Osvaldo Abreu flashing bat and glove in Arizona

We have previously alerted you to a prospect from the Dominican Republic, shortstop Osvaldo Abreu, who made the move this season from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac.

The Nationals like what they have seen from Abreu, so they gave him a shot in the Arizona Fall League with the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Glendale pitching coach Sam Narron, who performs the same role at Hagerstown, has been on hand from the beginning of AFL play and has been very impressed with Abreu's play.

"I will tell you, he's been the biggest surprise for me out here," Narron said. "I had the good fortune to have him last year in Hagerstown all year. He was a good player there for us, you could see the athleticism and the raw talent. But having him missed all this year, he was up in Potomac at high-A and he had another full year of experience and game's underneath his belt, he has changed dramatically out here."

The 22-year-old Abreu is hitting .263 in his last 10 games with at least one base hit in seven of those contests. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base on Thursday. Narron also says Abreu can do it with his glove and footwork on defense.

"The ball jumps off his bat. He's made a couple of stellar plays defensively," Narron said. "One, in particular, jumps off the page. In the very first game of the year, he goes deep into the six-hole, fields a ground ball and makes a jump throw to get the batter/runner at first base.

"He's showing some really good signs here. Being a pitching coach, I know when it's good and when it's not. ... Ozzie has been very good out here."

Abreu hit .247 in 126 games for Potomac, but scored 86 runs and had 23 doubles and 18 stolen bases. All of these tools can project well for Abreu, one to watch in the Nationals organization.