nationals

Strickland now at full health, hopes for calm seas ahead

January 21, 2020, 1:33am

Reliever Hunter Strickland allowed three homers in two games against the Dodgers in the 2019 National League Division Series. But the right-hander had his moments for the Nationals that helped calm down a beleaguered bullpen and he is back for the 2020 season. Strickland remembers his wife, Shelley, was a bit nervous when he got the call to join the Nats. He spent the first part of the season with the Mariners after five seasons with the Giants. And when he arrived in D.C., his new teammates...

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Soto: "I don't think I am better than anybody, but nobody is better than me"

January 22, 2020, 7:38pm

Nationals

Soto: "I don't think I am better than anybody, but nobody is better than me"

It was quite the year for Juan Soto and the Nationals. The 21-year-old slugger completed his second full season with the Nats, smacking five homers and 14 RBIs in the postseason, guiding the franchise to their first World Series title. "To be champions feels really good," Soto said on 106.7 The Fan from Nationals Winterfest. "Everything we done with the team, everything, in the clubhouse, everywhere we go, everything we've done feels really (good) to be a champion right now." Soto got to...

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Roessler uses analytics as one tool to help Nats hitters get better

January 28, 2020, 2:36am

Nationals

Roessler uses analytics as one tool to help Nats hitters get better

Pat Roessler was formerly the hitting coach for the Mets, most recently in 2018. He takes over as the assistant hitting coach for the Nationals this season. His resume is stacked with stops as assistant baseball coach at Old Dominion University (1983-1988) to years in the big leagues. The University of Arizona product was a minor league hitting coach in the White Sox system from 1988 to 1994, the Expos hitting coordinator from 1995 to 1997 and the Pirates chain from 1998 to 1999. He coached...

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Baseball America Nats No. 10 prospect: LHP Seth Romero

January 31, 2020, 12:27pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 10 prospect: LHP Seth Romero

Counting down the Nationals' top 10 prospects in 2020, according to the latest Baseball America list, we begin at No. 10 with southpaw Seth Romero, the club's first-round selection in 2017. Romero worked his way back from Tommy John surgery last season and is expected to make his first appearance in minor league play since 2018. I caught up with him in last year's spring training to see how well his rehabilitation from the injury was going. 10. LHP Seth Romero The 23-year-old Houston native...

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Baseball America Nats No. 9 prospect: SS Yasel Antuna

February 03, 2020, 5:40pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 9 prospect: SS Yasel Antuna

At No. 9 on the Baseball America top 10 Nationals prospects list is 20-year-old shortstop Yasel Antuna. Antuna is from Peravia, D.R., and is a switch-hitter who battled injuries in 2019, which held him to only three games for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals. In 2018, Antuna played in 87 games for Single-A Hagerstown. The infielder slashed .220/.293/.331 with 14 doubles, two triples, six homers, eight stolen bases and 27 RBIs. Baseball America Nationals correspondent Lacy Lusk says...

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Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg

February 05, 2020, 5:17pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 8 prospect: RHP Mason Denaburg

The Nationals would like to see 2018 first-round selection Mason Denaburg build innings this upcoming season after battling through nagging injuries in 2019. The 20-year-old starter dealt with a shoulder issue that prevented him from enjoying most of his 2019 campaign. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk agrees this is an important year coming up for Denaburg. The right-hander is locked in as Baseball America's No. 8 prospect in its latest Nationals Top 10. No. 8 Mason Denaburg "The...

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Baseball America Nats No. 7 prospect: RHP Andry Lara

February 09, 2020, 2:22am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 7 prospect: RHP Andry Lara

This should be the year Nationals fans can track the progress on the field of the No. 7 prospect in the system, according to Baseball America, right-hander Andry Lara. Lara just turned 17 on Jan. 6)and is a hard-throwing starter who is not afraid to go after hitters. The Coro, Venezuela, native is expected to get some work in the Nats' Rookie-level system. Baseball America's Nats correspondent, Lacy Lusk, said Lara appears in the Nats Top 10 because the right-hander is versatile for his...

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Baseball America Nats No. 6 prospect: 3B/1B Drew Mendoza

February 11, 2020, 2:56am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 6 prospect: 3B/1B Drew Mendoza

First base is a coveted spot in the Nationals organization, especially with Ryan Zimmerman not an everyday player anymore and the club using the likes of veterans Howie Kendrick and Eric Thames at that spot. Former Florida State standout Drew Mendoza has a shot to turn some heads in the near future and become that top candidate for a corner infield spot, similar to the track Carter Kieboom is hoping to attain at third base this season. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk says the Nats...

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Baseball America Nats No. 5 prospect: LHP Tim Cate

February 14, 2020, 4:13pm

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 5 prospect: LHP Tim Cate

The Nationals have a talented left-handed pitcher in Tim Cate, who continues to get notice in the Baseball America Nats top 10 in 2020. The southpaw showed well last season for high Single-A Potomac and comes in at No. 5 this season. No. 5 Tim Cate Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk said the University of Connecticut product demonstrated he belonged in the Carolina League with some solid pitching in 2019. Cate started 13 games at low Single-A Hagerstown before moving up. "He looked...

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Baseball America Nats No. 4 prospect: RHP Wil Crowe

February 25, 2020, 2:11am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 4 prospect: RHP Wil Crowe

The Nationals started Wil Crowe, one of their top prospects, in Monday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Mets. The right-hander (0-1) allowed a second-inning solo homer to Wilson Ramos, but pitched two innings with that one hit, one strikeout and no walks allowed in the 2-1 loss. Crowe displayed outstanding endurance in 2019 with 26 starts, between Double-A and Triple-A, going 7-10 with a 4.70 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings, just 48 walks and his WHIP at 1.33. The...

