Patrick Reddington: Nats' advice shaped Walters

Patrick Reddington: Nats' advice shaped Walters
Zach Walters was 166 games into his professional career after Arizona drafted him in the ninth round of the 2010 Draft out of the University of San Diego when the Nationals acquired him from the Diamondbacks in a July 2011 trade that sent veteran right-hander Jason Marquis to Arizona. "Zach Walters (is a) switch-hitting shortstop that we had seen as an amateur in the college ranks that we really liked," Nats general manager Mike Rizzo explained in a radio interview that summer. "He's...

Williams on Walters' "big potential" in Cleveland, Rizzo on 2011 trade that got him to Nats

Williams on Walters' "big potential" in Cleveland, Rizzo on 2011 trade that got him to Nats
The Nationals decided to trade future potential for playoff experience and depth for their infield on Thursday, sending prospect Zach Walters to the Cleveland Indians for veteran infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. Manager Matt Williams said Walters thought he was in trouble when his skipper called him into the office early Thursday to deliver the news. "Shocked as anybody else would (be)," Williams said. "I said, 'No,' " when Walters suggested he might have done something wrong. "We've made...

Nats acquire infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Indians for Zach Walters (updated twice)

Nats acquire infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Indians for Zach Walters (updated twice)
The Nationals have added an infielder less than an hour before the non-waiver trade deadline. Shortstop/second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera is coming to D.C. from the Indians, a source confirms. In return, the Nats will send infielder Zach Walters to Cleveland. Update: The trade is now official. The Nats have acquired Cabrera and cash considerations from the Indians in exchange for Walters. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com was the first to report the Cabrera deal. Cabrera hasn't played second base since...

Williams on second base rotation, Zimmerman, Soriano and more

Williams on second base rotation, Zimmerman, Soriano and more
Since losing third baseman/outfielder Ryan Zimmerman last Tuesday to a hamstring injury, Nationals manager Matt Williams has started Danny Espinosa, Zach Walters and Kevin Frandsen at second base. Espinosa has started three of the five games despite sporting a .214 average this season. He will also start tonight's series opener in Miami after picking up one hit in Sunday's win over the Reds. "I just like the way Danny played yesterday," Williams told reporters in Miami. "He hit three...

With right-handers on the schedule, it's time to play Walters

With right-handers on the schedule, it's time to play Walters
With more indications that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will be out for most of the rest of the summer, the Nationals have a few days until the trade deadline to make a decision. Should they go out and add a bat or stand pat? Should it be an infielder with experience or another solid bench bat? Could they possibly, as Ray Knight told us on "Nats Xtra" the other night, consider a blockbuster deal to acquire Chase Utley from the Phillies? Did you see all the scouts at the Phillies game Saturday...

Williams on Zimmerman's status, Walters at second

Williams on Zimmerman's status, Walters at second
The Nationals get back to work after the off-day, starting a brutal stretch where they play 17 straight days and 33 of 34. And they'll have to go through at least a good chunk of that without third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury on Wednesday. Manager Matt Williams had nothing new about the timetable for Zimmerman's return before Friday's series opener at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. "It's really early. His plan right now is...

Walters gets first career start at second base

Walters gets first career start at second base
CINCINNATI - On Wednesday, in his first at-bat back in the big leagues after taking the roster spot of the injured Ryan Zimmerman, Zach Walters dropped a pinch-hit single into center, extending the ninth inning and nearly leading to a Nationals comeback from a four-run deficit. Today, Walters is in the Nats' starting lineup, getting his first career big league start at second base. This is Walters' fourth career start overall, and they've come at four different positions - shortstop, third...

Williams on ramifications of placing Zimmerman on DL

Williams on ramifications of placing Zimmerman on DL
With the Nationals placing Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list for the second time this season, the team is all of a sudden no longer at full strength. The Nats lose one of their hottest bats with the third baseman being shelved for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury. Infielder Zach Walters was brought up from Triple-A Syracuse to take the open spot on the 25-man roster. Before today's game at Coors Field, manager Matt Williams addressed the loss of Zimmerman, how it affects the club...

Nats place Zimmerman on DL, call up Walters (plus lineups)

Nats place Zimmerman on DL, call up Walters (plus lineups)
Ryan Zimmerman appears to be headed back to the disabled list, as he isn't listed on the lineup card today while minor league infielder Zach Walters is among the reserves. Zimmerman suffered a hamstring injury last night when running out an infield grounder in the sixth inning. So it looks like the 44 games he already missed this year because of a fractured thumb won't mark his only time on the DL. Zimmerman returned from the thumb injury on June 3 and has heated up of late, batting...

Hood has shown power potential during latest surge at Triple-A Syracuse

Hood has shown power potential during latest surge at Triple-A Syracuse
The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs have won seven of their last eight games as Destin Hood and Steven Souza, Jr., heat up. It is great to see Hood excelling. Hood has been through some slumps and injuries, but has steadily made the climb within the Nationals organization. Now he is rolling. In his last 10 games, Hood has gone 17-for-40 (.425), with four doubles, two walks, three homers and four RBIs. In his first 26 games at the Triple-A level, Hood is batting .347 with a .949 OPS. In the Chiefs...

