Young catchers at Nats' lower levels growing up fast

Young catchers at Nats' lower levels growing up fast
Current short-season Single-A Auburn manager Patrick Anderson says the Nationals need a lot of catchers at their lower levels so they can build stamina at that spot in the lineup. Catching is a position that can administer wear and tear on bodies over the course of a season, especially for teenagers just getting their first taste of playing pro ball. "That position beats them up," Anderson said. "They are not used to 140 games at the low Single-A level. Those guys can get hurt sometimes....

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...

Spotlight on Hagerstown outfielders: Wilson, Connell and Rhinesmith

Spotlight on Hagerstown outfielders: Wilson, Connell and Rhinesmith
Jumping into the minor leagues today again and looking at some of the outfielders who played at low Single-A Hagerstown last season. Manager Patrick Anderson, now with short-season Single-A Auburn, saw some good growth and potential from his outfielders. We have already talked about all the tools Cody Wilson has shown. Wilson, 23, played 77 games for the Suns in 2019. He's still working to get better at the plate (.215), but hit nine doubles, four triples, five homers and 23 RBIs. Anderson...

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...

Mendoza enjoyed switch to first base, eager to get back to baseball

Mendoza enjoyed switch to first base, eager to get back to baseball
I got the opportunity to catch up with Nationals prospect Drew Mendoza recently to see how it has been for him since spring training was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mendoza returned to Tallahassee, Fla., to continue his workouts in hopes that the baseball season can be saved. Normally this time of year, the former Florida State star is deep into a baseball regular season, so the shutdown required him to make some adjustments in his preparation. He is ranked as the No. 11...

Hagerstown updates: Mendoza, Cronin and Cluff

Hagerstown updates: Mendoza, Cronin and Cluff
Here are some updates on a few of the 2019 draft selections getting some playing time for low Single-A Hagerstown these past few weeks: left-hander Matt Cronin, shortstop Jackson Cluff and third baseman Drew Mendoza. Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said Cronin has picked up where he left off from his college relief work, demonstrating an ability to produce copious swings and misses. LHP Matt Cronin Round 4, 2019 Arkansas 0-0, 0.82 ERA, 9 games, 23 strikeouts in 11 innings "Matt Cronin came...

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 pitching prospect spotlight: RHP Gabe Klobosits

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: RHP Gabe Klobosits
On a scheduled off-day during the Nationals' National League Division Series matchup against the Cubs in early October, a few of the Nats' young pitching prospects got to pitch batting practice at the club's top hitters. One of those prospects was right-hander Gabe Klobosits out of Auburn University. A 2017 36th-round selection, Klobosits, 22, is a big dude, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 270 lbs. In his first pro season by way of Katy, Texas, he went an impressive 1-0 with a 1.47 ERA in 20...

Single-A Hagerstown recaps: Perkins, Sharp, Noll, Kieboom, Soto

Single-A Hagerstown recaps: Perkins, Sharp, Noll, Kieboom, Soto
Center fielder Blake Perkins made nice strides in 2017. The 21-year-old hit .297 down the stretch for low Single-A Hagerstown. His slash line was .255/.354/.378. His 31 steals were sixth overall in the South Atlantic League. In 129 games, Perkins collected 27 doubles, four triples, eight homers and 48 RBIs. "Blake Perkins is a guy that sets up well for me," said Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. "He did a great job all year long. He stole a bunch of bags and really did a great job in...

Nats AFL prospect: CF Daniel Johnson

Nats AFL prospect: CF Daniel Johnson
The Nationals have another excellent crop of players playing for their Arizona Fall League affiliate for the 2017 season. I will be checking in with their progress and give you some background on a few of them throughout the offseason. CF Daniel JohnsonAge: 22 5-10, 185 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Left New Mexico State Round 5 (2016) 2017 season: HAG, POT Johnson slashed .298/.356/.505 for low Single-A Hagerstown and high Single-A Potomac in 2017. He had 29 doubles, four triples, 22 homers and 72...

Carter Kieboom on DL with hamstring injury, no time frame for return

Carter Kieboom on DL with hamstring injury, no time frame for return
Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns shortstop Carter Kieboom has been placed on the disabled list with a right hamstring injury suffered on May 12. A club source told me they are treating all symptoms at this point with Kieboom and it is too early to determine when he will return to play. The 19-year-old Nationals first-round selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft was recently ranked No. 98 in the top 100 of Baseball America's latest list of prospects. Kieboom was off to a good start for the...

