Solis says newest Nats prospect Walters is "textbook player"

Solis says newest Nats prospect Walters is "textbook player"
The Nationals acquired minor league shortstop Sammy Solis lived in the same dormitory as a freshman with Walters at the University of San Diego, and they spent three seasons as teammates on the Toreros. "Walters is a textbook player," Solis said. "He has got the build, the arm, the speed and the plate presence. Once he gains experience and is able to put it all together, he will be a big leaguer. It would be hard to find someone with better tools than him." The 6-foot-2, 195-lb.,...

Destin Hood's overall game lifting P-Nats during second-half run

Destin Hood's overall game lifting P-Nats during second-half run
Single-A Potomac Nationals left fielder Destin Hood has played well both offensively and defensively so far this season. His name is always mentioned when the conversation turns to the top prospects in the organization, and for good reason. Hood combines top speed and excellent hands with good contact at the plate. The P-Nats have started the second half with a nice run as they look to defend their Mills Cup title in September, and Hood has been a major part of that surge. Hood has made good...

Lefty Bronson will go tonight for Harrisburg following rain out

Lefty Bronson will go tonight for Harrisburg following rain out
The Washington Nationals have announced that left-hander Evan Bronson has been called up to make his Double-A debut for Harrisburg in tonight's Game Two of a doubleheader at Richmond. The game will be the back end of a pair of seven-inning affairs. Saturday night's Game Two was rained out so Shairon Martis will pitch tonight's first contest, followed by Bronson's debut. Bronson has worked between a starting role and the bullpen all season for Single-A Potomac. He has seven starts this...

Aggression on the hill biggest difference for Smoker this season

Aggression on the hill biggest difference for Smoker this season
Left-handed reliever Josh Smoker continues on a tear with the Single-A Potomac Nationals, keeping opponents off the base paths and not allowing runs. His ERA continues to dive with each successive scoreless inning, now reading 1.75 ERA. His velocity has even hit an astounding 97 mph. The Calhoun, Ga., native has allowed only one run in his past 10 appearances. But with any good relief pitcher, you also have to find your way out of jams that you are placed in and ones that you bring on...

P-Nats' Olbrychowski makes move from bullpen to starter; gains momentum

P-Nats' Olbrychowski makes move from bullpen to starter; gains momentum
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Adam Olbrychowski found himself in a jam and it was only the first inning. He could not get his first pitch over for a strike. With one out, he gave up a triple to Lynchburg shortstop Andrelton Simmons. But Olbrychowski did not panic, he settled down and got the two outs. Second inning, same trouble, the 6-foot-3 Olbrychowski left a ball up and catcher Christian Bethancourt cracked a double and then went to third on a wild pitch. This...

Hector Nelo clocked in mid-90s, leads talented Potomac bullpen

Hector Nelo clocked in mid-90s, leads talented Potomac bullpen
Nationals prospect reliever Patrick Lehman was rolling early on this season and quickly got his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg. So, as is the case all the time in minor league baseball, when a player advances, an opportunity is made available to allow another top prospect a shot to shine in the organization. With a vacancy in the closer role, the Potomac Nationals have turned to right-hander Hector Nelo, and he has delivered. In his last 10 games prior to Friday's outing, Nelo went 1-0...

Wang to now pitch Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg

Wang to now pitch Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg
Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will now make his fourth rehab start on Thursday for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, confirmed a team source. Wang was scheduled to pitch Wednesday night for the Single-A Potomac Nationals, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Woodbridge, Va. Wang has looked very good so far as he recovers from a right shoulder surgery in July 2009. Wang has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing two earned runs, two walks and...

Prospect Moore excelling at next level after historic Potomac season

Prospect Moore excelling at next level after historic Potomac season
Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore has continued his solid play all season, seeking to match his defense with the power he displayed last season on the way to the Carolina League Player of the Year honor. No one will forget his amazing run in 2010, where he ended up with 31 homers and 111 RBIs, leading the Single-A Potomac Nationals to the Mills Cup championship title. This season Moore is batting .254 with 23 doubles, four triples, 18 homers and 58 RBIs in 87 games. His...

Wang set for fourth rehab start Wednesday at Potomac

Wang set for fourth rehab start Wednesday at Potomac
Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang will make his fourth rehab start Wednesday for the Single-A Potomac Nationals against the Kinston Indians at 7:05 p.m. in Woodbridge, Va. Wang has looked very good so far as he recovers from right shoulder surgery in July 2009. Wang has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing two earned runs and two walks and striking out seven batters. He has not allowed a run in his last nine innings of work. He last pitched for the New York Yankees...

Prospect Ramirez sees bat wake up just in time for Potomac to get going

Prospect Ramirez sees bat wake up just in time for Potomac to get going
Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder J.P. Ramirez crushed his first career grand slam this week as he continues to swing a hot bat with the second half of the Carolina League season underway. You will remember this is the time of year the P-Nats got on an incredible roll last season en route to their second Mills Cup championship in three seasons. The team raced out to 7-6 start to begin the final three months of the season and Ramirez is one of the reasons for that success. The...

