Fedde takes a step forward in rehab process

I feel like Nationals fans got a pretty good idea of the type of player and teammate that Adam LaRoche is over the last four years. And so it shouldn't surprise people that after signing a two-year, $25 million deal with the White Sox, LaRoche - who won a Gold Glove at first base just three seasons ago and was a finalist for another in 2014 - told his new manager, Robin Ventura, that he'd be willing to serve as the designated hitter as often as the team needs him to. The White Sox already have a talented first baseman in Jose Abreu, the 2014 American League Rookie of the Year. And while LaRoche loves contributing on the defensive side of things and would prefer to be out there every day, he'll take a backseat at that spot most of the time. "Talking to (Ventura), they have a tough spot," LaRoche told reporters. "They've got a kid (Abreu) that's obviously going to be around and be really good for a long time. It's not fair to make him a full-time DH this early in his career, especially when he can handle first base and handle the glove over there. "I'll do it however it plays out. If they need me to play first more than we're talking about, great, I'll be there. If I end up DHing more, that's fine." Sounds like Adam LaRoche, all right, doesn't it? Yes, he's getting paid handsomely in Chicago, but the guy will do whatever is needed of him in order for his team to have the best shot to win. Meanwhile, Erick Fedde, the Nationals' first-round pick in the 2014 draft, tweeted yesterday that he's been cleared by a doctor to begin throwing again, this a little less than six months removed from Tommy John surgery. The Nationals picked the 21-year-old right-hander with the No. 18 overall selection in this year's draft, just two days after he had undergone surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Fedde was initially considered by many scouts to be a top-five talent, but he fell to the Nats after having his junior season cut short in May because of the elbow injury. The UNLV product and former high school teammate of Bryce Harper visited Nationals Park in early August and then flew down to the Nats' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., to begin his rehab process. Weeks and weeks of tireless work later, he's now able to pick up a ball and do some light tossing. He'll continue along the same rehab course that so many other talented young Nationals pitchers (Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Lucas Giolito, Sammy Solis, etc.) have been through. Prior to his injury, Fedde possessed a fastball that sat from 91-93 mph but could reach the mid-to-upper 90s, a slider that scouts (and Harper) rave about, and a developing changeup. He's still got a ways to go before the radar gun reads anything in the 90s or before he's cleared to throw off-speed pitches, but Fedde is continuing to take the small steps necessary to get back on a mound.