Prospect Profile: Michael Burgess

Prospect Profile: Michael Burgess
Nationals prospect Michael Burgess had a solid October-November in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Burgess won the championship with the Scorpions and played on the Rising Stars team, hitting .246 with three doubles, three triples, two homers and 12 RBI. Scorpions batting coach Alan Zinter liked what he saw from Burgess in Arizona, comparing his power capability to another prospect in the Nationals chain. "His power is right up there with Bryce Harper," Zinter...

Callis: Dunn move "makes sense" long term for Nats

Callis: Dunn move "makes sense" long term for Nats
Despite an uproar by Nats fans to Adam Dunn leaving for the Chicago White Sox, baseball expert Jim Callis thinks it is the right move for the Nationals in the long term. "I think it makes sense," says the executive editor of Baseball America. "Could Adam Dunn help them next year, certainly. When you are looking long term, the Nationals still aren't ready to contend. So what Adam Dunn would have done for your 2011 team would have been irrelevant." It is obvious Dunn is, and can continue...

Willingham says knee is good; willing to play first base

Willingham says knee is good; willing to play first base
Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham is rehabbing well from knee surgery and will be 100 percent for spring training. "The knee is good," Willingham said. "I rehabbed it for the first three weeks in Washington. They said go home and do it so I rehabbed it for three more weeks (in Alabama). Since I have been done with rehab I took some time off and then started working out again and everything is good. I am 100 percent." Willingham remembers when he first got hurt and how the knee...

Espinosa feels no pain after surgery, will resume late December

Espinosa feels no pain after surgery, will resume late December
Nationals' second baseman Danny Espinosa underwent hand surgery the day before Thanksgiving to remove the hamate bone and is recovering nicely. "My right hand feels good," reports Espinosa. "I can move my fingers and my wrist. The stitches are still in place, but I do not need pain medication." Espinosa says the injury occurred while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, but he doesn't remember the exact moment because the pain was never intolerable. "I actually don't know when I...

Lannan poised to pick up where he left off in 2011

Lannan poised to pick up where he left off in 2011
Nationals left-handed starting pitcher John Lannan is enjoying his off season and will begin throwing soon as he gets ready for 2011 spring training. It was a roller coaster summer for Lannan, as he fought off a tendon problem, a demotion to Harrisburg, and then rebounded nicely to finish with a flourish. Lannan ended up with an 8-8 record and a 4.65 ERA, but in his final 10 starts, he posted a 6-3 record with a 3.41 ERA. He allowed 4 ER only twice in that span. Lannan says overcoming the...

Zimmermann hunting for more wins in 2011

Zimmermann hunting for more wins in 2011
Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is enjoying this off season much more so than last year when he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. "It is nice," says Zimmermann. "I can actually go home and have a month off and not have to worry about rehabbing every single day. I have been working out for (four weeks now). It is good to get back in the swings of things and not have to worry about going to rehab every day and just working on my arm. I can lift like a normal baseball player...

Lombardozzi thrilled with Arizona title and honor

Lombardozzi thrilled with Arizona title and honor
Nationals prospect Steven Lombardozzi wrapped up another successful season by knocking in the winning run for the Scottsdale Scorpions in a 3-2 win over Peoria in Arizona fall league championship, culminating a memorable season for the Chaska, MN native. Lombardozzi advanced from Potomac to Harrisburg this summer, refined his skills in the instructional league and then participated and excelled in Arizona. "It was pretty special, especially to come together in such a short time with all new...

Derek Norris shines Arizona, where will he start next season?

Derek Norris shines Arizona, where will he start next season?
The Scottsdale Scorpions won the Arizona Fall League championship with a roster filled with Nationals' prospects. Bryce Harper was a name most fans outside of the Nats organization would quickly recognize. But guys like Derek Norris, Michael Burgess and Steve Lombardozzi also made major contributions on the field during the Scorpions' 30 games in Arizona, lifting them to a first-ever title. Let's spotlight those stars beginning with Goddard, Kansas catcher Derek Norris, who ended up...

Kimball: "We were there to win and that is all it came down to"

Kimball: "We were there to win and that is all it came down to"
The Scottsdale Scorpions rolled to their first ever Arizona fall league title Saturday 3-2 over the Peoria Javelinas with a complete baseball team anchored by a strong pitching staff. Nats prospect Sammy Solis and five others held the Javelinas to one earned run over nine innings and the defense, despite some early errors, came up with some huge plays in the end to save the game. Another Nats prospect, pitcher Cole Kimball, notched the save with a dominating ninth frame. "Just playing in...

Nats prospects shine in AFL Championship win

Nats prospects shine in AFL Championship win
The Scottsdale Scorpions won the 2010 Arizona Fall League title with a 3-2 win over Peoria Javelinas with Nationals prospects making impacts throughout the game. Sammy Solis won the game, Cole Kimball pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save, Bryce Harper had the go-ahead RBI single and Stephen Lombardozzi smacked an RBI double to plate the eventual winning run. Solis pitched four solid innings with Kimball getting a strike out and a pair of weak infield grounders to save it. Kimball was...

AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"

AFL Batting coach: Harper "something special"
Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper started and smacked an RBI single to left in Saturday's Arizona Fall league championship game for the Scottsdale Scorpions after a pretty impressive month of fall baseball. Despite being on the taxi squad (maximum two games per week), Harper went 12-for-35 (.343) with three doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBI in nine games. Scottsdale Scorpions batting coach Alan Zinter did not know what to expect when Harper arrived in mid-October, but he soon...

Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man

Marrero, Kimball and Carr added to 40-man
The Nationals have selected the contracts of right-handed pitchers Adam Carr and Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero, placing them on the 40-man roster. Here are my recent visits with Cole Kimball from Arizona and Chris Marrero from Puerto Rico. Also, right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime was claimed off outright waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements Friday. Carr and Kimball have pitched...

Espinosa breaks down hitting for cycle in Puerto Rico

Espinosa breaks down hitting for cycle in Puerto Rico
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa hit for the cycle Tuesday for his team Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico. "It was really exciting and a lot of fun," says Espinosa. "It was funny because my Uncle Bob always use to joke with me to call him when I hit for the cycle. So I was thinking about him after the game and I gave him a call. He just started laughing." Espinosa hit a home run, drew a walk, smacked a triple, then a double and finished off the cycle with a single. It was the...

Rizzo on Dunn, Lee and progression of young defense

Rizzo on Dunn, Lee and progression of young defense
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo checked in late last week with his thoughts on the possibility of resigning Adam Dunn and going after pitcher Cliff Lee. He also agrees that good ball clubs are built up the middle and is excited about the Nats young talent at those positions. Rizzo is pleased with how the off season talks are going for the team as a whole, not just in the possibility of getting Dunn back. "Things are going well on all fronts," says Rizzo. "We have the Adam Dunn...

Desmond inspired to play even better in 2011

Desmond inspired to play even better in 2011
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is excited to get started with the 2011 season after a pretty impressive rookie campaign. Desmond was in town last week and sporting the new Nationals uniforms which he says are a perfect fit for the young, up-and-coming franchise. "I like them," says Desmond. "It is a new look, a new team, hopefully a new attitude next year." His favorite are the home whites and Desmond says the new uniforms have an "old school" feel to them. "This gives the team a...

Clippard ready to deliver again in 2011

Clippard ready to deliver again in 2011
Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard was in town this week to check out the new uniforms for 2011 and work out with the students in the 5th grade P.E. Class at Long Branch elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. Clippard and pitcher Jordan Zimmermann were on hand at Long Branch to teach the kids proper technique while throwing balls to a fellow student. They also answered questions about what it is like to be a major league baseball player. "It is everything," says Clippard. "We...

Harper crushes two triples; Rizzo pleased with progress

Harper crushes two triples; Rizzo pleased with progress
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had a tremendous Wednesday in guiding the Scottsdale Scorpions to a 11-1 win over Peoria. Harper went 2-for-5 with two triples, two RBI and scored two runs. Harper is now batting .357, 10-for-28 with two doubles, two triples, one homer and 6 RBI. His SLG% is now .679. General manager Mike Rizzo is very impressed with Harper's solid steps in the AFL. "The competition alone for him playing in the Arizona fall league is tremendous for him and for his...

Cathcart ready for dual roles for Nationals in 2011

Cathcart ready for dual roles for Nationals in 2011
Potomac Nationals manager Gary Cathcart will have dual roles for the organization in 2011 and be able to coach dozens of prospects as a roving instructor and manager. The first half of the season, Cathcart will be a roving instructor for the Nationals in the Gulf Coast League and Hagerstown. "They like the idea of having another set of eyes alongside (Field Coordinator) Bobby Henley to coach these guys and evaluate our talent," Cathcart said. After the draft in June, Cathcart will manage...

Marrero takes step forward with solid work in Puerto Rico

Marrero takes step forward with solid work in Puerto Rico
Nationals prospect Chris Marrero is working hard to improve offensively and defensively by playing winter ball in Puerto Rico alongside second baseman Danny Espinosa. Marrero says he has enjoyed the experience playing ball in the offseason again this year after getting an invite to Arizona in 2009. In 10 games for Leones de Ponce, Marrero is batting .349 with 3 doubles and 8 RBI. "I am been feeling good. My swing as been coming around. I have been getting a lot of hits and feeling good at...

Espinosa adjusts swing to make more contact

Espinosa adjusts swing to make more contact
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa continues to play well in winter ball in Puerto Rico and has altered his batting stance a little to shorten his swing so he can make more contact and get on base. "I have made a little bit of an adjustment. The first three games (here in Puerto Rico) I had four or five strikeouts. That was a point that manager Jim Riggleman had really touched on is that they would really like to see those (strikeout numbers) go down. He said he would be willing to give...