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Callis: Harper "best power prospect I have ever seen"

June 07, 2010, 8:06pm

Nationals selection of Bryce Harper as the top pick in the amateur draft could be one for the ages. In Bryce's only season at the junior college level, he set almost every major school record at the College of Southern Nevada, batting .443, including 31 homers and 98 RBI. The Coyotes hit 17 homers AS A TEAM in 2009. How good will Bryce Harper be and when could he make his major league debut with the Nationals? Jim Callis, Executive Editor at Baseball America had some strong words to...

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Strasburg, Storen Impress

April 11, 2010, 2:35pm

Nationals

In front of a sell-out crowd of 7,887 on a beautiful Sunday in Altoona, Pa., baseball fans in small town Pennsylvania got a glimpse at the future of the Washington Nationals. Just over nine months ago, the Nationals drafted an ace and a closer, Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen, two very different young men who will, over time, be asked to accept important roles in the organization's future. On Sunday, the duo did what they hope to continue doing in Washington for years to come. Pitching...

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Tomlin: "Strasburg will make a name for himself"

April 15, 2010, 5:21pm

Nationals

Tomlin: "Strasburg will make a name for himself"

Harrisburg Senators pitching coach Randy Tomlin took some time after batting practice Thursday to talk about Stephen Strasburg as he gets ready for his second start of the season. Strasburg was impressive last Sunday, going 5 innings, allowing 1 unearned run and striking out 8 Altoona Curve batters in a 6-4 win. We talked about Strasburg getting into a rhythm last week, is that again what you would like to see in his next outing? "Yes, we want him to get into a rhythm. Stephen was a little...

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Strasburg versus Reds in June?

May 04, 2010, 10:24am

Nationals

With the team announcement that Nationals number one overall selection Stephen Strasburg is moving on to the Syracuse Chiefs, I project the possible May starts for #37, and if all goes well, his first major league baseball start would be in early June for the home series against the Cincinnati Reds. Jim Callis, Executive Editor of Baseball America told me it makes sense for the Nats to have Strasburg in Harrisburg for a month, Syracuse for a month, then bring him up for 100 innings before...

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Going for the win in the 10th

May 05, 2010, 7:39pm

Nationals

Braves closer Billy Wagner, from nearby Crozet, Virginia, came on in the 10th inning with the lead and was able to stop the Nats rally. Wagner allowed a single by Cristian Guzman and it looked like the Nats would have a chance to tie or win the game. But Wagner retired the next three batters to notch only his third save of the season. Ian Desmond was next and was not asked to bunt with a man on first and no outs. Manager Jim Riggleman wanted to go for the win with the bullpen getting heavy...

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Marquis: "I will be out 8-10 weeks"

May 12, 2010, 12:13pm

Nationals

Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart gave me some quick insight on veteran Nats pitcher Jason Marquis and his outing Tuesday in Woodbridge. Jason told the media today it is a strong possibility he will need surgery to clean up bone chips in his elbow. He said he felt a lot of pain this morning and expects to be out 8 to 10 weeks. Menhart on Jason Marquis' pitching Tuesday in Woodbridge: "His velocity was not quite there from what I remembered from the past. He told me he...

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Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

April 07, 2010, 2:01pm

Nationals

Stammen says Red Sox game will help him against Phillies

Thursday getaway day matchup features Nationals righthander Craig Stammen taking on Phillies righthander Kyle Kendrick. Stammen made 19 starts last year and went 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA and did not pitch after August 29th. He had off-season surgery to clean out bone spurs in his elbow. He said the pain had bothered him to the point where he couldn't straighten his arm out completely and every off day was an attempt to get back to feeling good instead of refining his pitches or working on...

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What's going to happen once lockout ends?

February 25, 2022, 4:17pm

Nationals

What's going to happen once lockout ends?

It's a matter of when, not if, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement and the lockout ends. Spring will bloom and a new baseball season will be underway. The real question is what is going to happen once the lockout does, in fact, end? It wasn't our direct topic of conversation, but that question was discussed a bit on this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast." I came up with three things that fall under that...

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Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players

February 11, 2022, 5:33am

Nationals

Although young, Nats farm restocked with position players

Last week, we discussed which Nationals pitching prospects could make their major league debuts this season, aside from Cade Cavalli. This week, we're pivoting our attention to the position players on the farm. Amy Jennings and I wondered, during this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast," when we might see them in Washington. But for the purposes of this post, this exercise is going to be more of an appreciation of the restocking of the Nats farm system with position players...

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Despite issues, MLB still has more parity than other leagues

February 13, 2022, 8:07pm

Nationals

Despite issues, MLB still has more parity than other leagues

The National Football League crowned a new champion Sunday night, the Rams winning their first Super Bowl in 22 years (when they still played in St. Louis), making this their first Lombardi Trophy while representing Los Angeles. And they did so by beating a Bengals franchise making its first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, a franchise still seeking its first title after this heartbreaking loss. The NFL, with its salary cap and even distribution of television money (something it can do...

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Who backs up Bell at first base?

February 18, 2022, 7:33am

Nationals

Now that the celebration of Ryan Zimmerman's retirement has had its moment in the spotlight - and don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty more celebrations this season and in the years to come - it's time for the Nationals to look ahead as to what their future looks like without their face of the franchise. The long-term ramifications are still to be determined. But as it pertains to the 2022 season, Zimmerman's retirement leaves an immediate hole to be filled on the Nats roster: backup...

