NationalsProspects.com

So Long, Boys

As longtime readers know, forlorn Spike with his turkey legs behind him means bad news.

Yesterday, Baseball America’s latest transactions post brought the news that the following minor-leaguers have been released:
• LHP Sean Adler (GCL)
• RHP Daniel Butler (Auburn)
• OF D.K. Carey (Potomac)
• 3B Andres Martinez (Auburn)
• 2B Joshual Ramirez (Auburn)
• C/1B Chance Shepard (Auburn)
• LHP Hector Silvestre (Potomac)
• OF Edwin Ventura (GCL)
• C Luis Vilorio (Auburn)

These are just from March 16-22, but there are no other names on the MiLB.com transaction pages (not these were there; they weren’t).

I’d say Chance Shepard was a surprise, but as feared (predicted), he became this year’s Connor Simonetti – but about three months sooner. The rest are really not, as they either failed to impress, got hurt, or aged out.

And the semi-annual reminder that this is, for most of these guys, the end of their professional careers – especially now that the Save America’s Pastime Act will make it harder for some independent leagues to operate. Not that they should be exempt, but it’s specious—if now downright intellectually dishonest—to assert that this is “unexpected collateral damage.” There are 1,320,000 reasons to believe otherwise.

16 Commments

  1. I was a little surprised that Dale “D. K.” Carey was back last season after hitting only .209 in 2016. He always struck me as the team-leader type in the games I saw him at Potomac, leading me to believe that he’ll have a future in baseball as a coach or a scout, if he wants it. He was one who filled out a uniform well. He knew how to work walks, but he never hit enough or showed much power, despite his 6-3 frame.

    Anyway, good luck to him and all the rest. We sometimes forget that all of these guys are extremely good baseball players to have made it this far.

  2. The one name that I’ve been following for awhile was Silvestre and looked him up.
    He was with the Nats for 7 years, that is such a long time, and he never got above High A with a 4.64 ERA last year.

    1. I think he’s a southpaw … and you know what Luke says about how the organization treats southpaws …

    1. P-Nats and Suns have media days on Tuesday; the Chiefs are on Wednesday. Still waiting on the Sens.

      1. Gil , you were right. Klobosits snd Borque got the bump to A plus. Carter K making many fans happy with his bump up.
        Very curious to see R&R deal @ AA.
        Reyes and Jefry-Rod
        DJ to city Isle in that speedy OF.
        Interesting that Choruby or Pryor did not make Hags
        Crownover @ as A plus to pitch more
        As reliever ?

        Welcome back, Luke ! How was the endless gumbo time ?? Lol

  4. Last comment before the affiliate media days/ daze
    Safe to say that one should first look @ who falls down from Cuse roster to Senators. Maybe Wilson , Bautista , Loogie Guillon , Vargas and (?) Voth
    Depending upon several AAA vets walking in their own or agent accords??
    Senators in the outfield ? Sundberg Keller, Hernandez , Bautista , Jones Fuenmayor , Norfolk ???
    Quite the laundry list of kids who rode the spring buses to play SS games and roadie A games around Florida in March
    Happy Easter

    1. The Cuban you mentioned isn’t a kid. He’s a pro seems like a professional left-handed hitter not the best fielder but maybe good enough? Must be some reason why he wasn’t invited to ST as a NRI? I’d be interested in hearing about that.

      1. Yes filler @28
        Interested to see if Nats add any released players from other orgs
        In April rosters. AA or A levels

        1. BA said Fuenmayor released along with a couple Latin outfielders who could not traction up fast. Age is such the timeclock on kids windows in chain
          Less is more on some rosters . Right, Gil?

  6. Looks like Nats released wrong 1st baseman. Shepard put up good numbers last year in Auburn. Guess when club has no money invested in player they are first to go..

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