Comprehensive coverage of Washington, D.C. sports by local writers
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.
Brian Goodwin
Center Field
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Height/Weight: 6’1″/200lbs
Comparable MLB Players: Ray Lankford, Grady Sizemore, Andy Van Slyke, Michael Tucker
| Present | Future | |
| Hitting Ability | 4 | 6 |
| Raw Power | 5 | 6 |
| Power Frequency | 4 | 6 |
| Plate Discipline | 5 | 6 |
| Running Speed | 7 | 7 |
| Baserunning | 4 | 5 |
| Arm Strength | 6 | 6 |
| Arm Accuracy | 3 | 5 |
| Fielding | 4 | 5 |
| Range | 6 | 7 |
| Overall | 5 | 6 |
Suns Single Game Tickets Now On Sale
HAGERSTOWN M.D. – The Hagerstown Suns begin the 2013 season in less than a month, and individual game tickets are now on sale. All the fun at Municipal Stadium begins Thursday April 11 with the home opener against the Delmarva Shorebirds. Opening night will be the first of many exciting events and promotions to take place at the ballpark this season.
Returning in 2013 is the weekly “Thirsty Thursday” promotion. Every Thursday home game fans 21 and over will be able to purchase Coors Light, Miller Light and Yuengling for just $1.00 each. The fun continues each Friday home game with the new “Flat Screen Friday” promotion. During Friday home games this season one 32” flat screen television will be given to one lucky fan thanks to Spicher’s Appliances, Electronics, and Security.
Another new weekly promotion in 2013 will be “Red-Out Sunday” presented by Volvo. The purpose of the “Red-Out Sunday” promotion is to bring awareness to and show support for the anti-bullying movement. As part of the promotion the Suns players and coaches will be wearing red jerseys during the game, and fans in attendance are requested to wear red to show their support as well.
Also new for 2013 is the opening of the recently constructed “Kid’s Fun Zone”, which will be located near the main entrance. The “Kid’s Fun Zone” will have classic arcade games, a bounce house, and speed pitch. The post-game fireworks schedule has also been expanded from 12 to 14 shows for the 2013 season. The first fireworks show will take place following the game on Friday, May 10 against Delmarva.
The 2013 season is loaded with some fantastic giveaways as well, beginning on opening night with a magnet schedule giveaway presented by Hagerstown Magazine. On Saturday, April 13 Benny’s Pub home of Antietam Brewery will be giving out a 22oz. beer stein to the first 1,000 fans 21 and over that can be brought back to Municipal Stadium and Benny’s all season long for discounted beer specials.
Other giveaways this season include a Bryce Harper thermal lunch tote presented by Pepsi, which will be given to the first 1,000 fans on Wednesday June 5, a pink Stephen Strasburg blanket presented by Lehigh Phoenix & Associated Radiologists, which will be given to the first 1,000 fans on Saturday June 15 as part of “Pink Weekend” , a Steve Lombardozzi garden gnome will be the featured giveaway August 7th and a Bryce Harper bobble head, which will be given to the first 1,000 fans on Sunday August 18, plus many more!
For more information on all of the promotions and giveaways throughout the 2013 season and to reserve your seats at Municipal Stadium, call 301-791-6266, or go to www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Hagerstown Suns are owned by Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.
The Hagerstown Suns will hold auditions for National Anthem singers on Saturday February 23, 2013. This spectacular event will be held at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD within the Food Court area. The Sing for the Suns National Anthem Auditions will be an opportunity for anyone in the community to show off their amazing talent for the chance to be featured during a Hagerstown Suns home game during the 2013 season.
The Registration process for the event will kick off at 8:30 a.m., with prior registration available at the Hagerstown Suns business office. Auditions will follow promptly starting at 9 a.m. with an emcee welcoming all the auditions. The event will operate until 1 p.m. in the afternoon or until the last contestant has had the opportunity to sing for the Suns. Each contestant will be viewed and evaluated by 3 qualified and musically enriched personalities as well as one soon to be named celebrity panelist.
Our judging panel will award the premier performing contestants with the chance to sing at 5 exciting and highly anticipated promotional events during the Suns 2013 season. Other contestants will have the possibility of being featured during the other 65 home games of the Suns season. Last year over 90 contestants took a shot, singing their way into the spotlight at Municipal Stadium the Suns anticipate a similar turnout this year.
“The sing for the Suns event is a fun way to get the community ready for the Suns season, said Suns General Manager Bill Farley. He went onto say, “We have a ton of great promotions planned for 2013 and we thank the Valley Mall for hosting the event.” The Hagerstown Suns have developed 12 reasons for Suns fans to be excited this season as they will feature a newly constructed kid’s fun zone, hold Red Out Sundays, an anti-bullying promotion to raise awareness, host the Cowboy Monkeys August 16th, and increase the number of firework shows this season.