Solis nets victory with "awesome" debut in Potomac

Solis nets victory with "awesome" debut in Potomac
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Left-hander Sammy Solis took another step forward with a quality debut for the Single-A Potomac Nationals in a 12-3 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Pfitzner Stadium. You could hear the smack of Sandy Leon's catcher's mitt when Solis' fastball would smoke in there, and he worked the mound at an up tempo, but controlled pace. Solis went six innings, scattering seven hits, with three runs, one walk, one home run and five strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches, 57 for...

Solis promoted to Single-A Potomac, will start tonight

Solis promoted to Single-A Potomac, will start tonight
The Nationals announced that left-hander Sammy Solis has been promoted to the Single-A Potomac Nationals and will make his first Carolina League start tonight at home against Wilmington. Solis went 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA in seven starts for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns, recording a victory in his last game June 30 versus Lakewood. He also put up 40 strikeouts to 12 walks. Solis was hoping to begin his professional career with Potomac, but was slowed by a couple of injuries and had to spend more...

Wang reaches 91 mph with four scoreless innings in second rehab start

Wang reaches 91 mph with four scoreless innings in second rehab start
Nationals right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang tossed four scoreless innings for the Single-A Potomac Nationals against Wilmington in his second rehab start Saturday night in Woodbridge, Va. Wang, continuing recovery from major shoulder surgery, tossed 38 pitches with 24 for strikes. He allowed two hits, two walks, no runs and struck out two batters. According to reports from the field, all seven of his pitches in first inning were strikes. He was tested in the second frame with 17 pitches,...

P-Nats lefty Rosenbaum fine-tuning fastball to start second half

P-Nats lefty Rosenbaum fine-tuning fastball to start second half
Single-A Potomac Nationals left-handed pitcher Danny Rosenbaum concluded the first half of the season as the team leader in innings pitched (85) and continues to keep the opponents off the board with a 2.65 ERA and 62 strikeouts. But the team is working on fine-tuning his fastball as they embark on the second half of the season. Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart said the former Xavier Musketeer needs to hit his spots with his best pitch. The coaching staff would love to get the...

Harper thumb update and P-Nats notes

Harper thumb update and P-Nats notes
Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper sat out the last two games of the first half of the South Atlantic League season continuing to nurse his sore left thumb. He originally jammed the thumb during last Sunday's game and has missed four games off and on during the last week as a precautionary measure. Harper will travel to Salisbury, Md., and is expected to play in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on Tuesday. He batted .330 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 64 games for the Single-A...

Potomac's Kobernus replaces Hood as Carolina League All-Star

Potomac's Kobernus replaces Hood as Carolina League All-Star
Single-A Potomac Nationals second baseman Jeff Kobernus has been named to the 2011 Carolina league All-Star team, replacing his teamate, outfielder Destin Hood. Hood was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a knee injury. Hood has been recovering from a knee issue and needs some rest. Kobernus has gotten hot at the right time, batting .333 (37-for-111) with 18 runs and 12 steals in the last 28 games. He is batting .266 overall, with 13 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs. Kobernus leads...

Now with Harrisburg, Patrick Lehman says elbow is "good"

Now with Harrisburg, Patrick Lehman says elbow is "good"
It has been a big week for right-handed reliever Patrick Lehman. The George Washington University product went from being activated from the disabled list with the Single-A Potomac Nationals to a promotion to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators in a matter of two games. At Potomac, Lehman was an impressive 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and a team-leading seven saves. He tallied 11 strikeouts in 13 games with just three earned runs. Lehman was cruising along early for the P-Nats, acclimating himself to...

Prospect Hood's "outstanding" play garners All-Star nod

Prospect Hood's "outstanding" play garners All-Star nod
Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder Destin Hood has been named to the Carolina League All-Star team that will face the California League All-Stars on June 21 in Modesto, Calif. He is the only P-Nats player this season to garner such an honor. Hood has had a very consistent season at the plate, batting .276, including 13 hits in his last 10 games. Five times in that span, the Mobile, Ala., native, has had multi-hit games. Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris said, "For Hood to be...

Zimmerman: "I am getting used to the speed of the game again"

Zimmerman: "I am getting used to the speed of the game again"
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman went 0-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout and a throwing error for the Single-A Potomac Nationals in a 6-4 setback to the Frederick Keys before 1,479 at Pfitzner Stadium. It was Zimmerman's third rehab start in the past four days as he recovers from abdominal surgery. Zimmerman was out on a called third strike in his first at-bat against the Keys' Japanese starter Ryohei Tanaka. He also reached on a walk, flew out to right field and...

Zimmerman struck out first at-bat tonight in Potomac, P-Nats lead

Zimmerman struck out first at-bat tonight in Potomac, P-Nats lead
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, in his third game as he rehabilitates from abdominal surgery, stepped to the plate with two men on in the bottom of the first. Keys Japanese pitcher Ryohei Tanaka struck out Zimmerman looking on three pitches. Potomac scored twice in the inning on a triple by Justin Bloxom, P-Nats led 2-0. Destin Hood connected on an RBI double over the centerfielder's head, and extended the advantage to 3-0. P-Nats lead 3-0 over the Frederick Keys...