coronavirus

Rizzo on his contract status: "I'm not worried about it"

August 09, 2020, 9:00am

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with the media Sunday prior to the series finale against the Orioles and talked about the state of his club after 11 games. He said there are some reasons the team has struggled out of the gate at 4-7. "They sound like excuses, so I'm not going to use 'em," Rizzo said on a Zoom video call. "But, yeah, obviously the unevenness of the schedule, that doesn't help with your routine, your rhythm, either on the mound or at the plate. But we're dealing...

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Cavalli and Rutledge bringing the heat in Fredericksburg

September 09, 2020, 11:12am

Nationals

Cavalli and Rutledge bringing the heat in Fredericksburg

Top Nationals pitching prospects Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge continue to get their work in at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va., under the direction of minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman and the coaching staff. Rutledge is currently ranked No. 3 and Cavalli No. 4 in the latest MLBpipeline.com top 30 Nationals prospects list. "Well, obviously both those guys are extremely talented," Holman told me. "I can't say enough about either one of them. They are...

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Highly touted shortstop among Nats' 10 international signings

January 15, 2021, 9:54am

Nationals

Today is the first day for international free agent signings across Major League Baseball. The Nationals made big news by signing the No. 5 prospect in 16-year-old shortstop Armando Cruz for $3.9 million. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the usual July 2 signing date was delayed until Jan. 15. In all, the Nats announced 10 signings. The list includes five pitchers, three outfielders and two shortstops. Five of the prospects hail from the Dominican Republic, four are from Venezuela and one...

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Cornell watched Harper to help refine swing

November 11, 2020, 7:49am

Nationals

Cornell watched Harper to help refine swing

One of the Nationals' nine free agent signings last summer was Zach Cornell out of Southeastern University. The left-handed hitting outfielder was Baseball America's Preseason NAIA Player of the Year entering the 2020 season. In 27 games at Southeastern prior to the coronavirus shutdown, he hit .519 (56-for-108) with 12 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 12 walks, 44 RBIs and 43 runs scored. Cornell, 22, started his collegiate career at Middle Georgia State University for three seasons,...

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Ross, Harrison adjust offseason workouts in COVID environment

December 05, 2020, 7:28pm

Nationals

Ross, Harrison adjust offseason workouts in COVID environment

Joe Ross took the 2020 season off, opting out due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the Nationals right-hander believes he can use that time that rested his arm to his advantage as he ramps up for a return in 2021. "A little similarity to being injured," Ross said about being away from the game during a recent Zoom video call. "I'm sure the adrenaline first time back facing hitters is going to be through the roof. I think that might be the biggest thing as I start to throw off the mound more...

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Orioles could be hosting Yankees this week (updated)

July 28, 2020, 10:32am

Orioles

The 2020 season is about to get weirder. The Marlins have been shut down this week due to an increasing number of positive tests for COVID-19, which forced the postponement of both games against the Orioles in Miami. The teams are supposed to play Wednesday and Thursday night at Camden Yards, but more postponements are in the works. Rather than stay idle, the Orioles could be hosting the Yankees for the next two nights. The Yankees had their game against the Phillies postponed again today at...

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Nationals requiring full-time staffers to be vaccinated

August 27, 2021, 2:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals have become one of baseball's first teams to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, a club official confirmed this afternoon. The Nats informed all full-time staff members earlier this month they would be required to provide proof of vaccination or valid reason to be exempted. The deadline for employees to do so was Thursday. "Like many organizations, the Washington Nationals decided to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all full-time staff," the club said in a...

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Akin and Santander placed on COVID-19 injured list

July 21, 2021, 7:17am

Orioles

Akin and Santander placed on COVID-19 injured list

The Orioles had to place pitcher Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander on the COVID-19 injured list this morning, following protocols laid out by Major League Baseball. Manager Brandon Hyde could only share a few details on his Zoom call with the media, saying he learned late last night about the situation. There is no minimum stay on the COVID list, which enables Akin and Santander to perhaps be reinstated in fewer than 10 days. At this point, there hasn't been evidence whether the...

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Orioles lineup vs. Mets (updated)

May 12, 2021, 6:16am

Orioles

Matt Harvey is back on the Citi Field mound this afternoon as the Orioles try to split their two-game series against the Mets and return home. Harvey hasn't pitched in New York since May 2018. The defense behind him includes Rio Ruiz at second base, Ryan Mountcastle in left field and Austin Hays in right. From 2012-15, Harvey posted a 2.05 ERA in 35 starts at Citi Field and 27 were quality by definition. Shortstop Freddy Galvis is 22-for-60 (.367) in his last 18 games. The Orioles have...

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D.C. will allow full capacity at Nationals Park beginning June 11

May 10, 2021, 12:30pm

Nationals

The Nationals have been granted approval by the District of Columbia to increase capacity at Nationals Park for their homestand later this month and to operate at full capacity in mid-June. Earlier today, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a slew of reopenings for restaurants, bars, and sports and entertainment venues in the city, easing up on restrictions that had been in place since the beginning of the pandemic 15 months ago. Included in the mayor's announcement was approval to allow for...

