WASHINGTON -- The strength of the Nationals' farm system resides in the outfield, with their top two prospects finding a spot on MLB Pipeline's rankings of the Top 10 outfielders.
Victor Robles and Juan Soto, the Nats' first- and second-rated prospect, are the third- and ninth-ranked outfield prospects in all of Major League Baseball. Both players represent Washington's next big wave of prospects and are among the most highly regarded players in baseball.
:: Top 10 Prospects by Position ::
Robles, 20, is the closest player to the Majors after his impressive 2017 season. With his blazing speed, improvement at the plate and in the field, he earned his way into the Majors ahead of schedule as a September callup. He was the youngest player in the Majors in '17 and eventually earned his way onto the Nats' postseason roster. Washington has been consistent in saying that Robles will play every day to start the 2018 season, so with the team's Major League outfield appearing set, Robles is likely to begin the season at Triple-A.
The stock for Soto, 19, has continued to rise during the past few years because of his potential as a hitter. The Nationals already rave about his ability at the plate even though he has never played above Class A. Injuries slowed Soto down in 2017 and limited him to just 32 games, but he produced a .919 OPS when healthy with three home runs. If Soto can stay on the field in 2018, it could be a huge year for him in his development, but he has only combined for 83 games during the past two seasons.
Both Soto and Robles have been two of the Nats' most sought-after names by opposing teams during trade talks the past few seasons, and the Nationals have been reluctant to let them go. Washington has not deemed anyone untouchable, but it would be difficult to imagine a scenario where either are let go.
Instead, one day Robles and Soto are likely to roam the outfield together in Washington.