nationals

Nats add righty Steven Fuentes to 40-man roster

October 30, 2020, 12:01pm

The Nationals this afternoon selected the contract of right-hander Steven Fuentes, adding him to the 40-man roster for the first time. Fuentes has been with the organization since 2013 when he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Panama. The 23-year-old went a combined 6-5 with a 2.23 ERA in 23 games (11 starts) in 2019 for high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. He struck out 89 batters in 80 2/3 innings and recorded one save. He made all 11 starts for the Senators. Fuentes spent...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr joe ross nationals steven fuentes brad holman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Noll on late-season time with the Nats: "It's a great opportunity"

October 07, 2020, 12:29pm

Nationals

Noll on late-season time with the Nats: "It's a great opportunity"

Utility infielder Jake Noll was called up mid-September and got to play in seven games with the Nationals. As he had done all season long at the alternate training site, he continued to swing the bat well. From Sept. 15-27, Noll hit .353 (6-for-17) with one double, two runs scored and just four strikeouts. "It's a great opportunity," Noll said during the last weekend of the regular season. "I've been waiting for this chance to prove myself and prove I belong all year. I'm happy to be here...

Comments

Tags:

aaron barrett brad holman byron kerr cade cavalli davey martinez jackson rutledge jake noll nationals randy knorr featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Cluff values Fredericksburg experience, now continues instruction in Florida

October 09, 2020, 5:33pm

Nationals

Cluff values Fredericksburg experience, now continues instruction in Florida

In late September, we got a chance to check in with shortstop Jackson Cluff, who spent the last month of the season at the Nationals alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va. Cluff is rated as the No. 20 Nats prospect by MLBPipeline.com. He played his first season of pro ball at low single-A Hagerstown. Cluff said it was exciting to get a chance to work out with other Nationals players as part of the 60-man player pool. "I think that excitement raises when you get to play at this level...

Comments

Tags:

brandon snyder byron kerr cade cavalli jackson cluff jackson rutledge nationals frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

Updates on Rutledge and Denaburg's progress from Florida

October 29, 2020, 12:12pm

Nationals

Updates on Rutledge and Denaburg's progress from Florida

Here are a couple of updates on a pair of former Nationals first-round selections in Jackson Rutledge and Mason Denaburg. Both attended instructional league for the last month. Rutledge, 21, was the Nats' top pick in 2019 and has appeared in 10 games. The right-hander loves to employ analytics to study his stuff, but Nats minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman said he concentrated on command these past few weeks. "I think he made tremendous progress," Holman said. "Not that he did...

Comments

Tags:

brad holman byron kerr jackson rutledge mason denaburg nationals nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Lee's summer work paying off in instructional league

October 12, 2020, 4:03am

Nationals

Lee's summer work paying off in instructional league

"Bring it on!" That's how left-handed pitcher Evan Lee greeted me as we started to talk about his baseball summer during Nationals fall instructional league workouts and games in West Palm Beach, Fla., this month. You can tell by that reaction that Lee brings that same attitude to the mound when handed the ball for the Nats. Lee, 23, is currently pitching for the Nats in their scrimmages against the Marlins, continuing preparations for a hopefully uninterrupted 2021 season. The southpaw, who...

Comments

Tags:

brad holman byron kerr evan lee jackson rutledge matt cronin nationals spin williams frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

Nats to select No. 11 in 2021 First-Year Player Draft

October 13, 2020, 9:42am

Nationals

Nats to select No. 11 in 2021 First-Year Player Draft

The order for the 2021 First-Year Player Draft was unveiled Monday with the Nationals selecting at the No. 11 position in the first round. The 2021 draft will take place on July 11-13, 2021, in conjunction with the 2021 All-Star Game in Atlanta. The order repeats itself in the second round. So the Nats will pick No. 40 with their second selection. There are only 29 teams in the first two rounds because the Astros forfeited their picks as punishment for the sign-stealing scandal. These...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jackson rutledge mason denaburg nationals cade cavalli cole henry featured_sidebar sammy infante frontstory_nationals3

Bourque and Read clear waivers, sent to Triple-A

October 13, 2020, 1:38pm

Nationals

Bourque and Read clear waivers, sent to Triple-A

The Nationals continue to clear space on their 40-man roster. The club announced this afternoon that right-hander James Bourque and catcher Raudy Read have cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Fresno. The 40-man roster is at 34 players. Bourque, 27, appeared in six games this season, finishing with a 1-0 record and a 6.75 ERA over four innings of relief. He appeared in one game in 2019, allowing four runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. Early on in the 2020 season,...

