nationals

Cornell watched Harper to help refine swing

November 11, 2020, 7:49am

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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Kieboom on adjustments at the plate and at third base

September 24, 2020, 3:40pm

Nationals

Kieboom on adjustments at the plate and at third base

Third baseman Carter Kieboom was disappointed that a left wrist injury ended his season prematurely. The 23-year-old felt like he made several strides forward in the field and in the batter's box, especially over the last couple of weeks. Kieboom knows his numbers at the plate did not jump out, but that doesn't mean those at-bats weren't extremely valuable. Kieboom ended up hitting .202 in 33 games, with one double, nine RBIs and 17 walks. He struck out 33 times. But his defense at third...

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Corbin battles, Nats' late rally fizzles in 3-2 loss to Mets (updated)

September 24, 2020, 5:23pm

Nationals

Corbin battles, Nats' late rally fizzles in 3-2 loss to Mets (updated)

The game did not turn out the way the Nationals wanted, but one thing is for certain: Patrick Corbin battled. Robinson Chirinos went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI single as the Mets won 3-2 at Nationals Park, taking the opener of a season-ending four-game series on Thursday night. The signature moment for the lefty came in the seventh inning when the Nats were down two runs. Corbin again demonstrated his value with a gutsy performance to get out of a jam. The Mets loaded the bases on...

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Updates on catchers Pineda and Reetz

November 09, 2020, 5:20am

Nationals

Here are updates on a couple of backstops the Nationals have high hopes for heading into 2021. Assistant general manager of player development Mark Scialabba said Israel Pineda has gotten a lot of notice for his power stroke, while 2014 third-round selection Jakson Reetz showed solid progress in 2019 and into the alternate training site this summer. Israel Pineda, 20 5-foot-11, 190 lbs.Bats: Right Throws: Right Maracay, VZ Signed: July 2, 2016 2018 mid-season All-Star in short-season Single-A...

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Game 58 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

September 26, 2020, 5:44am

Nationals

The Nationals and the Mets are scheduled to play two seven-inning games today as part of a doubleheader, thanks to Friday's postponement. Max Scherzer will start the first game. AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez, already scheduled to pitch Saturday, will start the nightcap. Jacob deGrom to start game 1 for the Mets, who at 26-31 have a 1.2 percent chance of making the postseason. Scherzer enters today's final start of 2020 with a 4-4 record. He has not finished under .500 since going 9-11 with the Arizona...

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Fuentes is the kind of innings-eater Nats covet

November 07, 2020, 6:58am

Nationals

Fuentes is the kind of innings-eater Nats covet

A tip of the cap to Nationals scout Miguel Ruiz from Panama, who found and signed Steven Fuentes. The right-hander is the first player that Ruiz scouted to make the Nationals' 40-man roster. Fuentes was signed in July 2013 out of Puerto Armuelles, which is on the coast in western Panama, a few miles from the Costa Rican border. The 6-foot-2, 175-lb. hurler has worked his way up through the Nats system, culminating with 15 games for Double-A Harrisburg in 2019. This year has been difficult for...

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Scherzer hangs tough for six innings to finish strong, Nats win 4-3

September 26, 2020, 1:46pm

Nationals

Scherzer hangs tough for six innings to finish strong, Nats win 4-3

Josh Harrison broke a 3-3 deadlock with a drive to right field and the Nationals came back from an early deficit to upend the Mets 4-3 in the first seven-inning game of a Saturday doubleheader at Nats Park. In the bottom of the sixth, Harrison went after reliever Edwin DÃaz's first pitch and laced it past Mets first baseman Pete Alonso into right field to score Brock Holt from third. Yan Gomes, making sure the ball fell before breaking for second, got forced out, but the Nationals had...

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Soto, Scherzer and Doolittle honored with end-of-season awards

September 27, 2020, 10:44am

Nationals

Soto, Scherzer and Doolittle honored with end-of-season awards

The Nationals announced the winners of the fifth annual end-of-season awards voted on by members of the local media. Outfielder Juan Soto was voted the 2020 Nationals Player of the Year. Right-hander Max Scherzer was named Pitcher of the Year. Reliever Sean Doolittle won the "Good Guy" Award, given to the player for his professional dealings with members of the media and representing the Nats organization with class on and off the field. Soto, 21, has had a Most Valuable Player-caliber...

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Soto on NL batting title: "It feels really good"

September 27, 2020, 4:04pm

Nationals

Soto on NL batting title: "It feels really good"

Juan Soto won the 2020 National League batting title on the last day of the season after going 1-for-1 with a walk in the Nationals' 15-5 trouncing of the Mets at Nats Park Sunday. "Outstanding," said manager Davey Martinez of the accomplishment during the postgame Zoom video session. "Not only a batting champ, but I think he's one of the youngest in over 100 years. What can we say about Juan Soto. He comes every day ready to play, not just hitting but his defense, his baserunning,...

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Updates on young outfielders Quintana, Marte and De La Rosa

November 05, 2020, 11:29am

Nationals

Updates on young outfielders Quintana, Marte and De La Rosa

Here is a rundown of some of the outfielders that got in significant work during fall instructional league, which wrapped up last week in West Palm Beach, Fla. Nationals assistant general manager of player development Mark Scialabba detailed the play of three outfielders from the roster that worked out in October at the spring training facility. "There is really a group of three young Latin American outfielders that had really good camps," Scialabba said. "Roismar Quintana was set back a...

