Outfield an "option" for Nationals' power-hitting prospect Tyler Moore

Outfield an "option" for Nationals' power-hitting prospect Tyler Moore
After hitting 31 homers in back-to-back seasons, first baseman Tyler Moore is the hottest young power hitter in the Nationals organization. Moore hit 15 homers in his first two professional campaigns, and then exploded for 62 in his last two seasons at Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. With first base locked in at Triple-A Syracuse by Chris Marrero, and because of Adam LaRoche's presence in D.C., the Nationals decided to try out Moore in the outfield during instructional league this...

Solis allows four runs in four innings; Scottsdale falls 10-5

Solis allows four runs in four innings; Scottsdale falls 10-5
Left-hander Sammy Solis has sometimes allowed runs early and then settled down during his first year of professional ball. That scenario again played out Wednesday as Salt River scored four runs in the first three frames off the Scottsdale southpaw in a 10-5 setback in Arizona Fall League competition. Solis allowed a two-run single by Nolan Arenado and a pair of RBI outs in the third as the Rafters took a 4-3 advantage. The nearby Avondale, Ariz., product did have scoreless second and...

Prospect Purke in Arizona, to work out of bullpen with Scottsdale

Prospect Purke in Arizona, to work out of bullpen with Scottsdale
Nationals draft pick Matt Purke has arrived in Arizona and is now available to pitch for the Scottsdale Scorpions after a successful instructional league camp in Viera, Fla. The 96th overall selection, a left-hander out of TCU, will work out of the bullpen in Arizona, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. Harris said Purke will usually get one or two innings of work, with Single-A Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart, the Scorpions' pitching coach,...

Purke goes two innings in Arizona debut; Scottsdale drops 8-7 decision

Purke goes two innings in Arizona debut; Scottsdale drops 8-7 decision
Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander Matt Purke pitched two innings following Red Sox prospect Brock Huntzinger in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. Purke fired 38 pitches, 20 for strikes, allowing one run on one hit, one walk and striking out one. He induced two groundouts and two flyouts. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said Friday that this is one of the ways we might see Purke pitch in Arizona, as a "piggyback" to Huntzinger's...

Harper manages base hit in Scottsdale's 3-1 loss to Salt River

Harper manages base hit in Scottsdale's 3-1 loss to Salt River
Thursday was a pretty quiet night for the Scottsdale Scorpions as they fell again to the first-place Salt River Rafters 3-1 in Arizona Fall League play. Left fielder Bryce Harper, the Nationals' top prospect, returned to the lineup, going 1-for-4 with a single. He is batting .087 and left a man in scoring position. Harper singled to center field with one out in the seventh, but was erased when the next batter grounded into an inning-ending double play. Then in the ninth, representing the...

Nationals will host Red Sox in April 3 exhibition at Nationals Park

Nationals will host Red Sox in April 3 exhibition at Nationals Park
The Washington Nationals will host the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game at Nationals Park on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Game time has yet to be determined. As a benefit to 2012 season ticket holders, all those with full, half and partial season ticket plans will receive tickets for the game at half their regular season ticket price. Details for the team's 2012 season ticket plans are available online at nationals.com/tickets. In addition to the exhibition game, the Nationals 2012 schedule...

Get creative in the annual Nationals Pumpkin Contest

Get creative in the annual Nationals Pumpkin Contest
Halloween is one of those times during the year when I wish I had a single creative bone in my body. Costume ideas seem to avoid me, while my lack of artistic skills keep me from carving pretty much anything into a pumpkin except for a somewhat disfigured jack-o-lantern. But for those of you with the knack for carving pumpkins, here's your chance to put those talents on display and, if your creation is among the best, take home some coveted Nationals game-used baseballs. From now until Oct....

Solis zeroes in on strike zone for tonight's second Arizona start

Solis zeroes in on strike zone for tonight's second Arizona start
Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander Sammy Solis makes his second start of the Arizona Fall League campaign tonight as he takes to the mound against Salt River. Solis went three innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and no strikeouts in a no-decision against the very same Salt River Rafters, Oct. 6. Despite the three walks, Solis was pleased with the outing and came away confident. Scorpions pitching coach Paul Menhart agreed, saying Solis threw "quality pitches, Solis was...

Lehman allows two runs, Walters RBI hit, Harper plays right field in Scottsdale loss

Lehman allows two runs, Walters RBI hit, Harper plays right field in Scottsdale loss
Mesa dropped Scottsdale 3-2 in Arizona Fall League play Tuesday with George Washington product pitcher Pat Lehman getting knocked around for four hits and two runs. An Aaron Hicks triple, which glanced off the glove of Bryce Harper in right field, and a home run by Brandon Short were the big hits for the Solar Sox off Lehman in two innings of work. Rafael Martin finally got into an AFL game for the Scorpions, pitching one inning in front of Lehman, allowing no hits, one walk and one...

I mustache you a question (updated with Balester in mustache contest)

I mustache you a question (updated with Balester in mustache contest)
It's that time of the year! No, not fall or football or the closing weeks until Christmas. It's that time of year when men all over put aside their dignity and penchant for not looking like a creepy old guy and do what men do best - grow facial hair. In the mustache world, it's referred to as Movember, and the Nationals' Collin Balester is on board. At the Movember Web site, Balester's profile shows the Nationals pitcher with a mean-looking 'stache, coupled with the tagline of...

