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Kelvin Gutierrez
Gutierrez established himself as a prospect during an All-Star campaign in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League in 2015, when he recorded the circuit's fifth-highest average (.305) and tied for the league lead in doubles (21). He made a smooth transition to full-season ball in the Class A South Atlantic League the following year, earning midseason All-Star honors in the process, and was in the midst of a similarly strong offensive campaign in 2017 before a June ankle injury wiped out much of his second half. Gutierrez did manage to make up for some of that lost time in the Arizona Fall League, and the Nationals added him to their 40-man roster in November.
The Nationals view Gutierrez as one of the better pure hitters in their system. He has a relatively simple inside-out stroke from the right side of the plate that produces hard contact across the whole field and fuels his projection as an above-average hitter. And while he hasn't yet figured out how to apply his raw power during games, club officials do expect him to clear more fences once he becomes more comfortable firing his barrel and turning on the ball.
Primarily a shortstop early in his career before shifting to third base in 2014, Gutierrez moves well for his size at the hot corner, showing athletic actions and plenty of range, with near plus-plus arm strength that is a clean fit at the position. Meanwhile, after committing 25 errors in 2016, Gutierrez was focused and consistent in '17, prompting many evaluators to peg him as a future above-average defender.
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