Elijah Dukes

Washington Nationals

Will a change of scenery help Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge realize their potential?

Both are highly touted prospects whose physical talents couldn’t overshadow the off the field controversy that surrounded each. As a result, the Nationals were able to acquire each on the cheap in the offseason as their original clubs grew tired of waiting for them to clean up their respective acts. Milledge has already shown flashes of his ability in limited playing time with the Mets who never seemed to give him a fair shake. Having already endured some of the rough patches that any young player inevitably goes through, he seems poised for a breakout year in Washington.

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Nick Johnson: Can dude stay healthy long enough to get traded to a contender?  I hope so.  I think he'll fetch a player or two.  Make no mistake about it.  He is on a 3 month showcase tour to prove that he can still play.  After missing all last year with a freak broken leg injury, he 'won' the 1B job in spring training.  This might seem curious considering the frugal Nats spent 10 mil on Dimitri Young.  Don't look too far into it.  That move was for him to act as player/mentor for a team with tons of young players on it who might need some sage wisdom now and then (Dukes, Willy Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge etc.).

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