Byron Kerr

Tremendous bounceback win for Gilliam in Harrisburg

April 10, 2012, 9:13pm

Double-A Harrisburg downed New Britain 7-2 on Tuesday led by the red-hot hitting of second baseman Jeff Kobernus and an outstanding pitching performance from Robert Gilliam. Kobernus went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and is now batting .444. First baseman Tim Pahuta went 2-for-4 with a double, run and an RBI, and is hitting .292. Catcher Sandy Leon went 3-for-4 and is batting .300. Shortstop Josh Johnson also connected with a double and two RBIs, and is currently hitting .348. Senators...

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Hagerstown places Brian Goodwin on disabled list

April 10, 2012, 7:52pm

Nationals

Hagerstown places Brian Goodwin on disabled list

Low Single-A Hagerstown outfielder Brian Goodwin has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a leg injury, the team announced. The move became effective Tuesday. Right fielder Angelberth Montilla also was placed on the disabled list with a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The Suns called up outfielders Billy Burns and Narciso Mesa from extended spring training and placed them on the active roster. Suns manager Brian Daubach told WJEJ 1240 AM in Hagerstown during Tuesday's...

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Hagerstown center fielder Goodwin leaves game with injury; Ankiel homers

April 09, 2012, 8:39pm

Nationals

Hagerstown center fielder Goodwin leaves game with injury; Ankiel homers

Low Single-A Hagerstown center fielder Brian Goodwin pulled up lame running out an infield single in the second inning of Monday's game for the Suns, an 8-7 victory in 11 innings over Lexington. According to a club source, Goodwin left the game under his own power, but favoring what appeared to be an upper right leg injury. Goodwin was able to slowly put weight on the injured leg and make his way back to the Suns clubhouse, which is all the way down the right field line at Municipal Stadium,...

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Nationals' Morse, Ankiel look good in Bowie, to suit up for Hagerstown Monday

April 08, 2012, 2:41pm

Nationals

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse continued on the road to recovery with another outstanding day at the plate Sunday as the Double-A Harrisburg Senators downed the Bowie Baysox, 5-2. Morse smacked a two-run double and finished 1-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs as the designated hitter. He finished with a .375 average over the four games at Bowie. Meanwhile, Rick Ankiel played center field and went 0-for-2 with a run scored and a walk, batting .333 over the series. Morse can return as...

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Prospect Rendon injured during Potomac's 7-2 loss at Lynchburg (updated)

April 07, 2012, 6:56pm

Nationals

Prospect Rendon injured during Potomac's 7-2 loss at Lynchburg (updated)

Anthony Rendon, the Nationals' No. 6 overall selection in June's draft, suffered an injury rounding third base in the fourth inning of high Single-A Potomac's 7-2 loss to Lynchburg at City Stadium on Saturday night. Rendon was removed from the game. According to a club source, Rendon suffered a lower leg injury. Rendon had doubled and was trying to score on a bloop single by Justin Bloxom. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time. Rendon had recovered from setbacks during his...

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Nationals Morse and Ankiel slam homers in second rehab start

April 07, 2012, 3:14am

Nationals

Nationals outfielders Rick Ankiel and Michael Morse slammed home runs as Double-A Harrisburg earned its first win of the season, 5-2 at Bowie on Friday night. Ankiel crushed a two-run shot off of Bobby Bundy in the first inning, and Morse hit a solo homer in the fifth. Ankiel is recovering from a quad injury, while Morse appears ready to go after a lat injury bothered him early in spring training. Morse also added a double, finishing 2-for-3. Morse was the designated hitter and Ankiel...

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Winning important, even at high Single-A Potomac, as players begin new season

April 06, 2012, 10:50am

Nationals

Winning important, even at high Single-A Potomac, as players begin new season

The minor leagues' main focus is to prepare prospects for their eventual ascension to the majors, but teaching players how to win and playing on championship teams is also important. New Potomac Nationals manager Brian Rupp said learning how to win is high on their list as minor league skippers groom prospects for their next step. "Winning is right up there," Rupp said. "It is really important. When you get to the big leagues that is all they talk about. We start it down here. We are...

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Harper makes nice Triple-A debut; Morse and Ankiel in Bowie

April 05, 2012, 7:39pm

Nationals

Harper makes nice Triple-A debut; Morse and Ankiel in Bowie

Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper had a nice debut for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in a 7-4 loss to Rochester in the 2012 opener on a chilly Thursday afternoon in Syracuse, N.Y. Playing center field, Harper went 2-for-4 in his first game at the Triple-A level, smacking a double, a single and stealing a base. General manager Mike Rizzo said in an interview this week on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. that he would not place a bet on Harper remaining at the Triple-A level the entire season. Rizzo said...

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2012 Potomac Nationals roster features potential offensive stars

April 04, 2012, 10:34am

Nationals

The Single-A Potomac Nationals announced their roster for the 2012 season, highlighted by the No. 6 overall selection, third baseman Anthony Rendon. "I love this group of guys," Rendon said. "You got a lot of great players here. I grew up playing with a lot of these guys and also in college. They tore us up when we played them. I just know what they can do and when they come out here it is going to be even better." In years past, the P-Nats had been heavy with pitchers, but this season...

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Detwiler and Stammen together again, this time in D.C.

April 03, 2012, 3:48pm

Nationals

Detwiler and Stammen together again, this time in D.C.

Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler and right-hander Craig Stammen received the news Tuesday that they had made the Nationals' opening day roster. Just one year ago, the pair had roomed together in Syracuse for the Triple-A Chiefs with hopes of working their way back to the majors. That quest has been realized. Detwiler will be the Nationals fifth starter and Stammen will pitch out of the bullpen. Stammen remembers the work they put in with the Chiefs for the opportunity to get back to...

