Norris positioned well for spring training invite

Norris positioned well for spring training invite
Catching prospect Derek Norris is primed to begin spring training with the Nationals in Viera, Fla., next week. He will arrive at the facility a few days prior to the mandatory Feb. 15 report date. Last week, Norris was one of seven players invited to join the Nationals spring training workouts at Space Coast stadium. "It is always good to get invited to spring training especially after having a little bit of a down year last season," said Norris, who batted just .235 in 94 games for...

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have a new manager in Matt LeCroy to defend their Mills Cup championship in 2011. The former major leaguer guided the Single-A Hagerstown Suns last season and is excited to head to Woodbridge with a few of the players that made a difference at his previous stop along for the ride. "We had a good year last year," LeCroy said. "Guys really progressed, actually way better than we thought. Now, they will be able to move up. It is a challenging league. It will be a...

GW's Wilkie thrilled to snag invite to Viera

GW's Wilkie thrilled to snag invite to Viera
The Nationals extended invitations to spring training to another batch of players Friday and right-hander Josh Wilkie from George Washington University was among them. Wilkie notched nine holds and eight saves with a 2.45 ERA and .228 batting average against in 53 games, including one start, last season for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. In five minor league seasons, the 26-year-old has 28 holds, 31 saves and a 2.91 ERA in 210 games. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2006, he is a...

Nationals agree to terms with three players on minor-league deals

Nationals agree to terms with three players on minor-league deals
RHP Josh Wilkie, LHP Matt Chico, C Derek Norris & C Jhonatan Solano receive Spring Training invites The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher J.D. Martin, catcher Carlos Maldonado and first baseman Kevin Barker on minor-league contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Additionally, the Nationals extended Spring Training invitations to right-handed pitcher Josh Wilkie, left-handed pitcher Matt Chico and catchers Derek Norris and Jhonatan Solano. Nationals...

New coach Mark Harris ready to help teach P-Nats how to hit

New coach Mark Harris ready to help teach P-Nats how to hit
The Single-A

Nationals agree to terms with OF Laynce Nix

Nationals agree to terms with OF Laynce Nix
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with outfielder Laynce Nix on a minor-league contract that includes a Spring Training invitation. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The left-handed hitting Nix earned his first post-season experience with Cincinnati in 2010, after batting .291 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 97 games with the Reds during the regular season. Nix posted 37 doubles, three triples, 19 home...

Nationals agree to terms with RHP Cla Meredith & INF Alex Cora

Nationals agree to terms with RHP Cla Meredith & INF Alex Cora
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Cla Meredith and infielder Alex Cora on minor-league contracts that include Spring Training invitations. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Meredith is 14-14 with 44 holds, one save and a 3.62 ERA in 286 appearances during six big league seasons with Boston, San Diego and Baltimore. The 27-year-old groundball pitcher is 14-9 with 37 holds and a...

New Nats mini-plans on sale

New Nats mini-plans on sale
The Nationals have announced a new lineup of ticket mini-plans for fans to purchase this season. Each plan features one free game. The brand new Manager's Plan offers 15 games for the price of 14. The best part is that fans can create their own lineup of favorite games through this plan, which includes opening day, interleague games and games against National League East rivals. Ivan Rodriguez is not yet a member of baseball's Hall of Fame, but according to the Nationals, fans can watch him...

Maxwell "grateful" to Nats, "excited" to join Yankees

Maxwell "grateful" to Nats, "excited" to join Yankees
Former Nationals outfielder and University of Maryland star Justin Maxwell has been traded to the New York Yankees and is thrilled to be able to continue his dream of playing major league baseball. But Maxwell also will miss his former teammates and coaches. Maxwell found out about the deal only a few minutes before we talked and battled a bad cell connection when he was told. But he was able to make out "trade" and "Yankees". "I am pumped up and my family is excited, too," Maxwell...

Nationals acquire RHP Adam Olbrychowski from Yankees in exchange for OF Justin Maxwell

Nationals acquire RHP Adam Olbrychowski from Yankees in exchange for OF Justin Maxwell
The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Adam Olbrychowski from the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder Justin Maxwell. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Olbrychowski went 3-2 with four holds, one save and a 3.90 ERA in 32 games/one start last season with Tampa of the Single-A Florida State League and Trenton of the Double-A Eastern League. During the last two seasons (2009-10), the...

So you want to be a Racing President?

