Smashing home run a good way for Keyes to start run with P-Nats

Smashing home run a good way for Keyes to start run with P-Nats
It has not been the fastest start for Potomac Nationals first baseman Kevin Keyes. But Wednesday's home run at Carolina may change that. His first home run of the season, and 42nd of his minor league career, was a mammoth blast at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. that smashed a light bulb on the outfield light tower. Here is the description from Potomac Nationals Web site: "Keyes' majestic, Ruthian blast was a high-arching drive that collided with a band of bulbs on the left field...

Martinson earns Carolina League Player of the Week honors

Martinson earns Carolina League Player of the Week honors
Many around minor league baseball, and scouts I talk to, believe high Single-A Potomac Nationals shortstop Jason Martinson deserves to be playing in Double-A. This week he demonstrated he certainly deserves attention for his play at Potomac, earning Carolina League Player of the Week honors. Martinson started the season hitting .303 (10-for-33), with a .429 on-base percentage and a .788 slugging percentage through nine games. The 24-year-old Texas State product had a pair of doubles, one...

Another artist rendering of future Potomac Nationals stadium

Another artist rendering of future Potomac Nationals stadium
The high Single-A Potomac Nationals conducted their 18th annual Hot Stove Banquet on Sunday night. At the banquet, P-Nats owner and chairman/CEO Art Silber unveiled more details regarding the new stadium to be built for the team in Prince William County at the Potomac Town Center. The artist's rendering showed the classic aerial view of the stadium from right field and several shots of the concourse area that include the exclusive club and suites levels, a wraparound party deck with views of...

Daubach on the Dominican and updates Perez, Skole and Burns

Daubach on the Dominican and updates Perez, Skole and Burns
High Single-A Potomac Nationals manager Brian Daubach recently completed winter ball as the hitting coach for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic. Daubach worked with 30 hitters from several teams, including Nationals outfielder Eury Perez. Daubach said their is nothing like baseball in the Dominican. He said the way the fans get into the games, being right on top of the action, reacting to every pitch and every swing, makes it feel like every game is a must-win. "It is pretty...

Remembering Gail Harris

Remembering Gail Harris
The Nationals family lost a cherished former major league player and valued mentor this week. Boyd Gail Harris Jr., a left-handed hitting first baseman with the New York Giants and the Detroit Tigers from 1955-60, and father of Hagerstown Suns hitting coach Mark Harris, passed away in Gainesville, Va., on Nov. 14. He was 81. Gail Harris played in 437 games for the Giants and Tigers, hitting .240 with 38 doubles, 15 triples, 51 homers and 190 RBIs. In 1958, at the age of 26, Harris played in...

Potomac Nationals announce plans for new stadium by 2014

Potomac Nationals announce plans for new stadium by 2014
For years, the Potomac Nationals and their fans have yearned for a stadium that matched the product on the field. That dream appears to finally be moving closer to reality. Prince William County, the Potomac Nationals, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and PTC Roadside Development LLC announced at a news conference today, that a public and private financial marriage has been put in place that would bring a 6,000-seat state-of-the-art minor league baseball stadium to Prince...

Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium sustains damage from fire, all employees accounted for

Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium sustains damage from fire, all employees accounted for
Pfitzner Stadium, home of the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, was damaged by a fire today in Woodbridge, Va. A team official, who was at the stadium when the fire broke out, said the fire originated in the front office area, which is one story above the concession stands. He said the fire began around 4:40 p.m. The fire has been extinguished. "There was a fire located on the front office level. Everyone is accounted for and has been evacuated. No one is unaccounted for," according to the...

Nationals reliever Cole Kimball to rehab in Hagerstown, DeRosa playing third for P-Nats

Nationals reliever Cole Kimball to rehab in Hagerstown, DeRosa playing third for P-Nats
A club source confirmed that Nationals right-handed reliever Cole Kimball will be reporting to low Single-A Hagerstown on Friday. Kimball had a solid outing with the Gulf Coast League Nationals, going one inning and allowing no runs, one hit and one strikeout on June 19. I visited with several Potomac Nationals today at batting practice in Woodbridge, Va. Shortstop Ricky Hague said he will play short and second with the arrival of shortstop Jason Martinson from Hagerstown. Martinson said he...

Nationals confirm trio of promotions, Perry to move to starter

Nationals confirm trio of promotions, Perry to move to starter
Nationals director of player development Doug Harris has confirmed that infielders Justin Bloxom, Zach Walters and Jason Martinson have been promoted. Bloxom and Walters are moving to Double-A Harrisburg and Martinson heads to high Single-A Potomac. Bloxom has hit .259 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs, while Walters has connected for a .269 average with five homers and 24 RBIs. Harris also announced that right-hander Ryan Perry will make the transition from reliever to starter and the Nationals...

