2012 Potomac Nationals roster features potential offensive stars

2012 Potomac Nationals roster features potential offensive stars
The Single-A Potomac Nationals announced their roster for the 2012 season, highlighted by the No. 6 overall selection, third baseman Anthony Rendon. "I love this group of guys," Rendon said. "You got a lot of great players here. I grew up playing with a lot of these guys and also in college. They tore us up when we played them. I just know what they can do and when they come out here it is going to be even better." In years past, the P-Nats had been heavy with pitchers, but this season...

Nationals extend agreements with four affiliates (Nats lose in 10 innings)

Nationals extend agreements with four affiliates (Nats lose in 10 innings)
TAMPA, Fla. - The Nationals announced that they have agreed on two-year extensions with four of their five affiliates - the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League, the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League, the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League and the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League. The deals will keep those four affiliates in the Nationals family through 2014. "We could not be more pleased to make this...

Nationals' Rosenbaum focusing on fastball start of camp

Nationals' Rosenbaum focusing on fastball start of camp
Single-A Potomac Nationals Player of the Year Danny Rosenbaum is getting a lot of attention as spring training moves along and with good reason. The Xavier Musketeer southpaw put up top numbers in the Nationals' system in 2011, going a combined 9-6 with a 2.52 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) and 171 1/3 innings, striking out 135 and walking 52. Rosenbaum told me in last month he wanted to come into camp slimmer and was excited to get this season started. Double-A Harrisburg Senators pitching...

Potomac Nationals officially unveil brand new diamond

Potomac Nationals officially unveil brand new diamond
For the first time since 1984, the Single-A Potomac Nationals have a new baseball field in Woodbridge, Va. It has been a struggle with bad drainage and an uneven playing field for years that some speculated contributed to the team missing out on getting to see a top prospect like Bryce Harper play at Pfitzner Stadium. Today that all changed and with it, a big step up in field conditions. The hope is this new diamond will ultimately improve the quality of play for the professional baseball...

P-Nats' Hot Stove banquet coming Jan. 29

P-Nats' Hot Stove banquet coming Jan. 29
The Potomac Nationals will hold their 17th annual Hot Stove Banquet Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Hyatt Fairfax at Fair Lakes. Newly hired manager Brian Rupp will be introduced and speak at the event. Also a keynote speaker will be announced at a later date. Last year, Nationals assistant general manager Bryan Minniti and director of player development Doug Harris spoke and went over the state of the system and looked towards the future. There could also be appearances by players either past or...

Potomac Nationals install new grass field at Pfitzner Stadium

Potomac Nationals install new grass field at Pfitzner Stadium
Early last season, the Single-A Potomac Nationals had to move some home games to Frederick, Md., and had other games postponed because their home field, Pfitzner Stadium, was deemed unplayable by minor league officials. The Nationals improved the clubhouse facilities for the home team during last season, expanding the locker room and coaches' offices, and added a new conference room behind the first base dugout. This season, improvements include a brand new grass field, installed last month,...

Hector Nelo hits 100 mph, Nationals believe he has "best arm" in system

Hector Nelo hits 100 mph, Nationals believe he has "best arm" in system
Right-hander Hector Nelo was able to display command of his mid-90s fastball and showed some positives from his other offerings in a solid first campaign with the Single-A Potomac Nationals last season. Nelo went 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 36 games in 2011, taking over the closer role when Patrick Lehman was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. Nelo had 18 saves in 41 1/3 innings, striking out 35 and allowing just 11 total earned runs. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris was...

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,...

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...

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...

Nationals' instructional prospect updates: Walters, Leon, Skole

Nationals' instructional prospect updates: Walters, Leon, Skole
The intructional league season, which continues for two more weeks at the Nationals complex in Florida, benefits players who have not had much time in the Nationals' organization, and others who are getting back from injury and need extra at-bats under the watchful eye of the coaching staff. Shortstop Zach Walters, acquired in the July trade from Arizona for Jason Marquis, started to get on a roll with the Single-A Potomac Nationals at the end of the season and that has carried over into...

Nationals' instructional league list of outfielders features first-rounder Goodwin

Nationals' instructional league list of outfielders features first-rounder Goodwin
The Nationals' instructional league conducts their first workout with a roster of 52 players today in Viera, Fla. One of the top three selections by the Nationals in the June First-Year Player Draft, Miami-Dade College speedster Brian Goodwin, heads the list of talented outfielders. Goodwin batted .382 (60-for-157) with 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 47 games with Miami Dade College in 2011. As a member of the Louisville Slugger All-Freshman team,...

