Three years after trade, Romero joins Nats bullpen

Three years after trade, Romero joins Nats bullpen
Three years ago, a Nationals club stuck around the .500 mark made only one deal at the July 31 trade deadline, and it wasn't one anybody expected. They dealt veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler to the Cubs for a Single-A relief pitching prospect named Jhon Romero. The move seemed to have more to do with moving Kintzler and his salary than in acquiring someone who was likely to make an impact for them in the near future, but three years later the Nats called Romero up. And if he takes the mound...

Castro goes on administrative leave, Nats add catcher Rivera

Castro goes on administrative leave, Nats add catcher Rivera
Major League Baseball placed Starlin Castro on administrative leave this afternoon while the league investigates an allegation that the Nationals third baseman committed domestic violence. In a brief release announcing the transaction, MLB said Castro has been placed on leave "under the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy." Per the policy, the initial period of administrative leave may last up to seven days, though an extension is allowed. MLB said it...

Defense, bounces don't go Lester's way in 10-4 loss (updated)

Defense, bounces don't go Lester's way in 10-4 loss (updated)
In an alternate universe, Jon Lester would have deserved a better fate. The ground balls he induced would have found gloves rather than grass, his fielders wouldn't have betrayed him with clunky defense and he'd have been much more pitch-efficient. Instead, Lester endured a death by a thousand cuts Saturday afternoon, when the Giants both hammered and doinked him with regularity, his defense contributed to five unearned runs on two errors and the southpaw departed after just 2 2/3 innings...

Gomes hits IL, so catching falls to Barrera for now (updated)

Gomes hits IL, so catching falls to Barrera for now (updated)
Catcher Yan Gomes, who was removed in the second inning of Friday night's game against the Giants, is undergoing an MRI this afternoon and the Nationals will wait until the results of that diagnostic test to determine whether Gomes needs to be placed on the injured list, manager Davey Martinez said. "We have nothing yet," Martinez said in his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He's getting an MRI as we speak, so hopefully he gets back here soon and we know something after the...

Updates on catchers Pineda and Reetz

Updates on catchers Pineda and Reetz
Here are updates on a couple of backstops the Nationals have high hopes for heading into 2021. Assistant general manager of player development Mark Scialabba said Israel Pineda has gotten a lot of notice for his power stroke, while 2014 third-round selection Jakson Reetz showed solid progress in 2019 and into the alternate training site this summer. Israel Pineda, 20 5-foot-11, 190 lbs.Bats: Right Throws: Right Maracay, VZ Signed: July 2, 2016 2018 mid-season All-Star in short-season Single-A...

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...

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...

Nats prospect watch: Reetz showed off power in second half

Nats prospect watch: Reetz showed off power in second half
A big second half was important to catcher Jakson Reetz's potential move up in the Nationals organization. Reetz, a third-round 2014 selection in the First-Year Player Draft, hit .282 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs for high Single-A Potomac after the All-Star break. In the first half, he had hit .220 with only one homer. His slugging percentage jumped from .300 to .563. The Carolina League All-Star told me his focus at the plate from July on was critical to those number jumps. He finished with 18...

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...

Wrapping up Nats in AFL, including Garcia, Banks and Sharp in title game

Wrapping up Nats in AFL, including Garcia, Banks and Sharp in title game
MLB.com recently ranked the top 25 prospects who played in the Arizona Fall League. Surprise Saguaros shortstop Luis Garcia was ranked No. 15. He is the Nationals' No. 2 prospect behind Carter Kieboom and ranked No. 91 overall. "Garcia scuffled in Double-A this season as a 19-year-old but looked better in the Fall League," wrote MLB.com. "Though he has yet to tap into his solid raw power, the rest of his tools all could be at least above average once he's fully developed." Surprise lost...

AFL Nats roll to 4-1 record, winning three straight

AFL Nats roll to 4-1 record, winning three straight
The Surprise Saguaros had a very good first week in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-1. They have the best record in the West Division and the league overall, and enjoy a three-game win streak. Here is a rundown of last week: Surprise 4, at Glendale 2. Scottsdale 8, at Surprise 6. At Surprise 4, Salt River 1. At Surprise 12, Salt River 0. Surprise 4, at Peoria 1. Catcher Jakson Reetz is hitting .455 (5-for-11) in three games with a 1.084 OPS. He has one double, one stolen base and three RBIs....

