Byron Kerr

Can the Nats improve on a 50 road-win season?

Can the Nats improve on a 50 road-win season?
It is pretty amazing to look back at how dominant a team the Nationals were on the road in 2017. They went 50-31 away from home, far and away the best road record in the National League. Only the Indians and Astros had better road records (53-28) in all of baseball. The 50-31 record on the road for the Nats was five games better than their 45-36 road record in 2016. The Nats even won two out of three games in late August at Houston, the eventual World Series champions. In 2012, the Nats went...
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Robles No. 5, Soto No. 56 on Baseball America top 100 (plus note on Garcia)

Robles No. 5, Soto No. 56 on Baseball America top 100 (plus note on Garcia)
Here are some final insights from Double-A Harrisburg pitching coach Michael Tejera about three top Nationals prospects he has coached or seen play over the last few seasons. Center fielder Victor Robles is such an elite prospect he earned a spot on the Nationals' postseason roster. He also was named the MVP at the Fall Stars Game in the Arizona Fall League. Robles is mentioned in every trade discussion with the Nats. The club doesn't want to give him up in a trade because of his tremendous...
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Nats announce minor league staff, Knorr to manage Syracuse

Nats announce minor league staff, Knorr to manage Syracuse
The Nationals have announced their minor league staff for 2018, highlighted by the return of Randy Knorr to the dugout as manager of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, a post he last held in 2011. The past two seasons Knorr was the senior advisor to Mike Rizzo. Matt LeCroy remains as Double-A Harrisburg manager and Tripp Keister continues as skipper for high Single-A Potomac. Patrick Anderson holds down the fort again as manager of the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Former Syracuse manager Billy...
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Nats prospects spotlight: Gutierrez and Johnson

Nats prospects spotlight: Gutierrez and Johnson
Continuing insight from Arizona Fall League play and the impact that experience will have on some of the top prospects in the Nationals organization, we turn to a couple of the position players, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez and center fielder Daniel Johnson. Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera said Gutierrez bounced back from getting his hand spiked early on in AFL play to finish strong. "Kelvin had his routine and he was working very hard on it," Tejera said. "His hand got...
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Kendrick's return signals D.C. as the place to play in 2018

Kendrick's return signals D.C. as the place to play in 2018
Mid-season free agent pickups usually build their brand with a good team, then turn that into a huge payoff with another team the next year. It has happened to the Nationals over the years. It happens to almost every team that surges for a playoff spot in hopes that late free agent acquisition will make the difference between almost reaching the playoffs to definitely playing October baseball. But this offseason has been different for the Nats. Reliever Brandon Kintzler and infielder/outfielder...
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Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue
We have more insight from Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera on the battery of Nationals pitchers and catchers employed in the Arizona Fall League this season. Right-hander Dakota Bacus appeared in eight games and 10 1/3 innings for the Solar Sox. Although he logged a 5.23 ERA in Arizona, he had an amazing year through two levels for the Nationals. Bacus combined to go 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA with five saves between high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg over 23 games. He struck...
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Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero
The spotlight is shining now on a pair of Nationals prospects that pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Right-hander Kyle McGowin notched three wins in six starts for the Mesa. He recorded 27 strikeouts with no walks. His pitching coach in the AFL, Michael Tejera, said McGowin did well for himself as he prepares for 2018. The 26-year-old McGowin throws a fastball, slider and changeup. "Kyle has three pitches. All three pitches were working for him," Tejera said. "He was...
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Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Ben Braymer

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Ben Braymer
Left-hander Ben Braymer made the move from short-season Single-A Auburn to low Single-A Hagerstown in 2017 and got to work a simulated game against Nationals hitters prior to the National League Division Series versus the Cubs at Nationals Park The Auburn product went 5-2 with 3.99 ERA in 65 1/3 innings over 13 games. Braymer, 23, struck out 76 batters and walked only 21 on the season. He surrendered only four homers. I spoke with his teammate, right-hander Gabe Klobosits, about the experience,...
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Could playing with Bryan Harper help solidify Bryce Harper's long-term future with Nats?

Could playing with Bryan Harper help solidify Bryce Harper's long-term future with Nats?
The 2018 campaign is obviously a big season for the Nationals, a team built for the postseason, with outstanding starting pitching, timely hitting and stout defense. But 2018 is also the final season Bryce Harper is under contract with the Nats. The club has been working to secure a long-term deal with one of the elite offensive stars in baseball. One part of the scenario that might help in getting Harper to consider D.C. as his permanent baseball home is the status of his older brother, Bryan...
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Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen

Grace preparing body and arm for big responsibilities in 2018 bullpen
Left-hander Matt Grace made quite a transformation in his role out of the bullpen in 2017. He faced lefties and righties, came at different points in the game and even started a game at San Diego, providing a versatility on the roster that was close to unmatched. But that was no big deal to Grace, who didn't appear in a game until April 26 and bounced around in May before finally staying on the Nationals roster beginning with a June 17 game. Hit total usage was less than seven innings in May...
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Goodwin healthy after groin strain slowed end of rookie season

