Tim Cate "made big strides" over summer as he prepares for 2021

Tim Cate "made big strides" over summer as he prepares for 2021
Here is a quick update on left-hander Tim Cate. The 2018 second-rounder is rated as the No. 8 overall Nationals prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com. Nats pitching coordinator Brad Holman said Cate is not afraid to go after hitters and he believes this will help him as his career moves along. Cate went 7-4 with 3.31 ERA in 13 starts in 2019, striking out 66 over 73 1/3 innings. Holman liked the advancement he saw in Cate this summer at the alternate camp in Fredericksburg, Va., despite having...

Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released

Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released
The Nationals have announced the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs roster for the 2018 season. It will be the Nats' final season in Syracuse, though it is not known where their Triple-A affiliate will be located next season. Syracuse opens its season tonight at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Randy Knorr is the manager. The pitching coach is Brad Holman and the hitting coach is Brian Daubach. Top prospect Victor Robles is in the outfield. Erick Fedde and Austin L. Adams, who are on the Nats' 40-man roster, are...

Nationals finalize minor league staff for 2016

Nationals finalize minor league staff for 2016
The Nationals officially released their minor league coaching staffs and coordinators for 2016 this afternoon, with former bench coach Randy Knorr named senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo. Knorr had been the bench coach the past four seasons and is highly regarded in the organization, since he also managed in the system from 2005-2011. Remaining on staff was Brian Daubach, who moves to hitting coach at Triple-A Syracuse. He was the Double-A Harrisburg manager last season. Matt LeCroy,...

Knorr, LeCroy and Henley stay with Nationals in new roles, Daubach promoted

Knorr, LeCroy and Henley stay with Nationals in new roles, Daubach promoted
The Nationals announced Monday that three of the coaches that did not have their contracts renewed with the major league club will stay in the organization in different roles. Former bench coach Randy Knorr assumes the position of senior assistant to the general manager, player development. Knorr brings a wealth of knowledge and minor league managerial and coaching experience with the Nationals to the position, which will be critical to maintaining cohesion within the system. Knorr managed the...

An early look at how Double-A Harrisburg's lineup shakes out

An early look at how Double-A Harrisburg's lineup shakes out
Harrisburg should once again have a talented crew as one would expect, considering Double-A is normally the stopping point for an organization's best prospects. It will be interesting to see what the Nationals decide for the Senators in the outfield. Center fielder Michael Taylor, the Single-A Potomac Nationals' 2013 Player of the Year, and outfielder Caleb Ramsey are good choices. Center fielder Brian Goodwin could possibly move up to a starting role with Triple-A Syracuse. Outfielder...

Catcher Chris Snyder signs minor league deal with Nats (with Daubach note, update)

Catcher Chris Snyder signs minor league deal with Nats (with Daubach note, update)
If you're a fringe major leaguer hoping to find employment for the 2014 season, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Teams are handing out minor league contracts with spring training invitations like stocking stuffers, and the Nationals made such a move today. Though it's relatively minor, it could pay significant dividends down the road. Catcher Chris Snyder signed a minor league contract with the Nationals and will get the ubiquitous invitation to major league camp. If his name...

Benincasa, Grace promotions reveal strong Nationals system

Benincasa, Grace promotions reveal strong Nationals system
A couple of more pitchers who made moves this season deserve praise as we look ahead to 2014 and setting up the organizational rosters. Robert Benincasa and Matt Grace both were promoted this season and showed promise with their efficiency and consistency. One a right-hander and the other a southpaw, both spent time under high Single-A Potomac manager Brian Daubach in 2013. Daubach said Benincasa did not miss a beat after his promotion from low Single-A Hagerstown when he arrived with the...

Mirowski adds third pitch, now preps for Arizona Fall League

Mirowski adds third pitch, now preps for Arizona Fall League
One of the under-the-radar hurlers that is making a nice move within the Nationals organization is right-handed reliever Richie Mirowski. Along with Aaron Barrett and Robert Benincasa, Mirowski is one to watch for in 2014. Mirowski went 8-3 with a 1.50 ERA in 32 games for high Single-A Potomac. In 48 innings, Mirowski had 59 strikeouts and 11 walks, yielding an amazing .180 batting average against. Potomac manager Brian Daubach said Mirowski added a third pitch that became one of his biggest...

Jordan's meteoric rise this season built off of tough rehab from Tommy John surgery

Jordan's meteoric rise this season built off of tough rehab from Tommy John surgery
Right-hander Taylor Jordan made a solid impression in his first season at the major league level after advancing two levels in 2013. Jordan recovered nicely from Tommy John surgery and got off to a good start with high Single-A Potomac. In six starts, Jordan went 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA with 29 strikeouts and six walks in 36 1/3 innings. After his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg, Jordan continued to pitch well. That is actually an understatement. He went 7-0 with an 0.83 ERA in eight starts...

