Byron Kerr

Nationals prospect updates on pitchers Cole, Jordan and Meyers

March 12, 2013, 7:41pm

The Nationals' accelerated development program has two weeks in the books in Florida. This week, I will have some updates of a few of the pitchers in the camp, starting with A.J. Cole, Taylor Jordan and Brad Meyers. Right-hander Cole is making good progress in his first camp since being trading back to the Nationals from the Oakland A's. The 21-year-old Cole had a rough start last season at Oakland's high Single-A team, but then settled down at low Single-A and dominated again. Sometimes,...

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Detwiler's Team USA performance forecasts well for Nationals' rotation

March 10, 2013, 6:47pm

Nationals

With left-hander Ross Detwiler throwing not one, but four scoreless innings this week for Team USA, you have to admire how far the 26-year-old has come in a year and a half, and how crucial his pitching is to the Nationals' rotation. Detwiler allowed just one hit in those four innings. Manager Joe Torre had enough confidence in the southpaw to go out and let him finish the ninth frame for the save. Detwiler has shown with international experience in the Taiwan series last year and now the...

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Karns feeling confident and healthy, won't go for 100 mph just yet

March 08, 2013, 6:37am

Nationals

Karns feeling confident and healthy, won't go for 100 mph just yet

Right-hander Nathan Karns is getting himself acclimated quickly at spring training. In his first two games, Karns did not allow a run in three innings, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out three. One of those hits was a seeing-eye single given up to Mets All-Star David Wright after quite a battle. "I feel like I started off on the right foot and keep going in that direction for the rest of spring training," the 25-year-old Karns said. "I want to build off of this and have a...

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New book spotlights the game's all-time best closers: Where does Rafael Soriano stack up?

March 05, 2013, 7:03pm

Nationals

New book spotlights the game's all-time best closers: Where does Rafael Soriano stack up?

Baseball can sometimes be broken down to an individual sport, especially for the closers. If a batter makes an out, he still has eight other guys that can make a play, his team still has two more outs. A closer has defenders behind him, but it's ultimately one pitcher versus one hitter. One pitch can end the game. One pitch can also turn into a blown save. In a new book, "Closer: Major League Players Reveal The Inside Pitch On Saving The Game" (Running Press - 2013, $15.00), Kevin Neary...

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What a difference a year's made for Nationals' Zach Duke

March 03, 2013, 4:12am

Nationals

It was about this time last season everything changed for Zach Duke. Last season, he struggled in Houston Astros camp and was eventually released. Two days later, he was picked up by the Nationals. After battling to regain his consistency and break on his best pitches, he worked his way back to the majors. Oh, he did work all right. Duke went 15-5 with a 3.51 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse. The left-hander made 26 starts, and had two complete games and a shutout over 164 1/3 innings. He had 91...

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ESPN ranks Nationals No. 4 in latest "Future Power Rankings"

February 28, 2013, 5:21pm

Nationals

ESPN released its latest "Future Power Rankings" and the Nationals are ranked fourth out of the 30 major league teams. ESPN calls it a "detailed breakdown of the future of every major league franchise" by experts Jim Bowden, Keith Law and Buster Olney. The No. 4 ranking is a jump from 2012 when the Nationals were locked in at No. 11. Here is the link, but you will need a subscription to read the results. The rankings are based on each team's strength in five areas: major leagues, minor...

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Nationals' top prospects fortified by "second wave" of talent

February 26, 2013, 6:44pm

Nationals

When the Nationals beat the New York Mets 6-4 on Monday with a roster filled with the future of the organization, the team's development staff had to be beaming with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It wasn't too long ago the Nationals would bring 80 guys to camp and didn't know if they had a handful of major leaguers in that lot. The entire starting lineup Monday night featured the best the minor league system had to offer, sprinkled with a couple of players already with the...

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Three Nationals prospects learning new spots as accelerated development program begins

February 24, 2013, 6:54pm

Nationals

The Nationals' accelerated development roster confirmed the club's confidence in positional changes for Justin Miller and Kevin Keyes. Miller and Keyes worked at new positions during October's instructional league workouts. Miller switched from the infield to catcher and Keyes from the outfield to first base. Miller is listed as a catcher and Keyes as first baseman on the roster released last week for accelerated development camp in Viera, Fla. With the unfortunate news that Spencer...

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Why the Nationals have an accelerated development program

February 22, 2013, 9:35am

Nationals

This week, the Nationals revealed their accelerated development roster. The intrasquad games with this roster begin around March 1. Some fans asked what is the accelerated development roster and what is its purpose? Nationals director of minor league operations Mark Scialabba says the development program has three main goals: 1. To place the Nationals' top prospects on one roster for focused one-on-one work with the coaching staff and instructors. The idea is to get the best together and...

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Nationals release accelerated development roster

February 20, 2013, 7:10pm

Nationals

The Nationals have put together their list of prospects for the accelerated development program as they prepare to go to work next month in Viera, Fla. The pitchers listed include recently reacquired A.J. Cole, plus Lucas Giolito, Sammy Solis and Blake Schwartz. Justin Miller is listed as a catcher and Kevin Keyes as a first baseman after working those new positions in instructional league in October. Jason Martinson and Rick Hague also listed among the infielders. Brian Goodwin, Michael...

