AFL Mid-Season Review Part 1: Position Players

With the AFL season about half over I thought it was time to sit down and see how each of the Nationals player’s have progressed. I will present my review of each player’s performance and assign a grade to that player. The grades and review will strictly be based on their AFL performance thus far. It will be broken down into two posts, Position Players and Pitchers.

By now everyone probably knows that the Nationals players are on the Peoria Saguaros; tied for first in the AFL American Division with a 12-6 record. Overall the team has done well except for a stretch were the lost about 5 games in about a weeks time.

Now it is time to take a look at the Nationals players:



1B Bill Rhinehart has struggled in the AFL. In 12 games played he is hitting .244, 12 RBI’s and 8 runs scored. On the positive side he has 6 extra base hits (2 HR’s and 4 doubles). Rhinehart has come on strong over the last 5 games where he has all of his extra base hits and RBI’s and 6 of hit total 10 hits.

Rhinehart AFL Grade (C-): I would like to see him get back to the dominate hitter he was with Hagerstown, Potomac and his first few weeks with Harrisburg. He has struggled making the adjustment of facing better pitchers since his promotion to AA and the first few weeks in the AFL. The last few games show what he is capable of. I’m still wondering why he changed to a more open stance, from a straight on stance that worked so well at the lower levels? It makes me think he had problems picking up off-speed pitches or something.



SS Ian Desmond - His average is up to .256. Desmond has appeared in 13 games, registering 11 hits (3 for extra bases), 10 runs and 8 RBI’s. Another important stat that should not be overlooked is Desmond’s strike out’s (13) and errors (8). He has showed some better plate discipline in the AFL as he walked 11 times so far. The errors are troubling as the major reason why he was such a high prospect was for his defense. In fairness to Desmond he covers more ground then he average SS and makes plays that others can’t but he often has difficulty making the routine plays.

Desmond AFL Grade (C-): All of his stats are okay; nothing that would jump out at you. His errors have always concerned me because I believe he has a much better glove then what he actually displays on the field.



OF Leonard Davis – He was named the Nationals 2008 Minor League Player of the Year. So far he has carried the momentum over to the AFL as he has 14 hits in 11 games for a .326 average. Davis has 5 extra-base hits (one double, 2 triples, and 2 home runs), 8 runs scored and 12 RBI’s.
Davis AFL Grade (B+): The numbers don’t lie. Whether it’s at Potomac, Harrisburg, Columbus or the AFL he continues to deliver. He has set himself up for a good 2009; in which he could see time in DC because of his capability to play many positions.

Cards shown in this post are not part of my collection. They are free stock photos available on various Web sites.