A.J. Cole has tremendous return to Nationals organization, works on breaking ball

A.J. Cole has tremendous return to Nationals organization, works on breaking ball
Right-hander A.J. Cole made one of the most impressive jumps this season, moving up from high Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg. This was a far cry from his previous season with the Oakland A's organization, when he dropped down from high Single-A to low Single-A. But fortunately, in the Michael Morse triangle trade that also involved Seattle, Cole was made available to the Nationals again and general manager Mike Rizzo snatched him back. Potomac manager Brian Daubach had Cole when he...

Solis and Purke take positive steps forward as they prepare for the Arizona Fall League

Solis and Purke take positive steps forward as they prepare for the Arizona Fall League
Two of the top left-handers in the Nationals system are preparing to start play in early October in the Arizona Fall League. Sammy Solis and Matt Purke are two of the eight Nationals prospects invited to play for the Mesa Solar Sox. This season was big for both south paws as they returned to the field following injuries. Solis recovered from Tommy John surgery and Purke from shoulder rehabilitation. High Single-A Potomac manager Brian Daubach said both starters made positive steps pitching...

Nats' minor league Player of the Year, Billy Burns, gaining confidence in left-handed swing

Nats' minor league Player of the Year, Billy Burns, gaining confidence in left-handed swing
The Nationals' most improved player in the minor league system has been outfielder Billy Burns. This week, the team rewarded the organization's top base stealer with their coveted minor league Player of the Year award. Burns, 24, started the season at high Single-A Potomac and lit up the stat sheet with his quality at-bats, high batting average and ability to steal bases. Potomac manager Brian Daubach has seen how quickly Burns has grown as a player and remembers coaching him while managing...

Taylor's clutch base hit in 14th gives Potomac 2-1 win over Lynchburg

Taylor's clutch base hit in 14th gives Potomac 2-1 win over Lynchburg
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - The high Single-A Potomac Nationals edged the Lynchburg Hillcats 2-1 in 14 innings, grabbing the first game in the Carolina League Northern Division playoffs' best-of-three series. Michael Taylor's clean single to left scored the winning run from third base to give the P-Nats Game 1 of the series. The P-Nats can sweep the series with a victory Thursday night. "I was just trying to put the bat on the ball," Taylor said. "I struggled a little bit earlier in the day. I was...

Selik, Fischer make season debuts for Potomac

Selik, Fischer make season debuts for Potomac
It wasn't only Sammy Solis who was making his season debut Tuesday for high Single-A Potomac. Right-handers Cameron Selik and David Fischer also pitched for the P-Nats for the first time in 2013. Selik had a good amount of experience with the P-Nats and has been out since a lat injury slowed his play. Selik had 40 games of experience with the P-Nats over the past two seasons, and got into one game with Double-A Harrisburg last season. He had eight saves with 2-1 record and a 3.68 ERA with the...

Potomac's Solis "excited to be back out there" in first game since Tommy John (updated)

Potomac's Solis "excited to be back out there" in first game since Tommy John (updated)
FREDERICK, Md. - Left-hander Sammy Solis got his work in and did well. It had to feel pretty good after almost two seasons of waiting. It was his first game since 2011, having recovered from March 2012 Tommy John surgery, and Solis pitched into the third inning of high Single-A Potomac's game at Frederick. He finished with two innings, three hits, two runs, one earned, one walk and one strikeout. Solis, who did not factor in the decision, was able to exhale after the game and said it was...

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...

Keister takes positive attitude to Hagerstown

Keister takes positive attitude to Hagerstown
It was about one year ago that Tripp Keister was making the jump from collegiate coach at Wesley College to his job as manager for the Gulf Coast League Nationals. Now he has been promoted to manage the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Keister believes his purpose and job description really hasn't changed despite the classification jump. "I look forward to being at (Hagerstown)," Keister said this week. "I recognize as a player development staff member your job is still the same: Get these...

Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013

Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013
The Nationals will announce their 2013 minor league coaching staff and coordinators later today. A club source told MASNsports.com that the biggest changes are two managerial promotions at the Single-A level. Brian Daubach moves from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac as manager, while Tripp Keister steps up from the Gulf Coast League Nationals to manage the Suns. Hitting coach Mark Harris has been promoted from Hagerstown to Potomac. Former Potomac manager Brian Rupp moves to...

Souza excels in full season, ready to make noise at instructional league

Souza excels in full season, ready to make noise at instructional league
Right-hand hitting outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., took a big step forward in 2012, putting together a full season that displayed his power and skill on the baseball diamond. With a .290 average, 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 70 games at low Single-A Hagerstown, Souza earned a promotion back to high Single-A Potomac and kept on going. He finished the year with a combined .297 average in 97 games, with 23 homers, 85 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Although Souza missed some time with various injuries to...

Daubach: Instructional league focused on fundamentals during first workouts

Daubach: Instructional league focused on fundamentals during first workouts
Instructional league workouts have begun for close to four dozen prospects in the Nationals organization. Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Brian Daubach is one of the 20 or so coaches that are working to get the players ready for their first game September 22. Daubach said instructional league workouts in Viera, Fla., are organized very similar to the way spring training is set up, with a lot of hands-on specialized teaching going on in each area. "We are working on a lot of the fundamental...