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With at least three positive tests, Nats' opening series in flux

April 01, 2021, 3:48pm

Nationals

With at least three positive tests, Nats' opening series in flux

Two more Nationals players, and potentially a third, have now tested positive for COVID-19, all of them close contacts to the original player who learned Wednesday he had tested positive, leaving the team's season-opening series against the Mets in flux. General manager Mike Rizzo delivered that new batch of unpleasant news early this evening after the results of the tests the entire team took Wednesday morning came back. The Nationals now have reason to believe four of their players in total...

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D.C. approves 5,000 fans at Nationals Park to begin season

March 15, 2021, 7:22pm

Nationals

The District of Columbia has approved the Nationals' request to allow crowds of up to 5,000 at Nationals Park, ensuring they will join Major League Baseball's other 29 clubs in playing in front of at least some fans to begin the 2021 season. In a letter sent to the team Monday night, D.C. Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Christopher Rodriguez said the club's March 13 waiver application to operate Nationals Park with fans has been approved. The team then made a public...

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Nats are only MLB club still waiting for answer on fans

March 12, 2021, 7:06pm

Nationals

Nats are only MLB club still waiting for answer on fans

There are only 19 days to go until opening night at Nationals Park, and there are still a whole lot of decisions that must be made before then. Will Joe Ross be the No. 5 starter? Will Victor Robles be leading off? Will Carter Kieboom be the starting third baseman? Who will round out the bullpen and the bench? Oh, yeah, and this little question that still needs to be answered: Will any fans be allowed in the park to watch the Nationals and Mets open the season? In some respects, it's kind of...

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One year later, spring training shutdown still feels surreal

March 11, 2021, 7:41pm

Nationals

One year later, spring training shutdown still feels surreal

The Nationals are off today, and there is some strange symbolism to be found there, because exactly one year ago, they played one of the final six games to be held in Florida before Major League Baseball shut down all spring training operations. March 12, 2020, was a day unlike any we'd ever experienced. It was surreal. It was filled with uncertainty. It was, as it turned out, the end of an era. "It was tough," manager Davey Martinez said Thursday, reminiscing about the one-year anniversary...

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Memories on this date haven't faded a year later

March 11, 2021, 2:21pm

Orioles

Memories on this date haven't faded a year later

The charter buses circled the Orioles spring training complex one year ago today and returned to the home site, a series of left turns that would symbolize a day of dizzying news and activity. Manager Brandon Hyde, his coaches and players walked through the narrow doors, down the steps and back indoors, their minds filled with equal parts confusion and concern. Media packed up laptop bags and headed to cars for the drive to Fort Myers and a night game against the Twins, only to learn of the...

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Lester has surgery, Armenteros shut down with sore arm

March 05, 2021, 10:56am

Nationals

Lester has surgery, Armenteros shut down with sore arm

Jon Lester underwent thyroid removal surgery today in New York and was recovering this afternoon, according to Nationals manager Davey Martinez. Martinez said the club was still waiting to hear from doctors for more details about Lester's procedure, which was scheduled two days ago after the veteran left-hander and cancer survivor reported feeling tired, prompting medical tests that concluded his thyroid gland should be removed. "The only thing that came out of it was that's he's...

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Scherzer, Soto ready; Kieboom had LASIK; no fans in D.C. yet

March 02, 2021, 10:59am

Nationals

Scherzer, Soto ready; Kieboom had LASIK; no fans in D.C. yet

Max Scherzer and Juan Soto appear to be good to go after suffering minor injuries and are expected to make their spring training game debuts in the next few days. Scherzer, who sprained his left ankle two weeks before camp opened, threw to live hitters Monday for the first time this spring. He is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session Wednesday, and barring any setbacks is lined up to start Friday night against the Cardinals, according to pitching coach Jim Hickey. "As long as he responds...

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Nats ready for nine (possibly shortened) innings and fans

February 27, 2021, 6:44pm

Nationals

Nats ready for nine (possibly shortened) innings and fans

It's been 154 days since the Nationals last played a baseball game. Exactly 22 weeks since they wrapped up the bizarre 2020 season with a 15-5 thumping of the Mets. As was the case for the entire 60-game campaign, there were zero fans in attendance. So imagine the feeling everyone in uniform has as they wake up this morning, look at the calendar and realize they're not only going to play a ballgame today, but they're going to play it in front of fans. Yep, the 2021 Grapefruit League opens...

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Spring notes on Mancini's hitting approach, analytics and more

February 22, 2021, 1:33pm

Orioles

Spring notes on Mancini's hitting approach, analytics and more

Manager Brandon Hyde has spent some time talking about the Orioles continuing move toward more use of data, technology and analytics since the start of spring training. New pitching coach Chris Holt led a big move toward data and tech to the Baltimore farm in 2019 and it's matriculated to the big league pitchers as well. It was cited by veteran righty Matt Harvey as one reason he signed with the Orioles. But where does that leave the big league hitters? Do they have the same opportunities to...

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Players, staff grateful for return to full-length spring training

February 19, 2021, 6:46pm

Nationals

Players, staff grateful for return to full-length spring training

Spring training is too long. Find a ballplayer who disagrees with that assessment. You won't. Six weeks in Florida and Arizona is a long time, and it gets awfully repetitive awfully quick. You can only run pickoff drills and practice fielding bunts so many times before your brain goes numb. But as everyone gathers in the warm sunshine this week, you might find more than a few ballplayers who are actually looking forward to the long slog of spring training this time. They may not have realized...