Still too early to provide the weekly minor league system leaderboard, but we can report on a few players that are producing in the system, early in the season.
Syracuse Chiefs (AAA)
Jeff Kobernus is probably the hottest batter in the system, early in the season. Kobernus was claimed by Detroit in the Rul V Draft, but was returned to Washington after he failed to crack the opening day roster. Good for the Nats. In 6 games at AAA, Kobernus is an impressive 12 for 22 at the plate for a .545 batting average. He has a double, triple, and a home run. He has scored 8 runs and has drive in 6. Kobernus has put up an early .818 slugging percentage and a .593 on base percentage. Keep on eye on Kobernus. This is a kid I hated to see leave via Rule V and was thrilled to see returned to the system. He has tremendous speed and could get a chance in Washington if an injury occurs.
Michah Owings, the major league starting pither turned first baseman, is batting .421 in 6 games, off to a 8 for 189 start. He has one home run and has crossed the plate 4 times and driven in 6 runs. Eury Perez is on an absolute tear. He is a wildy hot outfield prospect the Nats absolutely love and could see time in Washington this season. The 23 year-old Dominican prospect has a 22 game hitting streak intact dating back to last season. This year, Perez is batting .379 with 11 hits in 29 at bats. He has a double, triple, and has scored 6 runs. Corey Brown is off to a good start, collecting 2 doubles and 2 homer sin his first 6 games. He is batting .321.
Harrisburg Senators (AA)
Highly touted and higly watch prospect Steve Souza is batting .364 in his first 7 games, collecting 8 hits in 22 at bats. He has a double, home run, and 6 runs scored. He has a .545 slugging percentage and a .533 on base percentage. The Nationals like what they saw in Souza last season where he batted a combined .297 between Hagerstown and Potomac and smacked 23 homes runs and drove in 85 runs. Justin Bloxom, who has steadily risen in the Nats system, is batting .300 in his first 8 games. Brian Goodwin is batting .212 with 7 hits in 33 plate appearances in his ifrst 8 games. Anthony Rendon is batting .241 with 6 runs and 3 RBI.
Blake Trenien, who was acquired via the Seattle trade for Mike Morse, is off to a rocky start. Trenien has started two games and has allowed 13 runs and 176 hits in 7.2 innings for an ERA of 15.26. Another prosdpect acquired was Ian Krol. Krol has appeared in 3 games out of the Senators bullpen and has a 1.93 ERA, allowing 1 run o0ver 4.2 innimngs. Aaron Barrett has appeare din 3 games and has allowed 3 runs over 3.1 innings.
Potomac Nationals (A)
Billy Burns, a prospect to keep an eye on with tremendous speed, is batting .550 in his first 5 games. He is 11 for 20 at the plate with a double and a triple. He has a .700 slugging percentage and a .610 on base percentage. Burns is a high batting average hitter. Last season he batted .322 in 1134 games at Hagerstown. Randolph Oduber is batting .450 with 9 hits in 209 at bats in his first 5 games. Oduber has 4 runs scored and drive in 6 runs. Jason Martinson is off to a great start in Potomac. In 6 games, he has collected 8 hits, of which 6 were for extra bases, with 2 doubles, a triple, and 3 home runs. Martinson has 7 runs scored and 8 RBI in just 6 games. He has a slugging percentage of 1.050. Robbie Ray has made 2 starts and is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He has allowed 3 runs over 11 innings. He has yielded 2 walks compared to 12 strikeouts.
Hagerstown Suns (A)
Mike McQuillan is off to a decent start, collecting 8 hist in 26 trips for a .308 batting average. He has a home run, has scored 4 runs and drive in 5. Dixon Anderson has made 2 starts and is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. In 11 innings, he has allowed 1 walk with 9 strikeouts. Blake Schwartz is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 2 starts. In 8 innings, he has fanned 11 and has not allowed a walk. Tony Renda is off to a cold start, collecting just 6 hits in 32 at at bats for a .188 batting average.