NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Lake Monsters Among Baseball America's Top Washington Prospects

Published on January 8, 2009 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


Baseball America recently brokedown the Washington Nationals minor league organization by listing the Nationals Top 10 prospects, which included four former Lake Monsters and 2007 Vermont pitcher Jordan Zimmermann as the top prospect in the Washington organization.

Zimmermann was named the Nationals #1 prospect after going a combined 10-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 21 games for the Single-A Potomac Nationals and Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Zimmermann, who was 5-2 with a 2.38 ERA for the Lake Monsters in 2007, is expected to compete for a spot in Washington's 2009 starting rotation.

Along with Zimmermann, the other former Lake Monsters among the top 10 prospects are outfielder Michael Burgess (#4), pitcher Jack McGeary (#5) and catcher Derek Norris (#6). Burgess hit .246 with 24 home runs and 79 RBI in 131 combined games with Potomac and Harrisburg last season, while McGeary was 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 12 starts for the Gulf Coast League Nationals before starting one game for the Lake Monsters at the end of the 2008 season.

Norris, who was named to the Topps Short-Season Single-A All-Star team, hit .278 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 70 games for Vermont last season. Baseball America awarded Norris the Best Strike Zone Discipine among Nationals prospects after he set a new Lake Monsters season record with 63 walks.

Other Lake Monsters receiving "Best Tools" from Baseball America were Zimmermann (Best Fastball, Best Slider), McGeary (Best Curveball, Best Control), Burgess (Best Outfield Arm), Justin Maxwell (Best Athlete), Danny Espinosa (Best Defensive Infielder) and Ian Desmond (Best Infield Arm).

Four other players among the top 10 prospects could see time with the Lake Monsters during the 2009 season. They are outfielder Destin Hood (#7), catcher Adrian Nieto (#8), outfielder J.P Ramierez (#9) and shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez (#10). All four of the players spent the 2008 season with the Gulf Coast Nationals with 18-year-old Hood hitting .256 in 25 games, 19-year-old Nieto .217 in eight games, 19-year-old Ramirez .364 with eight RBI in five games and 19-year-old Gonzalez .343 with 33 RBI in 51 games.

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New York-Penn League Stories from January 8, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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