Potomac's season ends in Frederick with 3-2 loss

Potomac's season ends in Frederick with 3-2 loss
The Single-A Potomac Nationals fell at Frederick 3-2 on Monday night, ending their defense of the Mills Cup.

Nationals' instructional league roster: Pitchers

Nationals' instructional league roster: Pitchers
The Nationals are preparing their prospects for the instructional league schedule, which will begin Sept. 23 at home in Viera, Fla., against Atlanta. Report date is Sept. 16 and the first workout is Sept. 17. Each day of the current road trip we will focus on the roster and today our focus is on the pitchers. Here is the list of the 24 pitchers expected on the roster: Name (Age) Position Gregori Baez (19) LHP A.J. Cole (19) RHS Paul Demny (22) RHS Brian Dupra (22) RHS Pedro...

Potomac rallies to extend series; Harrisburg eliminated

Potomac rallies to extend series; Harrisburg eliminated
The Single-A Potomac Nationals scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth frame to topple Frederick 6-1 in a must win Game 4 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. The deciding game five at 7 p.m. Monday night in Frederick. Zach Walters, Destin Hood and Jose Lozada each had a pair of RBIs for Cameron Selik, who notches the win. Richmond dropped Harrisburg 2-1 to sweep the series 3-0. The Senators' lone run came on an Erik Komatsu double and then he scored on a Stephen King base hit. ...

Frederick Sends Potomac to brink of elimination

Frederick Sends Potomac to brink of elimination
The Single-A Potomac Nationals face elimination Sunday after falling 5-1 in Game 2 of their divisional series against the Frederick Keys Saturday night in Woodbridge, Va. The P-Nats managed just three hits against the Keys with Scott Copeland getting stronger as the game went on. Copeland retired 11 of the final 12 hitters he faced. Destin Hood crushed a solo home run for the P-Nats' lone tally. The Keys lead the best-of-five series two games to one. Evan Bronson lasted 4 2/3 innings,...

Potomac goes for series lead at home tonight against Frederick

Potomac goes for series lead at home tonight against Frederick
The Single-A Potomac Nationals shutout the Frederick Keys 8-0 to even their best-of-five series at one. Brian Peacock and Francisco Soriano smacked home runs while Eury Perez went 3-for-4 with a double and four runs scored. Left-hander Sammy Solis went 4 2/3 innings, scattering five hits, allowing no runs with one walk and seven strikeouts. Neil Holland, Joe Testa and Cameron Selik shut down the Keys from that point to preserve the win. Game Three tonight a Pfitzner Stadium features Evan...

Flooding forces Double-A Senators to move playoff series to Richmond

Flooding forces Double-A Senators to move playoff series to Richmond
Rain impacted the Nationals' schedule this week, but it has also affected two minor league playoff series for two Nats' affiliates - Single-A Potomac of the Carolina League and Double-A Harrisburg in the Eastern League. The worst has been in the Harrisburg, Pa., area where City Island and Metro Bank Park are completely flooded and

Potomac looks to even series in Frederick tonight

Potomac looks to even series in Frederick tonight
The Potomac Nationals fell, 5-1 in Game 1 of their divisional series with the Frederick Keys. Steven Souza smacked a solo homer for the only offense for the P-Nats. Paul Demny did well in the first two innings but the Keys managed a three-run shot by Miguel Abreu to take the lead for good. The game was shortened to six innings due to the torrential rains. Game 2 is tonight at Harry Grove stadium with Sammy Solis getting the call to even the series against Rick Zagone at 7:05 p.m. I am...

Potomac's Demny primed for Game 1 tonight at Frederick

Potomac's Demny primed for Game 1 tonight at Frederick
The Single-A Potomac Nationals begin defense of their Mills Cup tonight at Harry Grove stadium in Game 1 of their divisional series against the Frederick Keys. Right-hander Paul Demny gets the call for Matt Lecroy, opposed by the Keys' Jake Pettit. Demny was 10-10 with a 4.32 ERA. Left-hander Petit was 7-0 with a 1.62 ERA. Demny comes into game one on a roll, 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts, allowing just six runs in the last 27 innings. One of the hottest hitters for the...