Potomac's Hague done for season, shoulder surgery today

Potomac's Hague done for season, shoulder surgery today
Single-A Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague is done for the season with a shoulder injury suffered in early April. Hague has been attempting to rehabilitate the shoulder for two months in extended spring training. Hague told Will Flemming on P-Nats' radio that the shoulder "keeps popping out," so he will have surgery today. The former Rice University standout played two seasons alongside Nationals first-round selection Anthony Rendon. Hague batted .357 in four games, going 5-for-14...

Selik determined to succeed at Single-A Potomac

Selik determined to succeed at Single-A Potomac
Single-A Potomac Nationals right-handed starter Cameron Selik has already been through a lot in his career, and he is only a 23-year-old. He underwent Tommy John surgery before he earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas. So, you can see how Selik has already had his resiliency tested, and has shown how determined he is to keep pushing towards his goal. Selik started the year at low Single-A Hagerstown and rolled through the South Atlantic League. He went 3-0 in five starts with a...

Destin Hood "excited" to gain Batter of Week honor in Carolina League

Destin Hood "excited" to gain Batter of Week honor in Carolina League
The Potomac Nationals' offense is starting to get on a roll, and evidence of that came down this week with outfielder Destin Hood being honored as Batter of the Week in the Single-A Carolina League for the period of May 16-22. In the last seven games, Hood hit .448 (13-for-29) with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, triple, home run) and 10 RBI. Hood connected on five straight multi-hit games and in three of the games, he had at least three hits. During the stretch, Hood had an amazing...

Solis one start away from leaving Florida

Solis one start away from leaving Florida
Nationals left-handed pitching prospect Sammy Solis has fully recovered from a couple of injuries and is ready for what is expected to be his final start in extended spring training in Florida. Solis first injured his quadriceps running late in spring training. Then, he suffered a groin strain that the team's medical staff originally thought might have been a hernia. "It turned out it was not a hernia, so everything is fine," Solis said. If the 6-foot-5, 230-lb., University of San...

P-Nats righty Demny gets paid back with first win

P-Nats righty Demny gets paid back with first win
Advanced Single-A Potomac Nationals righthander Paul Demny finally got credit for his outstanding pitching in a game where he gave up four runs. But a win is a win, and his resume from the first seven weeks has been an impressive one. The East Bernard, Texas, native went six innings and allowed four runs on two homers with six strikeouts and two walks in a 10-4 victory at Winston-Salem. The 21-year-old, a 2008 sixth-round selection out of Blinn Junior College, saw his ERA climb to only 2.94...

Nationals pitching prospect update, including Dominican Estevez

Nationals pitching prospect update, including Dominican Estevez
Here is a good rundown of some of the pitchers in the Nationals system to get your week off to good start. I had a chance to catch up with Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams, who is (always!) on the road checking in with and checking out Nationals prospects and just got back from Florida, Single-A Potomac and the Dominican Republic. Williams had an update on several pitchers, including right-hander Wirkin Estevez, the Pitcher of the Year in the Dominican Republic last season. A...

Meyers rewarded with Triple-A promotion, plus other farm notes

Meyers rewarded with Triple-A promotion, plus other farm notes
The Washington Nationals continue to reward their outstanding young pitchers in the farm system. Yesterday, Cameron Selik was promoted to the advanced Single-A Potomac Nationals after an outstanding first month with low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. On Thursday, righthander Brad Meyers got the call to head to Triple-A Syracuse from Double-A Harrisburg. The club really loves Selik's competitiveness on the mound and his overall command of all four pitches. His first start for Potomac will be Friday...

Selik's dominance earns promotion to Potomac

Selik's dominance earns promotion to Potomac
The Washington Nationals have announced that right-handed starter Cameron Selik has been promoted to Single-A Potomac after an almost perfect month of April on the mound for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Selik is 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA in five starts. He allowed his first run of the season in his last start Saturday at the Rome Braves, which snapped an astounding 37.0 consecutive scoreless innings streak that dated back to 2010. Selik's 0.31 ERA is not only the best earned run average in the...

Prospect Perez set to return to Potomac lineup

Prospect Perez set to return to Potomac lineup
Single-A Potomac Nationals center fielder Eury Perez will return to the lineup Wednesday against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans after being placed on the disabled list with a rib injury. Perez played in only nine games this season before getting hurt. He is batting .222 with seven stolen bases in 36 at-bats. In his last game April 18, at Frederick, Perez went 3-for-4. He does a good job of patrolling center field and utilizes his quickness on the base paths. "Eury brings speed to the table,"...

Bloxom to Potomac; King to Harrisburg

Bloxom to Potomac; King to Harrisburg
Single-A Potomac Nationals first baseman Justin Bloxom has been activated today and will start tonight in Woodbridge. Bloxom has been out since the beginning of the season with knee weakness related to a previous surgery. The 6-foot-1, 205 lb. first baseman hit .309 with 11 homers and 70 RBI in 2010 with the Hagerstown Suns. His season was cut short last year due to the knee injury. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals announced that infielder Stephen King has been promoted from Potomac to...

