Byron Kerr

Nationals early camp capsule: Jakson Reetz and Jorge Tillero

March 25, 2015, 2:56am

Let's check up on a couple of catchers from the Nationals' early camp. Today, we will focus on 2014 third-round selection Jakson Reetz and undrafted free agent Jorge Tillero. The 19-year-old Reetz is from Hickman, Neb., (population 1,657) and is showing a power bat in spring training as he did last season for the Gulf Coast League Nats. He attended Norris High School. Hickman is 15 minutes south of Lincoln and a 73-minute drive southwest of Omaha. Reetz hit .274 in 43 games in the GCL, with...

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Nationals Park adds metal detectors for all events beginning April 4

March 23, 2015, 11:18am

Nationals

In conjunction with Major League baseball requirements, the Nationals have installed metal detectors at all gates at Nationals Park for the 2015 season. The new screening program will officially begin April 4 for the exhibition game against the Yankees. Prior to entering the ballpark, fans will have their bags checked and will then proceed through a metal detector. If metal is detected, there will be a secondary screening with a handheld wand-type metal detection device. Following the bag check...

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Drew Ward makes first major league spring start at third base today for Nats

March 23, 2015, 3:15am

Nationals

Drew Ward makes first major league spring start at third base today for Nats

Every day is special for prospects who get to work with the big leaguers at spring training. Today is an even bigger day for 20-year-old third baseman Drew Ward, who makes his first start in spring training with the major league club as the Nationals take on the Yankees. The game will be aired on MASN HD at 1 p.m. "It's a big deal," low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said. News of Ward's first start today was big news at his church, not to mention the entire small town of...

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Nationals minor league affiliates primer: Potomac and Harrisburg open at home (updated)

March 21, 2015, 5:28am

Nationals

Opening day for the Nationals is April 6. The minor league affiliates also begin that week with all starting April 9, except for short-season Single-A Auburn, which begins in late June. Here are thumbnail primers for each of the minor league clubs as they get ready to begin their 2015 campaigns: Short-season Single-A Auburn DoubledaysSchedule: http://www.milb.com/schedule/index.jsp?sid=t458 Home: Falcon Park II, Auburn, N.Y. Distance from Nationals Park: 383 milesSeason opener: June 19 at...

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Reynaldo Lopez's ability to maintain velocity built during offseason program

March 19, 2015, 3:02am

Nationals

Reynaldo Lopez's ability to maintain velocity built during offseason program

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez took a major step forward in July and August last season. After some early struggles at low Single-A Hagerstown, Lopez went to short-season Single-A Auburn and was able to make a mechanical adjustment in his throwing motion that turned his season around. Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart, along with current senior baseball advisor Spin Williams and pitching coaches Tim Redding and Sam Narron, worked with Lopez to adjust his release point. Lopez...

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Menhart views early camp pitching roster as most talented in his 10 years with Nats

March 17, 2015, 10:53am

Nationals

Menhart views early camp pitching roster as most talented in his 10 years with Nats

Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart is well into his new season with the club, and with a new title. He is taking over the title from Spin Williams, who moved on to new responsibilities as the Nationals senior baseball advisor. Menhart has worked his way up with the Nationals as a critical pitching coach from Single-A Hagerstown to Triple-A Syracuse, and has coached the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, Blake Treinen, Aaron Barrett and many...

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Jake Johansen concentrates on improving delivery

March 16, 2015, 12:17pm

Nationals

Jake Johansen concentrates on improving delivery

It would be nice to see how 2013 second-round selection Jake Johansen fares this season. The 6-foot-6 right-hander and Allen, Texas, native went 5-6 with a 5.19 ERA in 29 games last season for low Single-A Hagerstown. The 24-year-old made 18 starts with 89 strikeouts and 55 walks over 100 2/3 innings. Johansen, who is just about as big as teammate Lucas Giolito, is looking to maintain consistency from start to start with a more efficient delivery, something that eluded him at times last year....

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Joe Ross and Abel de los Santos

March 13, 2015, 7:10am

Nationals

The two newest pitchers acquired in trades in the offseason debuted for the Nationals in their early camp roster game against the Astros on Thursday. Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said that right-handed starter Joe Ross and right-hander Abel de los Santos "threw very well" and had "impressive first outings" yesterday in their organizational debuts. Nats director of player development Mark Scialabba also confirmed the pair "pounded the strike zone and were...

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Jefry Rodriguez, Luis Reyes

March 11, 2015, 7:53am

Nationals

Here are some more previews of a couple of the Dominican pitchers that are on the early camp roster. Short-season Single-A Auburn manager Gary Cathcart, the Nationals' coordinator of instruction, had both of these prospects on his team last season. RHP Jefry Rodriguez 6-foot-5, 185 lbs. Age: 21 Birthplace: Haina, Dominican Republic Bats: Right Throws: Right 2014 club: Auburn, Hagerstown Rodriguez, a converted shortstop, has continued to improve the past two seasons. He put up some very good...

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Reynaldo Lopez

March 09, 2015, 10:43am

Nationals

The early camp previews continue with one of our favorite offseason subjects - Nationals pitching prospect Reynaldo Lopez. RHP Reynaldo Lopez Height: 6-footWeight: 185 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Age: 21 Born: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic2014 clubs: Auburn, Hagerstown The 6-foot, 21-year-old starter from the Dominican Republic made a key mechanical adjustment at short-season Single-A Auburn that changed the momentum of his whole campaign when he returned to low Single-A...

