Nationals got ace, more from 2009

If someone were to ask for the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the words “Washington Nationals” and “2009 draft,” most people would probably answer “Stephen Strasburg” — though frankly, most people seem unlikely to encounter such an inquiry at all.

But 2009 was the year of Strasburg, the year the Nationals lost enough one year to win the prospect lottery the next. Most people in the game considered Strasburg a once-in-a-generation talent. The then-floundering Nationals got themselves an ace that day, one around which an annual contender slowly began to coalesce. Nine picks later, the Nationals got a future closer in Drew Storen, making that first round one of the more important ones in franchise history.

Interestingly enough, the Nationals’ ties to that round of that draft are not limited to Strasburg and Storen. As of this spring, the Nationals have drafted or signed six of the 30 players taken in that round at one point or another, including the one they could not sign, Aaron Crow, who the was the Royals’ first pick in 2009, and big lefty Matt Purke, who chose to go to college rather than sign with the Rangers. Five of the 30 players taken in that 2009 round, including Purke, have now worn a Nationals uniform at one level or another. Three currently have lockers in the Nationals clubhouse, Strasburg and nonroster invitees Jacob Turner and Grant Green.

That the Nationals have ties to a fifth of that first round draft class is more intriguing than instructive. Some kid named Mike Trout is among the four-fifths of the players to which they have no connection. These things are hit or miss.

Crow eventually made it to the majors with Kansas City. After battling injuries with the Nationals, Purke eventually made it to the majors with the White Sox last year. Turner and Green, once a highly touted prep righty and a polished college shortstop, respectively, are now two of more than three dozen players vying for what will probably be two open spots on the Nationals’ 25-man roster.

Turner has the longer track record of the two, with parts of five major league seasons and 79 career appearances with the Tigers, Marlins, Cubs and White Sox. The Nationals had interest in signing him in offseasons past, but always missed out. At 6-5, 215 pounds and 25 years old, he is just their type, a big-bodied pitcher they believe they can still mold. His fastball, which sat around 91 during his first few major league seasons, jumped to nearly 94 on average last year in Chicago. Turner seems like a long shot for the final bullpen spot, though he seems likely to serve as the kind of bullpen depth the Nationals always seem to shuttle from Syracuse at various points during the season. So far this spring, he has thrown three scoreless innings, walked two and struck out one.

— Washington Post