Nolin will get Sunday's start as Ross' rotation replacement

Nolin will get Sunday's start as Ross' rotation replacement
The Nationals didn't need to utilize a fifth starter until next weekend, but they've decided to go ahead and plug Sean Nolin into their rotation now. Nolin, the 31-year-old left-hander who has been available out of the bullpen for the last week since making one spot start against the Mets, will start Sunday's series finale against the Brewers, manager Davey Martinez said. Nolin takes over the rotation spot that opened up with Joe Ross had to be shut down for the rest of the season with a...

Nats protect Antuna, Adon from Rule 5 draft

Nats protect Antuna, Adon from Rule 5 draft
The Nationals added two prospects to their 40-man roster today, believing infielder Yasel Antuna and right-hander Joan Adon needed to be protected from being lost in next month's Rule 5 draft while taking a chance a few others won't be gobbled up by another club. Antuna and Adon each had his contract purchased, elevating each player to the organization's 40-man roster even though neither is on the cusp of making his major league debut. Club officials do believe both prospects have a future...

Friday morning news and notes

Friday morning news and notes
Some news and notes for you on this Friday morning ... * Today is the deadline for all clubs to add players to their 40-man roster and protect them from the Rule 5 draft, so look for the Nationals to make an announcement on a few guys at some point. The Rule 5 draft, which is scheduled to take place Dec. 10 to wrap up the virtual Winter Meetings, allows clubs to select away minor leaguers from other organizations and add them to their major league roster. Any player drafted for $100,000 must...

Marlins return Rule 5 pick Sterling Sharp to Nats

Marlins return Rule 5 pick Sterling Sharp to Nats
Right-hander Sterling Sharp has been returned to the Nationals and assigned to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. The Miami Marlins selected Sharp in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2019. They were required to keep him on their major league roster the entire season or risk losing him, but opted Monday to designate him for assignment. That gave every other team the opportunity to pick him up, but if a team selected him it would also have to keep him on the active roster for...

Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft

Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft
SAN DIEGO - The Nationals lost right-hander Sterling Sharp to the Marlins in this morning's Rule 5 draft, ending a wildly eventful Winter Meetings with the departure of a promising-but-raw pitching prospect. Sharp was the third player selected overall in the Rule 5 draft, which gives clubs the opportunity to acquire prospects from other organizations who were left off their 40-man rosters this winter. The caveat: Any drafted players must remain on their new club's major league roster for the...

Lefty Braymer is Nats' lone addition to 40-man roster

Lefty Braymer is Nats' lone addition to 40-man roster
The Nationals have added Ben Braymer to their 40-man roster, protecting the minor league left-hander from being swooped up by another club in next month's Rule 5 draft. Facing an 8 p.m. Eastern time deadline to add prospects to their 40-man roster, the Nats so far have only announced the selection of Braymer, who went 4-10 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 starts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno this season. Braymer, 25, was an 18th round draft pick in 2016 who was named the organization's...

During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker

During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker
To see how Sterling Sharp is a little bit different athletically than maybe your average baseball player, check out his dunking skills on his Twitter home page: Incase @MiLB or @MLB ever decides to have a dunk contest 🙋🏾‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ZnE2kgyJir -- Sterling Sharp (@DatDude_Ster42) November 19, 2017 In part two, we continue our conversation with the 24-year-old right-hander in the Nationals system, who demonstrated his...

Sharp focused on slider and sinker during AFL work

Sharp focused on slider and sinker during AFL work
We continue our offseason capsules getting to know some of the top prospects in the Nationals system who played in the Arizona Fall League. Today the spotlight falls on right-hander Sterling Sharp. The 24-year-old from Southfield, Mich., was a 22nd-round selection in 2016. In part one of our sit-down with Sharp (Twitter: @DatDude_Ster42), we will focus on his return from an oblique injury and his time in the AFL. Sharp worked his way back from the injury early in the season to post solid...

Nick Banks making a name for himself with big jump in 2019 season

Nick Banks making a name for himself with big jump in 2019 season
These next few weeks, we will take a look back at the Nationals prospects who played in the Arizona Fall League and get their take on the experience. The Surprise Saguaros, the pretty much unheralded group that included Nats minor leaguers, won their division and went all the way to the championship game, which they lost to Salt River 5-1. One of the stars of the team was outfielder Nick Banks. The 24-year-old left fielder out of Texas A&M hit very well all season at high Single-A Potomac...