LaRoche returns from DL, Walters optioned (plus lineups)

LaRoche returns from DL, Walters optioned (plus lineups)
Adam LaRoche is back from the left quad injury that landed him on the 15-day disabled list, and he'll go right into the Nationals lineup in his customary spots at first base and fourth in the batting order. For a team that's dropped a season-high four straight games, an infusion of offense is a welcome development. To make room for LaRoche on the 25-man roster, infielder Zach Walters was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. The Nats will keep both Tyler Moore and Greg Dobbs, deciding their bench...

Espinosa and Moore sit, Walters and Dobbs start

Espinosa and Moore sit, Walters and Dobbs start
PITTSBURGH - Matt Williams is shaking up his lineup a bit a day after the Nationals put up just one run in a 3-1 loss to the Pirates. Danny Espinosa and Tyler Moore are out of the starting lineup tonight, with Zach Walters getting the start at third base and Greg Dobbs in there at first. Jordan Zimmermann will toe the rubber for the Nats, opposed by righty Charlie Morton. For the Nats CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond 1B Greg Dobbs 3B Zach...

Williams, Tarasco on Nats giving Walters first career start in outfield

Williams, Tarasco on Nats giving Walters first career start in outfield
In a perfect world, the Nationals would have Bryce Harper in left and Adam LaRoche at first tonight in Oakland. Instead, Zach Walters gets his first start of the season at a position he has never played in the major leagues, and only once patrolled in 465 minor league contests. Walters will man left field for the Nats tonight rather than shortstop or third base, where he has played exclusively in the majors over the last two seasons. "We just have a need, especially against Sonny (Gray) with...

LaRoche sits, Walters makes first start in outfield at A's

LaRoche sits, Walters makes first start in outfield at A's
OAKLAND - Adam LaRoche will get to rest his injured quad entirely tonight, as manager Matt Williams has given the veteran first baseman the night off one game after putting him at designated hitter. Williams had said he expected LaRoche to be at first for tonight's game with Athletics ace Sonny Gray on the mound. The Nationals manager is likely to share why LaRoche is out of the lineup during his pregame meeting with the media. With LaRoche out, Kevin Frandsen starts at first for the second...

Walters delivers game's biggest hit against familiar foe

Walters delivers game's biggest hit against familiar foe
Baseball is a small world. With apologies to Kevin Bacon, call it six degrees of separation on the diamond. Nationals pinch-hitter Zach Walters crushed a slider off of Marlins reliever Mike Dunn to give the Nats their first lead of Wednesday's game. The Nationals end up winning 6-3 after trailing 3-0. Dunn and Walters attended the same high school, Cimarron Memorial High School in Las Vegas. "All I got to say is I won't be invited to the Christmas party this year," Walters told MASN's Dan...

Walters, Werth and Roark discuss Nats' win over Marlins

Walters, Werth and Roark discuss Nats' win over Marlins
Jayson Werth and Zach Walters had as big a hand as anyone in the Nats' 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Marlins on Wednesday. Werth tied it with a three-run homer in the sixth and Walters gave the Nats a 4-3 lead with a homer in the eighth. Right-hander Tanner Roark also contributed, giving up three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. All three talked about the win in the visiting clubhouse at Marlins Park. Walters on his approach to the at-bat where he homered: "Trying to get on base, first of...

Williams on comebacks: "It's a good thing. Not ideal, but good"

Williams on comebacks: "It's a good thing. Not ideal, but good"
The Nationals are now up to five comeback wins in 15 games, meaning more than half of their victories have come when the opponent scores first. The jury's out on whether that's the best way to build a winning record, but so far, it has the Nats coming home from a six-game road trip with a 9-6 mark. What exactly does it say about the Nats that they keep getting up after being knocked down? "Just that they fight. It's good that they fight," manager Matt Williams said after his team's 6-3...

During a game to forget, Souza, Walters have moments to remember (plus Span note)

During a game to forget, Souza, Walters have moments to remember (plus Span note)
MIAMI - OK, so last night's 11-2 loss wasn't exactly the most enjoyable three hours for Nationals fans, players or coaches, but there were two moments last night that brought a smile to my face sitting next to the Nats' dugout. In the sixth inning, with the Nats down 11 runs, Steven Souza Jr. came into the ballgame, replacing Jayson Werth in right. Two innings later, Souza stepped into the batter's box at Marlins Park, took a first-pitch slider for ball one, and then scorched a 92 mph...

Zimmerman hits DL, Walters recalled from Triple-A (plus updated Nats lineup)

Zimmerman hits DL, Walters recalled from Triple-A (plus updated Nats lineup)
ATLANTA - Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Nationals this morning with a broken right thumb and is expected to be out for four to six weeks. While the Nats will miss their slugging third baseman, they'll at least get right fielder Jayson Werth back in the starting lineup this afternoon for the 1:35 p.m. series finale against the Braves. Werth tweaked his groin in Friday's loss to the Braves, and was out of yesterday's starting lineup, though he pinch-hit. To take...

Walters, Ohlendorf, Garcia among latest Nats cuts (updated)

Walters, Ohlendorf, Garcia among latest Nats cuts (updated)
VIERA, Fla. - Despite putting together a strong spring, infielder Zach Walters was sent to minor league camp this morning. The move is not official yet, but once it is formally announced, Walters will be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Walters hit .379 (11-for-29) in 15 Grapefruit League games this spring, with one homer, a triple, two doubles and five RBIs. He drew four walks and struck out eight times. It was an impressive offensive showing from the 24-year-old, but with a handful of...