Lucas Giolito and other top prospects begin instructional league today

The top Nationals prospects have descended on the team's practice and training facility in Viera, Fla. Joining these prospects are the club's coaching and development staff, including Single-A Carolina League champion Potomac Nationals manager Tripp Keister, as instructional league competition commences today with the first game.

The season was intended to begin Saturday, but the Nationals' first game versus Houston was rained out. The instructional league squad faces New York Mets today at home to begin the campaign.

Here is the roster for instructional league, highlighted by top prospects Lucas Giolito, Wilmer Difo and Matt Skole, among others.

PITCHERS
Connor Bach
Joan Baez
Weston Davis
Kida De La Cruz
Robbie Dickey
Ian Dickson
Lucas Giolito
Jacob Johansen
Nick Lee
Reynaldo Lopez
McKenzie Mills
Travis Ott
Ronald Pena
Nicholas Pivetta
Luis Reyes
Jefry Rodriguez
Hector Silvestre
Kyle Simmons
Matthew Spann
Wander Suero
Kylin Turnbull
Phillips Valdez
Drew Van Orden
Austen Williams

CATCHERS

Craig Manuel
Raudy Read
Jackson Reetz
Jorge Tillero

INFIELDERS

Osvaldo Abreu
Austin Davidson
Wilmer Difo
Anderson Franco
Cody Gunter
Kelvin Gutierrez
Edwin Lora
Jose Marmolejos
David Masters
Stephen Perez
Shawn Pleffner
Ryan Ripken
Matt Skole
Drew Ward

OUTFIELDERS
Rafael Bautista
D.K. Carey
Randy Encarnacion
Jeff Gardner
Brandon Miller
Israel Mota
Gilberto Ramirez
Victor Robles
Drew Vettleson

Schedule:
Sept 20 - at Houston (postponed, rain)
Sept. 22 - New York
Sept. 23 - at Atlanta
Sept. 24 - Houston
Sept. 25 - Camp day (Viera)
Sept. 26 - Camp day (Viera)
Sept 27 - Atlanta
Sept. 29 - at New York
Sept. 30 - Houston
Oct. 1 - Camp day (Viera)
Oct. 2 - at Houston
Oct. 3 - Camp day (Viera)
Oct. 4 - Atlanta
Oct. 6 - vs. Canada at Lake Buena Vista
OCt. 7 - Camp day (Viera)