Accelerating thanks to an incredible end to his Arizona Fall League play, right-hander Austin Voth comes in at No. 10 on the recently released released Baseball America Nationals top 10 prospects list.
No. 10: RHP Austin Voth
Voth tossed 15 scoreless innings to wrap up his season with the Glendale Desert Dogs. Teddy Cahill, Baseball America's national writer, said Voth's overall numbers this season in the Nationals system, plus his ability to accumulate a ton of innings, gives reason to believe Voth, 24, can make that next step.
"He's a guy that's been pretty consistent the last few years, around 150 innings the last few seasons, not even counting his AFL stuff this year," Cahill said. "He led in the whole organization, all minor leaguers, in strikeouts the last three years (414). So he is a guy that keeps humming along."
Voth wrapped up AFL play by going 3-0 with 15 scoreless innings in his final three games after allowing 17 runs in his first four starts for Glendale.
"That AFL performance was a nice finish for him, especially the way he finished," Cahill said. "You never know when pitchers go to the AFL who have thrown an awful lot of innings, how much gas they left in the tank. He did a good job overcoming whatever the start there was to finish good and roll into next year."
With the likes of Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning traded, the Nats top 10 list was adjusted. But does this also signal that guys like the Voth and Erick Fedde might get starts sooner rather than later at Nationals Park?
"Absolutely. We do the Best Tools list and I had to go back in and find a couple new guys because Giolito, Lopez and Dunning were supposed to be on that," Cahill said. "While I was looking for guys, I was like, 'Oh, man, all the pitchers were gone, who is left here?' Who can I pick from?' So it is definitely a different look. Not just at the top, they traded four pitchers (including minor league pitcher Pedro Avila) in the last two, three weeks, not just at the top. All four of those guys would've ranked in the Top 30."
Similar to Voth in prospect level, right-hander A.J. Cole stepped up last season again to get starts. General manager Mike Rizzo is not afraid to give his young guns a shot at major league starts. Voth could join that fraternity this season.
"He spent the whole year in Triple-A. I think he should be ready to go when they need him at this point," Cahill said. "Obviously, it's a tough pitching staff to have to break into. Him, and A.J. Cole on the 40-man should be looking at getting those opportunities, I would think."