Status quo for Strasburg, Harris says

April 28, 2010 11:08 AM by Ben Goessling View Comments

Stephen Strasburg's latest outing at Double-A Harrisburg was probably also his best: five no-hit innings, six strikeouts and only one baserunner - on a third strike turned passed ball. And just for good measure, he drove in the only run of the game, like the fifth-grader who's already shaving.

"He was very good. That was like a Little League game," Nationals player development director Doug Harris said. "He drove in the only run. That's straight out of Williamsport. It was good stuff."

But Strasburg isn't set to move on from Harrisburg, at least not quite yet. Harris said the No. 1 overall pick will pitch for the Senators on Sunday, and added the Nationals haven't decided when he'll move up.

"We're focused on his next start, focused on his sideline (session) building into his next start," Harris said. "We haven't put that part of the puzzle together."

Whether or not the plan is already in place and just staying private for now is hard to say. But the Nationals have maintained Strasburg's progression won't be determined by the results, at least not the ones readily available in the box score.

Harris stuck to that philosophy on Wednesday.

"It's a maturation process. He's getting into deeper starts," Harris said. "He'll continue to build up volume and work on the finer points of his game: reading hitters, reading swings, backing up bases."

Harris also said closer Drew Storen, who threw two shutout innings for the save in the first game of a doubleheader, is "getting back to normal" after a bout with strep throat. "He's been very consistent," Harris said. "There are no issues there whatsoever."

I'll have more from Harris, on a number of prospects not named Strasburg or Storen, during tomorrow's off-day.