Byron Kerr

Potomac's Leon learning opponents' swings, making big strides behind the plate

August 12, 2011, 10:49am

The catching depth in the Washington Nationals organization continues to show itself in the lower level minor league teams with Adrian Nieto and David Freitas in Single-A Hagerstown. Meanwhile, up one level in Woodbridge, Va., after a slow start at the plate, High-A Potomac Nationals catcher Sandy Leon is beginning to get on a hitting roll. Leon has batted .273 in the last 10 games with a double, three homers and seven RBI. He has had those three round trippers in his last 10 outings, with...

Tags:

Rally falls short, Nationals lose to Cubs, 4-3

August 11, 2011, 11:31am

Nationals

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann was pitching efficiently and looked like he was headed towards another one of his outstanding starts. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (10-8) allowed only a Ryan Zimmerman home run in the first, so that did not give Jordan much wiggle room in the late stages of the game. Sound familiar? Zimmermann hasn't had much run support all season long. It happened again Thursday at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals, 4-3. With the score...

Tags:

byron kerr chicago cubs jordan zimmermann nationals ryan dempster ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals1

Zimmerman gives Nationals early lead in Chicago, 1-0

August 11, 2011, 10:34am

Nationals

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman reached 19 games in his current hitting streak with a monster solo shot out of Wrigley Field in the first inning off of the Cubs' Ryan Dempster. It is the second longest hit streak of Zimmerman's career, the homer coming on a slider from Dempster, who has allowed 16 homers this season. The Nationals are looking to win their first road series under Davey Johnson and lead the season series with Chicago, 4-2. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann has...

Tags:

byron kerr chicago cubs jordan zimmermann nationals ryan dempster ryan zimmerman frontfeatured_nationals

Potomac's Solis says elbow feels better; closer to bullpen session

August 10, 2011, 7:38pm

Nationals

Potomac's Solis says elbow feels better; closer to bullpen session

Single-A Potomac Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis had a fairly good game against Salem Aug. 2. He went seven innings and allowed three hits with two solo homers in taking the loss, 3-0. But toward the end of the game, Solis felt pain in his elbow and got it immediately checked out by the team's medical personnel. The diagnosis was left elbow inflammation and tendinitis. The MRI came back negative. Solis has still been solid in his six high Single-A starts, going 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 33...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals potomac nationals salem red sox sammy solis frontstory_nationals1

First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac

August 10, 2011, 7:57am

Nationals

First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac

I got my first look at the play of newly acquired shortstop

Tags:

byron kerr matt lecroy nationals potomac nationals sammy solis zach walters frontstory_nationals1

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers

August 09, 2011, 7:09pm

Nationals

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Maybe it was Brian Peacock's bat. Maybe it was the slight breeze at Pfitzner Stadium. Maybe it was the early start time. Or maybe Destin Hood has found something in his swing. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris spoke about it last week, that Hood is close to getting that leverage that would make him an every day power hitter. "I think that the work (I have put in) has a lot to do with it," Hood said. "I am just trying to trust myself. I am not trying to...

Tags:

byron kerr destin hood doug harris matt lecroy nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Wang notches first win with Nationals; Morse and Gomes homer, 3-1 over Cubs

August 09, 2011, 5:58pm

Nationals

This was the night that Chien-Ming Wang dreamed about during those long hours rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. Wang (1-2) notched his first major league win since June 28, 2009, and his first as a Washington National, going six innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. The Nationals scored all their runs in the sixth frame and defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Davey Johnson's postgame comments after the Nationals beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley on Tuesday Wang...

Tags:

byron kerr chien-ming wang jonny gomes michael morse nationals frontfeatured_nationals featured_sidebar

Wang hasn't allowed a hit versus Cubs through five

August 09, 2011, 5:33pm

Nationals

Wang hasn't allowed a hit versus Cubs through five

Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has pitched very well so far against the Chicago Cubs. Wang has not allowed a hit through five innings and has induced 10 ground ball outs. He has walked two and hit one batter, but otherwise has looked much improved from his early struggles in his first two starts. Matt Garza has been equal to the task, striking out eight Nationals' through five innings. Garza has struck out every hitter in the Nationals lineup at least once, except for Ryan...

Tags:

byron kerr chien-ming wang nationals frontfeatured_nationals

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter

August 09, 2011, 9:09am

Nationals

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- A few news and notes as I take in an early afternoon Carolina League Single-A matchup between the Potomac Nationals and the Salem Red Sox. P-Nats right-hander Adam Olbrychowski has added a splitter to his repertoire. The Pepperdine pitcher has won two of his last three starts and is coming off a career-high eight innings in Friday's win. Destin Hood hit home runs No. 10 and 11 in his first two at-bats. The solo shots off of Salem's Stolmy Pimentel were no-doubt-about-it...

Tags:

byron kerr destin hood nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Potomac's Olbrychowski records best outing of summer, won two of last three

August 08, 2011, 10:30am

Nationals

Potomac's Olbrychowski records best outing of summer, won two of last three

Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Adam Olbrychowski is on a roll recently in Woodbridge, Va. The Pepperdine hurler has allowed three hits or less in three of his last four starts. His most recent start, Aug. 5, was his best in over a month and his top outing since he returned to a starting role nine games ago. Friday at Myrtle Beach, Olbrychowski went a career-high eight innings, allowing three hits, one run, three walks and had six strikeouts for his fourth win of the season, a 6-1...

