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...

Another injury and another loss for Nats (updated)

Another injury and another loss for Nats (updated)
Who said it couldn't get worse for the Nationals? Be honest, because I know you're out there. After a tough loss Thursday night to end a four-game series in San Diego, and with an already jam-packed injured list, why would you say that knowing full well that it could, in fact, get worse? Indeed, it did get worse for the Nationals in the form of a 5-3 loss to the Giants in front of 27,345 fans at Oracle Park to start the final series of the first half of the season, while also losing their...

Overmatched Nats suffer four-game sweep to Dodgers (updated)

Overmatched Nats suffer four-game sweep to Dodgers (updated)
You can analyze this four-game sweep at the hands of the defending World Series champions until your face turns blue, but it really boils down to a simple fact: The Dodgers had 26 healthy and versatile players whom their manager trusted to be used over the course of a ballgame, and the Nationals did not. Over the course of a difficult holiday weekend on South Capitol Street, capped by a 5-1 loss before an Independence Day crowd of 37,187, Dave Roberts consistently utilized every player from his...

Schwarber, Avila land on IL; Escobar acquired from Royals

Schwarber, Avila land on IL; Escobar acquired from Royals
The "injury rat" Max Scherzer referred to Friday night that is running through the Nationals clubhouse and taking a bite out of players left and right is perhaps more pervasive than anyone on the outside realized at the time. Not only did the Nats have to place Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day injured list with a significant right hamstring strain, they also had to place Alex Avila on it as well after the catcher suffered strains to both of his calf muscles, possibly while he was playing five...

As frustrating wait continues, Nationals sign catcher Lucroy

As frustrating wait continues, Nationals sign catcher Lucroy
As they waited for approval to resume full workouts in preparation for the delayed start to their season, the Nationals added the first player from outside the organization who could find himself on an opening day roster that will be stacked with unexpected reinforcements. Veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy agreed to terms on a minor league contract Saturday night, a source familiar with the deal confirmed, and presumably will be available should the Nats need to replace one or both of their major...

Checking out possible spring training surprise candidates

Checking out possible spring training surprise candidates
Unless you're one of those who mines the minor leagues for every possible nugget of information, you didn't really know who Jake Noll was heading into 2019 spring training for the Nationals. Maybe you knew he was a seventh-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Gulf Coast. Maybe you were aware that he'd followed up a .291/.341/.412 campaign between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg in 2018 with a .265/.309/.429 log in limited Arizona Fall League play with Salt...

Which players are on Nationals' roster bubble?

Which players are on Nationals' roster bubble?
When the Nationals convene in 10 days at West Palm Beach, Fla., they will be full of optimism and eager to erase the stench of a 26-34 record in the truncated 2020 season that earned them a share of last place in the National League East. But amid all the cliches about being in the best shape of their lives, boundless hope that things will be better in 2021 and the inevitable focus on how newcomers to the organization will adjust, one factor drives performances more than any other. Some guys in...

Nats sign Guerra and Castillo to minor league deals

Nats sign Guerra and Castillo to minor league deals
The Nationals have confirmed the signing of catcher Welington Castillo and right-hander Javy Guerra to minor league contracts that include invitations to major league spring training. This is the second year in a row that Castillo has signed with the Nats in the offseason, but the backstop opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Castillo, 33, will look to solidify the second catcher spot on the roster alongside Yan Gomes. Castillo played at least 100 games from 2013 to 2016 and...

Winter ball updates on Robles and Barrera, plus other notes

Winter ball updates on Robles and Barrera, plus other notes
Center fielder Victor Robles is hitting well in the first week of Dominican Winter League play, slashing .316 with a .908 OPS. He has one homer, two RBIs and only three strikeouts in 19 at-bats over five games for Aguilas Cibaenas. Emilio Bonifacio is hitting .300 in three games and Wilmer Difo is hitting .250 over five games. Right-hander Paolo Espino did not allow a run for Toros del Este in his first appearance, with one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Espino made his major league debut for...

