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Nats Contingent to AFL Named

I can’t remember such little fanfare for the release of usually routine information related to a baseball club. Enter the 2016 Washington Nationals AFL contingent, which is as follows:

  • Ryan Brinley, RHP
  • Nick Lee, LHP
  • Austin Voth, RHP
  • Osvaldo Abreu, SS
  • Drew Ward, 3B
  • Andrew Stevenson, OF

This seems to be one of the youngest group to be sent – if memory serves, my late father always said it was the second thing to go – with the trio of Abreu, Stevenson, and Ward (22, 22, 21) along with 23-y.o. Ryan Brinley. But, the practice of using the Arizona Fall League to guage a Rule 5 eligible pitcher (Voth) and a 40-man guy on the cusp (Lee) has returned.

This year, the Nationals will be filling out the roster of the Glendale Desert Dogs. Play begins in the six-team AFL on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and runs through Nov. 17 with a one-game championship on Saturday, November 19th.

Feel free to discuss in the comments.

13 Commments

  1. One cannot give up on Lee
    Since behind him is Orlen
    And after viewing the meltdown
    in frederick of mendez. Holland
    And etc in 17-10 shortfall in playoff
    Clinching , we anticipate the arrival
    Up the chain of Mooney , Angher C,
    Howard , Peterson , etc etc ( cue
    Yul Bryner voice !!)

    1. They surely need more left-handed pitching especially in the relief category. Nick Lee going to the AFL instead of up to help the major league guys mebbe says alot? Bryan Harper is on the DL else one might wonder if he might not be a possibility on Sept 1st. Dual TJ mid 30’s Burnett seems like a huge risk for always over insured Rizzo.

      1. Lee is no longer on the 40-man so being called up this September was never really in the cards.

  2. Excited to see Drew Ward and Andrew Stevenson going to AZ.

    After Voth was the odd man out all year, maybe now he gets some TLC.

    I’m told the Nats get to add one more in a few weeks, maybe Tyler Mapes.
    Ward gets to play full time after being a taxi squad guy last year.

  3. If anyone were to be added, I would hope it to be Silvestre or Benincasa, two players off the DL who were once highly hoped for. Mapes deserves a rest before his bump to AAA in ’17.

    I think Voth is being showcased against junior competition.

    2. I agree that Silvestre seems like a good candidate to be added, a former fairly highly-regarded prospect who missed all of last year and most of this. Obviously he could use the IPs and he’s never pitched above A+ so this would be a good test and a great chance for him to develop.

      Does anyone know if teams are allowed to add another player to the AFL before it starts?

  4. Here is a report from John Sickels on his preseason sleepers

    Tyler Watson, LHP, Nationals: Age 19, 34th round pick in 2015 but off to an excellent start, 2.21 ERA in 53 innings since being activated from extended spring training, 62/13 K/BB, 37 hits between NY-P and Low-A. Keep an eye on this one

  5. I predicted Ward, Stevenson, Brinley, and maybe Robles a few days ago, so good to see that my radar isn’t so bad. The Nats may think Robles can still benefit more from the instructional league than AZ, or they may think his is already beaten up from his first full-season grind.

    Yes, Nick Lee was DFA’d and is no longer on the 40-man. He has been good this year while mostly repeating AA, and Harper got the AAA promotion ahead of him. In fact, if you look at Lee’s stats, the only line that really stands out is at Potomac the first part of 2015, when he was over-aged at 24. He’ll turn 26 this offseason and pretty much has a now-or-never season ahead. Sometimes it does happen, as it has this year for Goodwin.

    1. Err, meant to say that Lee HASN’T been particularly good this year, with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.729 WHIP. About the only encouraging number is his 9.8 K/9.

      1. 23%K versus 19% nBB? That’s the number I look at … and Bryan Harper decidedly better and very effective in AAA at age 26.7: 23%K and 10% nBB in AAA, 90 batters faced. 3.05 adjusted xRA. The interesting question is: will BHarps older bro get to play with his younger brother. His stats sure make a case for given he is a lefty.

        So, instead of Lee maybe Harper gets popped up to the 40-man?

  6. I’m glad to see Abreu make it. His bat has suddenly reawakened these past couple weeks. Hopefully he can keep the hot streak going, as it had been a pretty forgettable season.

    I too thought Silvestre would make it, given the need for more innings, but maybe the Nats don’t value him much anymore…

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