Cancer scare behind him, Tyler Moore wielding big bat for Harrisburg

Cancer scare behind him, Tyler Moore wielding big bat for Harrisburg
Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore feels very fortunate to be back and healthy on the diamond this season. The Carolina League Player of the Year put together the most memorable season of his career in 2010, slugging 31 homers and 110 RBIs as the Single-A Potomac Nationals won the Mills Cup championship. But despite all the success on the field and at the plate last season, Moore was in pain. Before and after games his right leg would be sore. He would wake up early with...

Prospect Souza grateful for second chance, taking full advantage

Prospect Souza grateful for second chance, taking full advantage
Single-A Potomac Nationals third baseman Steven Souza feels like he has a new lease on his baseball life and he is taking full advantage of it. In July 2010, Souza made a mistake. Souza was feeling tired and worn down after a long road trip, so he took a pill to get himself up for an early doubleheader. That day he was tested for performance-enhancing drugs. Souza tested positive, and subsequent suspension ended his season with Double-A Hagerstown. Also implicated was teammate J.R....

Injury updates on Hague and Norris

Injury updates on Hague and Norris
A quick update on Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague, who was injured last week sliding into second base. Hague suffered a slight labrum tear in his right shoulder and had been placed on the seven-day disabled list. A team official expects it to be a 10-day recovery period for Hague. After recovery, he would most likely head to Florida to get some at-bats at the minor league camp before returning to Potomac, but nothing is imminent for Hague at this time. Harrisburg Senators catcher...

Potomac will move next series with Keys to Frederick

Potomac will move next series with Keys to Frederick
The Potomac Nationals will have to move their next home series to Frederick because of inadequate and unsafe field conditions at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Minor league baseball officials inspected the field Friday and deemed it unplayable. In the offseason, a new drainage system was installed in the outfield, and grass has not completely grown around the area where the drainage system was placed. The P-Nats' first game in Frederick will be Monday and they will be the visiting team....

Shoulder problem sends P-Nats' Hague to disabled list

Shoulder problem sends P-Nats' Hague to disabled list
The Potomac Nationals have placed shortstop Rick Hague on the seven-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury. Hague injured his shoulder Wednesday night making a headfirst slide into second base. An MRI on Thursday came back negative. Jose Lozada has been promoted from Single-A Hagerstown to take Hague's place on the P-Nats' roster.

Hague injured during P-Nats game

Hague injured during P-Nats game
Single-A Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague suffered a right shoulder injury Wednesday night against the Winston-Salem Dash. Hague hurt his shoulder on a headfirst slide into second base. No details as to the extent of the injury, but as soon as I know, I will pass along to you. Hague is batting .357 in four games with one homer and four RBIs. The P-Nats split their doubleheader with the Dash and their record now stands at 2-3.

Prospect Hague shortens swing to success

Prospect Hague shortens swing to success
Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague crushed a 10th-inning, walk-off double to lift the P-Nats to a dramatic, 7-6 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats Sunday. It marked the first win of the season for the defending Mills Cup champions and involved big plays from Eury Perez, Destin Hood, Cutter Dykstra Stephen King, Brian Peacock, Jeff Kobernus and Steven Souza. The Rice University product from Spring, Texas, says the work the team did in Florida is showing off even this early in the...

Potomac Nationals reveal 2011 roster

Potomac Nationals reveal 2011 roster
The defending Single-A Carolina League champion Potomac Nationals announced their 2011 roster today. A lot of people within the organization have talked about how talented the roster looks to begin defense of the Mills Cup, with players like Rick Hague, Destin Hood, Sandy Leon, Trevor Holder and Danny Rosenbaum. Pat Lehman is a George Washington product. Also of interest is Lenny Dysktra's son, Cutter Dykstra, who is one of the six infielders on the 25-man roster. Here is the...

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game? Visit Rome

Want to see Bryce Harper's first game?  Visit Rome
It is never too early to plan ahead if you are hoping to catch a glimpse (or a game) of No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper in the Nationals system this season. Many Nationals fans are hoping to see Harper in Woodbridge, Va., which is just minutes from the Capital Beltway, if he is promoted quickly to Single-A Potomac. Most believe Harper's first taste of minor league baseball will be with Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Hagerstown, Md., is an easy drive from the D.C. area, just 71 miles from...

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac

LeCroy ready to get started in Potomac
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have a new manager in Matt LeCroy to defend their Mills Cup championship in 2011. The former major leaguer guided the Single-A Hagerstown Suns last season and is excited to head to Woodbridge with a few of the players that made a difference at his previous stop along for the ride. "We had a good year last year," LeCroy said. "Guys really progressed, actually way better than we thought. Now, they will be able to move up. It is a challenging league. It will be a...