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Baseball America Nats No. 3 prospect: RHP Jackson Rutledge

March 06, 2020, 1:39am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 3 prospect: RHP Jackson Rutledge

The Nationals' core prospect structure is based around starting pitching, and that is exemplified in the selection of right-hander Jackson Rutledge with their first-round draft pick from 2019. Rutledge arrived after a solid season at San Jacinto Junior College in Texas, and fires to the plate from a 6-foot-8, 250-lb. frame. Baseball America has the big right-hander locked in as the Nats' No. 3 prospect for 2020. No. 3 Jackson Rutledge "He's a huge guy," said Baseball America Nats...

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Baseball America Nats No. 2 prospect: SS Luis Garcia

March 12, 2020, 7:55am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 2 prospect: SS Luis Garcia

No. 2 Luis Garcia Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk says shortstop Luis Garcia didn't get off to the best start last season, but then was able to hit better as the year progressed. Garcia hit .241 with no homers and 12 RBIs in the first half of 2019. In the second half, he hit .272 with four homers and 18 RBIs. He was able to drop his strikeout total in the second half from 47 to 39. Lusk says Garcia is a top-notch prospect, but said she would not put him in the elite category just...

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Roster moves include release of veterans Strickland, Hernandez

March 14, 2020, 8:43am

Nationals

Roster moves include release of veterans Strickland, Hernandez

The Nationals made a flurry of moves today, most notably giving veteran reliever Hunter Strickland his unconditional release. The Nats must pay about one-quarter of Strickland's $1.6 million contract. The team also released veteran pitcher David Hernandez. Strickland, 31, went 2-1 with a 5.55 ERA in 2019 over 28 games, with two saves. He appeared in two postseason games for the club, but allowed three homers in two innings for an 18.00 ERA. His connection to the Nats dated to his time with the...

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Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom

March 16, 2020, 4:20am

Nationals

Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom

No. 1 Carter Kieboom With All-Star Anthony Rendon moving on to the Angels this offseason, top Nationals prospect Carter Kieboom has an opportunity to take over at third base in 2020. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk said prior to spring training that Kieboom has demonstrated he is worth the risk at that important spot. "I think he's certainly worth giving a chance," Lusk said. "But it's good to have that buffer with AsdrÃºbal Cabrera, sharing time at third. If that's the...

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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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Nats prospect watch: Braymer fine-tunes changeup in big league camp

March 29, 2020, 4:56am

Nationals

Nats prospect watch: Braymer fine-tunes changeup in big league camp

Nationals pitching coordinator Brad Holman said left-hander Ben Braymer had been focusing on his mechanics with his changeup at spring training before the shutdown. The 25-year-old out of Auburn started 26 games and tossed 139 innings last season. The MLB Pipeline No. 22 Nats prospect, Braymer made one start in spring training and worked in three games. No. 22 Ben Braymer "He's doing good. Obviously, he's been in major league camp the entire spring," Holman said of Braymer. "He knows how...

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MLB announces assistance to minor league players is extended through May 31

March 31, 2020, 7:19am

Nationals

MLB announces assistance to minor league players is extended through May 31

Following up its recent announcement that Minor League Baseball players would be financially covered through April 8, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it has extended financial support until May 31 or until the beginning of the minor league season, whichever occurs first. MLB said players will continue to receive medical benefits and may continue to use any balance they have in the college scholarship plan or continuing education program. In addition, each club will make its own...

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Kendrick helpful to Nats' next generation of hitters

April 05, 2020, 3:43am

Nationals

Kendrick helpful to Nats' next generation of hitters

Re-watching the Nationals' playoff run gives fans the opportunity to see Howie Kendrick bounce back from a rough start to October baseball and turn into one of the biggest heroes. Kendrick's grand slam against the Dodgers and later the foul pole-clanging two-run shot against the Astros will go down as two of the most clutch hits in Nats postseason history. Kendrick kept on going to begin 2020 spring training, slashing .318/.375/.318 during 10 games. In the 2019 postseason, the 36-year-old hit...

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Minor swing adjustments allow Stevenson to be himself

April 15, 2020, 3:57am

Nationals

Minor swing adjustments allow Stevenson to be himself

Outfielder Andrew Stevenson played in 30 games for the Nationals last season and became a solid contributor off the bench, hitting .367 with a .486 OBP. The talented left-handed hitter is only 25, and has played in the majors over parts of the past three seasons. He made an appearance in one postseason game last year, scoring a crucial run against the Brewers in the 4-3 wild card win. Stevenson scored the tying run on Juan Soto's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to help put the Nats...

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Robles and Soto's outfield defense played part in Nats' title run

April 20, 2020, 3:21am

Nationals

Robles and Soto's outfield defense played part in Nats' title run

Outs Above Average (OAA) is a range-based metric that shows how many outs a player has saved. It is impressive to look back at the OAA for Nationals center fielder Victor Robles in 2019. His mark of 23 was the best in baseball, and six points better than the next closest in Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays (17). Lorenzo Cain of Milwaukee was third with 14. Nats left fielder Juan Soto had a 6 OAA and right fielder Adam Eaton a 1 OAA. Compare that to the Phillies outfield: Scott Kingery and Adam...