indiana University only to suffer a career-threatening injury to his pitching shoulder early in his sophomore season. He returned in 2011 as a junior and showed flashes of his previous form, striking out 61 in 79.1 innings pitched. Monar possessed a solid-average fastball and curveball prior to his injury, therefore if he can recover and re-discover his previous stuff, the Nationals have found a great risk/reward selection in Round 12." - Ryan Sullivan, Nats GM (@natsgmdotcom)

Previous analysis and notes: Monar doesn't throw particularly hard (usually between 88 and 90, peaks at 92) and his injury still worries some, so he has something to prove in Auburn. Monar was taken out of high school by the Yankees in 2009's 26th round.
Nats.com roundup: "A shoulder injury limited Monar to 3 1/3 innings a year ago, but he recovered to go 6-3 with a 3.52 ERA this season."
From Baseball America, 6/7/2011: "A year ago, lefthander Blake Monar's career as a pitcher appeared finished. He injured his shoulder in Indiana's season opener and served as a reserve outfielder, then spent the summer lifting weights and honing his swing. But his arm bounced back in the fall, allowing him to return to the mound. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder's out pitch always has been his curveball, and he sets it up with an 88-90 mph fastball that peaks at 92. His changeup is effective at times, though he'll need better command to remain a starter rather than becoming a lefty specialist. Despite his comeback, his medical history still concerns some teams."
From Gordon Engelhardt, Evansville Courier & Press, 6/7/2011: "Monar said a Nationals scout contacted him before and after he was selected and they were pretty close financially. 'I think when it's all said and done I will get top-10 round money,' Monar said. 'Negotiations haven't really started yet. But they will definitely be around the ballpark I'm asking for. I don't want to say numbers yet. I'm pretty happy how everything went down.' Monar, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, posted a 6-3 record with a 3.52 earned run average for the Hoosiers."

Follow @blakemonar on Twitter.

Monar signed with the Nationals on June 16, 2011.

Round 16: Deion Williams, SS, Redan HS (Georgia)

(from Baseball Factory)

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MiLB

2011 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2011	18	Nationals	GULF	Rk	WSN	30	111	102	6	16	0	0	0	7	3	1	8	44	.157	.216	.157	.373	16	6	0	0	1	0
1 Season						30	111	102	6	16	0	0	0	7	3	1	8	44	.157	.216	.157	.373	16	6	0	0	1	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/29/2012.

Sean's one word analysis: Toolsy.

Thoughts from the community: "Williams was the only HS player that the Nats were able to sign in the '11 draft. It will be some time before he gets out of Florida as that .157/.216/.157 line was what scouts warned against while praising his other tools. "Raw" is the word most often found word in his writeups." - Luke Erickson, Nationals Prospects (@nats_prospects)

Previous analysis and notes: Williams is given the label "toolsy" meaning either he can't hit or he's just really fast. The 16th round is an excellent place to take a risk on a guy like Williams, though, especially given his ML bloodlines (both his father, Dion Williams and grandfather, George Scott, played with the Red Sox organization). Williams is the most unexpected early signing to since he's a high schooler.
Nats.com roundup: "The 6-foot-3 shortstop signed a letter of intent at Georgia State after playing in the Under Armour All-American Game as a high school junior. His father and grandfather both played professionally in the Red Sox organization."
From Matt Garrioch, MLB Bonus Baby, 6/17/2011: "Deion Williams is a 6'3", 180 LB athletic shortstop who is good defensively and has a very good arm. He is very raw with the bat. He has signed already and is struggling. He will need time. I would bet he will repeat rookie ball next year and hopefully he will have shown some improvement by then. He may be slow to come around but he could be worth the wait."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 6/14/2011: "Williams is toolsy and raw and has major league bloodlines, being the grandson of former major leaguer George Scott."
From Baseball America, 6/7/2011: "The state's top middle-infield challenger to Julius Gaines was athletic Deion Williams, who plays at Redan High, the same school that produced recent big league infielders Brandon Phillips and Chris Nelson. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, he's tall and lean with an excellent frame that should fill out well. He has bloodlines as the grandson of former big league slugger George Scott. His defense is his best attribute now, as he has arm strength and quick feet. He doesn't have great actions, and while his swing has some looseness, he doesn't drive the ball consistently. He's signed to Georgia State."
From Mike Holmes, Georgia State Sports, 11/17/2010: "Deion Williams is a nationally ranked prospect from Redan High School where he played for Marvin Pruitt, one of the most successful baseball coaches in the state...A multi-tool shortstop, Deion currently ranked as the fifth best player in the state of Georgia and is ranked 86th nationally by PGCrosschecker...He led Redan to the final four of the state playoffs last season, one of the top finishes in school history...Last year, he participated in the Under Armour All-American Game after playing summer ball for former Panthers Mark Mortimer and Jack Stewart...Baseball has a long tradition in his family as his grandfather, George Scott, signed with the Boston Red Sox and spent 13 years playing professional baseball. His father Dion also played in the Boston Red Sox organization and was the head coach at McNair High School for 11 years, winning 200 games."