Keep music alive by helping Hungry For Music choose diamond tunes

Keep music alive by helping Hungry For Music choose diamond tunes
It's no secret that the arts and music programs in schools nationwide are on the decline, particularly among schools with younger students. As someone who took part in band from the age of 9 through high school, it pains me to think about the future of kids getting involved in local arts programs. Fortunately, there are people out there trying to make a difference. Jeff Campbell, a former member of the Nationals' press corps who used to freelance for SportsTicker, is one of those...

Harper tallies first hit, RBI as Scottsdale comes back to win in Arizona

Harper tallies first hit, RBI as Scottsdale comes back to win in Arizona
The Nationals' top prospect, left fielder Bryce Harper, contributed in a big way as the Scottsdale Scorpions ralled to beat the Mesa Solar Sox 4-3 in the Arizona Fall League Monday night. Harper had a single for his first hit in the fall and added an RBI groundout. He showed off his speed with a pair of stolen bases. Harper's batting average is now 1-for-16 (.063). Zach Walters went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Derek Norris had the night off. Harper flew out and grounded out in his...

Martin's big leap earns ticket to Arizona Fall League

Martin's big leap earns ticket to Arizona Fall League
Right-handed pitcher Rafael Martin had one of the best seasons for a reliever in the Nationals' chain in 2011. It all clicked for the 27-year-old, who mesmerized hitters in the Double-A Eastern League. After starting the season at Single-A Potomac, Martin rolled at Harrisburg, earning a spot on the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. The 6-foot-2,195-lb., San Fernando, Calif., native went 5-1 with a career-best 1.65 ERA in 38 games, striking out 54 batters and allowing just 11...

Scottsdale rebounds with two wins, Harper still hitless in AFL

Scottsdale rebounds with two wins, Harper still hitless in AFL
The Scottsdale Scorpions, the Arizona Fall League team partially stocked by the Nationals, has won two in a row over Phoenix as the hitting has come around and the pitching has improved. George Washington University product Patrick Lehman pitched the last inning of a 7-3 victory Saturday, going one inning, allowing one hit, no runs, one walk, two strikeouts and hitting one batter. Lehman tossed 30 pitches, 16 for strikes. Derek Norris has gone 2-for-8 the last two games with a run scored....

Solis struggles with command; Harper hitless as Scottsdale falls again

Solis struggles with command; Harper hitless as Scottsdale falls again
The Scottsdale Scorpions were able to get the early lead they needed, but left-hander Sammy Solis was not able to last long enough to earn the victory Thursday. The Scorpions led at one point 2-1, but fell 3-2 at Salt River in the Arizona Fall League, after allowing two late runs. Scottsdale is now 0-2. Solis allowed only one run, but walked three hitters in three innings, throwing 53 pitches, 30 for strikes. He allowed two hits with no strikeouts. Bryce Harper went 0-for-5 and is now...

Solis will work on breaking pitches in first AFL start

Solis will work on breaking pitches in first AFL start
Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander and former University of San Diego standout Sammy Solis makes his 2011 Arizona Fall League debut today against Salt River Rafters. The Scorpions (0-1) fell to Surprise 10-1 in the season opener Wednesday. Nationals prospect Zach Walters went 1-for-3, but Bryce Harper (0-for-3, one strikeout) and Derek Norris (0-for-3) did not register a hit in the first game. Reliever Pat Lehman faced one batter and recorded an out. Solis is in his second season in the AFL,...

IBWAA announces season awards

IBWAA announces season awards
With the season over for the Nationals, it's time for the local and national media outlets to determine the annual winners of baseball's postseason awards. While some Nationals are likely in contention for some of the higher profile awards - Danny Espinosa for Rookie of the Year and Michael Morse for breakout player of the year, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America announced Thursday its annual team awards for the Nationals. For those who aren't aware, the IBWAA is an...

GW product Lehman ready to showcase stuff in Arizona

GW product Lehman ready to showcase stuff in Arizona
Right-hander Patrick Lehman, a George Washington University product, advanced very well in 2011 from Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg and now looks to cap off the season with a good run in the Arizona Fall League. Lehman had such a quality campaign that he was selected to the Scottsdale Scorpions roster as one of the representatives from the Nationals organization. Lehman went a combined 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 42 games in 2011. He had 34 strikeouts and only four free...

Purke to join AFL soon, Rendon to stay at instructional league

Purke to join AFL soon, Rendon to stay at instructional league
Left-hander Matt Purke, the former Texas Christian star, will join the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of fall instructional league in Viera, Fla., according to a Nationals source. Former Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, however, will stay at instructional league for now, and the Nationals' future plans for him are not known. Rendon, the team's first-round selection in June's First-Year Player Draft, was previously announced as part of the Scorpions'...

Instructional prospect updates: Keyes, Hood, Perez, Goodwin

Instructional prospect updates: Keyes, Hood, Perez, Goodwin
While in Hagerstown to see Stephen Strasburg rehab, one of the outfield stories that really caught my eye was the power displayed by Kevin Keyes. Keyes is continuing his season at the Nationals' instructional camp in Florida. Single-A Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris is one of the many coaches at instructs and likes what he sees from the former Texas Longhorn. "I think he opened some eyes with his production," Harris said. "A lot of coaches are anxious to see how he will do at...