Ross wins second in a row for Syracuse; Skole leaves game

Ross wins second in a row for Syracuse; Skole leaves game
A positive start for Joe Ross on Wednesday night for Triple-A Syracuse. Ross pitched seven innings and allowed one run, scattering eight hits. He walked one and struck out six for his second win in a row, a 7-5 victory at Buffalo. He threw 99 pitches, 64 for strikes. He is now 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA. After Dustin Antolin struggled, Joe Nathan notched two outs for his fourth save of the season. Those on the ground report that Ross was pretty consistent throughout. He consistently hit 91-93...
    

Update on Matt Skole and the importance of winter league baseball

Update on Matt Skole and the importance of winter league baseball
It turned into a pretty big year for Matt Skole, as he put together consistency with Triple-A Syracuse to the tune of 140 games, 24 homers and 78 RBIs. Skole, 27, was rewarded by his promotion to the Nationals' 40-man roster for the first time in his career. Skole wrapped up his season by playing for over a month in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. In the second part of our look at the winter leagues, we focus on Skole. We also take a look at why winter leagues are so important to the...
    

How do Nats prospects end up playing in winter leagues?

How do Nats prospects end up playing in winter leagues?
Each offseason, a handful of Nationals prospects get the opportunity to work on their skills and gain valuable playing time experience in winter league competition in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Do the Nationals just send whichever players they want to these teams? Or does the player decide when and where he plays? There is a winter league agreement that's the governing document between Major League Baseball and the winter leagues that mandates how many of these...
    

Voth, Bautista among five players added to Nats' 40-man roster

Voth, Bautista among five players added to Nats' 40-man roster
The Nationals added five players to their 40-man roster this afternoon, in the process protecting outfielder Rafael Bautista, first baseman Jose Marmolejos, catcher Raudy Read, infielder Matt Skole and right-hander Austin Voth from being scooped up by another organization in next month's Rule 5 draft. The additions, which were required to be made before a 5 p.m. EST deadline, leave the Nationals with 36 players officially on their 40-man roster for the moment. (That number will rise to 37 once...
    

Where the Nats' 40-man roster stands on decision day

Where the Nats' 40-man roster stands on decision day
There's a deadline this afternoon around baseball. It's not one of the major deadlines, like the trade deadline or the qualifying offer deadline. But it's nonetheless a potentially significant one when it comes to organizations keeping their best prospects from getting swooped up by another club. By 5 p.m. EST, all teams must add any players they wish to protect from being selected in the Rule 5 draft to their 40-man roster. What does that mean? A quick primer for those who aren't familiar...
    

Matt Skole earns minor league Gold Glove

Matt Skole earns minor league Gold Glove
The Nationals announced that Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Matt Skole has been named a minor league Gold Glove winner for 2016. Skole recorded just one error in 874 chances for a .999 fielding percentage. The 27-year-old Skole, a 2011 fifth-round selection out of Georgia Tech, has worked his way up the organizational ladder after hitting a road block in 2013. On a freak play at first base, Skole injured his elbow and had to undergo Tommy John and missed the entire season. Skole, a...
    

Three minor leaguers added to Nats' 40-man roster

Three minor leaguers added to Nats' 40-man roster
The Nationals have selected the contracts of catcher Spencer Kieboom, infielder Chris Bostick and left-hander Nick Lee, adding the trio of prospects to the 40-man roster. By adding the trio to the 40-man, the Nationals will protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 draft, which will be the final order of business at the Winter Meetings in Nashville on Dec. 10. The deadline for setting the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft is tomorrow. Kieboom, 24, was a fifth-round selection in the...
    

Skole, Voth, Marmolejos and others headline minor league update

Skole, Voth, Marmolejos and others headline minor league update
We've seen more power from Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Matt Skole. The 26-year-old Skole hit two homers, with four RBIs, in a Syracuse 7-1 dispatch of Buffalo. The Chiefs hit three homers off of Bison starter Todd Redmond. They blew it open in the seventh. Up 2-0, Skole launched a solo homer. Kevin Keyes then cranked one over the fence in left field to make it 4-0. Caleb Ramsey added a triple. Later, Steve Lerud dropped in a double and Syracuse was up 5-0. Syracuse pounded out 15...
    

Werth singles in rehab start; Ross solid in Syracuse outing

Werth singles in rehab start; Ross solid in Syracuse outing
Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth (left wrist) completed a rehab game last night in high Single-A Potomac's 1-0 loss to Myrtle Beach. Werth went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout. He also had to go after a double by Pelicans center fielder Trey Martin in the third inning. Werth played three innings and reportedly everything went well. Manager Matt Williams told "The Junkies" on 106.7 The Fan that Werth would be the designated hitter tonight for five innings, and he expects Werth to...
    

Harrisburg's first-half offense highlighted by Turner, Skole, Renda, Lozada and Ramsey

Harrisburg's first-half offense highlighted by Turner, Skole, Renda, Lozada and Ramsey
Triple-A Syracuse shortstop Trea Turner has recorded at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. In the last 10 games, Turner is hitting .417 (15-for-36) with four multi-hit games. He has had two games in that span with at least three hits. On the season, between three teams, Turner is batting .318 with 17 doubles, six triples, seven homers and 45 RBIs in 84 games. Turner hit .359 in 10 games with Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Looking at first half power numbers offensively for the Senators,...
    

Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg

Denard Span looked close to returning after seven innings for Harrisburg
Nationals center fielder Denard Span, who is on the disabled list recovering from right core muscle surgery, went 1-for-4 and played seven innings in a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg. The Senators went on to win 8-4 over Bowie at Metro Bank Park. Span was the leadoff hitter and played center field. He cranked a single in his fourth at-bat. Span also apparently did well defensively. Denard Span just ran a long way to nab a dying flyball in RCF...I'd say he's moving just fine...
    

Nats release Heath Bell, option Taylor Jordan to Syracuse among moves

Nats release Heath Bell, option Taylor Jordan to Syracuse among moves
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals announced they have optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse, reassigned infielder Matt Skole and right-hander Evan Meek to minor league camp and released right-handed reliever Heath Bell. Bell, a non-roster invitee, came to Viera hoping to find a late-inning role on a Nats staff that lost Tyler Clippard late in the offseason. He wasn't able to regain the magic that saw him appear in three All-Star Games when he was one of the game's best...
    

Williams not concerned about Strasburg, impressed by prospects

Williams not concerned about Strasburg, impressed by prospects
VIERA, Fla. - Most of the focus of spring training has surrounded the Nationals rotation, especially since the addition of Max Scherzer in January. Scherzer and Jordan Zimmermann started the Nats' first two exhibition games. On Saturday, it was Stephen Strasburg's turn. The tall righty looked strong early, as he needed just 12 pitches to retire the Cardinals in the first. But Strasburg struggled in the second surrendering two runs on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts before manager...
    

Skole, Martin, Vettleson could be of interest to teams in Rule 5 draft

Skole, Martin, Vettleson could be of interest to teams in Rule 5 draft
SAN DIEGO - The Rule 5 draft takes place at 9 a.m. Pacific time (noon Eastern time) at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and is the final official activity of this year's Winter Meetings. Unlike in past years, the Nationals won't be able to make a pick among players not included on teams' 40-man rosters. To do so, the Nats would have to have an opening on their 40-man roster, which is currently full. But the Nationals have to consider the possibility that players they chose not to add to their...
    

Time to finalize the 40-man

Time to finalize the 40-man
Over the last week, we've seen the Nationals make a couple of moves that cleared up space on the team's 40-man roster. Left-hander Matt Purke was released, and then subsequently re-signed to a minor league contract. That series of moves opened up a spot on the 40-man. On Tuesday, catcher Jhonatan Solano was also released, leaving the Nats with 38 players on their 40-man roster. And with today being the reserves deadline - the last chance for teams to add minor leaguers that are eligible for...
    

Lucas Giolito and other top prospects begin instructional league today

Lucas Giolito and other top prospects begin instructional league today
The top Nationals prospects have descended on the team's practice and training facility in Viera, Fla. Joining these prospects are the club's coaching and development staff, including Single-A Carolina League champion Potomac Nationals manager Tripp Keister, as instructional league competition commences today with the first game. The season was intended to begin Saturday, but the Nationals' first game versus Houston was rained out. The instructional league squad faces New York Mets today at...
    

Skole, Dykstra, Vettleson, Espino, Hague shine in Senators' comeback win

Skole, Dykstra, Vettleson, Espino, Hague shine in Senators' comeback win
HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Harrisburg Senators bounced back in nightcap of their Wednesday doubleheader to defeat Reading 9-6. Matt Skole got the Senators on the board in the first with a three-run homer. It was his 11th homer of the season and gave him 58 RBIs. The opposite-field shot cut Reading's lead from to 4-3. Reading held the lead into the bottom of the sixth when Harrisburg erupted for six runs to seal the win. Cutter Dykstra and pitch-hitter Drew Vettleson dropped in two-run doubles off...
    

Minor league updates: Skole, Taylor, Keyes, Solano and Fister news

Minor league updates: Skole, Taylor, Keyes, Solano and Fister news
Center fielder Michael Taylor announced his presence with a three home run game Sunday for Double-A Harrisburg against Bowie. He went 3-for-4 with three home runs and four RBIs, becoming the first Nationals organizational player to his three homers in one game since Danny Espinosa. Taylor is batting .250 with four doubles, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 22 games. He has struck out 39 times, but has walked 11 times and stolen five bases. He is hitting .351 at home and .170 on the road. Taylor is...
    

Pair of walk off winners down on the Nats farm

Pair of walk off winners down on the Nats farm
There was plenty of walk-off excitement in Woodbridge. Recently called up third baseman Khayyan Norfork scored the winning run on a Carolina double play attempt as the P-Nats downed Carolina 6-5. With the game knotted at 5-5, Norfork was hit by a pitch to start the rally. He went to second on Oscar Tejeda's groundout. Kevin Keyes was then intentionally walked by Carolina's Louis Head (0-1). Brandon Miller's hard grounder to shortstop Erik Gonzalez was thrown to second baseman Torsten Boss to...
    

Patrick Reddington: Casting a watchful eye to the farm

Patrick Reddington: Casting a watchful eye to the farm
Four of Washington's minor league affiliates started their respective 2014 campaigns Thursday night. There are interesting prospects to follow throughout the Nationals organization, so we decided to take a look at five players we'll be following closely this season on MiLB.tv or on trips to minor league parks. Matt Purke: Taken 14th overall by the Texas Rangers in 2009, Purke didn't sign, choosing instead to attend Texas Christian University where the left-hander put together an impressive...