By Byron Kerr on Thursday, April 18 2013
Category: Nationals

Nationals update minor league standouts for month of April (plus injury updates)

A good start for Harper. That is left-hander Bryan Harper, who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three games for low Single-A Hagerstown. From April 6-14, Harper pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendering only one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. He is the only left-handed reliever in the 'pen for pitching coach Franklin Bravo's Suns. Update: Suns left-handers Brett Mooneyham and Harper have both been placed on the disabled list. Right-handers Cody Davis and Christopher McKenzie have been called up from extended spring training. * Double-A Harrisburg Senators placed right-hander Rob Wort on the disabled list retroactive to April 15. Right-hander Michael Broadway has been assigned to the Senators from extended spring training. * The Nationals have released their monthly list of organizational standouts. At Triple-A Syracuse, infielder Zach Walters hit four home runs in his first 10 games. He hit 12 homers all of last year and just one round-tripper in 29 games for the Chiefs. Center fielder Eury Perez had his 23-game hitting streak ended on April 13. He is now on the disabled list as he recovers from a left wrist injury. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts this season. He tossed six shutout innings in his debut and then a rare five-inning complete game. Left-hander Daniel Rosenbaum has returned to the organization and has continued his consistency. A Rule 5 acquisition returned by the Rockies, Rosenbaum has surrendered just one earned run in two games. At Double-A Harrisburg, Steven Souza was averaging .370 before he was shut down with shoulder soreness. Unfortunate that two of the best home run hitters in the organization, Souza and Matt Skole (Tommy John surgery), are on the shelf. Hopefully, Souza's injury is not that serious. Third baseman Anthony Rendon batted .311 to begin the season and had a 4-for-4 performance at Altoona April 14. The Nationals want him to play third base, shortstop and second base early this season to get extra fielding experience. The Nationals also point out that the last five starters (Paul Demny, Caleb Clay, Nathan Karns, Brian Broderick and Blake Treinen) have combined to allow only five earned runs in 44 2/3 innings. At high Single-A Potomac the starters have done a nice job to begin the season, they are just looking for the bullpen to tighten up a bit. A few times early on, the starter has handed the bullpen the lead, only to see it get washed away. Infielder Cutter Dykstra is hitting .417 while Jason Martinson has four homers and a team-leading 11 RBIs. Billy Burns has already scored 10 runs and has three stolen bases. Taylor Hill has notched two wins and Taylor Jordan has a 1.50 ERA. Martinson has already earned Player of the Week honors in the Carolina League (April 4-16) for his hot start at the dish. At Hagerstown, recently called up (and subsequently moved to Potomac), Will Piwnica-Worms was hitting .500 and Blake Schwartz has two wins. Brian Dupra has a 0.73 ERA. Dixon Anderson has 18 strikeouts and has a team-leading 17 2/3 innings. Mooneyham earned his first win April 12 with six innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. The short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays open June 17 at home against Batavia. The rookie-level GCL Nationals commence June 21 at home against the GCL Mets.
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