Wrapping up Nats in AFL, including Garcia, Banks and Sharp in title game

Wrapping up Nats in AFL, including Garcia, Banks and Sharp in title game
MLB.com recently ranked the top 25 prospects who played in the Arizona Fall League. Surprise Saguaros shortstop Luis Garcia was ranked No. 15. He is the Nationals' No. 2 prospect behind Carter Kieboom and ranked No. 91 overall. "Garcia scuffled in Double-A this season as a 19-year-old but looked better in the Fall League," wrote MLB.com. "Though he has yet to tap into his solid raw power, the rest of his tools all could be at least above average once he's fully developed." Surprise lost...

Nats prospects start play tonight in Arizona Fall League

Nats prospects start play tonight in Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League opens play tonight as the Surprise Saguaros take on the Glendale Desert Dogs. The schedule runs from Sept. 18 to the Oct. 26 championship game. The Saguaros include players from the Nationals, Orioles, Rangers, Royals and Yankees organizations. The AFL schedule was moved up from its usual October start to this mid-September opening so that prospects can maintain their development moving forward from the end of the minor league postseason. Mexican League teams will...

Luis Garcia highlights Nats prospects on Arizona Fall League's Surprise roster

Luis Garcia highlights Nats prospects on Arizona Fall League's Surprise roster
The Arizona Fall league today unveiled its 2019 rosters, which included the Surprise Saguaros, highlighted by Nationals shortstop prospect Luis Garcia. At 19, Garcia will be the third-youngest player in the Arizona Fall League. He is No. 77 on the MLBPipeline.com top 100 prospects. The Nats will be well represented on the pitching staff with right-handers Jacob Condra-Bogan, Andrew Lee and Sterling Sharp, and left-hander Nick Raquet. Condra-Bogan is a 2017 32nd-round selection pitching for...

Nats top prospects: No. 8 - RHP Sterling Sharp

Nats top prospects: No. 8 - RHP Sterling Sharp
The No. 8 Nats prospect got to pitch at Nats Park during the club's preparation for the 2017 National League playoffs. Right-hander Sterling Sharp and a few of his minor league teammates helped Nats batters get ready for the Chicago Cubs with simulated games. Sharp, at 6-foot-4, 170 pounds, was a 22nd-round selection in the 2016 draft out of Drury (Mo.). Sharp, 23, pitched for Double-A Harrisburg in 2018, going 6-3 in 13 starts with a 4.33 ERA in 68-plus innings. An outstanding athlete, Sharp...

Potomac nets six players on Carolina League All-Star squad

Potomac nets six players on Carolina League All-Star squad
It has been a solid start to the season for manager Tripp Keister's high Single-A Potomac Nationals. They have demonstrated power in their offense and have done a nice job pitching. On Monday, they were rewarded with six players on the Carolina League Northern Division All-Star team. Right-handers Tyler Mapes, Sterling Sharp and Wil Crowe, catcher Tres Barrera, shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll were named to the Carolina League All-Star Game. The six players selected are the...

Single-A Hagerstown recaps: Perkins, Sharp, Noll, Kieboom, Soto

Single-A Hagerstown recaps: Perkins, Sharp, Noll, Kieboom, Soto
Center fielder Blake Perkins made nice strides in 2017. The 21-year-old hit .297 down the stretch for low Single-A Hagerstown. His slash line was .255/.354/.378. His 31 steals were sixth overall in the South Atlantic League. In 129 games, Perkins collected 27 doubles, four triples, eight homers and 48 RBIs. "Blake Perkins is a guy that sets up well for me," said Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. "He did a great job all year long. He stole a bunch of bags and really did a great job in...

Updates on infielders and pitchers on the early camp roster

Updates on infielders and pitchers on the early camp roster
Quick hits on some Nationals early camp players. I always get good reports on third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. Last year, the 22-year-old hit .296 for three teams, with 23 doubles, six triples, four homers, 25 stolen bases and 56 RBIs. "Gutierrez looks great," said Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. "He's picking up where he left off last year. He's working on a couple of things offensively. Defense is outstanding. It looks really, really good." We focused on versatile Ian...