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....

Robles on latest clutch homer, Soto frustrated with strikeouts

Robles on latest clutch homer, Soto frustrated with strikeouts
ATLANTA - The story in game one was left-hander Max Fried as the Braves defeated the Nationals 4-2. The 25-year-old left-hander, who attended the same high school as former Nats starter Lucas Giolito, tossed seven shutout innings against the Nats, striking out nine. But once the Nats got past the Harvard-Westlake, Ca., graduate and into the Braves bullpen, they finally put together another familiar comeback, scoring two and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in their last at-bat....

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...

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....

Luke Erickson: Thoughts on that other fall baseball

Luke Erickson: Thoughts on that other fall baseball
With the minor league season winding down - Labor Day is the last day - thoughts start to turn to the Arizona Fall League. In theory, the AFL, which runs from Oct. 10-Nov. 18 this season, is a finishing school for the top prospects. In practice, it's not quite that. That's not to say that top prospects don't appear; they do, but not exclusively. Pitchers, for example, have a tendency to fit into one of three categories: injured, Rule 5 draft-eligible, marginal. Consequently, the offensive...

Nationals have pitchers that could move quickly in 2016

Nationals have pitchers that could move quickly in 2016
The entire roster of pitchers invited to instructional league are the top prospects in the Nationals organization. The list includes the big names fans are accustomed to: Lucas Giolito, Erick Fedde, Reynaldo Lopez and others. But if we dig a little deeper and go to the Nationals to ask them who are the possible quick movers, guys that raised eyebrows during the season and the work they did in instructs, the list contains names that many fans may not be as familiar with. This list of prospects...