So you want to be a Racing President?
It's time for the main event - the Geico Presidents Race. The Nationals are now accepting applicants for Racing Presidents for the 2011 season. Auditions will occur, appropriately enough, over President's Day Weekend. To be eligible, applicants must fulfill the following requirements: * Measure between 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-6 in height * Possess the ability to run from center field to home plate (approximately 200 yards) in 40 seconds * Be able to wear a costume weighing approximately 45...

Tyler Moore should begin 2011 in Harrisburg

Tyler Moore should begin 2011 in Harrisburg
Carolina League Player of the Year Tyler Moore is likely to begin the season in Double-A Harrisburg after smashing several records for the Mills Cup champion Potomac Nationals last year, according to Washington Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. "He had a phenomenal year, I have never seen anything like it in 22 years. He was hitting .199 at the halfway mark and ended up hitting .260 with 30-plus (homers) and 100-plus (RBIs)," Harris said. " It is really a credit to...

Surprise Valentine's Day visits from Screech and Uncle Slam

Surprise Valentine's Day visits from Screech and Uncle Slam
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too," a child once said. Does your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or partner love baseball? If so, surprise your beloved this Valentine's Day with a special visit from Nationals mascot Screech or the Single-A Potomac Nationals' Uncle Slam. Screech is available for a five minute surprise appearance in which he'll deliver a Valentine's Day card along with a balloon and a box of chocolates. The cost is...

Nats' Harris: "There is a plan for Bryce Harper"

Nats' Harris: "There is a plan for Bryce Harper"
With spring training just two weeks away, future prospects in the Nationals' system are getting ready to showcase their talents for the team's top brass in Florida. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris attended the Potomac Nationals Hot Stove Banquet on Sunday night in Springfield, Va., and shared some insight as to who might be with the big club as the team heads back to D.C. in late March. Harris believes the franchise has built depth that will help the Nationals get...

Seen and heard at the P-Nats' Hot Stove Banquet

Seen and heard at the P-Nats' Hot Stove Banquet
New Potomac manager Matt LeCroy was introduced and Washington Nationals assistant general manager Bryan Minniti served as the keynote speaker at the 16th annual Potomac Nationals Hot Stove Banquet at the Hilton in Springfield, Va., on Sunday night. LeCroy was promoted in the offseason after guiding Single-A Hagerstown last year. A lot of those prospects will again be under his tutelage now at Single-A Potomac of the Carolina League. "It is a challenging league," LeCroy noted. "I...

Mock's extra rest means he's extra ready for Viera

Mock's extra rest means he's extra ready for Viera
Nationals right-hander Garrett Mock is excited to get started with the 2011 season after an injury-filled 2010 campaign that included neck surgery. Mock has been working out and throwing in his hometown of Houston and plans to report to Viera, Fla., the Nationals' spring training home, next Friday so he can find an apartment and get an early start. "I just got done with a throwing session," Mock said. "I did some long toss, nothing strenuous. I will have a longer bullpen session...

Balester participates in TwitChange campaign

Balester participates in TwitChange campaign
Professional athletes and celebrities including Nationals pitcher Collin Balester have teamed up with TwitChange, an online organizing and fundraising service to raise money for Operation Once in a Lifetime. The TwitChange campaign is led by Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who recruited dozens of fellow athletes and celebrities on Twitter to join his cause. From today through Feb. 5, fans can bid on Twitter-inspired auctions featuring their favorite celebrities and athletes including...

Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.

Spring training tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.
Sick of staring at the piles of snow, fallen trees and slushy roads? Wouldn't you rather be enjoying Florida's sunny beaches or catching rays at a Nationals spring training game? On Saturday morning, you can book your flight, get your tickets and start imagining warmer temperatures. Nationals spring training tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. You won't want to miss any of the action leading into the 2011 season. But moreover, who can resist an escape to the south? Why not go to Viera, Fla., a...

Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman earns second consecutive Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award

Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman earns second consecutive Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award
Washington Third Bagger is One of Five to Win Award for Second Consecutive Season Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman tonight was named the recipient of the 2010 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger for National League third basemen. The Silver Slugger citation is the second of Zimmerman's career. He earned his initial Silver Slugger last season. Zimmerman recorded arguably his finest offensive campaign in 2010, hitting a career-best .307 (161-for-525) with 32 doubles, 25 home...

Nationals add RHP Adam Carr, RHP Cole Kimball & 1B Chris Marrero to roster

Nationals add RHP Adam Carr, RHP Cole Kimball & 1B Chris Marrero to roster
RHP Juan Jaime claimed off outright waivers by Diamondbacks The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of right-handed pitchers Adam Carr and Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero. Additionally, 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. Carr went 6-2 with 14 saves and a 2.75 ERA in 52 relief appearances last season with Harrisburg of...