Josh Labandeira

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #28 prospect in 2005
  Labandeira was the Western Athletic Conference player of the year in 2001 at Fresno State and led the WAC with 15 homers and 68 RBIs despite his 5-foot-7 frame. He broke his leg in his first pro game, but since then he has advanced steadily and made his big league debut in 2004. Labandeira is frequently described as gritty and a sparkplug, and that's not a euphemism for a player who lacks talent. He plays the game hard and has tools. He owns the best infield arm in the system, and managers rated him the best defensive shortstop and strongest infield arm in the Eastern League last year. He makes plays in the hole thanks to his smooth footwork and quick release, and his range has improved since he shed extra bulk. Labandeira's tightly wound body generates surprising pop to the gaps. He has average speed and runs the bases well. Labandeira tries to do too much sometimes, hurting him when he's in RBI situations and leading to many of his 32 errors last year. He'll have to prove himself every step along the way, but he'll be the starting shortstop in Triple-A this year.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #30 prospect in 2004
  The 2001 Western Athletic Conference player of the year, Labandeira broke his leg in his first pro game that summer. He made up for lost time by reaching Double-A midway through 2003, but hit the wall and struggled offensively. Labandeira is a sparkplug who plays hard at all times. He has a tightly wound body that has reached full maturity. He has a short, compact swing with gap power, but also shows some stiffness and a tendency to chase pitches up in the strike zone. He's flashy on defense with soft hands and a plus arm, but has trouble coming across the bag at second, which could be due to the lingering effects from his leg injury. Labandeira is an intelligent baserunner with average speed. He'll need to prove he can handle Double-A pitching before advancing further, but for now he's the top shortstop prospect in the organization.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #22 prospect in 2003
  After Brandon Phillips was traded to Cleveland, Labandeira became the best shortstop prospect in the system. After winning the Western Athletic Conference player-of-the-year award and nearly the triple crown in 2001, he signed as a sixth-round pick but injured his knee in his first pro game. He returned last year to perform solidly in low Class A. A four-sport (baseball, football, soccer, wrestling) star in high school, he incorporates that athleticism on the diamond. He's not tall but he's solidly built, and while his swing can get a bit long he generates gap power. He has average speed and is capable of making spectacular defensive plays, though he's also error-prone. Labandeira has a strong arm, soft hands and a tick above-average range. He'll move to high Class A in 2003.