The Nationals work very hard on teaching their catchers how to guide each pitcher through their outing, making sure the duo remain on the same page, keeping them focused on the task at hand. This concentration on the next pitch - an ability to clear out distraction that might have been caused by the last play - is important in helping the pitcher and catcher stay on point. These two players have to work together for the team to be successful. "Another thing that our organization really...

In part two of our discussion, Nationals right-handed reliever Jacob Condra-Bogan said he is working on pitches besides his fastball, including the slider and the changeup. "My changeup is probably my best secondary pitch," he said. "It's good, late tumble, low-spin-rate type pitch that moves a lot. I just don't throw it a lot, but when I do throw I think it's a very good pitch." Condra-Bogan said he also throws a slider/curveball that is starting to gain some traction and...

We continue our conversations with top Nationals prospects with Jacob Condra-Bogan. The first part of our sitdown is a look back on a very good campaign for the Duncan, S.C., native. The right-hander was acquired in 2018 in a trade with the Royals. He is a reliever who can fire upper 90s with his fastball on a consistent basis. Condra-Bogan sits at 95 mph with his fastball and can reach back for 97-98 mph. Condra-Bogan pitched in 38 games over 62 1/3 innings at Double-A Harrisburg, finishing...

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...

The Surprise Saguaros had a very good first week in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-1. They have the best record in the West Division and the league overall, and enjoy a three-game win streak. Here is a rundown of last week: Surprise 4, at Glendale 2. Scottsdale 8, at Surprise 6. At Surprise 4, Salt River 1. At Surprise 12, Salt River 0. Surprise 4, at Peoria 1. Catcher Jakson Reetz is hitting .455 (5-for-11) in three games with a 1.084 OPS. He has one double, one stolen base and three RBIs....

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...

ATLANTA - The story in game one was left-hander Max Fried as the Braves defeated the Nationals 4-2. The 25-year-old left-hander, who attended the same high school as former Nats starter Lucas Giolito, tossed seven shutout innings against the Nats, striking out nine. But once the Nats got past the Harvard-Westlake, Ca., graduate and into the Braves bullpen, they finally put together another familiar comeback, scoring two and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in their last at-bat....

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...

A couple of pitchers who came over in late-season trades could be difference-makers again this year in the Nats system. Both spent time with high Single-A Potomac. Right-hander Jacob Condra-Bogan, 24, finished the season on a surge, allowing only two earned runs his final 10 appearances. He joined Potomac in late July, coming over from Wilmington in the trade that sent Brian Goodwin to the Royals. Condra-Bogan can throw 99 mph and is also pursuing a master's degree in preparation for the time...

Here is an update on a couple of minor league pitching prospects who came to the Nationals via mid-season trades for veterans. They both attended and worked out at instructional league after the season ended. RHP Andrew Istler 26 years old 5-foot-11, 175 lbs. 2015 Round 23, Dodgers Duke Andrew Istler was involved in the trade that sent right-hander Ryan Madson to the Dodgers. He pitched 29 games for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League. In his last 10 games, Istler went 2-1 with a...

The Nationals knew they couldn't stick with a six-man bullpen for long. They just needed to figure out how to clear a roster spot to address that need. They found a way today, trading outfielder Brian Goodwin to the Royals for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, then recalling left-hander Sammy Solís from Triple-A Syracuse to give themselves a full relief corps again. Goodwin, a member of the Nationals since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011 and a key member of last season's...