New Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs manager Billy Gardner Jr. had a successful run as manager of the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. During that time, he kept tabs on the Nationals, and is excited to be able to join the organization.
"I think it is going to be a really good situation with Washington," Gardner said. "From the top on down - ownership to Mike Rizzo to Doug Harris - a lot of first-class people over there who have the organization going in the right direction and I am fortunate to be a...
There will be a game, an at-bat where the signing of Nate McLouth will become a huge difference-maker for the Nationals.
It will be a pinch hit in the late innings of a crucial game against the Braves, or a must-win in the playoffs.
His experience with good teams in clutch situations will become an invaluable asset to the Nationals. How many times do you think manager Davey Johnson went to the bench and did not have the answer he needed in a certain situation to attempt to win a game? ...
At the end-of-season strength and conditioning camp, right-handed pitcher Jake Johansen was one of the three strongest players on hand.
Johansen has the frame, a 6-foot-6 and 235-lbs., and worked very hard in his first season to command his tremendous fastball, which hit 94-96 mph and occasionally touched 99 mph.
Baseball America likes what its sees from Johansen. National writer Aaron Fitt has Johansen in the top 10 of the Nationals prospects.
No. 7 RHP Jake Johansen
"He has always had...
The Nationals have added former major league catcher Michael Barrett to their minor league staff and will bring in a former Double-A Manager of the Year to be the new skipper at Triple-A Syracuse, a source with knowledge of the appointments told MASNSports.com.
Also, former Nationals pitcher Tim Redding is back with the organization after being named pitching coach at short-season Single-A Auburn.
Billy Gardner Jr., the 2012 Southern League Manager of the Year with Montgomery of the Tampa...
Nate Karns got a taste of the big leagues last season and held his own. The 6-foot-3, 230-lb. Karns did a nice job building off a very successful 2012 season by pitching well again last season.
Karns went 10-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. His final numbers in his three major league starts - 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA - don't jump out, but he kept the Nationals in games against the Orioles and Braves. On June 2, he was almost able to get through five frames against Atlanta....
When you look back, there is always that moment, that moment where you are that close. It might happen in your personal life, your job or in your day-to-day activity.
For a baseball player, it is always about that moment when you get the call to the majors or you don't. It happens quickly for some, takes a long time for others, and most never get that coveted call, the call to the big leagues.
For right-handed pitcher Josh Wilkie, he believes he was close to a possible call at the end of the...
It was another attention grabbing season for outfielder Steven Souza Jr., in the Nationals organization.
Souza also has garnered positive feedback from Baseball America, which has him moved up to the No. 9 spot in the Nationals' Top 10 prospects for 2014, according to Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt.
No. 9 OF Steven Souza Jr.
"He is kind of a neat story and a talent," Fitt said. "I have heard scouts saying they really believe in him, that they think he can be a Matt...
The Nationals traded their fifth-ranked prospect, pitcher Robbie Ray, to the Detroit Tigers last week. But it is still a pretty good list of prospects, and the organization did not have to give up their best to make the deal for Doug Fister.
Here is a look at the Nationals' top 10 prospects according to Baseball America following the trade of Ray. Over the next few weeks, we will count down to No. 1 with the help of Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt.
No. 10, LHP Matt...
Handicapping the Nationals' minor league coaching staff selections for 2014 is fairly easy considering the organization's loyalty to its managers and coaches at each level over the years.
None of these appointments have been officially announced yet, but likely will be solidified by the end of the year.
There are openings at the top levels with managers needed at Double-A and Triple-A. Double-A Harrisburg manager Matt Lecroy has already been announced as the Nationals' new bullpen coach,...
The Nationals felt so confident in the left-handed pitching they have available in their organization that they were will to part with Robbie Ray.
Ray came on strong in 2013 and got a lot of attention from opposing scouts. With Double-A Harrisburg, he became a part of a very a tremendous starting five. Ray was 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 starts at Harrisburg. He had 60 strikeouts and 21 walks.
