Nats take Washington pitcher Voth to cap fifth round

The Nationals used the 166th pick of the First-Year Player Draft on Friday to select Austin Voth, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Washington.

As a junior last season, Voth finished second in the Pac-12 in strikeouts behind only Stanford's Mark Appel, who was the No. 1 overall selection by the Astros on Thursday. Voth's 98 strikeouts were also the seventh most in school history. He went 7-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 15 starts for the Huskies last year, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors.

"He throws up to 95 mph and he's a strike-thrower," Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Roy Clark said.

Since going undrafted out of Kentwood High School (Wash.), Voth has gained 25 pounds and improved his performance during each year in the Huskies' rotation. He relies on his fastball, which sits in the low-to-mid-90s, but his command of the pitch helps compensate for its lack of life. Voth also throws a slider and changeup.

He has a methodical delivery to the plate, but repeats it well and has good arm action. At 6-foot-1, 209 pounds, Voth is built like an innings-eater. But he could also eventually see himself in the Nationals' bullpen.