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Nats center field prospects a "position of strength" with Perez and Goodwin leading way

February 20, 2013, 8:55am

Nationals

Nats center field prospects a "position of strength" with Perez and Goodwin leading way

I spoke last week about the acquisition of Denard Span and how it sets up a very good order of center fielders now throughout the Nationals system. Eury Perez, Brian Goodwin, Michael Taylor and Billy Burns have played well at each level of the system as they look to get better this season and move up. Goodwin was recognized this week as the No. 70 prospect by Baseball America. "I think center field is a position of strength for us," Nationals director of player development Doug Harris...

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Baseball America ranks Rendon and two others on top 100 list

February 19, 2013, 11:13am

Nationals

Baseball America ranks Rendon and two others on top 100 list

Baseball America's latest top 100 prospect list features three of the Nationals' hottest youngsters. Third baseman Anthony Rendon, right-hander Lucas Giolito and center fielder Brian Goodwin all rank in the top 70. Rendon is rated No. 30. The 2011 first-rounder has made big strides since last April's ankle injury. With his consistent play in the Arizona Fall League adding to the at-bats he lost early on, he will be ready to go to start 2013 for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Showing...

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Nationals excited about Destin Hood's "upside" in 2013

February 17, 2013, 7:05pm

Nationals

Right fielder Destin Hood would like nothing better than to have a full season with no nagging injuries or games missed due to sickness. Saddled with just 94 games played last season, Hood was never really able to get in the groove that he would've wanted at this point in his career. But he certainly finished 2012 with a flourish. On opening day this season, Hood will be just 23 years old, so there is still plenty of time for the athletic, 6-foot-1, 225 lb., outfielder to show what he is...

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Eury Perez adds depth to Nationals outfield, speed at Syracuse

February 15, 2013, 5:48am

Nationals

The Nationals were able to sign center fielder Denard Span to be their leadoff hitter and complete their 2013 lineup. One player who got some time with the big club late in 2012 and could also someday fill that role for the Nationals is Eury Perez. The Dominican continued to play well in winter ball, as high Single-A Potomac Nationals manager Brian Daubach said here. Perez did get a call-up late last season during the Nationals' clinching month. With the Nationals, Perez played in 13 games,...

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Lecroy: Rendon made nice strides in Harrisburg to help him prepare for 2013

February 12, 2013, 4:47pm

Nationals

Lecroy: Rendon made nice strides in Harrisburg to help him prepare for 2013

According to a Houston media outlet during the 2012 season, there were reports that Nationals top prospect Anthony Rendon might not return to the field because of his recovery from an ankle injury. Third baseman Rendon suffered a fractured left ankle early in April for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. But slowly and methodically, Rendon rehabbed that ankle and was able to resume baseball late last season. Double-A Harrisburg Senators manager Matt Lecroy got to see Rendon play for the last...

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Meyers' deception could be key change of pace

February 11, 2013, 3:10am

Nationals

Meyers' deception could be key change of pace

The Nationals got Brad Meyers back from the Yankees, who took him in the Rule 5 draft and then returned him. Meyers pitched only one game last year after an early-season workout injury shelved his season. Now he is good to go and is excited to be back with the Nationals' organization. Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony Beasley had Meyers at Double-A Harrisburg a couple of years ago for a while before Meyers was called up to the Chiefs. Beasley said Meyers doesn't have the classic,...

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Nationals want Goodwin to focus on bunting, baserunning

February 08, 2013, 8:13am

Nationals

Left-handed-hitting Brian Goodwin made a big jump last season from low Single-A Hagerstown to Double-A Harrisburg. The 22-year-old continued his baseball education in the Arizona Fall League and was a standout in the Rising Stars game. Goodwin homered, doubled and had two RBIs in the East's 9-4 win over the West. Harrisburg manager Matt Lecroy said the number of reps, at-bats and games Goodwin played last season against good competition were invaluable in the youngster's quest to get to the...

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Corey Brown looking to crack Nationals' talented outfield

February 06, 2013, 4:10am

Nationals

Outfielder Corey Brown is vying for a spot on the Nationals' 25-man roster this spring. The 27-year-old showed well in last season's call-up. He got attention with a nice series in Milwaukee in late July. Brown went 3-for-9 with three runs, one double, one homer and one RBI on July 28-29. His first major league hit was a home run,a solo shot over the left-center field wall in Miller Park, contributing to a 4-1 win over the Brewers. The Oklahoma State product appeared in 19 games last...

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Cardinals' Carpenter always seemed to have the Nationals' number

February 05, 2013, 12:45pm

Nationals

With the news that right-hander Chris Carpenter is unlikely to pitch in 2013, one of the toughest pitchers in the majors the past 15 years might be close to retirement. Carpenter has pitched in 350 games with 332 starts, winning 144 games with a consistent .605 winning percentage. How consistent? According to Baseball Reference, Carpenter's winning percentage was exactly .605 for the first half (75-49) and the second half (69-45) of each season. Incredibly, he also had a better winning...

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Nats' minor league rosters slowly being filled in

February 04, 2013, 8:56am

Nationals

Nats' minor league rosters slowly being filled in

With spring training just around the corner, the makeup of the some of the minor league rosters are starting to take shape as names are quietly appearing on the Web sites of Nationals affiliates. For the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, pitchers Yunesky Maya, Jeff Mandel, Pat Lehman, Brad Meyers, Hassan Pena and Tanner Roark are familiar. Also on the list is right-hander Matt Torra. Torra, out of the University of Massachusetts, is 6-foot-3 and 225-lb. righty starter who made 26 appearances (23...