Souza's stock rising in Williams' eyes

SAN DIEGO - Nationals manager Matt Williams likes to plan things out, down to the smallest detail. From lineup combinations to how every minute in spring training drills will be accounted for, Williams has a reputation as a taskmaster who doesn't relish wasting time or energy. So a proclamation by the manager at the Winter Meetings that Steven Souza Jr. has worked his way into the 25-man roster conversation is a significant step for the rookie outfielder. Williams said the 25-year-old made quite an impression from the time he was in spring training to the end of the season, during which he earned several call-ups to the Nats. "I think he fits, certainly has a chance to be on our club and be one of our guys that is on the team," Williams said Tuesday afternoon during his media session at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. "It all depends on how the roster shakes out, how all of that happens. But health, of course, is always an issue. And we have to look at that, too. But I think Steven is ready to take that next step and play in the big leagues. I think he's proven everything he can prove and he's ready to go do that. I'm excited about that for him." Souza displayed raw power, athleticism and the look of a hitter in spring training, and that drew the notice of both the major league coaching staff and the Nationals' player development personnel. Optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in mid-March, Souza took to heart what the Nationals told him about developing as a hitter. During a breakout season in which he won dual honors as the International League's Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, Souza enjoyed a breakout campaign. He hit .345/.427/.577 for a lofty 1.004 OPS. Playing in 100 games for the Chiefs, he had 25 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 77 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. Williams thinks he could compete for a bench role, which would probably make Souza the fifth outfielder behind Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper, Denard Span and top reserve Nate McLouth, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery that short-circuited his first season in D.C. If McLouth isn't ready to go when camp begins, or struggles to regain his health, Souza appears poised to push past him on the depth chart. Souza adds to his chances to stick by being able to play first base. Since Souza was drafted by the Nationals in the third round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Cascade High School in Everett, Wash., he's an organizational success story in terms of player development. Souza was recalled from Syracuse on April 12 when Span was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list, and made his major league debut on April 13. He returned to Triple-A a week later, then was summoned later that month when Harper sustained a thumb injury that eventually necessitated surgery. Souza came up again on Aug. 4, when McLouth went down with the shoulder problem, but he only lasted until Aug. 10, when he was placed on the DL after crashing into a wall in Atlanta. Souza was activated off the DL on Sept. 1 when major league rosters expanded. Though he batted only .130 (3-for-23), two of his hits were home runs. Souza, playing left field, made a spectacular diving catch for the last out of Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter on the final day of the regular season, a grab that has been repeated time and again in compilations of the year's finest defensive plays. "He was impressive," Williams said. "I think the improvements that he made and the difference between him in spring training as opposed to September were huge improvements. Spring training, I saw power. I saw athleticism. I saw the ability to do a lot of things in the ball field. In September, I saw a baseball player. A guy that had a year of Triple-A experience, had great success and a guy hungry to take the next step. Williams took note of some of the subtle signs of maturation that Souza exhibited, especially the fact that he wasn't the typical overaggressive rookie. "He'd take the 2-1 pitch to get in a 3-1 count," Williams said. "He wouldn't swing at the 2-1 breaking ball or ball off the plate, so he could get in a better count to hit. Those type of things will do nothing but help him be a great player. When he hits the ball, it stays hit. He hit some long homers." All in all, Souza made a positive impression that continues to grow. "All those intangibles and all those things are there, it's just a question of him getting an opportunity," Williams added. "So it will be interesting to see where he's at this year, coming into spring, as opposed to where he was last year."