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Reetz works on fundamentals as he moves up Nats chain

December 13, 2019, 2:49am

Nationals

Reetz works on fundamentals as he moves up Nats chain

Nationals catcher Jakson Reetz finished off his 2019 campaign with work in the Arizona Fall League, batting .333 with a .519 slugging percentage. "It was awesome," Reetz said. "I was really happy that I got the chance to go and play. Nationals guys, I got to play with them. I got to meet a lot of other new guys. Our team was awesome. We had a lot of fun. It was definitely a great experience for me." Reetz, 23, was a third-round pick by the Nats in 2014. He played 96 games for high Single-A...

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Report: Cabrera returning to Nats, adding to infield depth

January 04, 2020, 5:55am

Nationals

Report: Cabrera returning to Nats, adding to infield depth

General manager Mike Rizzo is moving quickly to shore up the Nationals infield as the team prepares to defend its championship in 2020. Veteran Starlin Castro came to terms with the Nats on Friday, and Rizzo has now returned an important mid-season addition from last year to his potential roster for the upcoming campaign, agreeing to a deal with AsdrÃºbal Cabrera, according to reports posted via Twitter. The 34-year-old Cabrera hit .323 in 38 games with the Nats, coming over after the Rangers...

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Sharp focused on slider and sinker during AFL work

November 12, 2019, 3:04am

Nationals

Sharp focused on slider and sinker during AFL work

We continue our offseason capsules getting to know some of the top prospects in the Nationals system who played in the Arizona Fall League. Today the spotlight falls on right-hander Sterling Sharp. The 24-year-old from Southfield, Mich., was a 22nd-round selection in 2016. In part one of our sit-down with Sharp (Twitter: @DatDude_Ster42), we will focus on his return from an oblique injury and his time in the AFL. Sharp worked his way back from the injury early in the season to post solid...

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During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker

November 14, 2019, 2:10am

Nationals

During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker

To see how Sterling Sharp is a little bit different athletically than maybe your average baseball player, check out his dunking skills on his Twitter home page: Incase @MiLB or @MLB ever decides to have a dunk contest ðŸ™‹ðŸ¾â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ¤·ðŸ½â€â™‚ï¸ pic.twitter.com/ZnE2kgyJir -- Sterling Sharp (@DatDude_Ster42) November 19, 2017 In part two, we continue our conversation with the 24-year-old right-hander in the Nationals system, who demonstrated his...

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Nats prospect watch: Rutledge focusing on harnessing strength

March 18, 2020, 3:39am

Nationals

Nats prospect watch: Rutledge focusing on harnessing strength

The Nationals' new pitching coordinator is veteran coach and former major league pitcher Brad Holman, who takes over for Paul Menhart, now the Nats pitching coach. Holman was the pitching coach for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies last season, and was the bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers from 2015-2017. Holman has had time to get a good look at and work with the pitching prospects in the Nats system, with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2018, Fresno in 2019, in the instructional league and now...

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Technology and a keen eye helped Raquet turn his curveball around

November 26, 2019, 3:01am

Nationals

Technology and a keen eye helped Raquet turn his curveball around

Left-hander Nick Raquet made some nice adjustments early in his 2019 campaign for high Single-A Potomac that allowed him to concentrate on the finer points of his breaking pitch, helping him to end up with a very positive season. In part one of our discussion, we will break down the adjustments he made to turn his year around. Raquet (Twitter: @NickRaquet) made 25 starts at Potomac, going 11-9 with a 4.07 ERA. But in April, he struggled to a 1-4 start with an 8.72 ERA. "Yeah, I felt like I...

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Raquet on his slider and experience in the AFL

November 28, 2019, 3:14am

Nationals

Raquet on his slider and experience in the AFL

We continue our conversation with Nationals pitching prospect Nick Raquet and get more information on his slider. A left-hander with his best pitch being the slider sounds familiar. How does it compare with Patrick Corbin's slider? "It's definitely my go-to," Raquet said. "I feel like if I'm in a pinch in any situation, I'm throwing my slider. It's probably my best pitch. I kind of grip it and rip it. I've never actually talked to Patrick. I would assume he spins the hell out of it. I...

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No Gold Gloves for Nationals

November 03, 2019, 2:45pm

Nationals

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon and outfielders Juan Soto and Victor Robles did not win Gold Gloves this season, as selections were announced Sunday night by Major League Baseball on ESPN2. The voting was completed late in regular season by managers and coaches. The only stipulation was the managers and coaches could not vote for their own players. Rendon was one of three finalists at third base in the National League. He lost out to Nolan Arenado of the Rockies. Soto, who was joined by...

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Nats prospect watch: Teenagers Lara and Yean near top of pitching list

April 01, 2020, 3:31am

Nationals

Nats prospect watch: Teenagers Lara and Yean near top of pitching list

Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman has insight on a couple of younger prospects who have reached the top 10 in the Nationals top 30 prospect list according to MLBPipeline.com, pitchers Andry Lara and Eddy Yean. Lara is only 17 and demonstrated the raw talent that the Nationals respect from instructional league in October to this spring training in February and March. Lara is 6-foot-4 and 180 lbs. out of Coro, Venezuela. The right-hander was the top-rated (No. 16) signing...