Fedde has solid outing for Hagerstown, Hearn shows upside for Auburn

Right-hander Erick Fedde has made a positive first step this season as he rebounds from Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old UNLV product was the Nationals' first-round selection in 2014 and then immediately had the ligament replacement procedure.

Although Fedde gave up six runs in his first low Single-A start on Aug. 11, he did quite well in his most recent outing, not allowing a run over 4 2/3 innings innings as Hagerstown lost to Hickory 3-2 in 11 innings. Fedde allowed only four hits and one walk, facing 18 batters.

He started this season with short-season Single-A Auburn before being called up to Hagerstown just 10 days ago. Doubledays manager Gary Cathcart worked with him alongside pitching coach Tim Redding for his first seven starts.

"He looks fine," Cathcart said. "The key for anybody coming off of Tommy John first year back on the mound is just monitoring the health and he seems really healthy. He's been up to five innings since May. He'll be working on three months of five innings, been healthy and strong (at) 80-85 pitches.

"He could easily go another inning or two, but obviously we are not going to do that with him being a high-priority guy. He's taking the ball every five days, (so) it's good to see that. He's actually way ahead of schedule for Tommy John guys."

Left-handed starter Taylor Hearn is also doing well this season at Auburn. At 6-foot-5 and 210 lbs., the 20-year-old southpaw is a 2015 fifth-round selection out of NAIA Oklahoma Baptist. He also pitched for San Jacinto Junior College in Texas.

"He's got the long, long arms, the old Sam Perkins arms," Cathcart said. "Just loose arm. We call him the big ball of clay because he's raw but he's got a tremendous tool set to work with. He's going to be fun to develop because he's got the live arm and he's mid-90's already. Really just getting the feel to learn how to pitch. Not a lot of experience."

Hearn is 1-4, but has a 2.45 ERA in 36 2/3 innings over eight starts (nine games) with the Doubledays. He has 37 strikeouts and 11 walks.

"I'd put him at the top of the list for guys drafted this year," Cathcart said. "He's just getting started and he's already settled in nicely in this league. This is not an easy league. A lot of college guys, a lot of good hitters. He's doing fine. I know the pitching coaches can't wait to get their hands on him in instructional league and work with him. He's done a nice job for a guy with so little experience."

Cathcart said Hearn has a good fastball and changeup and needs to work on establishing another breaking pitch but he is on a nice track to begin his career.

* Right-hander Lucas Giolito won his second game with Double-A Harrisburg in a 5-3 win over Akron. Giolito fired 87 pitches over five innings and allowed just two runs, one earned, with five hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

* Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez was placed on the seven-day disabled list by the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, effective Aug. 19. Outfielder Reed Johnson and right-hander David Carpenter completed their rehab assignments with the P-Nats.