Byron Kerr

Nationals Youth Baseball Academy officially opens with ribbon cutting ceremony (with pics)

March 29, 2014, 10:50am

The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy celebrated its grand opening Saturday at Fort Dupont Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The year-round educational and athletic facility, which already has 55 students in attendance, provides quality after school and summer learning programs for boys and girls in D.C. neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. Nationals players and coaches stood behind principal owner Marla Lerner Tanenbaum during the presentation. Invited guests included Academy...

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Williams confirms Fister placed on disabled list, sets schedule for Roark and Jordan

March 29, 2014, 9:41am

Nationals

Williams confirms Fister placed on disabled list, sets schedule for Roark and Jordan

Manager Matt Williams confirmed right-hander Doug Fister will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain. "Doug is going to go on the DL, of course," Williams said. "He is going to be shut down from throwing for about five days and see where he is at and start the process of getting him back. "That is the perfect plan, we will see how it goes over the next few and get him back on his program and get him built back up a little bit, so we will see how it goes." Williams...

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Nats and Tigers lineups from Nats Park

March 29, 2014, 8:29am

Nationals

The Nationals and Tigers are preparing for the final exhibition game today here at Nats Park. Detroit arrives with a 15-12-2 record in spring games. The Nationals are 15-13-2. Also, the teams will work under American League batting rules, so designated hitters will be employed and the pitchers will not bat. Here are the starting lineups: For the Nationals Denard Span CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Jayson Werth RF Wilson Ramos C Bryce Harper LF Ian Desmond SS Adam LaRoche 1B Danny Espinosa DH Anthony...

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What's new at Nationals Park for 2014

March 27, 2014, 11:29am

Nationals

The Nationals provided a "What's new at Nationals Park" media tour Thursday to show off improvements, additions and changes at the ballpark for this season. The tour included technological advancements, expanded and improved concession offerings, new concession concepts, concession stand expansions, new menu items and more. Further ballpark element changes include the new Norfolk Southern Club, which replaces the Stars & Stripes Club in sections 206 through 221, the Gold Glove Club, the...

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IronPigs announcer on Frandsen: "He plays the game hard all the time"

March 26, 2014, 11:42am

Nationals

IronPigs announcer on Frandsen: "He plays the game hard all the time"

Steve Degler, color analyst for the Phillies' Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs television network and sometime radio announcer for the Double-A Reading Phillies, knows new Nationals infielder Kevin Frandsen well. Degler has seen Frandsen play a lot over the last three seasons in the minors and with the Philadelphia Phillies. "He is a very versatile guy, he can play all four infield spots, probably best-suited for second base and shortstop," Degler said. "Hard-nosed. He plays the game hard...

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Should Blake Treinen be a starter or a reliever?

March 23, 2014, 7:54am

Nationals

Should Blake Treinen be a starter or a reliever?

Right-hander Blake Treinen gained big-time experience this spring, getting into six spring training games with the Nationals, the most work he has received in March as a pro. He finished with a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts, three walks and 15 hits allowed, and is currently listed on the Double-A Harrisburg roster. Treinen was originally drafted in 2010 by the Marlins, but had his contract voided because of inflammation in his shoulder. He decided to go back to college for his...

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Minor league updates on catchers, infielders and outfielders from Patrick Anderson

March 21, 2014, 9:00am

Nationals

Minor league updates on catchers, infielders and outfielders from Patrick Anderson

Minor league camp continues to roll along with decisions coming up very soon on final rosters of Nationals affiliates. The week of March 31-April 5 will be the timeframe that rosters will be finalized and announced. Here is a quick look at how some of the prospects are faring as camp winds down with updates courtesy of new Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. Last season, Anderson guided the Rookie level Gulf Coast Nationals to an unprecedented 52-9 record and the GCL...

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Nats will take BP at newly opened Youth Baseball Academy on March 29

March 19, 2014, 11:52am

Nationals

Nats will take BP at newly opened Youth Baseball Academy on March 29

The Nationals have announced they will conduct batting practice for their March 29 exhibition game at Nats Park across town that morning at their new Youth Baseball Academy in Fort Dupont Park. Later that day, the Nationals and Tigers conclude their spring schedules in Washington at a 2 p.m. exhibition. The batting practice will be preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving special guests, including Nationals players and executives, local and federal government leaders, and the academy's...

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Updates on Hague, Komatsu, Bowe, Meyers, Purke and Dominican players

March 17, 2014, 7:19am

Nationals

Updates on Hague, Komatsu, Bowe, Meyers, Purke and Dominican players

I was able to check in with assistant general manager/vice president of player development Doug Harris on several Nationals' prospects. I will begin with position players. * Infielder Ricky Hague returned last season after missing most of 2012 with a shoulder injury. He played in 128 games last season and compiled 437 at-bats. "He is going to play a little more third base this year," Harris said. "We will see where that takes us. Looking forward to him bouncing back this season as...

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Hood and Perez hope increased strength pays late season dividends

March 14, 2014, 8:51am

Nationals

Hood and Perez hope increased strength pays late season dividends

Outfielder Destin Hood and shortstop Stephen Perez worked extremely hard in the offseason to prepare for this upcoming campaign and it is showing so far in spring training. The soon-to-be 24-year-old Hood is listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 lbs., and is from Mobile, Ala. He has long been considered a top-10 prospect in the organization, but last season hit .224 as he battled through injuries and illness, with 116 strikeouts in 112 games while with Double-A Harrisburg. Nationals assistant general...