According to TV Guide, Washington Nationals minor league infielder Cutter Dykstra is engaged to actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler. Sigler is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano of The Sopranos.
Dykstra, 23, played for the Hagerstown Suns, the Nationals single-A affiliate, last season.
This will be the second marriage for Sigler, 31, who was married to her manager A.J. Discala from 2003-2006.
Dykstra tweeted that she said yes.
She said yes!! RT “@jamielsigler: So this just happened….❤❤ @cutterdykstra instagr.am/p/VC7YK9nFED/”
— Cutter Dykstra (@CutterDykstra) January 28, 2013
So in love…..
Thank you so much for all the love everyone. I am so happy and more importantly lucky ! @cutterdykstra
— Jamie-Lynn Sigler (@JamieLSigler) January 29, 2013
Rachel from Glee tweeted congratulations.
❤U lady thx!“@msleamichele: Congratulations to my good friend @jamielsigler and her new fiancé on their engagement! So happy for you both!!”
— Jamie-Lynn Sigler (@JamieLSigler) January 29, 2013
First Annual Suns Tailgate Picnic Party: Sunday, September 23rd
Free event will feature live music, a Punt, Pass & Kick contest, giveaways and DC sports viewing partyHagerstown, MD – The Hagerstown Suns, Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce the first annual Suns Tailgate Picnic Party at Municipal Stadium on Sunday, September 23rd, from 1-5 p.m. Admission is FREE and everyone is invited to enjoy a day full of fun, live music, contests, prizes and your favorite sports teams!
Families are invited to bring picnic foods (no alcoholic beverages permitted) to enjoy on the Municipal Stadium outfield grass or purchase tasty treats at the ballpark, including Jersey Mike’s Subs. Local bands will be playing live music throughout the afternoon.
A Punt, Pass & Kick contest for all ages will be held on the field throughout the day with fun prizes for the winners. Plus, the Washington Redskins and Washington Nationals games will be shown live on the Suns massive videoboard!
“We are excited to open our gates one final time for families to enjoy the ballpark,” said Suns General Manager Bill Farley. “We’ll have numerous activities for both kids and adults, and look forward to providing a fun-filled afternoon for the community.”
The Hagerstown Suns, Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, were eliminated from the Northern Division Championship Series by the Greensboro Grasshoppers in a 7-5 loss at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC on Friday night. The Grasshoppers won the best of three series, two-games-to-none and advance to the South Atlantic League Championship Series.
The Suns return to Hagerstown on Thursday, April 11, 2013. Next season’s schedule has been released with a printable schedule.
The Hagerstown Suns, Single-A for the Washington Nationals, released the 2013 Schedule.
Suns open at home on Thursday, April 11, 2013 hosting Delmarva Shorebirds and close the season on Thursday, August 29 when they host Lakewood BlueClaws. More info. here.
Former Hagerstown Suns third baseman Matt Skole and right-handed pitcher Nathan Karns were named the 2012 Washington Nationals Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
Washington Nationals minor leaguers Matt Skole and Nathan Karns were honored for their accomplishments throughout the 2012 season during an on-field ceremony at Nationals Park prior to the Washington’s game versus the Miami Marlins on Friday night, September 7, 2012.
Skole and Karns had a full day at Nats Park. The pair were interviewed by media and were part of the MASN pre-game show.
Skole and Karns were also interviewed live on the scoreboard by Clint before third inning. Skole and Karns both tweeted about being in DC and enjoying their time here. Skole even tweeted during the game, “What a great night at Nationals park. Very honored to be a part of this organization.” They seem like two great character guys as well as players, which is exactly Mike Rizzo’s style.
Nationals minor league players of the year Matt Skole and Nathan Karns live on scoreboard with Clint before 3rd inning – Miami Marlins v. Washington Nationals, 9/7/2012. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)
Skole, 23, was also voted the South Atlantic League’s (SAL) Most Valuable Player. In 17 games with Potomac, the Woodstock, Georgia, native is batting .324 (22-68) with 10 doubles and 12 RBIs. Overall, Skole is batting .292 with 28 doubles, 27 home runs and 104 RBIs in 118 games.
Karns, 24, dominated the SAL in his 11 games (5 starts) with the Suns before also earning a promotion to Potomac. The hard-throwing righty went 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA and two saves over 44.1 innings pitched for Hagerstown. The Arlington, Texas, native held SAL hitters to a .148 batting average, conceding just 23 hits, while striking out 61 batters in 155 at-bats (39%). Overall, Karns finishes his 2012 campaign with an combined record of 11-4 with organizational-bests in ERA (2.17) and strike outs (148) over 115.2 innings pitched this season.
HAPPY 34th BIRTHDAY JAYSON WERTH! Washington Nationals Outfielder was born on 05/20/1979 in Springfield, Illinois. … [Read More...]
