The Nationals have depth at the catcher spot on the early camp roster, headlined by Jakson Reetz, a 2014 third-round draft pick out of Hickman, Neb. Reetz had seven hits in his last five games at low Single-A Hagerstown to wrap up 2016. He hit .281 in his final 10 games. Reetz caught 88 games for the Suns after notching 79 games combined in 2014 and 2015. "Jakson looks good," said Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba. "Jakson is another of those players that had a great...

Catcher Jakson Reetz hurt his left wrist during the season, so when he arrived at instructional league in October, the staff had him work on his swing in a unique way. Reetz was able to play 36 games for short-season Single-A Auburn before being shut down. His last game of the season was Aug. 13. But Reetz, the third-round selection from 2014, was still invited to instructional league in Viera, Fla. Nationals hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich and the club's coaching staff worked with Reetz at...

Catcher Raudy Read continued his work from the 2015 season and has focused on his hitting during instructs last month, most recently at the Dominican Academy. Nationals hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich said they are looking for the 22-year-old Read to allow himself to hit the ball opposite field if that is where he is pitched. "Basically from July all the way to instructs and I just saw him down in the Dominican Republic (a few weeks ago) at the Academy," Gingrich said. "He's learning that...

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...

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....

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...