Byron Kerr

Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom highlight Nats' top 30 prospects

February 20, 2019, 5:58am

MLBPipeline.com released its version of the Nationals' top 30 prospects list this week. The No. 1 prospect on this list is no surprise, and could very well be the starting center fielder this season with the big league club. Victor Robles has 34 games combined in two seasons with the Nats. This will be a huge season for him, especially with the likely departure of Bryce Harper. Juan Soto and Robles will be the future for the Nats outfield. If Robles can get his hitting to match every other...

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Doolittle garners league-wide respect as Nats closer

February 13, 2019, 1:57am

Nationals

Doolittle garners league-wide respect as Nats closer

It is impressive to see the respect Nationals closer Sean Doolittle gets on a national stage. The latest MLB.com list of the top relievers in the game on the "Right Now!" segment has him at No. 2 behind currently unsigned free agent Craig Kimbrel. 1. Craig Kimbrel, Free Agent 2. Sean Doolittle, Washington Nationals 3. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers 4. Edwin DÃaz, New York Mets 5. Blake Treinen, Oakland Athletics 6. Felipe VÃ¡zquez, Pittsburgh Pirates 7. Chad Green, New York Yankees 8....

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Rendon approaching class of his own and big contract in 2020

February 10, 2019, 5:32pm

Nationals

Rendon approaching class of his own and big contract in 2020

With Bryce Harper possibly moving on in free agency, the strategy of how to stop the Nationals offense may now turn toward third baseman Anthony Rendon. That's because his slugging percentage has gone up in each of his last three seasons: .450 to .533 to .535. In the last two seasons, he has combined for 49 homers and 192 RBIs in 283 games. But he also has hit consistently: .301 and .308 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. A better than .900 OPS demonstrates how lethal he has been in the Nats...

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Groundbreaking date for new Fredericksburg stadium set

February 08, 2019, 1:25am

Nationals

Groundbreaking date for new Fredericksburg stadium set

The moment that many local minor league baseball fans have dreamed of for longer than 20 years is coming closer to becoming reality. Fredericksburg Baseball announced this week that a groundbreaking ceremony for the organization's state-of-the-art new stadium in the Virginia municipality will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24, from 2-5 p.m. It is open to the public. The event will take place at the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center ballroom and is free to all who attend. The first...

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MLB Network recognizes Soto and Robles in its top 10 lists

February 06, 2019, 12:51am

Nationals

MLB Network recognizes Soto and Robles in its top 10 lists

MLB Network handed out plaudits that include a couple of Nationals that are likely to be manning the outfield at Nats Park this season. In a recent segment called "Right Now!" MLB Network ranked Juan Soto as the sixth-rated left fielder in the their Top 10. MLB Network analyst and 11-year big league veteran Eric Byrnes said of Soto: "You could put him No. 1 and I'm not gonna argue, that's how good of a season he had. When he came up, he was doing things that you don't see 10-year seasoned...

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Like Soto, Garcia demonstrated hitting and fielding abilities as a teenager

February 03, 2019, 9:57am

Nationals

Like Soto, Garcia demonstrated hitting and fielding abilities as a teenager

Luis Garcia can defend at shortstop, second base and third base. The 18-year-old played 78 games for low Single-A Hagerstown and 49 games for high Single-A Potomac, and made a name for himself with his hitting ability, as the Nats No. 3 prospect. Garcia made great strides with his work at high Single-A at such a young age, demonstrating batter's box awareness and patience similar to what we have seen from Juan Soto in his introduction to the major leagues. Carter Kieboom and Garcia have been...

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Condra-Bogan and Romero two pitchers dealing in Nats system

February 01, 2019, 1:48am

Nationals

Condra-Bogan and Romero two pitchers dealing in Nats system

A couple of pitchers who came over in late-season trades could be difference-makers again this year in the Nats system. Both spent time with high Single-A Potomac. Right-hander Jacob Condra-Bogan, 24, finished the season on a surge, allowing only two earned runs his final 10 appearances. He joined Potomac in late July, coming over from Wilmington in the trade that sent Brian Goodwin to the Royals. Condra-Bogan can throw 99 mph and is also pursuing a master's degree in preparation for the time...

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Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies unveil new look

January 30, 2019, 3:30am

Nationals

Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies unveil new look

The Fresno Grizzlies, the Nationals' new Triple-A affiliate, have announced primary logos, colors and uniforms for the 2019 season. The scarlet, black, gold and beige scheme will be the Grizzlies' new permanent look. The team will wear the "F-slash" cap for road games and on alternate uniforms in 2019. The new primary logo is featured on the scarlet primary home uniform cap. However, the new color scheme was not dependent on the Nats' prominent red and white primary colors. Team president...

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Mills, Pena and Bourque keep moving up to lift minor league bullpens

January 28, 2019, 3:51am

Nationals

Mills, Pena and Bourque keep moving up to lift minor league bullpens

Right-handers Ronald Pena and James Bourque and left-hander Jordan Mills all did so well in helping high Single-A Potomac, they were moved up to Double-A Harrisburg. Pena went 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 38 appearances last season. Bourque made it into 41 games between the two clubs, garnering a 4-2 combined record with a 1.70 ERA. Mills went 2-3 with a 2.48 ERA with Potomac and Harrisburg and continued to pitch well in the Arizona Fall League. "That bullpen we had this year had some guys," said...

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Soto working out with Robles in Dominican Republic

January 25, 2019, 2:30am

Nationals

Soto working out with Robles in Dominican Republic

Nationals outfielder Juan Soto has been working out in the Dominican Republic with teammate Victor Robles, Mariners outfielder Domingo Santana and others as he gets ready to head to Florida for spring training. It was a whirlwind offseason for Soto as he got to travel to Japan to be a part of a team of major league stars playing exhibition games. This will be the first spring training that Soto will enjoy as a full-fledged major league player after making his debut in May last season. * Former...

