Long leaving Nationals to become Phillies hitting coach

Long leaving Nationals to become Phillies hitting coach
The Nationals have another opening on their coaching staff to fill after learning hitting coach Kevin Long is leaving to take a position with the Phillies. Long, the club's hitting coach since 2018, was invited to return in 2022 but was free to seek other employment because his contract was expiring. He chose to join Joe Girardi's staff in Philadelphia, where he'll be reunited with slugger Bryce Harper, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Long's departure, which was first...

Kieboom cleared to play after MRI

Kieboom cleared to play after MRI
Third baseman Carter Kieboom, who was scratched from last night's starting lineup when left forearm soreness cropped up, has been cleared to play after a precautionary MRI earlier today showed no lingering issues. "Everything came back negative," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He's going to go work out today (and) we'll see how he feels. But he's available to come off the bench today." Kieboom was hit on the left forearm by a pitch...

Nats go quietly in opening loss to Mets (updated)

Nats go quietly in opening loss to Mets (updated)
The recipe for success for the Nationals the rest of the way this season is going to be one of two things: keep the score close, take a late lead and hope to hold on, or explode for a lot of runs early and win in a blowout. Neither of those scenarios took place in today's 4-1 doubleheader opening loss to the Mets. Let's start with keeping the score close. The Nationals did get a gutsy effort from Sean Nolin in his first major league appearance since 2015. But the left-hander served up a...

Soto's Home Run Derby charge ends in semifinal loss to Alonso

Soto's Home Run Derby charge ends in semifinal loss to Alonso
Maybe Juan Soto was drained from his first-round victory in Monday night's Home Run Derby at Coors Field, when he vanquished the favored Shohei Ohtani of the Angels in a three-swing swing-off to advance to the semifinals against the Mets' Pete Alonso. Perhaps his hand-selected pitcher, Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long, tired as the night went along, failing to deliver enough pitches to Soto's up-and-in happy zone. At one point in the opening round, teammates Max Scherzer and Trea Turner...

Schwarber's swing fix got a head start, thanks to Long's visit

Schwarber's swing fix got a head start, thanks to Long's visit
Kyle Schwarber had only been a National for a handful of days. It was mid-January, and the former Cubs left fielder was just starting to chat with his new hitting coach, Kevin Long. The two talked about Schwarber's struggles last season and the state of his swing, and Long mentioned that he could come visit him at his offseason home in Tampa and work one-on-one in person. "Let's go!" Schwarber told him. "I'm ready." "All right," Long replied. "I'll be there in three days." So it was...

Long explains contract issue that briefly left him unemployed

Long explains contract issue that briefly left him unemployed
Kevin Long was unemployed for about two weeks last fall, two weeks that confused a lot of Nationals fans and observers, given the hitting coach's strong reputation in the sport and success during three seasons in Washington. Was Long really let go by the organization just as pitching coach Paul Menhart and third base coach Chip Hale were around the same time? And if so, how did he end up coming back to the Nats a couple weeks later and now find himself in West Palm Beach, Fla., preparing for...

In reversal, Long will return as Nationals' hitting coach

In reversal, Long will return as Nationals' hitting coach
Kevin Long will be back as the Nationals' hitting coach after all. Long and the Nats agreed to reunite on a one-year deal, a source familiar with the terms confirmed this afternoon, a surprising reversal from what appeared to be a parting of ways between the two sides nearly two weeks ago. Long, like everyone else on Davey Martinez's coaching staff, had a contract that was set to expire Oct. 31. Martinez, who signed a long-term extension in September, has been seeking to have more say in the...

Source: Hale, Long won't return to fast-changing coaching staff

Source: Hale, Long won't return to fast-changing coaching staff
The Nationals' first offseason task appears to be a significant makeover of manager Davey Martinez's coaching staff. One week after cutting ties with pitching coach Paul Menhart, the club has now also informed third base coach Chip Hale and hitting coach Kevin Long they will not be returning in 2021, a source familiar with the decisions confirmed. There could be more moves coming, as well. Assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, brought in last winter, has been Long's right-hand man with three...

Nats try out new extra-inning rule, get hitting coach back

Nats try out new extra-inning rule, get hitting coach back
Tonight's workout at Nationals Park featured a parade of relief pitchers, a trial run of baseball's new extra-inning rule and the return of a key member of the coaching staff. Rather than put two separate teams on the field that switched sides every half-inning like they did Monday, the Nationals mixed and matched their defensive players and batters throughout the hour-long intrasquad game. No starting pitchers participated because they need to build in a day between Max Scherzer (who starts...

DiPuglia on first introduction to Juan Soto

DiPuglia on first introduction to Juan Soto
A few years back, Dominican scout Modesto Ulloa was the first to alert the Nationals to a left-handed pitcher/outfielder he wanted them to take a look at. Ulloa brought in Nationals vice president and assistant general manager of international operations Johnny DiPuglia to a workout in the Dominican Republic to see a teenager named Juan Soto. Ulloa has been a Dominican scout for the Indians, Padres and Nationals for many seasons. He signed the likes of Osvaldo Abreu, Freddy Guzmán and...

