This is the pitching staff to watch this season because it’s likely to have the youngest starter in full-season ball, two Top 15 prospects (per BA), and the bulk of the 2011 pitching draftees.
The X factor of course is whether or not the Washington Nationals plan to shorten the workload (and avoid the coldest weather) as they did with Robbie Ray and A.J. Cole a year ago. It’s certainly possible, especially with the shoulder woes of Matt Purke, the TJ surgery of Jack McGeary, and the age of Wirkin Estevez (20).
| STARTERS | SWINGMEN | RELIEVERS |
| Bobby Hansen | Chris McKenzie | Greg Holt |
| Wirkin Estevez | Taylor Hill | Blake Monar |
| Christian Meza | Colin Bates | Ben Hawkins |
| Nathan Karns | Kylin Turnbull | Aaron Barrett |
| Matt Purke | Tyler Hanks | |
| Luis Chirinos | ||
| Jack McGeary |
I’ll be happy if I get half of these right. Basically, I’m trying to predict which pitchers will get the bump from Auburn mixed in with signed-too-late draft picks and repeats. Again, not a task that I envy the Nats brass to make, nor do I have any special insight. Let’s face it: Even if I were credentialed, Byron Kerr’s reports have certainly demonstrated how forthcoming the officials are(n’t).
As we’ve seen from the early dispatches, this year’s camp is mostly about getting ready and getting in shape, with Davey Johnson freely admitting that just three spots are unsettled. The Grapefruit League doesn’t start for another nine days, so settle in for more stories about Bryce Harper (will he or won’t he?), Ryan Zimmerman (sign me now or shut up until November), and Edwin Jackson’s ride (yes, really).
Thankfully, Adam Kilgore filed a story about three of the Gio Gonzalez Four. In case anyone is wondering, Oakland visits Baltimore the last weekend of April and the last weekend of July.