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Updates on young pitchers Voth, Mooneyham, Orlan and Silvestre

March 12, 2014, 11:33am

Nationals

Updates on young pitchers Voth, Mooneyham, Orlan and Silvestre

21-year-old Austin Voth made a nice jump last season from short-season Single-A Auburn to low Single-A Hagerstown. The right-handed starter Voth went a combined 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA in 11 games, striking out 55 batters in 46 1/3 innings. Voth is continuing to prepare for the 2014 campaign alongside 22 of his pitching teammates in the accelerated development program in Viera, Fla. Newly appointed Single-A Hagerstown pitching coach Sam Narron, and former Auburn pitching coach, was impressed...

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Goodwin gets better at his craft, sees results in quest to join Nats outfield

March 10, 2014, 8:05am

Nationals

Goodwin gets better at his craft, sees results in quest to join Nats outfield

Nationals top outfield prospect Brian Goodwin benefited from another year of Arizona Fall League competition and did well. Goodwin hit .296 in 19 games with the Mesa Solar Sox, with four doubles, one triple, two homers, three stolen bases and 12 RBIs. The 23-year-old Goodwin believed it was another huge opportunity to get better at his craft and experiment with different strategies at the plate. "You go down there and the stats don't count so much," Goodwin said. "You still play to win,...

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Giolito and Johansen making strides, focusing on consistency in development program

March 07, 2014, 9:29am

Nationals

Giolito and Johansen making strides, focusing on consistency in development program

I got an update on a handful of pitchers that are continuing their work at the Nationals accelerated development program in Viera, Fla. New low Single-A Hagerstown Suns pitching coach Sam Narron, who was the pitching coach for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays last season, updated the current progress of three starting pitchers he worked with: right-handers 19-year-old Lucas Giolito, 23-year-old Jake Johansen and 21-year-old Austin Voth (Voth sounds like "both"). "Voth, Giolito...

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Accelerated camp attempts to emulate big league feel

March 04, 2014, 7:25am

Nationals

Accelerated camp attempts to emulate big league feel

Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson told me how the Nationals' accelerated development program is moving along, and what they are focusing on in the second week. You can read an earlier interview with Anderson here. "We have a lot of coaches with the players now, every staff is there," Anderson said. "The Double-A and Triple-A staffs are up with the big league team. A few of the coaches come up for certain drills with the outfield and base running. "High-A, low-A, short-season...

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Baseball Prospectus bullish on Nats' 25-and-under talent

March 03, 2014, 6:16am

Nationals

Baseball Prospectus bullish on Nats' 25-and-under talent

There have been some publications that have talked about how the Nationals system is not as strong as others, but Baseball Prospectus has come out with its rankings of the best talent in the major leagues of prospects 25 and under. The Nationals rank second behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Of course, it helps when the top of the list comes from back-to-back years when the Nationals selected first in the amateur draft, grabbing starter Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper. Also at the...

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Accelerated development program reaches capacity this weekend

February 28, 2014, 10:10am

Nationals

Accelerated development program reaches capacity this weekend

The Nationals' accelerated development program will have all participants in camp this weekend as they continue to work toward March 4 and their first game against the Astros. There were 30 to 40 players in camp this week. The rest of the players will complete the roster by Saturday. What is it like for these advanced prospects each day while the major league players work out nearby in the complex? Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns manager Patrick Anderson took me through what a typical day is...

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Harrisburg introduces new mayfly batting practice cap for 2014

February 27, 2014, 11:28am

Nationals

Harrisburg introduces new mayfly batting practice cap for 2014

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators announced Thursday they will have a new on-field batting practice cap worn by players, coaches and staff for the upcoming 2014 season. The New Era fitted cap is blue with a blue bill and a red button on top, with a mayfly depicted on the front panel. "We really wanted to capture something that is unique to us with this new on-field cap," said Senators president Kevin Kulp said a team-issued new release. "The mayfly is truly nature at work. We have what I...

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Steven Souza on quest for big leagues: "I want to be ready"

February 26, 2014, 9:42am

Nationals

Steven Souza on quest for big leagues: "I want to be ready"

Outfielder Steven Souza is continuing his upper trend after a solid campaign last season with Double-A Harrisburg and an even better showing in the Arizona Fall League. Alongside Matt Skole, Souza is considered one of the top power hitting prospects in the Nationals' system. I caught up with Souza this week and he talked about the start spring training in Viera, Fla., with the Nationals. "It is going great," Souza said. "It is just nice to get back on a diamond and get my feet underneath...

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Nationals' minor league games are scheduled close to local fans

February 25, 2014, 7:22am

Nationals

I was putting together a schedule for Nationals minor league games that will be located within driving distance of Nationals Park for the 2014 season. Here are the list of reachable games and the names of each stadium. I also put in the distances for Syracuse, Harrisburg and Auburn home games if you are considering a summer road trip to see some of the future Nats play. Syracuse Chiefs (Triple-A) NBT Bank Stadium Distance from Nationals Park: 376 miles (5 hours 57 minutes) Click here for the...

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Phillies' actions with college players likely won't benefit other teams

February 22, 2014, 3:08am

Nationals

Phillies' actions with college players likely won't benefit other teams

The Phillies' decision to turn in an unsigned college draft pick to the NCAA for engaging the services of an agent acting as an advisor appeared this week to at least temporarily hurt their standing in the eyes of some agents who take care of those college baseball players. It also might, in turn, have an adverse effect on their opportunities to sign some players later. One agent had said the "Phillies are out." The Phillies apparently alerted the NCAA that Oregon State left-hander Ben...