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez james bourque nationals raudy read byron kerr featured_sidebar kurt suzuki yan gomes

Soto a finalist for 2020 Hank Aaron Award

October 14, 2020, 8:16am

Nationals

Soto a finalist for 2020 Hank Aaron Award

Major League Baseball announced today that Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is a finalist for the 2020 Hank Aaron Award. Soto, 21, slashed .351/.490/.695 in winning the NL batting crown in just 47 games, smashing 13 homers with 37 RBIs. He had an OPS of 1.185, the highest of any qualified hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004. Since 1999, the Hank Aaron Award has recognized the "most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each league," according to an MLB release. Each club nominated one...

Comments

Tags:

byron kjerr juan soto nationals featured_sidebar hank aaron award frontstory_nationals3

Despite some rocky moments, Hudson feels good heading to offseason

October 15, 2020, 1:05pm

Nationals

Despite some rocky moments, Hudson feels good heading to offseason

The 2020 season did not go as planned for the Nationals on many levels. Reliever Daniel Hudson was one of those players who was never really able get rolling like he wanted to. In 21 appearances, Hudson finished 3-2 with a 6.10 ERA and a team- and career-high 10 saves. Contrast those numbers with the 24 games he played last season when traded to the Nats. Hudson went 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA and six saves. This year, he allowed 2.6 home runs per nine innings; last year in D.C. it was just 1.1. His...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr daniel hudson max scherzer nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Teenagers Tomlin and Infante learning what it takes to succeed at pro level

October 27, 2020, 12:39pm

Nationals

Teenagers Tomlin and Infante learning what it takes to succeed at pro level

Fall instructional league workouts are completed for 2020. Now these Nationals prospects head home or get ready to play winter ball. It was interesting to hear updates on how the first professional experience was for a pair of teenagers. Infielders Quade Tomlin and Sammy Infante got their first taste of pro ball for the last month at the Nats spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Quade Tomlin is only 18, but he is no stranger to the Nationals, and being around professional...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr instructional league nationals quade tomlin randy tomlin sammy infante troy gingrich jake irvin nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Parker focused on fastball, curveball and splitter during Florida workouts

October 18, 2020, 3:30am

Nationals

Parker focused on fastball, curveball and splitter during Florida workouts

Nationals 2020 fifth-round draft selection Mitchell Parker got into to his first professional instructional league intrasquad game this week against the Marlins. The left-hander threw two scoreless innings for the Nats. Instructional league workouts continue until Oct. 28 in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the Nats spring training facility. "I had my first game against another jersey," Parker said. "It was fun. It was enjoyable. Obviously, the nerves were a little bit there, but now that it is...

Comments

Tags:

brad holman jackson rutledge mitchell parker nationals sam narron tommy shields byron kerr frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

A closer look at Jim Hickey's coaching philosophy

October 19, 2020, 7:54pm

Nationals

A closer look at Jim Hickey's coaching philosophy

New Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey brings to the table a ton of experience, from the minor leagues to the majors. The last two seasons, he worked in the Dodgers organization as a special assistant for player development, working with their top prospects. Earlier, Hickey had worked 11 seasons as pitching coach with the Rays, where he spent a significant amount of time alongside Nats manager Davey Martinez. In 2018, he was the pitching coach for the Cubs. So being a pitching coach for a big...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey martinez jim hickey max scherzer nationals patrick corbin stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Barrera returns from "dark places," thrilled to resume playing baseball

