Top 5 Most Underrated Prospects-Matthew Skole

With so many players in farm systems across baseball, sometimes players get lost in the shuffle. While some players are sometimes grossly over-rated, there are some that are very highly underrated, and yet, they go-on to have long Major league careers.

In this 5-part series, I will name 5 players that are very highly underrated, and could be that sneaky "player to be named later" of a trade that haunts the organization that traded them away, forever.

2. Matthew Skole, 3B, Washington Nationals (A)
Washington Nationals, 3B prospect Matthew Skole makes the list at number 2. Another prospect, who is not ranked within the organization's top 10, but almost certainly will be next year.

Drafted in the 5th Round, of the 2011 draft, Skole is a left-handed hitting, and a right-handed throwing, third baseman. He stands at 6'4" and weighs 230 lbs. He has very legitimate power, although he didn't show it in his first professional season, hitting only 5 HRs in 72 games. However, this season, he has made adjustments, and already has 21 Home Runs, in 83 games for class-A Hagerstown. He has shown great plate discipline as well, with a .410 on base percentage in 155 Minor League games, with a solid .285 batting average.

Skole, at only 22 years old, has the potential for 25-30 Home Runs a season in the Majors, and will probably stay at around a .260-.270 batting average. He is blocked at third base by the former face of the Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman, but could make the transition to First Base. A lineup featuring Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Matthew Skole, and Michael Morse, is the stuff dynasties are made of.

 Matthew Skole while with Georgia Tech

However, I could see Washington moving Skole at the upcoming trade deadline, to attempt to make a run, and acquire an impact player. Skole could be a legitimate middle of the order hitter, and is very highly underrated.

Skole looks the part too, has a smooth swing, and has a great eye at the plate. Because of his position, and ability to hit for power, he bares comparison to David Wright. He looks to be a left-handed hitting version, of David Wright in fact, and will probably hit for more consistent power than David has.

Skole, is not ranked on the organization's top 10, according to Baseball America, but I could see him in the top 5, on next year's list.