Nats prospects start play tonight in Arizona Fall League

Nats prospects start play tonight in Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League opens play tonight as the Surprise Saguaros take on the Glendale Desert Dogs. The schedule runs from Sept. 18 to the Oct. 26 championship game. The Saguaros include players from the Nationals, Orioles, Rangers, Royals and Yankees organizations. The AFL schedule was moved up from its usual October start to this mid-September opening so that prospects can maintain their development moving forward from the end of the minor league postseason. Mexican League teams will...

Luis Garcia highlights Nats prospects on Arizona Fall League's Surprise roster

Luis Garcia highlights Nats prospects on Arizona Fall League's Surprise roster
The Arizona Fall league today unveiled its 2019 rosters, which included the Surprise Saguaros, highlighted by Nationals shortstop prospect Luis Garcia. At 19, Garcia will be the third-youngest player in the Arizona Fall League. He is No. 77 on the MLBPipeline.com top 100 prospects. The Nats will be well represented on the pitching staff with right-handers Jacob Condra-Bogan, Andrew Lee and Sterling Sharp, and left-hander Nick Raquet. Condra-Bogan is a 2017 32nd-round selection pitching for...

Banks' three-run shot rallies North to 8-7 comeback win in Carolina League All-Star Classic

Banks' three-run shot rallies North to 8-7 comeback win in Carolina League All-Star Classic
FREDERICK, Md. - Potomac Nationals right fielder Nick Banks arrived at the high Single-A All-Star break on a hot streak. Nothing has changed after the Carolina League All-Star Classic. Banks hit a three-run opposite-field home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Northern Division All-Stars to a dramatic, come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Southern All-Stars at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove stadium. The right fielder connected on a first-pitch 80 mph slider off Myrtle Beach...

P-Nats thrilled for tonight's Carolina League All-Star Classic

P-Nats thrilled for tonight's Carolina League All-Star Classic
FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Potomac Nationals have four players on the active roster for the Northern Division All-Stars in tonight's Carolina League All-Star Classic. P-Nats second baseman Cole Freeman, a fourth-round selection from 2017 out of LSU, is thrilled to be selected for tonight's contest. He is starting at second base and batting seventh in the lineup. "It's a massive honor," Freeman said. "When you break spring training, this is one of the goals as a player you have....

Nats instructional league wrap-up: catchers and an outfielder

Nats instructional league wrap-up: catchers and an outfielder
Here is a list of the catchers who attended Nats instructional league: Adalberto Carrillo, Tyler Cropley, Geraldi Diaz, Alex Dunlap, Alejandro Flores, Israel Pineda, Wilmer Perez, Jakson Reetz and Onix Vega. Reetz played 69 games for high Single-A Potomac this past season, hitting .224 with a .324 on-base percentage. He smacked eight doubles and five homers with 27 RBIs. Cropley, an eighth-round selection out of Iowa, split time between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season...

P-Nats make big comeback for win; Nats struggle with bases loaded

P-Nats make big comeback for win; Nats struggle with bases loaded
The high Single-A Potomac Nationals made the comeback of the day, downing Lynchburg 8-4 in 10 innings. The P-Nats scored three in eighth and four in the ninth, their third straight come-from-behind victory. Telmito Agustin went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Jake Noll, Ian Sagdal and Jakson Reetz each had two hits. James Bourque (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings, allowing no hits with two walks and five strikeouts for the win. * Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns second baseman Branden...

Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac

Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac
On Wednesday evening, I made the drive to Wilmington, Del., in order to get my first look at the 2018 Potomac Nationals. In spite of the drizzle and cold temperatures, I came away quite impressed with the collection of talent the Nationals have assembled at their high Single-A affiliate, not to mention the beginnings of a head cold. Right-hander Wil Crowe, Washington's second-round pick last summer and a top 10 prospect, started Wednesday's contest and pitched well despite the conditions,...

Updates on infielders and pitchers on the early camp roster

Updates on infielders and pitchers on the early camp roster
Quick hits on some Nationals early camp players. I always get good reports on third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. Last year, the 22-year-old hit .296 for three teams, with 23 doubles, six triples, four homers, 25 stolen bases and 56 RBIs. "Gutierrez looks great," said Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. "He's picking up where he left off last year. He's working on a couple of things offensively. Defense is outstanding. It looks really, really good." We focused on versatile Ian...