Lombardozzi making push for Double-A

Potomac Nationals infielder Stephen Lombardozzi continues to be one of the top hitters in the Carolina League, and that is gaining attention around the organization. Lighting it up at the plate, Lombardozzi is batting .299 in 103 games this season with 66 runs, 28 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 38 RBI. He has hit .341 in his last 10 games. At a recent game in Woodbridge, Lombardozzi made a classic play to get an out from his second base position. With no one on and Kinston trying to rally, Lombardozzi dove and grabbed a hot shot up the middle, picked it off the dirt and jumped in mid air to throw in one motion to first base and easily nail the runner. "It was a fun. I work on that every day. So in the game if I get a ball like that I get a chance to do it. "It looks harder than it actually is. Right when I catch it I just try to get up straight in the air and turn so I can throw it." Lombardozzi has also done well and getting on base and hitting the ball hard. "I am just trying to stay with my routine. I get my soft toss in during pregame. I am getting prepared every day, going up there with a plan and an approach and staying with that plan has been the biggest thing." Stephen has also noticed how the P-Nats have started to make some noise in the win column since the start of the second half of the season. "I think right at the end of the first half we started to play better. We definitely picked it up a notch. We have a lot more confidence now. We are doing the little things well too." With his outstanding play again this season, the 21-year old Lombardozzi is a top candidate to get an invite to the Arizona Fall League this off season. To get that call, Lombardozzi must be on the Double-A roster by August 17. With all his success, the odds are in his favor he will get the promotion to Harrisburg in the next week or so.