Minor leaguers also love West Palm Beach, plus pitching updates

Minor leaguers also love West Palm Beach, plus pitching updates
We heard early in spring training what the new Nationals facility in West Palm Beach meant to the major league players. It also is a big deal to the guys fighting to move up in the minor league camp. Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said the minor league camp players were thrilled to get into such a state-of-the-art facility and work so closely with the major league squad. "We feel very fortunate," Anderson said. "It's unbelievable. It's a great fresh feeling of starting...

More notes on outfielders Soto, Perkins and Upshaw

More notes on outfielders Soto, Perkins and Upshaw
I always appreciate the time catching up with coaches and managers in the Nationals system. This week, I grabbed a few minutes with low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson, who is coaching and managing in the West Palm Beach facility with the Nationals prospects. Anderson said he has been impressed with how the young players have arrived in shape and appear stronger after offseason work. "As a whole, it's not really one guy or two guys," Anderson said. "All of them have come back...

Koda Glover on his desire to face big hitters in key moments

Koda Glover on his desire to face big hitters in key moments
Fans have been excited to see right-hander Koda Glover make a meteoric rise to the big leagues this season. With Glover, they have had a chance to see the focus the youngster brings to his job - that closer mentality and killer instinct - used to get each hitter he faces out. Glover started this season for high Single-A Potomac and pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse before joining the Nationals. Just last season he pitched for NCAA Division I Oklahoma State, got drafted in...

Must-wins tonight for Potomac and Hagerstown

Must-wins tonight for Potomac and Hagerstown
Bobby Bradley's walk-off single forced the high Single-A Potomac Nationals into a must-win Game 3 tonight in the Carolina League divisional semifinals. The winner gets a berth in the Mills Cup Finals. Bradley's single lifted Lynchburg to a 6-5 win in 14 innings. Bryan Mejia and Victor Robles each tallied three base hits. Starter Hector Silvestre allowed three runs over five innings. Neil Holland (0-1) gave up four hits and one run over 1 2/3 innings to take the loss. Potomac will start...

Solis can close, start or specialize, plus minors notes (updated)

Solis can close, start or specialize, plus minors notes (updated)
Left-hander Sammy Solis can be a viable option as interim closer for the Nationals. Left-hander Sammy Solis can be a spot starter. Both of these proclamations hold true. Solis has swing-and-miss stuff in the mid-90s that can be a weapon in the ninth inning. Solis also began his career as a starter. He logged 38 starts over 64 appearances while in the minor leagues. He has already gone 1-2 with a 1.52 ERA in 19 appearances this season. In 23 2/3 innings, Solis has 29 strikeouts. His WHIP is an...

Nats well represented at Single-A All-Star games on June 21

Nats well represented at Single-A All-Star games on June 21
The Nationals announced a big haul of minor league All-Stars today. From the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, right-hander Ryan Brinley, left fielder Alec Keller, center fielder Andrew Stevenson and third baseman Drew Ward have been named 2016 Carolina League mid-season All-Stars. From the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, right-handers Mariano Rivera III and Jefry Rodriguez, second baseman Max Schrock, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez and outfielder Victor Robles all made the South Atlantic League...

More insight on left-hander Taylor Hearn and outfielder Victor Robles

More insight on left-hander Taylor Hearn and outfielder Victor Robles
Left-hander Taylor Hearn has freakish athleticism that you might usually see in a tall and lanky basketball prospect. I have already told you about his long arms, hands and fingers: the tale of when you shake his hand, his fingers almost touch your elbow. So you can imagine how he can manipulate a baseball to move around the strike zone to befuddle a hitter. Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns manager Patrick Anderson said Hearn reminded him of right-hander Ira Brown, a 6-foot-4, 215-lbs., pitcher...

More early camp updates on Sagdal and young outfielders

More early camp updates on Sagdal and young outfielders
The early camp invitees take on the Mets in two games of a home-and-home series this week. Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson is working with this roster all camp and had an update on infielder Ian Sagdal, a lefty-hitting 23-year-old second baseman out of Washington State. "He really can swing the bat from the left side," Anderson said. "Defensively, (infield instructor Jeff) Garber is really putting his hands on him to get him going defensively so he can maximize as much as he...

More early camp updates on Fedde, Marmolejos, Abreu and others

More early camp updates on Fedde, Marmolejos, Abreu and others
More early camp updates, including the progress of right-hander Erick Fedde. The UNLV standout was a first-round selection by the Nationals in 2014 and immediately had Tommy John surgery. Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said Fedde looks like he's ready to log some heavier innings this season. Fedde tossed 64 innings in 14 games last season. "He looks really fresh," Anderson said. "His arm looks really good. He's got life back to him, you know what I mean? It usually takes...