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Bourque settling into workhorse role out of bullpen for Nats

January 23, 2019, 3:15am

Nationals

Bourque settling into workhorse role out of bullpen for Nats

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals made it all the way to the Mills Cup Final with a complete team in 2018. A big part of their success came courtesy of the potent and out-eating bullpen. Right-hander James Bourque was a major link in that relieving corps before his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg on July 13. After the season was completed, the Nationals signaled what they think of the Michigan product by placing him on the 40-man roster. Potomac manager Tripp Keister said the P-Nats used...

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How well can Robles play defense for the Nats?

January 18, 2019, 2:41pm

Nationals

How well can Robles play defense for the Nats?

With or without Bryce Harper in the Nationals outfield, the organization always looks to improve its defense from year to year. This especially becomes a goal when your team falls short of the postseason after two years in a row in the National League Division Series. So, if the Nats outfield consists of Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Adam Eaton, with Michael A. Taylor as the fourth outfielder, the defense should be able to be pretty good. Robles was limited to 21 games in 2018 because of a elbow...

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Brian Dozier on playing at Nationals Park, working with Trea Turner, Kevin Long

January 16, 2019, 3:01am

Nationals

New Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier loves to hit the ball to left field. Dozier has hit 172 homers in his career, and 157 of those homers have gone to left field or left-center field. He likes the idea of being able to hit at Nationals Park, which he likens to Target Field. Dozier played 955 games over seven seasons with Minnesota. Dozier is right. Both Parks had HOV Sport (now known as Populous) as the architect. Nats Park broke ground in 2006, Target Field in 2007. Nats Park seats...

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Nats top prospects: No. 1 - CF Victor Robles

January 14, 2019, 2:16am

Nationals

Nats top prospects: No. 1 - CF Victor Robles

Finally, we reach the No. 1 Nationals prospect in Baseball America's latest top 10: center fielder Victor Robles, who was also the publication's No. 1 prospect in 2018. Robles suffered an arm injury to begin the season and that slowed what was likely be an ascension similar to what rookie Juan Soto demonstrated in his first full year as a major league player. Baseball America national writer Carlos Collazo said Robles still has the best collection of all-around tools of any Nats prospect....

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Nats top prospects: No. 2 - SS Carter Kieboom

January 11, 2019, 10:51am

Nationals

Nats top prospects: No. 2 - SS Carter Kieboom

With second baseman Brian Dozier agreeing to join the Nationals, infielder Carter Kieboom's named bubbled to the surface again with many saying Dozier is just a placeholder for the prospect for one season or less. That's high praise for Kieboom, who is just 21 and was a first-round selection in the 2016 draft. Kieboom has done a nice job of demonstrating that he is closer to being ready for the responsibility of playing second base, and ultimately shortstop, in the major leagues in the near...

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Nats top prospects: No. 3 - SS Luis Garcia

January 09, 2019, 2:21am

Nationals

Nats top prospects: No. 3 - SS Luis Garcia

A lot has been written about Carter Kieboom as a top infielder in the Nationals system. But don't sleep on shortstop Luis Garcia. He is another top farmhand who has garnered national attention as the No. 3 prospect in Baseball America's Nats top 10. He was also the No. 3 prospect available from the 2016 international signing class. The 6-foot, 190-lb., 18-year-old native of the Dominican Republic slashed .299/.338/.412 for high Single-A Potomac, finishing the season hitting .357 in his last...

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Nats announce 2019 minor league staff

January 07, 2019, 9:34am

Nationals

Randy Knorr has been named the manager of the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, highlighting the announcement of the Nationals' 2019 minor league staff. The former major league catcher, and longtime mainstay as a coach at every level for several seasons for the Nats, becomes the 11th manager in Grizzlies history. The 2019 campaign marks his third season as skipper of the Nats' Triple-A affiliate. Brian Daubach is the hitting coach and Brad Holman will be the pitching coach, the same coaching staff...

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Nats top prospects: No. 4 - RHP Mason Denaburg

January 05, 2019, 7:59am

Nationals

Nats top prospects: No. 4 - RHP Mason Denaburg

The excitement the Nationals have for their new high school top draft pick, right-hander Mason Denaburg, is equaled in Baseball America's Nats top 10 rankings. Denaburg is ranked at No. 4 in the Nats top 10 as he heads into his first full season as a pro. Denaburg had a full ride to the University of Florida on his resume, dealing at 92-96 mph with his fastball and throwing a 77-81 mph curveball, according to this FanGraphs.com preview from April 2018. The write-up described Denaburg's...

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Harper and Machado are connected as teams pursue them

January 04, 2019, 2:35am

Nationals

Harper and Machado are connected as teams pursue them

It appears again that the Bryce Harper hot stove is connected to the Manny Machado hot stove. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the White Sox have made a formal offer to Machado. The former Orioles and Dodgers infielder is reportedly seeking a 10-year deal worth more than $300 million. Ironically, that is the same offer that the Nationals reportedly made to Harper and his agent when their negotiations began after the 2018 season. Sports-talk radio station 670 The Score in Chicago...

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Harper's hot stove heats up with arrival of 2019

January 02, 2019, 6:27pm

Nationals

Harper's hot stove heats up with arrival of 2019

The hot stove as it relates to free agent outfielder Bryce Harper appears to be heating up again since the calendar turned to 2019. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that Nationals owner Ted Lerner met with agent Scott Boras "multiple times," and The Washington Post reported that one meeting right before Christmas lasted five hours. It was thought that the Dodgers had paved the way for Harper to play in Chavez Ravine with their clearing of payroll and players in their mega-deal with the Reds last...