Byron Kerr

Severino, Kieboom and Read highlight strong crop of catchers in Nationals system

February 13, 2015, 5:55am

Pitchers and catchers report to Nationals spring training in Viera, Fla., on Feb. 19. The club announced its non-roster invitees yesterday, a list that included catchers Spencer Kieboom, Steven Lerud and Pedro Severino. Both Kieboom and Severino played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Lerud played 60 games with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves last season. Nats director of player development Mark Scialabba told me this week that the catching depth is solid throughout the...

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Mechanical adjustment helps Reynaldo Lopez dominate low Single-A in late 2014

February 11, 2015, 3:04am

Nationals

Mechanical adjustment helps Reynaldo Lopez dominate low Single-A in late 2014

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez had a string of 48 1/3 innings last season without allowing an earned run while with low Single-A Hagerstown. It is expected that the 21-year-old Lopez will move up to high Single-A Potomac this season. Scouts have been pleasantly surprised with how the Dominican hurler can maintain his strength in the later innings. Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba detailed why the club believes Lopez was able to make his fastball even more lethal last...

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Nats say Potomac's stadium in good shape, top prospects likely will play there again this season

February 08, 2015, 5:20am

Nationals

Nats say Potomac's stadium in good shape, top prospects likely will play there again this season

In the past, players like outfielders Bryce Harper and Brian Goodwin bypassed Single-A Potomac because there were some questions about the field conditions at Pfitzner Stadium below average. But the Potomac Nationals have coordinated with the Washington Nationals to improve the field conditions in Woodbridge, Va. The field has been in a good shape for a few seasons now. Those two players skipped a level more because they were deemed ready for Double-A competition instead of inadequate...

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Still reminiscing the commissioner's visit, progress continues at the Nats youth baseball academy

February 05, 2015, 1:36pm

Nationals

Still reminiscing the commissioner's visit, progress continues at the Nats youth baseball academy

The day after a visit from the commissioner of Major League Baseball, the work and progress goes on for the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in southeast D.C. Executive director Tal Alter has been here since the academy was just an idea, and has watched the facility grow from its first shovel in the dirt to a living, breathing entity that is making an impact on the lives of dozens of school-age children in the surrounding neighborhoods. "We are a start-up, that's for sure," Alter said. "We...

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Commissioner says Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is baseball "at its best"

February 04, 2015, 12:36pm

Nationals

New Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred got an extensive tour of the Nationals Youth baseball Academy in southeast Washington on Wednesday and came away from the visit very impressed with its progress. "I'm always happy to be in Washington. Obviously, Washington is always a special market for us, the nation's capital," he said. "I appreciate the Nationals hosting me today. The visit here is really important to me. One of the things I hope to accomplish during my time as...

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Fresh off Carolina League title, P-Nats will be good again with new cast

February 02, 2015, 10:09am

Nationals

Fresh off Carolina League title, P-Nats will be good again with new cast

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals roster for 2015 has not been officially announced, but there is a very good chance that a lot of the top players from low Single-A Hagerstown will move up as they do each season. Pitchers Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito and center fielder Rafael Bautista are likely to be alongside players such as infielders Drew Ward and Wilmer Difo, and catcher Spencer Kieboom. The Suns put up gaudy offensive numbers and featured a pitching staff that stopped opponents...

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Baseball America No. 1 Nats prospect: Lucas Giolito

January 30, 2015, 12:01pm

Nationals

Baseball America No. 1 Nats prospect: Lucas Giolito

The upcoming season will be a great opportunity for top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito to show what he can do against the best hitters in the Carolina League pitching for high Single-A Potomac. As he said last week, he is ready to come out "guns a-blazing," now two years out from Tommy John surgery. He admitted that he has felt 100 percent healthy for over a year, feeling strong enough and confident enough in his arm as he rolled to a 10-2 record for low Single-A Hagerstown in just 98...

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Baseball America No. 2 Nats prospect: Trea Turner

January 27, 2015, 12:05pm

Nationals

Baseball America No. 2 Nats prospect: Trea Turner

Many times the player to be named is just that - and few remember who that player was. But the Nationals pulled off a deal this offseason involving a PTBN that indeed hasn't been named yet, but is very likely to be a top prospect from the Padres organization. In the three-team trade that sent left-hander Travis Ott and outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to the Rays, first-round pitcher Joe Ross and a player to be named were sent to the Nationals. In June, it is expected that player will be...

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Healthy Giolito will come out "guns a-blazing" in 2015

January 26, 2015, 6:38am

Nationals

Healthy Giolito will come out "guns a-blazing" in 2015

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Top Nationals pitching prospect Lucas Giolito attended the Potomac Nationals Hot Stove Banquet at the Old Hickory Golf Club, accepting the top player award on behalf of P-Nats infielder Tony Renda, who was out of town due to his engagement party. Giolito said last season was the perfect learning experience at low Single-A Hagerstown, and he is very likely to start this season with the P-Nats less than a half-mile away at Pfitzner Stadium. "Getting that first year out of the...

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Baseball America No. 3 Nats prospect: Michael A. Taylor

January 25, 2015, 5:20am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 3 Nats prospect: Michael A. Taylor

Outfielder Michael A. Taylor advanced well in 2014, moving from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse all the way to the Nationals. Taylor's jump was big, considering he spent 2012 and 2013 with high Single-A Potomac. He hit .304 in the minors last season, collecting 20 doubles, three triples, 23 homers and 64 RBIs in 110 games. The power display was 10 more homers than he had hit in 2012 and 2013 combined. Taylor then played 17 games with the Nationals and had eight hits with one...

