Washington Nationals’ prospect countdown: No. 30 Branden Boissiere

[ed. note - “With interest in the Washington Nationals’ farm system at a high level, Federal Baseball has begun a series featuring the top 30 prospects in the system as of late last season, according to Baseball America. We will start with No. 30 and work our way to the top over the next few weeks, with one prospect highlighted each weekday.”]

WASHINGTON – The Nationals – and their fans – certainly aren’t going to pass a final judgment on Branden Boissiere after just 85 at-bats at the low Single-A level with Fredericksburg this past summer.

Taken in the third round out of the University of Arizona earlier in the year, the left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder batted just .200 with one homer, one steal and a slugging mark of just .293.

The Riverside, California native had an OPS of only .593 for Fredericksburg, which had plenty of problems after starting the year 0-15 in its first season at their new ballpark just off I-95 between Washington and Richmond.

The Nationals signed Boissiere on July 15 and then he was assigned to Fredericksburg on August 17.

He hit .281 at home but struggled with a mark of .151 on the road while batting .280 with runners in scoring position.

“Boissiere is a hitter over power now, really, really slick defender, which we needed in our system,” Assistant GM and VP of Scouting Ops Kris Kline said on the second night of the 2021 Draft this past July. “He’s starting to run into some power. Where he played — now he plays in an enormous ballpark in Tucson.”

Here is what Baseball America said of the left-handed hitting infielder/outfielder, who turned 21 in March:

“Boissiere has quietly been an excellent hitter throughout the entirety of his Arizona career, hitting well above .300 each season. This spring he started to tap into a bit more power, and his simple approach at the plate gives him an up-the-middle approach and good zone control, with 36 walks and 42 strikeouts through the regular season. While he increased his home run total in 2021, he doesn’t profile as a typical slugging first baseman and is more similar to former Wildcat Alfonso Rivas (drafted in fourth round by Oakland in 2018). Boissiere may go in a similar draft slot as his predecessor, especially to a club that appreciates his plate discipline and ability to pepper the gaps. It’s a flat swing, but with good timing, and he uses all fields. Some scouts have Boissiere as a plus defender at first base, with good hands and feet. While he has some experience in the outfield and enough tools to be adequate, his below-average speed and arm will likely keep him on the dirt at the next level.”

Next: Holden Powell