Andrew Stevenson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #13 prospect in 2018
  After struggling in Double-A during his first trip to the Eastern League in 2016, Stevenson started the 2017 season with Harrisburg, where he posted an .866 OPS before being promoted to Triple-A and getting his first taste of the big leagues in late July. Stevenson was overmatched at the plate in Triple-A and the majors, with elevated strikeout rates cutting into his production. He has shown the ability to adapt to higher levels in the past, but will likely never be an impact bat because his power is more of the doubles variety than over-the-fence. Stevenson is a strong athlete who takes good routes with above-average speed that leads to great range, giving him a chance to be an above-average defensive center fielder. His arm is below-average, which might make him a better fit for left, where his bat doesn't profile. Given his speed and baserunning ability, Stevenson appears to be a safe bet as a fourth outfielder or second-division regular but will need more time to adjust to advanced pitching.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #5 prospect in 2017
  Signing Max Scherzer cost the Nationals their first-round pick in 2015, making Stevenson their top selection in the second round. He ranked as one of the best defensive outfielders in NCAA Division I and helped Louisiana State reach the College World Series in 2015. He then hit the ground running in pro ball, quickly advancing to low Class A Hagerstown in his debut. He carried that momentum into 2016, which began at high Class A Potomac, included a midseason promotion to Double-A Harrisburg and ended with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. He led the AFL in hits (30) and finished second in the batting race with a .353 mark. Stevenson employed an unconventional set-up at the plate at LSU that forced him to slash at the ball. The Nationals worked with him to adjust his hands and give him a better chance to drive the ball. His swing is still geared to hit the ball on the ground to take advantage of his well above-average speed, but he is now more likely to line the ball into gaps for extra-base hits. His speed and feel for the barrel are good enough to make him a top-of-the-order candidate. Stevenson is a plus defender in center field with exceptional range thanks to his speed and instincts. His below-average arm strength is his only defensive deficiency. Stevenson earns praise for his high-energy play and makeup. He likely will return to Harrisburg to start 2017, looking to build on his strong finish to the season.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #8 prospect in 2016
  Signing Max Scherzer cost the Nationals their first-round pick in 2015, making Stevenson their top selection in the second round. He ranked as one of the best defensive outfielders in NCAA Division I and helped Louisiana State reach the College World Series in 2015. He hit the ground running in pro ball, quickly advancing to low Class A Hagerstown in his debut. Stevenson has exceptional range thanks to his well above-average speed and instincts. His below-average arm strength is his only defensive deficiency. In college, Stevenson had an unconventional set-up at the plate that forced him to slash at the ball. The Nationals have worked with him to adjust his hands and give him a better chance to drive the ball. He will always be more of a contact hitter, but his speed and feel for the barrel are good enough to make him a top-of-the-order candidate. He is an aggressive baserunner who can impact the game with his speed. Stevenson earns praise for his high-energy play and makeup. He already has proven to be advanced enough to move quickly with the Nationals, and he may be ready to start his first full season at high Class A Potomac.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #168 prospect in 2015 draft
  At times this season, Louisiana State would field a trio of outfielders who could play center field in pro ball, but there was little question who would be standing in center field for the Tigers. Stevenson is one of the best center fielders in college baseball and projects as an above-average center fielder in pro ball thanks to 70 speed, excellent routes and a knack for making the diving catch. His below-average arm is his only weakness defensively. At the plate, Stevenson lacks the picture-perfect swing lefthanded hitters often possess. He's cleaned it up and made it less mechanical in the past year, but it still is an arms and upper-body swing that looks to slap the ball up the middle or the other way, resulting in bottom-of-the-scale power. His speed makes that work, and he's ranked among SEC leaders in batting average each of the past two seasons. He profiles as a top-of-the-order center fielder whose defense may allow him to play even if his bat forces him to the bottom of the lineup.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: After finishing his college career by helping Louisiana State reach the 2015 College World Series, Stevenson hit the ground running in pro ball, quickly advancing to low Class A Hagerstown in his debut. He carried that momentum into 2016, which began at high Class A Potomac, included a midseason promotion to Double-A Harrisburg and ended with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. He led the AFL in hits (30) and finished second in the batting race. Scouting Report: Stevenson employed an unconventional set-up at the plate at LSU that forced him to slash at the ball. The Nationals worked with him to adjust his hands and give him a better chance to drive the ball. His swing is still geared to hit the ball on the ground to take advantage of his well above-average speed, but he also lines the balls into gaps for extra-base hits. His speed and feel for the barrel are good enough to make him a top-of-the-order candidate. Stevenson is a plus defender in center field with exceptional range thanks to his speed and instincts. His below-average arm strength is his only defensive deficiency. The Future: Stevenson earns praise for his high-energy play and makeup. He likely will return to Harrisburg to start 2017, looking to build on his strong finish to the season.