Barrera returns from "dark places," thrilled to resume playing baseball

Barrera returns from "dark places," thrilled to resume playing baseball
After being reinstated by Major League Baseball following a suspension, Nationals catcher Tres Barrera is headed to the Dominican Republic this week to begin training camp for winter baseball. The 26-year-old will play for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. The schedule calls for 30 games beginning on Nov. 15. This is welcome news for Barrera, who just two and a half months ago thought his entire baseball career might be in jeopardy. Barrera was suspended in late July for...

Four players clear waivers, come off 40-man roster

Four players clear waivers, come off 40-man roster
Four Nationals players with major league experience have cleared outright waivers and have been assigned to the Triple-A Fresno roster, the club announced this afternoon. Infielder Adrián Sanchez and right-handers Aaron Barrett, Paolo Espino and Austen Williams were placed on waivers and were not claimed by any other clubs. They'll remain in the Nationals organization but are now off the 40-man roster. Barrett and Espino appeared in a few games for the Nats this season. Sanchez and...

Barrera suspended 80 games after positive PED test

Barrera suspended 80 games after positive PED test
Tres Barrera, who made his major league debut for the Nationals last season and was in camp this summer competing to make the opening day roster as the club's third catcher, has been suspended 80 games without pay by Major League Baseball after testing positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing drug. Barrera, who denied having ever knowingly taken a banned substance, appealed his positive test, but MLB's independent arbitrator upheld the decision. He must begin...

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: Barrera's plate discipline one key to success

Nats prospect watch: Barrera's plate discipline one key to success
Catcher Tres Barrera made his major league debut late last season with the Nationals, appearing in two games. The Eastern League All-Star got off to a good start with Double-A Harrisburg and never looked back. Barrera was able to crank out 23 doubles, eight homers and 46 RBIs in the spacious FNB Field. "Tres had a great year last year," said Nationals minor league hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich. "Put him in a different park, give him the big league balls, he'd probably hit 15-20 homers...

Can returning catching tandem duplicate 2019 numbers?

Can returning catching tandem duplicate 2019 numbers?
As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... The Nationals knew they needed a major catching upgrade last winter, and they could've attempted to achieve that with one big acquisition. Instead, general manager Mike Rizzo decided to add two veterans and hope their combined production would get the job done at a fraction of the cost. How'd it work out? Not bad at all....

Why Nats need to find a veteran catcher behind top tandem

Why Nats need to find a veteran catcher behind top tandem
When the Nationals re-signed catcher Yan Gomes to a two-year, $10 million contract in late November, it assured them of retaining their productive tandem behind the plate for at least another season. Gomes rejoined Kurt Suzuki, who is entering the final campaign of a two-year, $10 million deal inked last offseason. That's two catchers who the veteran Nationals pitchers love throwing to, two guys who hold their own with the leather and were surprisingly productive at the plate last season,...

Braymer's bond with Crowe and Barrera helped him in 2019

Braymer's bond with Crowe and Barrera helped him in 2019
Finishing up our conversation with Nationals pitching prospect Ben Braymer, the left-hander talked more about how he changed his grip on his changeup from two-seam to a four-seam so that coming out of his hand it looks even more like a fastball to the hitter. "I had accomplished that in Double-A, having my changeup mirror my fastball as far as arm slot goes and the arm speed on it," Braymer said. "But when I got out to Triple-A the more experienced hitters were able to see a little bit...

During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker

During AFL, Sharp worked on slowing spin rate on sinker
To see how Sterling Sharp is a little bit different athletically than maybe your average baseball player, check out his dunking skills on his Twitter home page: Incase @MiLB or @MLB ever decides to have a dunk contest 🙋🏾‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ZnE2kgyJir -- Sterling Sharp (@DatDude_Ster42) November 19, 2017 In part two, we continue our conversation with the 24-year-old right-hander in the Nationals system, who demonstrated his...

Banks worked on his approach in Arizona, now preps for 2020

Banks worked on his approach in Arizona, now preps for 2020
In part one of our visit with Nick Banks, an outfielder in the Nationals system, we spoke about his experience in the Arizona Fall League. A valuable part of that experience is meshing with and learning from new coaches. In part two, we look into what Ken Joyce, a hitting coach from the New York Yankees organization, was able to do to help Banks with his swing and his approach at the plate. "I loved him. He really did help me a lot this offseason and in the fall league," Banks said. "Just...