October 21, 2020, 6:29am

Nationals

Barrera returns from "dark places," thrilled to resume playing baseball

After being reinstated by Major League Baseball following a suspension, Nationals catcher Tres Barrera is headed to the Dominican Republic this week to begin training camp for winter baseball. The 26-year-old will play for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. The schedule calls for 30 games beginning on Nov. 15. This is welcome news for Barrera, who just two and a half months ago thought his entire baseball career might be in jeopardy. Barrera was suspended in late July for...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr mark scialabba nationals sean doolittle tres barrera featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Cluff makes plate adjustments to take advantage of quick-twitch strengths

October 25, 2020, 9:24am

Nationals

Cluff makes plate adjustments to take advantage of quick-twitch strengths

A couple of weeks ago, we got an update on shortstop Jackson Cluff and how much he valued his time this summer at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. Cluff, 23, appreciated the opportunity to stand in against big league pitchers and learned a great deal about what it takes to be a professional baseball player and how to maintain at this level from veteran Brandon Snyder. "That was a great experience for him to be around veteran guys and see how they work and see how they go about...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr instructional league jackson cluff nationals nationals farm report troy gingrich frontstory_nationals2

Mendoza focusing on shortening path to ball, increasing power

October 23, 2020, 3:11pm

Nationals

Mendoza focusing on shortening path to ball, increasing power

Nationals fall instructional league workouts wrap up over the weekend. Players now prepare for offseason conditioning and some will get extra at-bats in winter league competition. Rain has prevented the Nats from playing the intended full schedule, with over 20 inches of rain falling on South Florida during this month. I got the opportunity to check in with Nats hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich this week and we ran down a few of the hitters he worked with in West Palm Beach, Fla. Gingrich...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr drew mendoza instructional league nationals troy gingrich frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. to throw ceremonial first pitch on opening day

March 18, 2015, 7:09am

Nationals

MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. to throw ceremonial first pitch on opening day

The Washington Nationals today announced that Robert D. Manfred Jr., the tenth Commissioner of Baseball, will throw the ceremonial first pitch on opening day at Nationals Park on Monday, April 6. "We are so honored that Commissioner Manfred has chosen to spend this historic opening day in Washington," said Mark D. Lerner, Vice Chairman and one of the Principal Owners of the Nationals. "His participation will be incredibly special as we kick off our 10-Year Anniversary season." More...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nationals claim Lucius Fox off waivers from Orioles

November 30, 2021, 10:36am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Fox, 24, hit .245 and posted a .353 on-base percentage with 15 doubles, five homers, 24 RBI, 37 walks, 19 stolen bases and 43 runs scored in 62 games across three levels of Kansas City's Minor League system in 2021. He entered the season rated by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nats announce scheduled game times for 2022 season

January 20, 2022, 6:16am

Nationals

Nats announce scheduled game times for 2022 season

The Nationals on Thursday morning announced the scheduled game times for the upcoming regular season. First pitch for opening day against the Mets at Citi Field is scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. start on Thursday, March 31. Both subsequent games of the opening series on Saturday and Sunday are also starting at 1:10 p.m., possibly including the first time Max Scherzer faces the Nats as a member of the Mets. The home opener at Nationals Park is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch against the...

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco game times nationals nationals pastime opening day schedule featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

The curious case at first base

January 19, 2022, 12:51pm

Nationals

Whenever the Nationals actually report to West Palm Beach, there will be plenty of position battles to dissect. You can pretty much go right up the middle of the field. Will Keibert Ruiz get a strong hold of the starting catcher's spot? Who will fill out the back ends of both the rotation and bullpen? Who will start in the middle part of the infield? Can Victor Robles earn his spot in center field back from Lane Thomas? You can even throw in questions about Carter Kieboom at third base. But...

Comments

Tags:

bobby blanco josh bell mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Longley brings important qualifications to new role with Nats

January 18, 2022, 9:40am

Nationals

Longley brings important qualifications to new role with Nats

This was always going to be an important offseason for the Nationals. Not in terms of signing big-name free agents or making a big splash on the trade market, but in terms of making significant changes and improvements on the minor league side to start this first full year of the rebuild off on the right foot. They have already signed a handful of veteran players to minor league deals to potentially help the major league roster and add depth to the upper levels of the farm system. They signed a...