Byron Kerr

This is 40: Sammy Solis

November 22, 2013, 11:48am

Left-hander Sammy Solis was back. He had recovered from Tommy John surgery. He was pitching again in the game he loved. But something still wasn't quite right. And he was starting to get nervous. "It was one day at a time," Solis said on his May return to high Single-A Potomac. "Every day was different with my arm. One day, it would feel great, the next day it was like, 'Oh, my. Do I need surgery again?' The biggest thing on field to overcome was just my arm tightening up between every...

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Eating Right: Bonci advocates "color on the plate" that's not Fruit Loops

November 20, 2013, 6:53am

Nationals

Eating Right: Bonci advocates "color on the plate" that's not Fruit Loops

Second in a three-part series on how the Nationals are focusing on improving nutrition in the minor leagues. Read the first part here. Sports dietician Leslie Bonci, who is employed by the Nationals, has seen the change the last few years in baseball players. They want to get better, and not just by playing the sport, but by improving their strength and conditioning. Bonci said that begins with nutrition. And that is where she helps the Nationals players, especially at the minor league...

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Eating Right: Nationals have made nutrition a top priority

November 18, 2013, 5:06am

Nationals

The Nationals recently completed their first strength and conditioning camp for prospects at their training facility in Viera, Fla. As I reported earlier, this camp was administered by the Nationals' strength coaches and personnel and was focused on preparing prospects for their individualized offseason conditioning regimen. A major factor in this camp was the importance of nutrition for each prospect, re-emphasizing the standards the organization set for its 250 players during the season...

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Solis delivers Mesa into AFL championship game

November 15, 2013, 3:03am

Nationals

Solis delivers Mesa into AFL championship game

Left-hander Sammy Solis demonstrated his ability to come through in a clutch situation again. After all, he started two championship round contests for high Single-A Potomac in September. So, this was old hat. Solis went five strong innings, scattering six hits, allowing one run on no walks with four strikeouts as Mesa downed Glendale 9-3 to advance to the AFL championship game on Saturday. Brian Goodwin went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Adrian Nieto went 1-for-5. But the story...

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Nationals Youth Baseball Academy nearing completion in D.C.

November 14, 2013, 10:40am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is well under construction, with three baseball fields and an 18,000 square foot training facility nearing completion at Ward 7's Fort Dupont Park in Washington, D.C. Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, principal owner and chairperson of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, made the announcement from the construction site on Thursday. "Major League Baseball and the city decided that there was a need for a baseball academy of some sort in the...

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Pitching prospect Mirowski building confidence in three pitches in Arizona

November 12, 2013, 10:52am

Nationals

Pitching prospect Mirowski building confidence in three pitches in Arizona

One of the biggest reasons why right-hander Richie Mirowski is pitching in Arizona Fall League now is a spring training introduction. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams liked what he was seeing from the 24-year-old Mirowski and knew he was close to making a big step. Williams introduced Mirowski to Double-A pitching coach Paul Menhart to help with some fine-tuning on his most important pitch. "In spring, Spin Williams introduced me to Paul Menhart," Mirowski said. "(Williams)...

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Host of Nationals prospects contribute in latest Mesa win

November 11, 2013, 2:50am

Nationals

Mesa beat Surprise9-4 behind Matt Purke, Richie Mirowski, Steven Souza Jr. and Brian Goodwin on Saturday in the Arizona Fall League. Purke went four innings, scattered five hits, allowed two runs, two walks and struck out three. He is now 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA. Souza went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. It is his 10th stolen base of the season. Goodwin went 1-for-5 and is batting .315. Souza is batting .368. Mesa led 3-0 and 6-2 early, and the bullpen hung in for the win. The...

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Giolito and Johansen worked on repeating deliveries at instructional league last month

November 08, 2013, 11:28am

Nationals

Giolito and Johansen worked on repeating deliveries at instructional league last month

Right-handers Lucas Giolito and Jake Johansen made positive progress last month at the fall instructional league conducted by the Nationals in Viera, Fla. This week they completed a strength and conditioning camp at the same location. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams said both looked very good in their workouts and pitching performances during the October instructional league. "Well, I think they are really on the right track heading forward," Williams said. "They both...

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Souza collects two hits but Mesa falls 6-4

November 06, 2013, 9:32pm

Nationals

Souza collects two hits but Mesa falls 6-4

Mesa relinquished a 4-0 lead and fell to Glendale, 6-4 on Wednesday in Arizona Fall League play. After Nationals prospect Robert Benincasa got through the seventh unscathed, the Solar Sox bullpen fell apart, surrendering six runs in the final two frames. Benincasa threw a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit and a walk. Benincasa's ERA is 4.00 in nine Arizona outings. Here is more on his season. Right fielder Stephen Souza Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Center fielder Brian...

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Benincasa gaining strength and learning during "unbelievable" AFL experience

November 06, 2013, 7:32am

Nationals

Benincasa gaining strength and learning during "unbelievable" AFL experience

Right-hander Robert Benincasa had a very successful season in the Nationals organization. He has done so well, his season continues now in the Arizona Fall League. Benincasa was promoted from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac. Along the way, he totaled an impressive 27 saves and a 3.00 ERA. He walked only 14 batters and punched out 64 over 51 innings in 45 games. In Arizona with the Mesa Solar Sox, the 23-year-old Benincasa has gone 0-0 in eight games with a 4.50 ERA. But...