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Catchers

March 06, 2015, 10:26am

Nationals

The Nationals have another good group of backstops on the early camp roster: 26-year-old Cole Leonida, 19-year-old Jakson Reetz, 21-year-old Jorge Tillero and 21-year-old Raudy Read. Read played for short-season Single-A Auburn manager Gary Cathcart last season. Cathcart is also the coordinator for Instruction for the Nationals and is with these prospects in Florida during spring training. The early camp roster first game is March 12 at Houston. C Raudy Read 6-foot 170 lbs. Bats: Right Throws:...

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Infielders

March 03, 2015, 11:52am

Nationals

Next, we look at some of the infield prospects on the Nationals early camp roster. The minor leaguers' first game is March 12 at Houston. Nationals coordinator of instruction Gary Cathcart, who also is the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays manager, had several of these players on his team last season and provides a preview. For more on the outfielders, click here. Part Two: Infielders 1B Jose Marmolejos Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 185 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Left Age: 22 Born: Santo...

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Nationals early camp prospect capsule: Outfielders

March 01, 2015, 5:59am

Nationals

Nationals coordinator of instruction Gary Cathcart is working two camps a day at spring training - the early camp filled with prospects and the major league camp. During the regular season, Cathcart roves the minor league system working with players and coaching them up. In June, he will again manage the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. Several of the players he had on that squad last season are on the early camp roster this season. In my next series of blogs, I will break down...

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Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury

February 26, 2015, 3:20pm

Nationals

Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury

Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth comes to spring training rehabbing an injury that ended his season prematurely in August. McLouth is recovering from a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The left-handed hitting utility outfielder is critical for a team that needs to ensure it has some offense coming from that side of the plate besides Bryce Harper and Denard Span, especially with the departure of Adam LaRoche. McLouth's value doubles with the uncertainty surrounding Jayson Werth and his own...

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Trea Turner reports to Padres camp

February 24, 2015, 12:00pm

Nationals

Shortstop Trea Turner, the player to be named in a three-team 11-player trade in December that involved the Nationals, has arrived at the San Diego Padres' spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz., according to reports. The deal sent 2013 American League Rookie of the Year Wil Myers to the Padres while Steven Souza Jr. went to Tampa Bay. Turner is a top prospect as the No. 13 overall selection in the 2014 draft. So much so that if he was a member of the Nationals right now, Baseball America...

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A rundown of the Nationals' 2015 minor league early camp roster

February 24, 2015, 8:05am

Nationals

Here is a look at the Nationals' minor league early camp roster for 2015. It is filled with a lot of the prospects you will be able to see this summer throughout the organization. The roster, obtained by MASNSports.com, includes the likes of Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Erick Fedde, Nick Pivetta, Joe Ross, Wander Suero, Austin Voth, Jakson Reetz, Raudy Read, Chris Bostick, Anderson Franco, Tony Renda, Drew Ward, Isaac Ballou, Rafael Bautista and Victor Robles. The teenagers are always...

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Giolito on Reynaldo Lopez's fastball: "I've never seen anything like it live"

February 23, 2015, 8:37am

Nationals

Giolito on Reynaldo Lopez's fastball: "I've never seen anything like it live"

The Nationals have long been a team that loves to stack tall imposing starting pitching that comes down off the mound with a delivery that intimidates would be batters. The 6-foot-6 Lucas Giolito fits into that category. The trajectory of his fastball, coupled with his daunting frame, makes it difficult for hitters to see the ball come from 9-to-6 or 12-to-6 toward the plate. His teammate last season, 6-foot right-handed starter Reynaldo Lopez, came on strong when called up from short-season...

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Baseball America lists seven Nationals in their annual top 100

February 19, 2015, 5:24pm

Nationals

Baseball America has announced its much anticipated top 100 list for 2015 top prospects. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is No. 1, while Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is listed as No. 2. The Nationals are well represented on the list with three players in the top 50 and six players in the top 96. It is no surprise that top prospect Lucas Giolito cracked the top 10 and is No. 7 overall. New to the list this season for the Nationals are right-handers Reynaldo Lopez (No. 49) and newly acquired Joe...

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Updates on Sammy Solis and Erick Fedde

February 18, 2015, 8:36am

Nationals

Left-hander Sammy Solis is looking to have a complete season with the Nationals, and hoping to stay healthy after fighting through injuries the past few campaigns. Solis was limited to only five games in 2014 after being shut down in early June due to elbow discomfort. He had 13 starts in 2013. In 2012, he underwent Tommy John surgery. His career-high innings pitched was 96 2/3 in 2011. The 26-year-old was a second-round selection in 2010. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba...

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Prospect updates: Bostick, Robles and Ward

February 16, 2015, 7:07am

Nationals

Prospect updates: Bostick, Robles and Ward

I like to check in with the Nationals and get their thoughts on some of the names to look out for in the minor leagues this season. The last blog, I focused on pitchers. This time, I asked about some of the on-field personnel you should check out. The young prospects to watch as spring training begins include second baseman Christopher Bostick. The 21-year-old Bostick was acquired from the Texas Rangers, alongside right-handed reliever Abel de Los Santos, in the Ross Detwiler trade in...