May 21, 2013

Washington Nationals Minor League Update for the Week of 4/28/13

April 29, 2013 by

Welcome back to District Sports Page’s weekly Minor League Update. Every Monday throughout the regular season we will continue to post up-to-date stats and brief scouting reports on the hottest and coldest prospects in the Nationals’ minor league system. We also will track the progress of top-rated players, and give injury and suspension updates.

With April coming to a close, the Nationals’ organization is looking pretty strong from top to bottom. The big club is off to a decent 13-12 start. But more importantly, they’re looking strong and equipped to perform at a high level for the duration of the season. Their key players are all healthy, and their crop of young stars continues to move forward at a healthy pace.

Bryce Harper not only appears to have avoided (knock on wood) a slumping sophomore season, but he looks to be putting it all together even earlier than anyone could have hoped. The same goes for their young rotation, which is firing on all cylinders. And while Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos are sitting on the DL with minor injuries, the Nats used their system to overcome their temporary absence quite effectively. Luckily though, both players are on their way back anyway.

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: Owings slam lifts Nats over Astros

March 14, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals continued their slog through their Grapefruit League schedule on Thursday, beating the Houston Astros 6-3 at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL.

The Nats were paced by a seventh inning grand slam off the bat of 1B/OF Micah Owings. Owings is garnering his fair share of attention at spring training, trying to convert from pitcher to hitter, and showing himself well so far. Owings is 7-for-19 (.333/.333/.667) this spring with three doubles, two home runs and 8 RBIs.

Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman (two doubles), Wilson Ramos and Steve Lombardozzi all had two hits apiece.

With Ross Detwiler away at the World Baseball Classic, Chris Young got the start for the Nats. The 6’10″ righty went four innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks, striking out three. He was in-and-out of trouble most of the time, but managed to limit Houston’s chances. Zach Duke continued his stellar spring, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, walking one and striking out three in two innings.

New closer Rafael Soriano was victimized by the still breeze blowing out, allowing a wind-aided two-run home run to Astros minor leaguer Nate Freiman in the seventh inning, his only frame of work. He struck out two in his appearance though. Henry Rodriguez followed, and gave up a one-out walk and stolen base, but recovered with a strikeout and groundout to end his inning of work scoreless.

Tyler Clippard pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning to save the spring training win.

The Nationals will face the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 Friday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Dan Haren is scheduled to face Adam Wainright for the Cards.

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: Homers happen as Nats topple Marlins

March 9, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals have not hit a ton of home runs yet this spring. That’s not really a source of concern, as pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters for the first couple of weeks at Spring Training. Saturday, however, the Nats broke out their big sticks, hitting three homers in an 8-7 win over the Miami Marlins at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.

Bryce Harper (2) and Ryan Zimmerman (1) went back-to-back in the fifth inning, while SS Zach Walters added his second of the spring in the eighth. Harper finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs and Zimmerman went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. The Nats pounded out 12 hits total against four Miami pitchers.

Steve Lombardozzi added a two-run single and Danny Espinosa had a run scoring single as well.

It was a tough day for pitchers overall, as some may be entering their “dead arm” period as they try to strengthen their bodies to be ready for opening day. Free agent signee Chris Young started for the Nats with Ross Detwiler away for the World Baseball Classic. Young went three innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and three walks, striking out two.

Craig Stammen followed and was punished — allowing three earned runs on four hits and a walk, all in just two-thirds of an inning.

The Nats received credible relief after that, as Erik Davis provided 1 1/3 scoreless innings (1 hit, 1 K), and Ryan Perry had another good outing, throwing two scoreless frames and allowing just one hit. Fernando Abad was credited with the victory for his scoreless inning of work, and though he gave up a run on three hits, Jeremy Accardo “earned” his second spring save.

The Nats travel to Lakeland Sunday for a 1:05 tilt against the Detroit Tigers.

 

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Washington Nationals notes: Nats add P Chris Young to stable of MLB depth

February 21, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals announced Thursday they signed starter Chris Young to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Young, 33, made 20 starts for the New York Mets in 2012. He went 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 115 innings, striking out 6.3 batters per nine innings while walking 2.8. He has dealt with shoulder problems the last three seasons, including surgery in 2011, which limited him to four starts in both 2010 and 2011.

In fact, the last time Young started more than the 20 games he saw last season was in 2007, when he was named the San Diego Padres representitive in the All-Star game. He finished that season 9-8 with a 3.12 ERA.

Young will join Ross Ohlendorf and Yuniesky Maya at Triple-A Syracuse as MLB depth for the starting rotation — if his often injured shoulder holds up.

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