Solano responding as everyday catcher in Syracuse

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 17, 2011, 5:47pm

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With the promotion of Jesus Flores to the big leagues, the door opened for catcher Jhonatan Solano to get every day work with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and he has responded. Before Sunday, he had hit safely in eight of his last nine games, including three multi-hit games. The right-handed-hitting Solano is batting .315 in his last 41 games with six doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs. Nationals hitting instructor Rick Schu told me Sunday on "Nats Insider on 106.7 FM" that Solano has been impressive as the everyday catcher for the Chiefs. He has continued to improve his hitting, from .252 with Double-A Harrisburg last season, to .308 in 2011 with Syracuse. The Nationals like what they see from Solano and the way he calls a game and works with the pitchers. They need to see him work on his throws, but there is promise there. Solano has a quick release and is working on not throwing high to catch runners racing into second base. But with his numbers up at the plate, the prospects are looking good for the Colombian-born Solano as he gets increased reps for the Chiefs with Flores in D.C.