Whiting and Brinley show why they earned promotions to Harrisburg

Right-hander Boone Whiting did very well at high Single-A and now has been promoted to Double-A by the Nationals.

Whiting, 26, an 18th-round selection for St. Louis in 2010, reached Triple-A with Memphis and Albuquerque from 2013-2015.

At Harrisburg, he is 2-2 with a 6.00 ERA, but was too much for Carolina League competition. With the P-Nats, he went 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 starts. He recorded 43 strikeouts and 10 walks in 72 2/3 innings.

Potomac manager Tripp Keister, appearing on my "Nats Insider" show on 106.7 The Fan on Sunday, said the experience Whiting brought to the table was invaluable to the P-Nats' younger hurlers.

"The name of the position, we talk about all the time, is pitcher," Keister said. "It's not stand there and see how hard you can throw. He does that. He commands the ball to both sides. He throws his changeup, he throws his breaking ball, keeps hitters off balance. A lot of hitters do not get good swings off of him. Ultimately, he pitched. It's fun to watch.

"His fastball is sitting 90, 91 mph, but he can command it, he can sink it. He can pitch it to both sides. He pitches in when he has to. You get guys worrying about balls in, then he'll throw that fastball or that breaking ball away. He's very professional.

"He's an older guy, so he was good for our younger kids to learn how to prepare for their starts and learn from watching him."

Whiting and his wife just celebrated their first Father's Day with their new baby, so it has been a big year for his family.

"He's just super young man and I'm happy for his success," Keister said.

Right-hander Ryan Brinley also got promoted to Harrisburg. He finished games for the P-Nats and earned a 0.65 ERA in 21 games. He had 10 saves and went 3-0. The 23-year-old has appeared in four games for the Senators and is learning how to deal with the Double-A level.

"He's a really interesting kid," said Keister. "He's later round pick. He is really a good example of how good our scouts are. He was drafted last year and is already in Double-A. He led the league in saves. He's fastball, changeup, and (his) breaking ball is still developing. Guys did not get good swings off of him. He could throw his fastball or changeup for strikes at any time in the count. He really deserves and earned his promotion.

"It will be an adjustment as a first year in full-season to get to Harrisburg, but one I think he'll be fine with. He's an exciting bullpen guy moving forward."