For the season, combined with his high Single-A Potomac numbers, Ray went 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA and 160...
The Nationals acquired a frontline starter in right-hander Doug Fister on Monday, and now turn their sights on the rest of the 25-man roster.
It appears now that the starting rotation is almost set for 2014, with Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Fister the top four.
Where does this leave Ross Detwiler?
Nationals executive vice president Mike Rizzo said it is not so much about Detwiler as it is that the Nats now have options for that spot this season, where they didn't...
Final installment in a series on how the Nationals are focusing on improving nutrition in the minor leagues. Read the second part here.
The Nationals' minor league system has grown in talent and strength the last few seasons due to shrewd and strategic draft selections. The organization has also made sure those top draft picks are fed well, can build strength with the very best from every other team and do so on a level playing field.
In the third installment of Eating Right, we focus on the...
Right-hander Aaron Barrett made a huge jump this season. Going from low Single-A to Double-A doesn't happen every day. But Barrett showed he belonged with an amazing start to finish, displaying closer stuff, beginning all the way back in the 2012 Arizona Fall League.
It all came together this month when the 25-year-old Barrett got one of those phone calls he had dreamed about. His contract was selected for placement on the Nationals' 40-man roster.
"It is definitely something that I have...
Nationals vice president of player development Doug Harris recently returned from a trip to the team's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.
He again had positive things to say about the progress of the academy. Nationals fans will begin to see a steady influx of players from the Dominican in the next few seasons. Every one of them started at this academy.
The academy is run by Fausto Severino, who is their academy administrator. Severino keeps the academy running on a daily basis, and...
Left-hander Sammy Solis was back. He had recovered from Tommy John surgery. He was pitching again in the game he loved.
But something still wasn't quite right. And he was starting to get nervous.
"It was one day at a time," Solis said on his May return to high Single-A Potomac. "Every day was different with my arm. One day, it would feel great, the next day it was like, 'Oh, my. Do I need surgery again?' The biggest thing on field to overcome was just my arm tightening up between every...
Second in a three-part series on how the Nationals are focusing on improving nutrition in the minor leagues. Read the first part here.
Sports dietician Leslie Bonci, who is employed by the Nationals, has seen the change the last few years in baseball players.
They want to get better, and not just by playing the sport, but by improving their strength and conditioning. Bonci said that begins with nutrition. And that is where she helps the Nationals players, especially at the minor league...
The Nationals recently completed their first strength and conditioning camp for prospects at their training facility in Viera, Fla.
As I reported earlier, this camp was administered by the Nationals' strength coaches and personnel and was focused on preparing prospects for their individualized offseason conditioning regimen.
A major factor in this camp was the importance of nutrition for each prospect, re-emphasizing the standards the organization set for its 250 players during the season...
Left-hander Sammy Solis demonstrated his ability to come through in a clutch situation again. After all, he started two championship round contests for high Single-A Potomac in September.
So, this was old hat.
Solis went five strong innings, scattering six hits, allowing one run on no walks with four strikeouts as Mesa downed Glendale 9-3 to advance to the AFL championship game on Saturday.
Brian Goodwin went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Adrian Nieto went 1-for-5.
But the story...
The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is well under construction, with three baseball fields and an 18,000 square foot training facility nearing completion at Ward 7's Fort Dupont Park in Washington, D.C.
Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, principal owner and chairperson of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, made the announcement from the construction site on Thursday.
"Major League Baseball and the city decided that there was a need for a baseball academy of some sort in the...
One of the biggest reasons why right-hander Richie Mirowski is pitching in Arizona Fall League now is a spring training introduction.
Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams liked what he was seeing from the 24-year-old Mirowski and knew he was close to making a big step. Williams introduced Mirowski to Double-A pitching coach Paul Menhart to help with some fine-tuning on his most important pitch.
"In spring, Spin Williams introduced me to Paul Menhart," Mirowski said.
"(Williams)...
