So Long, Boys (UPDATED)

As reported earlier today, we heard the Nationals had made some releases, just not who. Now, we know. Per Bill Ladson and MLB Trade Rumors, it’s the following minor-leaguers:

• LHP Ryan Demmin (Potomac)
• RHP Inocencio Heredia (GCL)
• IF Stephen King (Harrisburg, Potomac)
• LHP Bobby Lucas (Hagerstown)
• LHP Blake Monar (Auburn)
• OF Wade Moore (Potomac)
• RHP Casey Upperman (offseason pickup)
• LHP Andrew Wall (Auburn)
• OF J.P. Ramirez (Hagerstown, Potomac)
• UT Delwyn Young (offseason pickup)

I don’t think there are any real surprises here. Maybe Inocencio Heredia, who just turned 21 in December, but had spent parts of two seasons in the GCL (and of course, mea culpa, I overrated him enough to put him on the “Notable Arms”). Wade Moore had retired last summer and was contemplating a return to playing football, but saw his change of mind go unrewarded. Without going down the line, there were hints for the others.

Nevertheless, I’ll rephrase I wrote last year… before you comment, just remember that for some of these young men, it’s the end of the road. Some will try to hook on with another organization. A few will try to play their way back via the indys. But all of them will have to figure out what’s the next chapter in the lives, baseball or otherwise.

UPDATE: Last night, Baseball America made its weekly transaction post for the period of March 14-20 (the releases above are believe to have occurred on Thursday). The following two players were among the previously unreported cuts:

• RHP Randy Consuegra (offseason pickup)
• RHP Francisco Samuel (offseason pickup)

Both pitchers were reclamation projects that were signed last November.