Goodwin healthy after groin strain slowed end of rookie season
A groin strain almost derailed a promising 2017 campaign for Nationals outfielder Brian Goodwin. His last game was Aug. 13, but was able to return to make the postseason roster. "It was just a battle," Goodwin said at Nationals Winterfest. "It was devastating the time that it happened. Clearly, I wasn't in the best mood, but I think it pushed me to do what I had to do to get back for my guys and my team and for myself, because I knew how important that postseason potentially was." And it...
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Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017

Wieters' guidance helped Nats pitching staff flourish in 2017
Catcher Matt Wieters' influence on the success of the Nationals pitching staff cannot be underestimated. From Gio Gonzalez increasing his tempo between pitches to Tanner Roark using all of his pitches in unique situations, Wieters has been able to bring out the best in each of his pitchers. Wieters said his philosophy has always been to measure and think out each pitch he suggests to the pitcher and not necessarily what the pitcher might have thought he should throw in a particular moment....
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Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities
Only one coach was kept from the previous regime: third base coach Bobby Henley, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years, dating to its time in Montreal. It is an important point. Henley is obviously very good at his job, but he also can be a sounding board for the players to help in the transition to the new coaching regime. Henley was thrilled to stay with the Nationals when we caught up with him at Winterfest. "It means a lot. I been here so long," Henley said. "I been...
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Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop

Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop
It will be exciting to see what shortstop Trea Turner can accomplish after a season that was interrupted by injury. Turner was limited to 98 games after missing all of July and most of August, yet still hit .284 and stole 46 bases. One big question for Turner: How will he handle the regime change at manager? Turner valued his time with the experienced Dusty Baker. "Unfortunate," Turner said of Baker's dismissal over the weekend at Nationals Winterfest. "I really enjoyed Dusty as a manager...
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Wieters improves diet, still wants to play 130 games

Wieters improves diet, still wants to play 130 games
Matt Wieters would be the first to admit that his 2017 offensive numbers were not close to where he wanted them to be. Unfortunately, his first season outside of the American League was his worst with the bat in his nine big league seasons. Wieters hit .225 in 2017, a year after hitting .243 with the Orioles. In April, he started off hot, hitting .301. Steadily, though, he saw his average drop each month as the season progressed: .247, .202, .230, .213, .118. Wieters had seven homers before the...
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Roark "mentally stronger" after not getting call to pitch in NLDS

Roark "mentally stronger" after not getting call to pitch in NLDS
It is the moment every playoff team never wants to have happen. The smack of handshakes, bear hugs and pats on the back in any other situation would be a welcome sight, but the sounds of these gestures after a Game 5 loss are eerily hard to take. Harder to stomach than a loss in the playoffs might be the feeling of not being called on to contribute when you were set to start a pivotal season-saving game, then ended up not being used at all. Such was the plight of right-hander Tanner Roark as he...
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No. 1 Nats prospect: Victor Robles

No. 1 Nats prospect: Victor Robles
The top prospect in the Nationals system, according to Baseball America, comes as no surprise to anyone, and that is center fielder Victor Robles. He was so good that he made the Nats' postseason roster even though he had only a handful of major league games under his belt before the Nats faced the Cubs in the National League Division Series. One part of his game that maybe is not touched on enough in making him a complete player is his defense. While with high Single-A Potomac, Robles made...
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No. 2 Nats prospect: Juan Soto

No. 2 Nats prospect: Juan Soto
Two outstanding outfielders round out the list of top 10 Nationals prospects for 2018, according to Baseball America: Juan Soto and Victor Robles. This entry is devoted to Soto and his immense potential for this upcoming season. Baseball America national writer Carlos Collazo said injuries slowed Soto's maturation process in 2017, but that only means that 2018 could be crazy good for the outfielder - if he can stay healthy. And more importantly, Soto, 19, is a different type of baseball player...
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No. 3 Nats prospect: Erick Fedde

No. 3 Nats prospect: Erick Fedde
The next hurler on the list of top 10 Nationals prospects from Baseball America got a chance to pitch in the big leagues last season, and although it probably didn't go as well as he had hoped, the experience will be invaluable for him down the road. No. 3 RHP Erick Fedde "I think that's a great point," said Baseball America national writer Carlos Collazo. "I also think you can look at this season as one for Erick Fedde where you don't need to look too much into the numbers. They put him...
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No. 4 Nats prospect: Carter Kieboom

No. 4 Nats prospect: Carter Kieboom
The Nationals drafted catcher Spencer Kieboom in 2012. He played for Triple-A Syracuse for 47 games last season and hit .275. He made it to the big leagues in 2016. Four years later, they drafted his brother, shortstop Carter Kieboom, in the first round. Carter Kieboom, 20, has been elevated to the top 10 Nationals prospects list, according to Baseball America. He was able to play 48 games for low Single-A Hagerstown in 2017. A hamstring problem and another unspecified injury kept him out of...
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