WASHINGTON -- Even after an off-season where the Nationals pulled off the most aggressive unloading of prospects in general manager Mike Rizzo's tenure with the team, their Minor League system remains strong at the top.
Outfielder Victor Robles and right-hander Erick Fedde, the team's top hitting and pitching prospect, each made it to the Majors this season and have been named MLB Pipeline's Prospects of the Year for the Nationals. Robles is the No. 2 overall prospect in MLB while Fedde is ranked fourth in the Nationals system and is the team's best pitching prospect.
Nationals' Prospects of the Year
Each team's prospects of the year were selected by the MLBPipeline.com staff. In order to receive consideration, players must have spent at least half the year in the Minors, appeared on the team's Top 30 Prospects list and played in the organization for the entire year.
Robles, 20, has ascended through the Minor Leagues and into the Majors sooner than expected on his way to making his Major League debut on Sept. 7. He has received limited playing time in Washington, but has managed to make himself a real threat to make the Nationals postseason bench.

He spent the Minor League portion of his season between the Class A Advanced and Double A levels, where he posted an .875 OPS with 10 home runs and 27 stolen bases.
Fedde's time in Washington did not go as smoothly as he made three starts with a 9.39 ERA before being shut down with a right forearm flexor strain. Still, Fedde, 24, showed glimpses of why Washington believes he can compete for a rotation spot next season.

Between Double and Triple A this season, Fedde appeared in 29 games, 13 as a starter with a stint in the bullpen sandwiched in between when Washington seemed desperate for bullpen help. Fedde threw 90 1/3 innings with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.
Robles and Fedde are two major reasons why the Nats farm system remains strong, despite unloading talented prospects this winter, such as Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning to the White Sox in the trade that brought Adam Eaton to Washington. And their stellar performance this season continues to give the Nationals an encouraging future.