Rizzo: Club focused on ensuring well-being of all its players

Rizzo: Club focused on ensuring well-being of all its players
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the organization was ready to step up to pay their minor league players if Major League Baseball did not move swiftly enough. During a morning teleconference, Rizzo said that, as a former minor league baseball player himself, he knows how difficult it is to make ends meet even without the threat of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic canceling games. "Very, very glad to see that Major League Baseball is beginning to take care of minor league players,"...

MLB announces payments to minor leaguers during delay

MLB announces payments to minor leaguers during delay
Minor league players will get some financial help while their seasons are delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Major League Baseball recently suspended spring training camps and announced the regular season would be delayed indefinitely. Minor League Baseball followed suit, announcing operations have been suspended until further notice as governments and public health officials work to contain the pandemic. This left minor league players without any games or financial means until the season...

Nats prospect watch: Denaburg building strength back in shoulder

Nats prospect watch: Denaburg building strength back in shoulder
A promising future awaits right-hander Mason Denaburg, who is looking to get back to full health and get back to baseball once the season (hopefully) gets back on track. The 20-year-old Denaburg was a first-round 2018 selection for the Nationals, but has been recovering from shoulder issues this offseason and had most recently started throwing again in spring training. MLB Pipeline has Denaburg at No. 7 in their Nats Top 10 list. No. 7 Mason Denaburg "I see him a lot, but I have not seen him...

Nats prospect watch: Cate working on fastball command

Nats prospect watch: Cate working on fastball command
Good update here on left-hander Tim Cate and his progression prior to the shutdown. Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman said Cate was making nice strides at camp and focusing on a few mechanical adjustments prior to the season beginning. Holman said they got started early this year with Cate in West Palm Beach. Cate, 6-foot and 185 lbs., is listed at No. 8 in the latest MLBPipeline.com top 30 roundup of Nats prospects. No. 8 Tim Cate "Tim was down in instructional league as...

Nats prospect watch: Romero ready to pitch in 2020

Nats prospect watch: Romero ready to pitch in 2020
Here is an update on left-hander Seth Romero (Twitter: @sethromero21), who missed all of 2019 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old was a 2017 first-round selection out of the University of Houston. MLB Pipeline ranks Romero as the No. 9 Nationals prospect in their top 30. No. 9 Seth Romero "He was another one who came to the instructional league and minicamp and early arrival to spring," said Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman. "Just a super talented...

Rizzo: Kieboom working on hitting and defense during coronavirus delay

Rizzo: Kieboom working on hitting and defense during coronavirus delay
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Carter Kieboom is like any other player sidelined by the baseball shutdown, but acknowledged the third baseman is getting extra infield and hitting instruction during the downtime brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The replacement for All-Star Anthony Rendon at third base was the biggest spring training story as players descended on South Florida in mid-February. The 22-year-old top Nationals prospect slashed .233/.395/.300 in 14 exhibition...

MLB announces assistance to minor league players is extended through May 31

MLB announces assistance to minor league players is extended through May 31
Following up its recent announcement that Minor League Baseball players would be financially covered through April 8, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it has extended financial support until May 31 or until the beginning of the minor league season, whichever occurs first. MLB said players will continue to receive medical benefits and may continue to use any balance they have in the college scholarship plan or continuing education program. In addition, each club will make its own...

Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom

Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom
No. 1 Carter Kieboom With All-Star Anthony Rendon moving on to the Angels this offseason, top Nationals prospect Carter Kieboom has an opportunity to take over at third base in 2020. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk said prior to spring training that Kieboom has demonstrated he is worth the risk at that important spot. "I think he's certainly worth giving a chance," Lusk said. "But it's good to have that buffer with Asdrúbal Cabrera, sharing time at third. If that's the...

Martinez on Marlins' coronavirus outbreak: "I'm scared"

Martinez on Marlins' coronavirus outbreak: "I'm scared"
Nationals manager Davey Martinez got emotional at the end of his pregame video call today, and said he was worried about himself and his players after the news that 14 Marlins players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. The Nats are scheduled to host the Blue Jays in a two-game series that begins tonight at Nats Park. "My level of concern went from about an eight to a 12," Martinez said. "This thing really hits home now that you see half a team get infected and go from one city to...

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"

Finnegan on making the Nats roster: "It's incredible"
Right-hander Kyle Finnegan has been in the minors since 2013, so making the opening day roster in 2020 with the Nationals was a big step. Since arriving as a sixth-round pick by the Athletics, Finnegan has played for seven different teams and logged time at every level. He was a starter from 2013 to 2015, making it to Double-A in 2014 and Triple-A in 2017. The Nats signed him as a free agent in December 2019. In late March, the Nats optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg. But then the coronavirus...