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Stevenson ends season on a tear

September 28, 2020, 3:07am

Nationals

In his September for the Nationals, outfielder Andrew Stevenson got at least one base hit in all 12 games he played, a new career-high. Stevenson, 26, returned to the Nats on Sept. 18, playing in nearly every game for the rest of the season, which included appearing in three doubleheaders in that span. During the final two weeks of the season, the Nats went 8-4 with Stevenson on the field. He hit .417 with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 12 RBIs in those 36 at-bats. For 2020,...

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2020 Nationals fall instructional league roster and schedule

September 28, 2020, 12:44pm

Nationals

MASNsports.com has obtained a copy of the Nationals' official fall instructional league 65-player roster for 2020. Players in attendance whom MLBPipeline.com lists as top Nats prospects include pitchers Jackson Rutledge, Cade Cavalli, Tim Cate, Mason Denaburg, Cole Henry, Andry Lara, Eddy Yean, Matt Cronin and Seth Romero, who is on a major league rehab assignment with a broken right hand. Top 20 rated Nats position players on hand: first baseman Drew Mendoza, shortstop/third baseman Yasel...

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Scialabba on progress of draft picks and free agents

November 03, 2020, 3:24pm

Nationals

Scialabba on progress of draft picks and free agents

Here are updates on how some of the Nationals draft class looked at instructional league workouts, which concluded last week in West Palm Beach, Fla. The players the Nats drafted in 2020 - right-handers Cade Cavalli, Holden Powell and Cole Henry, left-hander Mitchell Parker, infielder Sammy Infante and catcher Brady Lindsly - participated in instructional league during the month of October. Several 2020 undrafted free agents took part in the camp as well, including right-handers Zach Brzykcy...

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Updates on Adon, Cate, Wells, Bourque and Williams

September 29, 2020, 11:54am

Nationals

Updates on Adon, Cate, Wells, Bourque and Williams

Here are some more updates on pitchers who were working at the alternate camp site in Fredericksburg, Va., during the regular season. A few of them have moved over to the instructional league in West Palm Beach, Fla., for the next month. This is third installment on pitchers who were working out in Fredericksburg. Top-rated prospects Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge also were at the alternate site and have moved on to West Palm Beach. Right-hander Joan Adon is in Florida at instructional...

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Turner makes jump forward at plate, now wants to sharpen defense

October 01, 2020, 2:53am

Nationals

Turner makes jump forward at plate, now wants to sharpen defense

One Nationals player who stayed consistent on offense and made good contact throughout the season was shortstop Trea Turner. Regardless of where manager Davey Martinez hit Turner in the lineup, he delivered. Batting first in the lineup, Turner hit .340. Batting second, he hit .323. And for the four games he hit third, the former N.C. State infielder batted .333. Against left-handed pitching, Turner hit .375, and against right-handers, he hit .322. That is consistency. Turner said he got off to...

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A fast start in 2021 imperative for Martinez and Nats

October 02, 2020, 6:26pm

Nationals

A fast start in 2021 imperative for Martinez and Nats

The Nationals had high expectations in 2018, hoping to put it all together for a shot at the postseason after 2017 ended in the National League Division Series against the Cubs. But the Nats ended up at just 82-80, eight games back of the Braves for the NL East crown. There were some parallels to that disappointing ending to a campaign in 2020. The Nats were fresh off an incredible run to the 2019 World Series title as they got ready for an abbreviated 2020 regular season. With most of that...

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Scialabba on instructional league, Cavalli's progress

November 02, 2020, 2:25am

Nationals

Scialabba on instructional league, Cavalli's progress

The Nationals wrapped up their fall instructional league camp last week in West Palm Beach, Fla. Sixty-five players and more than 30 coaches, coordinators and training staff took part in the five-week workout. Assistant general manager of player development Mark Scialabba spoke about how the camp worked: "It was a great camp. Obviously, very thankful that we had support from ownership to allow us to have this camp. It was really crucial for all these players to get on the field. We brought...

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Nationals cut ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart

October 03, 2020, 6:28pm

Nationals

After a season where injuries wrecked the starting rotation and ineffectiveness hampered the bullpen, the Nationals have cut ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart following 15 years in the organization. Menhart, 51, said he received a telephone call from manager Davey Martinez this evening with the news that his contract, which was up on Oct. 31, would not be renewed. "I'm not sure how to take all of this," Menhart said in a text message to MASNsports.com. "It's quite a shock." Menhart...

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More on Menhart's exit and his possible successor with the Nats

October 04, 2020, 2:17am

Nationals

More on Menhart's exit and his possible successor with the Nats

On May 2, 2019, the Nationals elected to fire pitching coach Derek Lilliquist and replace him with Paul Menhart, who had been with the organization since 2006. Menhart guided the Nats through rough waters in May last year, then helped the Nats bullpen turn the season around. At 12 games below the .500 mark on May 24, the Nats would ultimately earn a National League wild card spot and finish the miraculous comeback season with a world championship. But nearly 12 months later, the Nats have...

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Martinez working on offseason plan to improve defense

October 05, 2020, 6:55am

Nationals

Martinez working on offseason plan to improve defense

One factor manager Davey Martinez pointed toward that the Nationals must get better at in 2021 is their defense. The Nats scuffled to a 26-34 record and fourth place in the National League East in 2020. Martinez believes one reason for their struggles was a lack consistent quality defense the club demonstrated during their championship season. As an example, the outfield defensive analytical numbers were down from 2019. Last season, center fielder Victor Robles led the league in Outs Above...