Williams signed with the Nats on June 16, 2011.

Round 18: Nick Lee, LHP, Weatherford College

(from the Weatherford Democrat)

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MiLB

2011 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2011	20	Nationals	GULF	Rk	WSN	1	0	1.000	4.05	10	0	2	0	0	0	13.1	16	10	6	1	15	0	15	0	0	3	69	2.325	10.8	0.7	10.1	10.1	1.00
1 Season						1	0	1.000	4.05	10	0	2	0	0	0	13.1	16	10	6	1	15	0	15	0	0	3	69	2.325	10.8	0.7	10.1	10.1	1.00

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/26/2012.

Sean's one sentence analysis: The JuCo lefty threw well in 2011 and could develop into a solid LOOGY.

Thoughts from the community:
"The scouting services love Lee's changeup, a skill pitch that's particularly prized for LHPs to master, especially if they profile as a LOOGY like he does. Walked and struck out more than a batter per inning in the GCL, where he's a good bet to repeat in '12." - Luke Erickson, Nationals Prospects (@nats_prospects)

"Again, another middle round draft pick from a small Texas college, this time a Juco in Weatherford, Texas. Lee threw 13 1/3 innings in the Rookie league after signing one year out of Juco. Lee is an undersized lefty who wasn't particularly effective against left handed hitters (he had a 7.71 era split against lefties), which bodes badly for his future. He had 15 Ks and 15 BBs in 13 innings, so it seems he's high risk, high reward. He gave up far too many base runners (2.33 whip) and clearly needs to work on his control going forward. He probably stays in extended spring training until the short seasons start and looks to repeat the GCL." - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race (@toddeboss)

Previous analysis and notes:

Lee pitched for Weatherford, a Junior College in Texas this year, and is signed to play for the Oklahoma Sooners next year. He was a 38th round draft pick last year by the Nats.

Nats.com roundup: "The Draft-eligible southpaw went 5-4 with a 2.80 ERA this season."
From Perfect Game: "Lefty showed mid 80s FB and nice slider at AC"
Perfect Game listed Lee as having the best changeup amongst Junior College pitchers on May 31, 2011.

Lee signed with the Nats on June 24, 2011.

Round 21: Todd Simko, LHP, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

(from A&M CC's official site)

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MiLB                                                                                                                        Texas A&M CC Bio

2011 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2011	22	Nationals	GULF	Rk	WSN	1	2	.333	6.75	5	0	0	0	0	0	5.1	9	12	4	0	3	0	4	3	0	1	32	2.250	15.2	0.0	5.1	6.8	1.33
1 Season						1	2	.333	6.75	5	0	0	0	0	0	5.1	9	12	4	0	3	0	4	3	0	1	32	2.250	15.2	0.0	5.1	6.8	1.33

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/23/2012.

Sean's one sentence analysis: Simko's collegiate 4.31 BB/9 and 6.38 K/9 make me a little wary, but he found a way to get things done with a 4.31 ERA and 10-6 record.

Thoughts from the community:
"Simko is said to resemble Andy Pettitte in terms of physical size and demeanor. Throws 89-91 fastball as a starter, touching 93-94 in relief and two other unnamed pitches (best guess: curve and change) for strikes. Weak peripherals at both collegiate and GCL levels indicate he's another project." - Luke Erickson, Nationals Prospects (@nats_prospects)

"Another mid-round draft pick from a small college, Simko joins a slew of southeastern prospects this team has drafted lately (we must have a very convincing area scout working the Texas-to-Alabama circuit). His 2011 season is an incomplete; he had four appearances in July, the last of which on July 16th featured him facing 6 batters without getting an out (though 3 of those batters reached by way of error, part of an ugly 6-error effort from the team that day). He didn't pitch again for another month, so I'm assuming he got hurt in the effort. I'd guess he'll compete for a full-season bullpen job in 2012. - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race (@toddeboss)

Previous analysis and notes:
Nats.com roundup: "Simko had a 4.31 ERA and walked 46 batters in 96 innings but set a school record with 10 wins."
Simko has an extraordinary backstory: as Andrew Masuda of KSBY reports, "Simko broke his neck and his throwing hand and nearly died in a major car crash when he was in high school. Now, five years later, he's a major league draft pick." The San Luis Obispo Tribune went into further depth on 3/21/07, writing that "an off-duty emergency doctor was riding a bicycle when he came upon the wreck and prevented Todd from being moved — an eventual life-saving move considering doctors later told Todd he might have been paralyzed or killed had his neck shifted a minimum of two millimeters." Crazy stuff.

Simko signed with the Nats on June 16, 2011.