Potomac's Freitas named starter for Carolina All-Star game

Potomac's Freitas named starter for Carolina All-Star game
Another catcher in the Nationals' system who has had an outstanding start to the season is David Freitas of the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The 23-year old Freitas leads Carolina League backstops with a .282 average and has hit nine doubles, three homers and 22 RBIs in 46 games. On Monday, Freitas was named a starter for the California-Carolina League All-Star Game, which will be played June 19 in Winston-Salem, N.C. "David continues to make strides in all parts of his game and has...

Chris Marrero to Potomac, starts at DH tonight

Chris Marrero to Potomac, starts at DH tonight
Chris Marrero, recovering from a torn hamstring, played two games with low Single-A Hagerstown this week. Now he is headed to high Single-A Potomac, according to club sources. It was the first baseman's first pro action since he tore his hamstring in winter ball. His recovery was slowed a bit this year because he also had to battle shoulder soreness, spending more time in extended spring training. The right-handed hitter finally returned to the field for two games with the Suns this week,...

Ramirez back with Potomac and hitting to all fields

Ramirez back with Potomac and hitting to all fields
Outfielder J.P. Ramirez returned to high Single-A Potomac after showing well again at low Single-A Hagerstown, where he displayed his knack for getting on base and making good contact at the plate. The 22-year old Ramirez has gone back and forth a couple of times between Hagerstown and Potomac, but that is not a signal that he is not worthy of playing at Potomac. There has been a logjam of talented players at both stops and there were not enough roster spots available on opening day. Now that...

Despite rain-shortened rehab game, Morse "felt great"

Despite rain-shortened rehab game, Morse "felt great"
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Despite a rain-shortened game, Nationals outfielder Michael Morse was able to get two plate appearances in for high Single-A Potomac Nationals in their game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Morse walked and struck out, finishing 0-for-1 in a pair of opportunities, before the rain arrived and suspended the game in the top of the fifth with two outs. Potomac was leading 3-0. Morse said he "felt great" and it was still a worthwhile...

Purke with another solid step forward in Florida

Purke with another solid step forward in Florida
One week after his last extended spring training game, left-hander Matt Purke took to the mound yesterday in Viera, Fla., for six innings and a club official said he "pitched well." Purke threw five innings last week, according to a club source, and his fastball hit 92 mph. On Thursday, Purke threw one more inning than last time and his velocity was "good," the official said. The Nats will wait a few days to decide what the next move would be. But I imagine if Purke can throw six innings,...

Former Longhorn Keyes making steady progress in Potomac

Former Longhorn Keyes making steady progress in Potomac
Potomac Nationals outfielder Kevin Keyes made a big splash as one of the top home run hitters in the system with his play in 2011, and although the competition has ramped up in high Single-A, Keyes believes he is making progress in preparing for the better pitching he sees now at this advanced level. "The Carolina League is an adjustment," Keyes said. "It is a harder league than the South Atlantic League. As a team, we are making adjustments that are making everybody better at the plate. We...

Report: Rendon's season "likely over" due to ankle injury (with Nationals' response)

Report: Rendon's season "likely over" due to ankle injury (with Nationals' response)
High Single-A Potomac Nationals third baseman

Injury-free, Oduber adjusting to new level of competition

Injury-free, Oduber adjusting to new level of competition
Right-handed hitter Randolph Oduber is making the step-by-step transition from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac and getting adjusted to his new surroundings and new teammates. Oduber said teammates Kevin Keyes, Michael Taylor and Wade Moore have developed good camaraderie working the Pfitzner Stadium outfield through the first month of the season. "It is going really good," Oduber said. "Our communication is really good right now. Every inning, we talk and every situation,...

Rizzo: prospects Purke and Ray making progress

Rizzo: prospects Purke and Ray making progress
Nationals prospect Rick Hague has returned to high Single-A Potomac after starting the season in extended spring training. Since Hague has been called up to his minor league team, the questions are now focused on the status of left-handers Matt Purke and Robbie Ray. Both hurlers have been in Florida continuing to work at the Nationals' facility. It is not known for sure what the current status is for each pitcher, or what they were focusing on in Florida, but it is clear they needed to build...

Prospect Rendon injured during Potomac's 7-2 loss at Lynchburg (updated)

Prospect Rendon injured during Potomac's 7-2 loss at Lynchburg (updated)
Anthony Rendon, the Nationals' No. 6 overall selection in June's draft, suffered an injury rounding third base in the fourth inning of high Single-A Potomac's 7-2 loss to Lynchburg at City Stadium on Saturday night. Rendon was removed from the game. According to a club source, Rendon suffered a lower leg injury. Rendon had doubled and was trying to score on a bloop single by Justin Bloxom. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time. Rendon had recovered from setbacks during his...

Winning important, even at high Single-A Potomac, as players begin new season

Winning important, even at high Single-A Potomac, as players begin new season
The minor leagues' main focus is to prepare prospects for their eventual ascension to the majors, but teaching players how to win and playing on championship teams is also important. New Potomac Nationals manager Brian Rupp said learning how to win is high on their list as minor league skippers groom prospects for their next step. "Winning is right up there," Rupp said. "It is really important. When you get to the big leagues that is all they talk about. We start it down here. We are...