Thames staying in shape, rekindling hobby during shutdown

Thames staying in shape, rekindling hobby during shutdown
New Nationals backup first baseman Eric Thames has been taking care of himself, working out and staying safe at his home in Las Vegas since spring training was shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 33-year-old slugger has had the Nats coaching, training, and strength and conditioning staffs check in to see how he was coming along over the past seven weeks. "In terms of the coaching, everybody is waiting to see what's going to happen once they announce the date (for...

Nats need to stick with big four to repeat 2019 ending

Nats need to stick with big four to repeat 2019 ending
With the announcement that Major League Baseball will schedule 60 games in a shortened 2020 campaign, the Nationals now must decide how they can best implement one big advantage they have had over other teams: their top four starting pitchers. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez were so good last season that they ranked in the top 25 in ERA in the major leagues, top 24 in WAR, top 48 in K/9 and top 35 in WHIP. The Nats' top four starters combined for 65...

60-game season might be perfect equalizer for Kieboom

60-game season might be perfect equalizer for Kieboom
The decision to play 60 games was a hot topic the past few weeks between Major League Baseball and the players' union. The number was pretty much forced to be around 50 or 60 games because the calendar had already reached late June and the previous official schedule had teams finishing on Sept. 27. The biggest question in the Nats lineup for 2020 was finding a replacement for star third baseman Anthony Rendon, who signed a lucrative offseason free agent deal to join the Angels. The Nats' top...

Martinez enjoying time at home, but pining for chance to get back to Nats Park

Martinez enjoying time at home, but pining for chance to get back to Nats Park
Nationals manager Davey Martinez is in the final year of a three-year deal that runs through the 2020 season. The contract, singed in October 2017, has a club option for 2021. Martinez was hired to replace Dusty Baker on a deal worth $2.8 million. The club option for 2021 is worth $1.2 million. During a Zoom video conference call Friday, Martinez said here have been no official talks yet on a contract extension. "Nothing, no. Right now, I'm pretty much self-isolated here," Martinez said from...

Nationals reportedly sign undrafted infielder Gio Diaz of St. Mary's

Nationals reportedly sign undrafted infielder Gio Diaz of St. Mary's
The Nationals reportedly made at least one Sunday signing of an undrafted free agent. Infielder Gio Diaz of St. Mary's College confirmed through a school release that he had joined the Nationals for the $20,000 signing bonus. Diaz played mostly second base and third base, slashing .396/.442/.417 in 13 games during the shortened 2020 campaign for the Gaels. The .396 batting average was sixth-best in the West Coast Conference. He only struck out two times in 53 plate appearances, good for...

Scherzer blames fastball location problems early in 4-1 loss

Scherzer blames fastball location problems early in 4-1 loss
Max Scherzer wanted to get off to a good start on opening night, but it just didn't happen. Against a strong Yankees lineup, Scherzer did his best to avoid trouble, but when you have to face the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton multiple times in a game, trouble can find you. Scherzer allowed a two-run homer and a run-scoring single to Stanton, and Judge delivered a single and an RBI double as the Yankees took down the Nationals 4-1 in rain-shortened five innings to finally jumpstart...

FredNats manager Keister excited and hopeful for 2020 season

FredNats manager Keister excited and hopeful for 2020 season
I got the chance to catch up with high Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals manager Tripp Keister recently and he broke down thoughts on the coronavirus shutdown, their new stadium opening and his potential roster for 2020. This will be Keister's ninth season coaching in the Nationals organization, and he desperately wants to get back to baseball and get a chance to see their brand-new stadium open in Fredericksburg, which was supposed to take place April 23. Unfortunately, the coronavirus...

Martinez eager for full team practices, but understands current safety limits

Martinez eager for full team practices, but understands current safety limits
Nationals manager Davey Martinez said one major issue with trying to play baseball amid the coronavirus pandemic is that he cannot yet get the entire team together on the field at one time. The "circle of trust" was a big rallying cry for the club the last couple of spring trainings under Martinez's direction, but with current safety protocols in place, it just isn't possible. "For us, we are basically working in groups," Martinez told reporters during a Zoom video call Sunday. "This is...

Thames embraced Korean culture, food and how game was played

Thames embraced Korean culture, food and how game was played
Nationals first baseman Eric Thames did not play Major League Baseball from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, he worked his way through the minor leagues and played in the Venezuelan Winter League. Then, from 2014 to 2016, he took a chance and accepted a contract to play in the Korea Baseball Organization for the NC Dinos. The move paid off. Thames rediscovered his game with the Dinos, crushing 124 homers with 382 RBIs in 390 games. With the KBO games being televised for audiences in the United States,...

Game 12 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

Game 12 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
The Nationals must make a quick turnaround as they look to snap a three-game skid and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Orioles with an early Sunday afternoon series finale on the docket today at Nats Park. And the Nats (4-7) could not ask for a better pitcher to be their stopper, right-hander Stephen Strasburg (0-0), making his season debut after recovering from a right wrist injury that scratched his scheduled first start way back on July 25. The Nats need a spark, because at the start of...