More early camp updates on Fedde, Marmolejos, Abreu and others

More early camp updates, including the progress of right-hander Erick Fedde. The UNLV standout was a first-round selection by the Nationals in 2014 and immediately had Tommy John surgery.

Low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said Fedde looks like he's ready to log some heavier innings this season. Fedde tossed 64 innings in 14 games last season.

"He looks really fresh," Anderson said. "His arm looks really good. He's got life back to him, you know what I mean? It usually takes that year and a half, two years for some guys. His arm looks really sharp and the ball is coming out of it pretty good. Fastball, curveball, slide look top quality. Looking forward to seeing him. He did really well in his bullpens and he threw one time."

Anderson reported a few of the Dominican pitchers are also making waves in spring training, showing nice improvement.

"Right-hander Wander Suero is in big league camp, he's really turned some heads," Anderson said. "And then you have right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who looked really sharp the other day. He's a big boy. I had him in GCL and parts of last year. He was working on some things mechanically getting himself to repeat his delivery.

It looks like Rodriguez will begin the season with Hagerstown after going up and down last year with short-season Single-A Auburn and the Suns. Suero spent his entire 2015 with Double-A Harrisburg.

Minor league offensive Player of the Year Jose Marmolejos is displaying his loud bat again and is also focusing on his fielding at first base.

"He's got the ability to get the barrel to the ball," Anderson said. "He's got some pop. His Player of the Year numbers were pretty good. It's just going to be another challenge this upcoming season."

Marmolejos is likely to begin in high Single-A Potomac. The challenge in the Carolina League is he will face guys over and over again with more frequency. It will be a good test. Anderson says infield coordinator Jeff Garber is focusing on defense and fielding with Marmolejos as he tries to improve on that aspect of his game for 2016.

Shortstop Osvaldo Abreu tweaked a groin and was on the shelf for a few days. But he is well on his way to possibly starting the season in Potomac.

"Before (the groin issue), he was moving well," Anderson said. "Seems like he was making some adjustments to his swing. Last year, his strengths and discipline got better. He's really coming along. I'm intrigued to see him develop and get going."

Update: The Nationals reassigned Suero to minor league camp this morning.