Rizzo: Kieboom working on hitting and defense during coronavirus delay

Rizzo: Kieboom working on hitting and defense during coronavirus delay
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Carter Kieboom is like any other player sidelined by the baseball shutdown, but acknowledged the third baseman is getting extra infield and hitting instruction during the downtime brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The replacement for All-Star Anthony Rendon at third base was the biggest spring training story as players descended on South Florida in mid-February. The 22-year-old top Nationals prospect slashed .233/.395/.300 in 14 exhibition...

Roessler uses analytics as one tool to help Nats hitters get better

Roessler uses analytics as one tool to help Nats hitters get better
Pat Roessler was formerly the hitting coach for the Mets, most recently in 2018. He takes over as the assistant hitting coach for the Nationals this season. His resume is stacked with stops as assistant baseball coach at Old Dominion University (1983-1988) to years in the big leagues. The University of Arizona product was a minor league hitting coach in the White Sox system from 1988 to 1994, the Expos hitting coordinator from 1995 to 1997 and the Pirates chain from 1998 to 1999. He coached...

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer
SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are shuffling three of their coaches to new positions for the 2020 season, with Tim Bogar taking over as bench coach, Chip Hale moving to third base coach and Bob Henley switching to first base coach. Every member of Davey Martinez's World Series winning staff returns next season, with one exception: Pat Roessler has been hired as assistant hitting coach, replacing Joe Dillon, who accepted the lead hitting coach's job with the Phillies last month. That means three...

Brian Dozier on playing at Nationals Park, working with Trea Turner, Kevin Long

Brian Dozier on playing at Nationals Park, working with Trea Turner, Kevin Long
New Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier loves to hit the ball to left field. Dozier has hit 172 homers in his career, and 157 of those homers have gone to left field or left-center field. He likes the idea of being able to hit at Nationals Park, which he likens to Target Field. Dozier played 955 games over seven seasons with Minnesota. Dozier is right. Both Parks had HOV Sport (now known as Populous) as the architect. Nats Park broke ground in 2006, Target Field in 2007. Nats Park seats...

Adams credits Nats coaching staff for keeping him on track

Adams credits Nats coaching staff for keeping him on track
It is a big deal the Nationals were able to quickly get Matt Adams back in the fold for 2019 and with a mutual option for 2020. Adams, 30, appeared in 94 games for the Nats last season before being traded to the Cardinals. He was important to the Nats when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was on the disabled list. Adams started 57 games, hit18 homers and contributed 48 RBIs. Known for his power, Adams also takes pride in his defense. In 2016, his range factor of 10.29 was the best in the majors for...

Hitting lesson with Long, grounds crew experience up for bid

Hitting lesson with Long, grounds crew experience up for bid
LAS VEGAS - If you want to feel what it's like to be a member of the media covering the Nationals, get a behind-the-scenes look at what the grounds crew at Nationals Park does or receive a private lesson with Nats hitting coach Kevin Long in the stadium batting cages, get your clicking fingers ready to bid. Beginning this morning, and running through Thursday at 10 p.m., these Nationals-centric goodies and other baseball items and experiences are up for bid at the annual Winter Meetings...

Hardworking Soto gets head start on offseason improvements

Hardworking Soto gets head start on offseason improvements
What does Juan Soto do for an encore after a rookie season that obliterated records for offensive production by a teenager? The now 20-year-old has a simple plan for making sure he isn't bitten by a sophomore slump: Keep working hard and try not to change what brought him such instant success in the major leagues. "I think, do my routine, and no change," Soto said Saturday at Nationals Winterfest. "If that worked, I got to keep going until I (retire)." Soto tied teammate Bryce Harper for...

Robles banking on return of his power stroke

Robles banking on return of his power stroke
There's a good chance Victor Robles will be patrolling center field for the Nationals in 2019, and if that happens, Robles expects that the powerful stroke that was sapped by an early-season hyperextended left elbow will return. Manager Davey Martinez has hinted at that and hitting coach Kevin Long expects that offensive surge to occur, too. But hearing Robles talk at Nationals Winterfest about the return of his power stroke makes the possibility of losing Bryce Harper to free agency a little...

Emotions run hot during Nationals' 8-3 loss (updated)

Emotions run hot during Nationals' 8-3 loss (updated)
The Nationals showed some much-needed emotion tonight during a critical game against the Braves. Unfortunately, it only came after they trailed by a hefty margin and after their youngest star was ejected for the first time in his life. After Tommy Milone dug his teammates into a six-run hole, and the Nats tried to claw their way back while also watching 19-year-old slugger Juan Soto and hitting coach Kevin Long get ejected during a wild bottom of the sixth. In the end, the fiery emotions...

Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes

Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes
ATLANTA - The Nationals have raced out of the blocks with a 4-1 record, scoring 35 runs in their first five games. The lineup has been outstanding and has found ways to hit in several situations. Many could point to the work of hitting coach Kevin Long and how quickly he has become acclimated to his new team. "It definitely helps," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez of the relationship Long has with this hitters. "He's another guy. We talk about building relationships. He came in and...