The Nationals spent the 116th overall pick on A.J. Cole.
Follow the jump for his pre-draft report.
A.J. Cole Position: RHP School: Oviedo HS State: FL Height: 6’5’’ Weight: 190
Birth Date: 1/5/92 Seiler Rating: 1B1 Commitment: Miami
Andrew "A.J." Cole is a tall, projectable prep right-handed pitcher from Oviedo High School in Florida, a northeast suburb of Orlando. I find it hardest to write short profiles for the best prospects, and this is no different. What else can I say about Cole that hasn’t already been said, and how can I sum up his draft stock in one short paragraph? However, Cole deserves his space here. As one of the top prep arms in the class, he features one of the best pure fastballs that we have seen in a number of years for such a projectable frame. Jacob Turner threw gas like this last year, but the general consensus was that Turner was close to finishing his physical growth. Cole, on the other hand, remains supremely projectable, and he could be a true ace when everything is said and done. His fastball is currently a low- to mid-90s pitch, most commonly sitting 91-94, but he’s been clocked as high as 98 last summer, not an uncommon occurrence. It’s already a plus pitch, and it gets a true 70 future grade from some scouts. His breaking ball is an excellent curveball with plus shape, and it should be a plus pitch with consistency after enough repetitions. He’s also thrown a solid changeup that rates as a future solid-average pitch, and if it gets there with consistency, he could be special. He’s a probably top twenty pick, and he should garner more than slot money outside of the top ten picks.