Instructional league wrap-up: four more collegiate pitchers

RHP Andrew Karp
23 years old
6-foot-1, 204 lbs.
Florida State
Round 6 (2018)

RHP Frankie Bartow
21 years old
6-foot-3, 180 lbs.
Miami
Round 11 (2018)

RHP Jeremy McKinney
23 years old
6-foot, 190 bs.
Indiana State
Round 31 (2017)

RHP Kyle Johnston
22 years old
6-foot, 190 lbs.
Texas
Round 6 (2017)

Listed above are a few of the hurlers who were at the Nats' instructional league workouts last month. Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart offered updates on their progress.

On Karp, Bartow and McKinney:

"I believe all three of those guys are very dependable," Menhart noted. "They all have legitimate shots at pitching a full season come springtime, from what we've seen.

"McKinney was, obviously, already in Potomac. Right-hander Kyle Johnston was also down in (Florida) too. They've proved to themselves they can compete for another level.

"Karp has got a unique delivery, which I kind of dig. I like a little funk. It will be interesting to see him healthy and strong come springtime ... You can throw him into the mix like right-hander Jake Irvin, left-hander Tim Cate and right-hander Reid Schaller.

"Bartow seemed to be the one guy this year that didn't show signs of tiredness. His pitch ability was quite impressive as well."

Johnston pitched 10 games for high Single-A Potomac. He logged 28 overall games with 16 starts, finishing 7-5 with a 4.12 ERA. Bartow pitched 15 games for low Single-A Hagerstown. McKinney pitched 22 games for Potomac, going 3-4 with a 1.89 ERA and four saves. Karp was coming off his collegiate season, so was limited to six games with two teams, the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals and short-season Single-A Auburn. Especially if they are 2018 signees out of long college seasons, they now all should get a shot at a full season of minor league baseball.