Nats announce minor league staff, Knorr to manage Syracuse

Nats announce minor league staff, Knorr to manage Syracuse
The Nationals have announced their minor league staff for 2018, highlighted by the return of Randy Knorr to the dugout as manager of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, a post he last held in 2011. The past two seasons Knorr was the senior advisor to Mike Rizzo. Matt LeCroy remains as Double-A Harrisburg manager and Tripp Keister continues as skipper for high Single-A Potomac. Patrick Anderson holds down the fort again as manager of the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Former Syracuse manager Billy...

Luke Erickson: Are any Nats affiliates playoff bound?

Luke Erickson: Are any Nats affiliates playoff bound?
If you've been following the Nationals' minors closely (*ahem*), you'd know this ranges from virtually impossible (DSL Nats, Syracuse) to almost laughable (Potomac, Harrisburg, Auburn; all in last place by several games). Two of the affiliates, however, are in contention. If you're one to bring the tartar sauce while going after your white whale, you might make the argument that these two teams - the Gulf Coast League Nationals and the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns - are the ideal. The...

GCL Nats throw two no-hitters in Sunday doubleheader

GCL Nats throw two no-hitters in Sunday doubleheader
Pitching a no-hitter in baseball is unique and rare. Pitching two no-hitters in back-to-back games of a doubleheader on the same day is like winning the lottery. Four pitchers for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nats pulled off the nearly impossible Sunday by doing just that: combining to throw two seven-inning no-hitters. In the opener, Joan Baez, down from high Single-A Potomac to work on some of his mechanics, twirled six no-hit innings in a 4-0 win over the GCL Marlins. He struck out...

Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon

Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon
Jayson Werth has progressed in his recovery from a badly bruised foot, heading to West Palm Beach, Fla., to work out with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League club. Werth has been out since fouling a pitch off the inside of his left foot June 3 in Oakland, unable to even put weight on the foot for several weeks. He finally was able to start baseball activities last week, playing catch and jogging before games at Nationals Park. Now he's working out at the Nationals' spring training complex, and...

Nats' entire minor league coaching staff returns for 2017

Nats' entire minor league coaching staff returns for 2017
The Nationals announced there were no major adjustments to their minor league coaching staff for 2017, with each level retaining the same coaches as they had in 2016. The exception was strength and conditioning, where a number of coaches were promoted or assigned more responsibility. Mike Warren was named strength and conditioning coach at Triple-A Syracuse. Brett Henry was promoted from Syracuse to the major league strength and conditioning staff. Tony Rogowski was promoted from Double-A...

18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn

18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn
A lot of buzz has been generated by the start for 18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles, who moved quickly from the Dominican Summer League Nats to the Gulf Coast League and is now playing for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. Robles has hit .342 in his last 10 games and is batting .363 overall in 44 minor league games. I checked in with Auburn manager Gary Cathcart on a recent road trip to spotlight the progress of Robles. Cathcart said Robles is impressing on all...

Barrett learns from his playing days, ready to teach rookies with GCL Nats

Barrett learns from his playing days, ready to teach rookies with GCL Nats
Former major league catcher Michael Barrett, who started his career with the Expos, is now back in the organization. He's beginning his new venture as manager for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals. The Atlanta native said he had thought about managing during his playing career and has kept close to the game. Recently, he has coached amateur baseball, ran a baseball school and was a volunteer assistant baseball coach at the University of North Georgia. "I always played around with the...

GCL All-Star team lists five Nationals

GCL All-Star team lists five Nationals
The Gulf Coast League announced its All-Star team Wednesday, and five Nationals were honored on the squad. The GCL Nats manager Patrick Anderson, Manager of the Year, led his team to a league-record 49 wins and the championship banner. The GCL Nats' .845 winning percentage is the best domestic winning percentage by a team in minor league history. The 1992 Dominican Summer League Blue Jays East team went 68-2 (.971) but lost in the playoffs. Third baseman Drew Ward hit .292 and was in the...

Gulf Coast Nationals wrap up historic season with title

Gulf Coast Nationals wrap up historic season with title
The Gulf Coast League Nationals defeated the GCL Red Sox 7-2 today to capture the GCL championship in Fort Myers, Fla. Third baseman Drew Ward was 2-5 with a double and an RBI. Right-hander Wander Suero got the start and struck out seven batters in five innings to notch the win. The GCL Nats had the best regular season record in Gulf Coast League history, going 49-9 for a .845 winning percentage. It was also the best winning percentage for any rookie league team dating back to the 1979...