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Goodwin major part of Mesa 5-4 comeback win

November 05, 2013, 2:59am

Nationals

Goodwin major part of Mesa 5-4 comeback win

Nationals center field prospect Brian Goodwin crushed a two-run shot in Mesa's 5-4 rain-shortened win over Salt River in Arizona Fall League play on Monday. Goodwin hit the two-run homer in the second to begin the scoring for Mesa, cutting the Rafters' lead to 3-2. His homer came off of Salt River starter Grayson Garvin. Goodwin also stole his third base of the fall season. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and is now hitting .317. Left-hander Matt Purke started for Mesa. He went four...

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Nationals' 16-year-old Dominican prospect Franco shows well in fall instructional league

November 04, 2013, 9:39am

Nationals

The Nationals' biggest investment this offseason in Dominican talent, Anderson Franco, played very well in his debut at fall instructional league last month in Viera, Fla. Ben Badler of Baseball America reported that Franco signed with the Nationals for $900,000 last August. Franco is 6-foot-2, 190 lb., power-hitting third baseman from the Dominican Republic. The 16-year-old was rated the No. 29 international prospect by Baseball America. Here is a video of Franco at a workout, courtesy of...

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A possibility on who will manage Double-A Harrisburg next season and AFL Fall Stars recap

November 03, 2013, 5:11am

Nationals

A possibility on who will manage Double-A Harrisburg next season and AFL Fall Stars recap

With Matt LeCroy moving on to become the Nationals bullpen coach, there will be some alterations in the minor league coaching lineup. I have been told there will be some changes, but not a lot of new faces. The Nationals have made a habit of promoting from within and I expect that to be the case this upcoming season. LeCroy told me he has been ecstatic the past few days after being offered the position. He said he has faced Matt Williams as a player, but has not coached with him. However, he...

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Werth, Desmond, Roark excited about new manager Matt Williams

November 01, 2013, 12:38pm

Nationals

Werth, Desmond, Roark excited about new manager Matt Williams

New field manager Matt Williams made a point during his opening introductory news conference to say how thankful he was that current Nationals players Ian Desmond, Tanner Roark and Jayson Werth were in attendance. Williams said he was struck by a conversation he had with Desmond before the introduction to the media. Desmond told Williams he wanted to work a little bit harder. Williams said he was all for it. That symbolized what kind of player Williams was - the marine, the Carson Crusher,...

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Diamondbacks scribe on Williams: "He is a classic old-school baseball type guy"

October 31, 2013, 11:01am

Nationals

Diamondbacks scribe on Williams: "He is a classic old-school baseball type guy"

Former Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman and coach Matt Williams was named manager of the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Bob Baum, an Associated Press writer based in Phoenix who covers the Diamondbacks, remembers Williams as a player for Arizona. "I covered him since he was a player in his first year," Baum said. "He is a classic old-school baseball type guy. He is very straightforward. I like that he was always straightforward with us, no baloney. "He is exceedingly honest and to...

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Nats set to debut strength and conditioning camp next week for young prospects

October 30, 2013, 11:20am

Nationals

Nats set to debut strength and conditioning camp next week for young prospects

The Nationals will conduct their first strength and conditioning camp for select prospects starting next week at the training facility in Viera, Fla., according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. Twenty young players - 12 pitchers and eight position players - will participate. The camp begins Monday, Nov. 4 and runs for five days. "It is an opportunity to give our young players an introduction to their offseason strength and conditioning program," said Harris. "They...

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Purke named AFL Pitcher of the Week

October 29, 2013, 10:48pm

Nationals

A couple of Nationals prospects have been close to earning the honor this month, but Matt Purke is the first to break through. The left-hander was named Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Week for week No. 3. Purke went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three starts. He had a rough outing Tuesday, going three innings and allowing five runs on eight hits in a 7-3 loss to Salt River. Purke walked two, had a balk and struck out one. His ERA is now 3.00. Purke threw 60 pitches with 35 for strikes. Still,...

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Goodwin honored with Fall Stars Game invite, Solis and Purke have been outstanding

October 29, 2013, 8:27am

Nationals

Goodwin honored with Fall Stars Game invite, Solis and Purke have been outstanding

Mesa's rally came up short against Salt River Monday in the Arizona Fall League, as the Solar Sox fell 3-2. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Solar Sox scored two runs to cut the Rafters advantage to one run on a Kris Bryant two-run shot. C.J. Cron lined out to left field to end the game. Center fielder Brian Goodwin went 1-for-3, his average now .304. Goodwin was credited with a sacrifice and was caught stealing once. Third baseman Matt Skole went 0-for-3 with one walk. Mesa...

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Spin Williams believes Roark can challenge for starting spot

October 27, 2013, 9:08pm

Nationals

Spin Williams believes Roark can challenge for starting spot

Right-hander Tanner Roark made a big splash with the Nationals at the end of the season, and put himself in a good position to contend for starting spot next year. Question is, is he ready for the long haul? Can he be the fifth starter for the Nationals in 2014? Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams believes Roark would make an excellent choice. "Oh, absolutely," Williams said. "I think he showed you that the last two months of the season. He finally believes in himself. He attacks...

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Barrett on Williams: "He was one of the best managers I have ever played for"

October 25, 2013, 9:52am

Nationals

Barrett on Williams: "He was one of the best managers I have ever played for"

Matt Williams, who appears to be the choice at the next manager of the Nationals, managed the 2012 Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He helped guide the Rafters to an appearance in the championship game, a 4-3 loss to Peoria. I caught up with right-hander Aaron Barrett and infielder Jason Martinson, two of the eight Nationals prospects on that team, to get their take on the possibility of having Williams as the next manager of the Nats. Barrett is one of the top relievers in the...