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A look at 2012 Harrisburg pitching staff

April 03, 2012, 12:52pm

Nationals

A look at 2012 Harrisburg pitching staff

Here is the pitching roster announced for manager Matt LeCroy and pitching coach Paul Menhart for the 2012 Double-A Harrisburg Senators (All are right-handers unless otherwise noted): Mike Ballard (LHP) Erik Davis Paul Demny Marcos Frias Christian Garcia Robert Gilliam Patrick Lehman Jeff Mandel Patrick McCoy (LHP) Hector Nelo Kevin Pucetas Danny Rosenbaum (LHP) Joe Testa (LHP) The staff includes Potomac Nationals player of the year Danny Rosenbaum, George Washington University's Patrick...

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Bernadina's knee looks good, Johnson expects him to be starter in center

April 03, 2012, 10:36am

Nationals

Bernadina's knee looks good, Johnson expects him to be starter in center

Nationals outfielder Roger Bernadina went through batting practice and pregame workouts prior to Tuesday's exhibition against the Boston Red Sox with no lingering issues from the right knee bruise suffered in Monday's game. Bernadina was running around without limitations in the Nationals Park outfield during pregame and showed no ill effects getting hit on the knee by a failed pickoff throw. The 27-year old Curacao native was listed in the starting lineup, playing center field and batting...

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Nationals' minor league rosters taking shape

April 01, 2012, 7:01am

Nationals

The Nationals' minor league affiliates' regular season rosters are starting to take shape with the major league club finalizing their 25-man major league club. Here are some of the highlights of what each of the affiliates could look like this season: Single-A Hagerstown catching duties will be split by Adrian Nieto, Cole Leonida and others. I have confirmed the infielders are Matt Skole, Brett Newsome, Bryce Ortega, Cutter Dykstra and Justin Miller. Outfielders include Brian Goodwin, Caleb...

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Purke, Ray and Hague will begin season in extended spring training

March 31, 2012, 8:47am

Nationals

Purke, Ray and Hague will begin season in extended spring training

A quick note I just received on some top prospects for the Nationals who will begin the season in extended spring training in Viera, Fla., as they worked to get healthy and/or build strength. Shortstop Rick Hague, who missed most of last season, continues rehabbing and gaining strength back in his shoulder while working in Florida. He is about a month away from playing time in the system. Pitchers Matt Purke and Robbie Ray will also begin the season in Florida at extended spring training....

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Nationals outfield prospects Oduber, Taylor, Goodwin, Hood and more shining in camp

March 31, 2012, 6:19am

Nationals

We have talked a lot about and previewed prospects like Bryce Harper, Eury Perez, Brian Goodwin, Destin Hood and others. Here is the latest updates on how a few of these outfield prospects are faring as the regular season quickly draws near with minor league rosters about set. Nationals outfield coordinator Tony Tarasco said the work of Hood, Michael Taylor and Randolph Oduber has been standing out during spring training. "Taylor, Oduber and Hood are tremendous athletes," Tarasco said. "I...

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Nationals don't want to rush top outfield prospect Perez

March 29, 2012, 11:16am

Nationals

Another outfielder working his way up the system is Dominican prospect Eury Perez, who hit .283 with 41 RBIs, 45 stolen bases in 119 games last season for Single-A Potomac. Now he is poised to make that next step. But let's not put too much pressure on the kid, says Nationals outfield coordinator Tony Tarasco. After all, he is only 21 years old and is still learning the game. "Eury has all the tools," Tarasco said. "He is another great ball player. I worry that because of our need for a...

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Former Nationals president Kasten part of group that will buy Dodgers

March 27, 2012, 8:03pm

Nationals

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced late Tuesday that the team will be purchased for a record $2.15 billion by a group that includes former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers great Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Also a part of the group is former Nationals and Atlanta Braves team president Stan Kasten. Johnson's group won out the right to buy the Dodgers over groups led by multiple sports team owner Stan Kroenke and New York Mets limited partner Steven Cohen. Johnson said in a statement: "I am thrilled to...

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Destin Hood focusing on throwing with continued positive results

March 25, 2012, 8:28pm

Nationals

Destin Hood focusing on throwing with continued positive results

We have mentioned some of the placements for Nationals prospects to begin the season: Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore in Triple-A Syracuse, Sandy Leon and Jeff Kobernus at Double-A Harrisburg, and Matt Purke and Anthony Rendon at Single-A Potomac. Another outstanding prospect that will move up from Potomac to Harrisburg this spring is outfielder Destin Hood, who had a tremendous campaign in Woodbridge, Va., last summer. Hood hit .276 in 128 games, with 29 doubles, five triples, 13 homers, 83 RBIs...

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Leon again turning heads with consistent play

March 23, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

Leon again turning heads with consistent play

There is always concern when the franchise must trade some of its best prospects at certain positions. This offseason, it was pitcher and catcher, and Derek Norris had carried the flag as the best Nationals backstop prospect for what seemed like many years. With his trade to the Oakland A's, does that mean that the depth at catcher has dried up? Not in the least. With so many outstanding catchers still in the system - from Cole Leonida to Adrian Nieto, from David Frietas to Jhonathan Solano...

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Moore will spend lots of time at first base this season

March 21, 2012, 6:21pm

Nationals

Moore will spend lots of time at first base this season

I have written a lot during the offseason about the Nationals working with first baseman Tyler Moore at outfield positions to improve his versatility. That is still true. Just like Michael Morse, the Nationals would love to have Moore be able to play different spots all over the field so they can get his offensive output in the majors sooner rather than later. But roster needs change quickly, and with the injury to former Triple-A Syracuse first baseman Chris Marrero, the need for Moore to...