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Ankiel on life skills role with Nats: "I felt like this was going to be my niche"

January 22, 2015, 8:49am

Nationals

Ankiel on life skills role with Nats: "I felt like this was going to be my niche"

The game of baseball is filled with highs and lows. Sometimes it can feel like it is mostly lows. Or it's the lows that you remember longer. A bad pitch leads to a huge inning. A strikeout with the bases loaded foils a possible big rally. It happens in almost every game. Rick Ankiel, probably more than any other player in the modern era, knows about the highs and lows of playing Major League Baseball. He started as a top pitching prospect. Through his well-documented wildness on the mound, he...

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Baseball America No. 4 Nats prospect: Reynaldo Lopez

January 21, 2015, 9:06am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 4 Nats prospect: Reynaldo Lopez

When baseball pundits talk about the future of the Nationals rotation, Lucas Giolito, A.J. Cole and even right-hander Reynaldo Lopez get mentioned. At the beginning of last year, many would not have known who Lopez was. But the pitcher who just turned 21 on Jan. 4 made a big splash on the scene by pitching well for low Single-A Hagerstown. In nine starts for the Suns, the 6-foot, 185-lb. Lopez went 4-1 with a 1.33 ERA in 47 1/3 innings, striking out 39 and walking only 11 batters. If you add...

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NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats

January 19, 2015, 3:51am

Nationals

NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats

So much for another quiet offseason for the Nationals. Last week, the Nationals acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar to shore up their infield. They sent fan favorite and eighth-inning eraser Tyler Clippard to Oakland to complete the deal. Now there are reports that the Nationals have agreed to a seven-year deal with 2013 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who went 39-8 the past two seasons with 492 strikeouts for the Tigers. NJ.com, which covers the Mets, believes this makes it even more...

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More on Nats minor league coaching additions; P-Nats Hot Stove banquet adds Giolito

January 16, 2015, 9:38am

Nationals

More on Nats minor league coaching additions; P-Nats Hot Stove banquet adds Giolito

Here are quotes from Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting Doug Harris on the recent additions to the minor league coaching staff: On minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart: "Menhart's really done a terrific job. He's earned his stripes at every level. He's an excellent teacher. Mechanically he does a terrific job in developing deliveries, developing specific pitches as well as the mental side of the game. We felt like he was...

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Baseball America No. 5 Nats prospect: Erick Fedde

January 14, 2015, 5:48am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 5 Nats prospect: Erick Fedde

The Nationals continue their connection to Las Vegas with the selection of right-hander Erick Fedde in last June's draft. Bryce Harper (hometown) and Matt Williams (UNLV) have obvious connections to the entertainment capital of the world. (More on baseball and Las Vegas later). Fedde is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-4, 180-lb. starting pitcher out of the UNLV. He went 8-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts. He had two shutouts and 82 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. He had Tommy John surgery in June. Fedde has...

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Baseball America No. 6 Nats prospect: Joe Ross

January 12, 2015, 8:54am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 6 Nats prospect: Joe Ross

The Nationals were excited to be able to trade for 21-year-old right-hander Joe Ross. The brother of Padres hurler Tyson Ross, Joe Ross is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound starter from Oakland, Calif., who was the Padres' first-round pick in 2011. He arrived in the three-team December trade that sent Steven Souza Jr. to the Tampa Bay Rays. The deal also brought in shortstop Trea Turner to the Nationals. Both Ross and Turner have been ranked among the Nationals' top 10 prospects by Baseball...

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Bloxom transitions from player to newest Nationals amateur scout

January 10, 2015, 3:12am

Nationals

Former Nationals minor league first baseman Justin Bloxom has traded in his cleats and glove for an opportunity to find the top prospects in the country and sign them to the Nats. Bloxom has been hired by the Nationals to be their amateur scout for the Kentucky and Tennessee regions. The 26-year-old Bloxom played six seasons in the Nationals system, but realized the final couple of years that he would need to transition into a new line of work. As he searched for a new position, he knew that he...

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Ankiel, Milacki and Shields join Nats minor league staff, Menhart promoted

January 08, 2015, 7:30am

Nationals

Ankiel, Milacki and Shields join Nats minor league staff, Menhart promoted

The Nationals announced their minor league coaching staff for the 2015 season. Veteran pitching coach Paul Menhart has been promoted to minor league pitching coordinator and the team named Spin Williams as senior advisor for player development. Gulf Coast Nationals manager Michael Barrett will return to the same position this season and also be the organization's catching coordinator. Newcomers include former major league pitcher Bob Milacki and longtime minor league manager Tommy Shields....

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Baseball America No. 7 Nats prospect: A.J. Cole

January 08, 2015, 4:40am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 7 Nats prospect: A.J. Cole

The Nationals coveted right-hander A.J. Cole so much, they traded back for the right-hander in 2013 in the three-team deal that sent Michael Morse to the Mariners. Cole was drafted by the Nationals in 2010, but then traded in 2011 to the Athletics as part of the trade that sent Gio Gonzalez to Washington. Cole struggled at times with Oakland, but after being back with his original team he flourished in 2014. Cole was named the Eastern League pitcher of the week in May and posted a 6-3...

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Baseball America No. 8 Nats prospect: Wilmer Difo

January 06, 2015, 7:37am

Nationals

Baseball America No. 8 Nats prospect: Wilmer Difo

There are few Nationals prospects that get more buzz when I talk to coaches, scouts and baseball people in the know than infielder Wilmer Difo. He splashed on the scene for me last year when I interviewed strength and conditioning coordinator Landon Brandes on the Nationals prospects annual strength and conditioning camp. Brandes said Difo was the top total points leader in the camp in three competitions: team conditioning, team weight lifting and individual weight lifting. Difo played very...