Tags:

byron kerr frontstory_nationals2 nationals

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown

August 07, 2011, 6:40pm

Nationals

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown

Recently promoted catcher David Freitas has done quite well as the lead catcher for the Suns, batting .288 with 100 hits in 102 games. He has cranked out 25 doubles, 12 homers and 63 RBI. "David has had an incredible year," Harris said. "He is an extremely mature player both offensively and defensively and we couldn't be happier with his progress." Freitas could get his chance soon with the Potomac Nationals because Devin Ivany was placed on the disabled list and Brian Peacock was...

Tags:

byron kerr doug harris hagerstown suns nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Callis: All looks good with top picks except for Purke

August 06, 2011, 12:53pm

Nationals

Callis: All looks good with top picks except for Purke

The deadline to announce if draft picks have been signed is inching ever closer. Jim Callis, executive editor of Baseball America, is pretty confident the Nationals will be able to sign most of their top five selections, including first round selection, third baseman Anthony Rendon out of Rice. "Rendon had a shoulder injury that hampered him this spring but I still thought he was the best player in the draft," Callis said. "I still think he will command a major league contract that could...

Tags:

anthony rendon baseball america byron kerr jim callis matt purke nationals frontstory_nationals2

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting

August 05, 2011, 11:12am

Nationals

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting

The Single-A Potomac Nationals have battled all season long to get their offense going. Throughout the ebb and flow of the season, four prospects have been able to maintain their consistency in the pitching-rich Carolina League. Destin Hood (.279), Jeff Kobernus (.275), Justin Bloxom (.272) and Eury Perez (.271) rank eight through 11 at the top of the league in hitting. Nationals director of player development, Doug Harris, has taken notice of their offensive consistency, and believes it is...

Tags:

byron kerr destin hood doug harris eury perez jeff kobernus justin bloxom nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Another Bryce making a name for himself in Nats' system

August 04, 2011, 1:51pm

Nationals

Another Bryce making a name for himself in Nats' system

I checked in this week with Gary Cathcart, manager for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, who are off to a nice start at 26-19 and have recently battled out of a losing streak to win four straight games. The roster is filled with elite college players and quality late round draft picks working hard to make a statement in the organization. One of them is named Bryce. As in, Bryce Ortega. The Doubledays third baseman has been tearing the cover off the ball, now hitting .381 with...

Tags:

auburn doubledays bryce ortega byron kerr gary cathcart matt skole nationals frontstory_nationals2

Huntsville skipper: Komatsu "has the hitting genes"

August 03, 2011, 10:24am

Nationals

Huntsville skipper: Komatsu "has the hitting genes"

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators received their newest acquisition this week in center field prospect Erik Komatsu. The 5-foot-10, left-handed-hitter came over from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Jerry Hairston Jr. trade Saturday and made his debut last night. Komatsu played for the Double-A Huntsville Stars under manager Mike Guerrero, who was impressed with the former Cal-State Fullerton player. Komatsu hit .294 with 19 doubles, one triple, six homers, 13 stolen bases and 40 RBIs with the...

Tags:

byron kerr erik komatsu harrisburg senators huntsville stars nationals frontstory_nationals1

Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect

August 02, 2011, 7:29pm

Nationals

The Nationals have started to play some good baseball again, and this time, with an edge. Maybe they call it "Beast Mode." You have seen the Nationals' first baseman Michael Morse and his now-famous t-shirt during MASN's Nats Xtra postgame show interviews, haven't you? If not, here it is. It gained popularity thanks to the outstanding play of Morse, who has continued to mash the ball, hitting his 18th homer of the season, as part of a three-dinger barrage against Braves pitching in...

Tags:

atlanta braves byron kerr jayson werth jonny gomes michael morse nationals rick ankiel frontstory_nationals3

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown

August 02, 2011, 7:22am

Nationals

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown

Catcher Adrian Nieto has been moved from advanced Single-A Potomac to Single-A Hagerstown. The organization needs another catcher in Hagerstown, and Nieto will be able to get a lot of playing time there. It is a chance for Nieto to show how far he has come after struggling in Hagerstown last season. Nieto hit just .195 with 44 strikeouts in 2010 for the Suns. This season, he has worked very hard on his plate presence and swing at short-season Single-A Auburn. He came out on fire and was...

Tags:

auburn doubledays byron kerr gary cathcart hagerstown suns nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals2

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg

August 01, 2011, 4:19pm

Nationals

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg

After a career performance Sunday in Potomac's win over Frederick, left-hander Danny Rosenbaum is headed to Double-A Harrisburg. Rosenbaum was electric Sunday, going eight innings and striking out a career-high 11 hitters, and has been the most consistent hitter at Potomac all season, going 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He has 108 strikeouts and has gone 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. The P-Nats will activate left fielder J.P Ramirez and catcher Brian Peacock off...

Tags:

byron kerr danny rosenbaum harrisburg senators nationals potomac nationals frontstory_nationals1

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6

August 01, 2011, 12:55pm

Nationals

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues to make solid progress as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery in Viera, Fla., and the team is nearing its decision to get him in rehab starts closer to home. Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg is in "great shape" and is on target to have his first rehab assignment in the first week of August at Double-A Hagerstown. A club source said Hagerstown has been discussed as site for the first rehab start Aug. 6. Strasburg would then move on to high...