Pineda gained valuable experience in Fredericksburg over summer

Pineda gained valuable experience in Fredericksburg over summer
One of the well regarded backstops in the Nationals organization is Israel Pineda, ranked No. 12 on the Nats top 30 prospects list from MLBPipeline.com. Nationals catching coordinator Michael Barrett said the 20-year-old out of Maracray, Venezuela, gained valuable experience by getting a taste of working with big leaguers at the club's alternate site over the 2020 summer season. "Pineda had an opportunity to go to Fredericksburg, which was a great experience for him," Barrett said. "He kind...

Barrett: Catchers at instructs made "incredible" progress

Barrett: Catchers at instructs made "incredible" progress
Here is an update on the catchers at instructional league. Nationals catching coordinator Michael Barrett, who caught in the major leagues for 12 seasons, coached up and worked with the young backstops as they participated in the October camp. Here is a rundown of the catchers in camp and current ages: Geraldi Diaz, 20 Mason Doolittle, 22 Brady Lindsly, 22 Ivan Murzi, 19 Wilmer Perez, 22 Israel Pineda, 20 Ray Torres, 20 Barrett was impressed with how seriously all of these catchers took the...

College coach on Torres: "One of the best we've had"

College coach on Torres: "One of the best we've had"
The Nationals went true to their nature in the First-Year Player Draft and in agreeing to deals afterward with undrafted free agents in their focus on stockpiling or restocking pitchers and catchers. The Nats drafted four pitchers in the first five rounds, including their first-round pick, right-hander Cade Cavalli, and their fifth-round selection, left-hander Mitchell Parker. Right-hander Cole Henry was taken in the second round, but is really a first-round talent. Right-handed closer Holden...

Importance of Nationals' pitcher-catcher bond begins in Rookie-level ball

Importance of Nationals' pitcher-catcher bond begins in Rookie-level ball
The Nationals work very hard on teaching their catchers how to guide each pitcher through their outing, making sure the duo remain on the same page, keeping them focused on the task at hand. This concentration on the next pitch - an ability to clear out distraction that might have been caused by the last play - is important in helping the pitcher and catcher stay on point. These two players have to work together for the team to be successful. "Another thing that our organization really...

Nationals coaches boast more than 4,600 big league games of catching experience

Nationals coaches boast more than 4,600 big league games of catching experience
It is a baseball development fact that catchers make good coaches. They are the coordinators behind the plate, they call the plays for the defense, they run the game for the pitcher. Backstops are truly the beginning and the last line of defense in every game, plus they can also contribute on offense. There's a tremendous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of a big league catcher. So from their first days in pro baseball, they must know the game inside and out. The Nationals coaching...

More notes on catchers Pineda, Pratt, Cropley and Gushue

More notes on catchers Pineda, Pratt, Cropley and Gushue
Taking a deep dive into catching prospects in the Nationals system, I reached out to catching coordinator Michael Barrett, who has been coaching for the organization since 2013 and caught in the majors for 12 seasons. Barrett told me of the sheer numbers he has to work with: The Nats had five catchers in short-season Single-A Auburn last year and as many as 17 catchers from low Single-A Hagerstown on down in the system. The highest rated of the group is Israel Pineda, at No. 14 on the current...

Read makes defensive adjustment behind plate to help pitcher

Read makes defensive adjustment behind plate to help pitcher
The Nationals have a plethora of quality catchers in their system and have made a point to stockpile the position. One of their catchers with a ton of experience is Raudy Read, who played 14 games with the Nationals between 2017 and 2019. The Nats signed the 26-year-old in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic. Even a catcher who has logged 632 minor league games - from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League to Triple-A Syracuse and Fresno - looks to improve and refine his game each season....

Reetz works on fundamentals as he moves up Nats chain

Reetz works on fundamentals as he moves up Nats chain
Nationals catcher Jakson Reetz finished off his 2019 campaign with work in the Arizona Fall League, batting .333 with a .519 slugging percentage. "It was awesome," Reetz said. "I was really happy that I got the chance to go and play. Nationals guys, I got to play with them. I got to meet a lot of other new guys. Our team was awesome. We had a lot of fun. It was definitely a great experience for me." Reetz, 23, was a third-round pick by the Nats in 2014. He played 96 games for high Single-A...

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...

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue
We have more insight from Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera on the battery of Nationals pitchers and catchers employed in the Arizona Fall League this season. Right-hander Dakota Bacus appeared in eight games and 10 1/3 innings for the Solar Sox. Although he logged a 5.23 ERA in Arizona, he had an amazing year through two levels for the Nationals. Bacus combined to go 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA with five saves between high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg over 23 games. He struck...

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,...

Reetz, 19, has "intangibles" to become one of the top catchers in Nats system

Reetz, 19, has "intangibles" to become one of the top catchers in Nats system
Catching prospect, 19-year-old Jakson Reetz, continues to gain experience at the professional level with the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays in the Nationals system. Auburn manager Gary Cathcart, who is also the Nationals coordinator of instruction, said Reetz truly is a baseball player who shows he has all the makeup to be a good one. Cathcart said Reetz just needs the repetition of game experience while playing at the top levels. Reetz, a 2014 third-round selection, has that baseball...

Reetz making big strides in less than one full year with Nationals

Reetz making big strides in less than one full year with Nationals
Nationals catching prospect Jakson Reetz is making nice gains nearing his first full year in the organization. The 6-foot-1, 195 lb. backstop from Norris, Neb., was selected in the third round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft Nationals catching coordinator Michael Barrett has seen the acceleration by the 19-year-old Reetz firsthand. Barrett said Reetz looked the part of a catcher, offensively and defensively. "I saw him in the summer last year and he did a phenomenal job," Barrett said....

Severino's advanced mechanics have allowed him to start season quickly

Severino's advanced mechanics have allowed him to start season quickly
Double-A Harrisburg catcher Pedro Severino made a big splash to begin the season by throwing out seven consecutive would-be base stealers. His range factor, which is his per game average of putouts and assists, is 9.10. After a slow start at the plate, Severino's bat has heated up. He has gone 9-for-16 (.563) with two doubles and seven RBIs. He had started the season going six games without a hit. But his arm and his defense have been the buzz to begin the season. Nationals catching...

More on Nats minor league coaching additions; P-Nats Hot Stove banquet adds Giolito

More on Nats minor league coaching additions; P-Nats Hot Stove banquet adds Giolito
Here are quotes from Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting Doug Harris on the recent additions to the minor league coaching staff: On minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart: "Menhart's really done a terrific job. He's earned his stripes at every level. He's an excellent teacher. Mechanically he does a terrific job in developing deliveries, developing specific pitches as well as the mental side of the game. We felt like he was...

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...

Redding, Barrett rejoining organization, Gardner new Triple-A Syracuse manager

Redding, Barrett rejoining organization, Gardner new Triple-A Syracuse manager
The Nationals have added former major league catcher Michael Barrett to their minor league staff and will bring in a former Double-A Manager of the Year to be the new skipper at Triple-A Syracuse, a source with knowledge of the appointments told MASNSports.com. Also, former Nationals pitcher Tim Redding is back with the organization after being named pitching coach at short-season Single-A Auburn. Billy Gardner Jr., the 2012 Southern League Manager of the Year with Montgomery of the Tampa...