Joe Ross looking to build on impressive rookie year

During his introductory press conference earlier this month, the new Nationals infielder Daniel Murphy revealed that he pays close attention to the First-Year Player Draft. Murphy, a seven-year veteran, was asked which of his new, younger Nationals teammates stick out most from recent drafts.

He chose Joe Ross, a pitcher he recalled from their encounters last season.

"Ross was the easy one to remember because he punched me out a couple times on that slider on my back foot," Murphy recalled. "That was an easy one to remember."

During Ross' rookie year in 2015, he fanned Murphy twice and held the former Mets second baseman hitless in six plate appearances. But Murphy wasn't alone in having his difficulties with Ross. The 22-year old right-hander locked up opponents to a .223 batting average during his first season in the majors.

With veteran right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister departing the Nationals in free agency this offseason, Ross is poised to take over a full-time spot in the starting rotation in 2016. Don't figure on the stage being too big for Ross after bumping Fister to the bullpen following the All-Star break last season.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo acquired Ross, a Padres 2012 first-rounder, from San Diego last winter in a three-way trade also involving Tampa Bay. But when Rizzo made the deal, most focused on the Nats landing top infield prospect Trea Turner. Turner, also 22, got a taste of the big leagues late last season and is expected to be a star in the organization for many years.

Meanwhile, Ross, who several in the organization didn't know much about, shot from Double-A Harrisburg to Nationals Park for his major league debut against the Cubs on June 6.

Ross displayed stellar command and control through the first 11 starts of his career, walking just 11 while striking out 65 over 66 2/3 innings. In fact, after making his major league debut, Ross didn't issue a walk until the eighth inning of his second start in Milwaukee, setting a new team record for most batters faced (54) without giving up a free pass to begin a career.

Ross ended up battling control issues in his final two starts of the season as he tired. He was moved to the bullpen to finish out the season and ended up throwing 152 2/3 innings combined between the minors and majors in 2015.

Ross went 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 13 starts for the Nationals. Among his highlights was a two-game stretch in mid-June when he beat the Brewers and Pirates, allowing just three runs while striking out 19 and walking only two over 15 1/3 innings.

"Joe had an incredible season," Rizzo said after moving Ross to the bullpen. "For a guy that just turned 22 (on May 21), he showed the poise and the stuff of a seasoned pro. We really liked him coming into the season. As you can see, he has exceeded everybody's expectation on his developmental curve and the time it took him to get to the big leagues and how he performed in the big leagues. We couldn't be happier for Joe."

So Ross is now set to take over a spot in a rotation that just a year ago was called the best in baseball. The question is whether Ross can help regain that reputation or if a sophomore slump will ensue.