Notes on Cole, Solis, Espinosa and more

More accolades for high Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole, who has been selected to compete for the United States in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y. on Sunday, July 14. Cole has gone 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 17 starts this season. He already has 99 strikeouts to only 22 walks. He started Wednesday night. Cole went three innings, allowed two hits, no runs and struck out one batter. * Left-hander Sammy Solis' second rehab start was rained out Wednesday for GCL Nationals against GCL Marlins. If everything goes well in his next rehab start, it is likely Solis will be returned to Potomac. Solis is on the disabled list with shoulder soreness. * Syracuse second baseman Danny Espinosa went 2-for-3 Wednesday night (rain delay) for the Chiefs with a double and a home run. He has raised his average to .200 with a current 11-for-27 (.407) the last eight-plus games. This is good news for the Nationals and Espinosa as the trade deadline looms at the end of the month. * Seven of the nine starting position players for Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs on Wednesday night, including designated hitter Chris Marrero, have played for the Nationals in 2012 in 2013. They are Eury Perez, Jeff Kobernus, Espinosa, Tyler Moore, Corey Brown, Marrero and Jhonatan Solano. The other two, Zach Walters and Will Rhymes are both close. Walters is blocked at shortstop by Ian Desmond, but has 19 homers and 48 RBIs already this season. Rhymes played for the Rays in 2012 and for the Tigers in 2010 and 2011.