nationals

Updates on young outfielders Quintana, Marte and De La Rosa

November 05, 2020, 11:29am

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr daniel marte gage canning jeremy de la rosa mark scialabba nationals nationals farm report roister quintana frontstory_nationals2

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,...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stevenson byron kerr davey martinez nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr cade cavalli jackson rutledge mason denaburg nationals prospects seth romero tim cate nationals farm report frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr cade cavalli holden powell joan adon kris kline mark scialabba mitchell parker nationals nationals farm report quade tomlin randy tomlin yasel antuna mason denaburg zachary brzykcy frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

Joan adon austen williams brad holman byron kerr james bourque nationals nick wells tim cate featured_sidebar

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey martinez luis garcia nationals trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey martinez howie kendrick nationals stephen strasburg trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr cade cavalli joan adon mark scialabba nationals nationals farm report yasel antuna frontstory_nationals2

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...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey martinez featured_sidebar mike rizzo nationals paul menhart stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

brad holman byron kerr davey martinez michael tejera nationals paul menhart featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

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...

Comments

Tags:

asdrubal cabrera byron kerr carter kieboom eric thames howie kendrick luis garcia nationals davey martinez featured_sidebar tim bogar trea turn frontstory_nationals2

Nats add righty Steven Fuentes to 40-man roster

October 30, 2020, 12:01pm

Nationals

Nats add righty Steven Fuentes to 40-man roster

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...