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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Fresno ALL-STAR BREAK @ Sacramento, 10:05 p.m. Ross (2-1, 4.50) vs. Franco (3-3, 6.10)
Harrisburg ALL-STAR BREAK vs. Richmond, 7:00 p.m. TBD vs. TBD
Potomac Lost, 3-0 @ Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. Teel (3-2, 3.60) vs. Vargas (2-2, 3.71)
Hagerstown Lost, 7-4 vs. Lexington, 7:05 p.m. Jake Irvin (4-6, 4.72) vs. TBD
Auburn Won, 8-3 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 p.m. TBD vs. O’Loughlin (1-2, 5.94)
GCL Nationals Won, 9-3 @ GCL Marlins, 12:00 p.m.  

Fresno – ALL STAR BREAK
• Hernandez 1-3, R, RBI
• Bacus 1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 0K, 0HR

Both Grizzlies representatives made it into the game, which saw the PCL defeat the IL, 9-3. Yadiel Hernandez went 1-for-3 with an RBI as the starting DH while Dakota Bacus gave up a run on one hit and one walk in one inning pitched.

Harrisburg – ALL STAR BREAK
• Sagdal 1-1, BB
• Barrera 0-1, R
• Wiseman 1-2, R, 2B, RBI

All three Senators made the starting lineup and two of them got hits as the Western Division shut out the Eastern, 5-0.
Roster moves: OF Nick Banks promoted from Potomac; RHP Kyle Barraclough reassigned from Potomac for MLB rehab.

Myrtle Beach 3 Potomac 0
• Cate (L, 1-2) 6IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K, WP
• Lara 1-3, SB
• Abreu 1-3, CS
• Agustin 1-3, CS

The P-Nats were shut out 3-0 on three hits in the opener against Myrtle Beach. Tim Cate put together another quality start, allowing an unearned run on four hits while walking three and fanning three. With no errors, walks drawn, or Victor Robles’s issued, Potomac had just two opportunities to drive in a run, which came after Gilbert Lara led off the 6th with a single, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. He watched the second out on a grounder to third and trotted home towards the dugout as the last out came on a 3-1 putout.
Roster moves: LF Jack Sundberg activated from 7-day I.L.

Lexington 7 Hagerstown 4
• Alastre (L, 3-9) 5⅔ IP, 5H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 8K, HR, WP
• Turner ⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 2WP, 2-2 IR-S
• Tapani 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Connell 1-2, BB
• Rhinesmith 1-3, R

A four-run 6th broke open a 3-2 lead as Lexington took another one from Hagerstown, 7-4. Tomas Alastre reclaimed the lead for the most losses in the Nats minors with his 9th as the Legends got to him for seven runs (six earned ) on five hits (one HR) and two walks while striking out eight over five and 2/3rds. O.T. Turner let in two of those runs while finishing the 6th. Matt Cronin put up a goose egg in the 7th in his pro debut followed by Ryan Tapani with two to close it out. The Suns made the most out of five hits and four walks despite three pickoffs as Lexington committed two errors and threw five wild pitches.

Auburn 8 Connecticut 3
• N. Gomez 5IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 6K, WP
• A. Hernandez (W, 3-0) 3IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Ward 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 5RBI
• Randa 2-5, 2R
• Jo. Sanchez 1-3, BB

Drew Ward drove in five to lead the Doubledays past the Tigers, 8-3. Niomar Gomez went the first five and gave up all three Connecticut runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out six in the no-decision. The “W” went to Alfonso Hernandez with three scoreless innings on three hits, no walks, and three whiffs. Jake Randa led the regulars with two singles and two runs scored, followed by Jose Sanchez with a single and a walk.
Roster moves: RHP Tyler Dyson reassigned from the GCL.

GCL Nationals 9 GCL Astros 3
• Ferrer (W, 1-0) 2⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Pozo (H, 2) 3IP, 1H, 0R, 4BB, 3K
• V. Peña 2-4, 2R, 3B, BB, 3RBI, SB
• Tovar 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Hurtado 2-5, R, 2-2B, OF assist at 3B
• Doolittle 4PB (6)
Roster moves: RHP McGowan assigned from Fresno for MILB rehab; RHP Pedro Gonzalez reassigned from Auburn.

28 Commments

  1. Duh. I forgot about Jack Sundberg as the outfield depth piece for Potnats
    No relation. Lucas Knowles. July 3rd state secret revealed to Nats nation interesting starting pitcher piece

      1. Quick build the ark ! Hurricane warnings this afternoon and the DSL dudes score 18 runs but another box score says only 2 runs
        You know Sanfler and Leo E are two rather athletic built guys @ 6’1 “.
        Several of those infielders on DSL can hit a bit too

    2. Luke and Cane. The talent level has even leveled off with the inverted AAA/AA paradigm which fits DC needs.
      Banks and Voth to AA.
      Converse Taylor , Crowe and Pena to AAA since Crowe is down the short list for short call to DC.
      Good luck , Wil in the PCL beer league

  2. LM, any follow up on the impending moves at Fresno and Harrisburg?

    Also, it’s pretty hilarious that Rhett Wiseman is an All Star. He’s having an abysmal season: .211/.301/.397. But if you look closer, you’ll see he’s hit .118/.241/.169 over the past two months, with only 1 HR and 61 K in 136 AB.

    But hey, glad his bat showed up in the ASG and helped them win!

    1. I was wondering how Wiseman could get an ASG nod, so I had a look at the other OFs named to the team. Seems the Eastern League West is just historically bad at OF.

      RF: Wiseman: .211/.301/.397
      LF: Heyward (Jason’s brother): .220/.345/.369
      CF: Azocar: .287/.327/.397

      Surely, this can’t be the best the league has to offer!!

      1. No, and don’t call us Shirley. I’m not sure how Wiseman got the selection—he’s not even the third best OF on his team.

        1. Maybe it was based on being EL player of the month in April. I was wondering what they were going to do if his average had dipped below .200 prior to the ASG.

    3. Here’s what I am hearing – Fedde and McGowin to HBG; Crowe, Guilbeau and chuck Taylor to Fresno; Ward coming back to HBG Sat; Bautista to HBG Sat.
      I guess the nats finally realized it doesn’t work to fly pitchers cross country and expect them to perform on no sleep.

    4. Will. You want to make a bet ? In the same lines as Wiseman an EL All Star. Pete Alonzo wins a HR derby million then will be in AL as a prototype DH -1b….

  3. Some comments on some of our recent DSL grads.

    It’s a shame to see Pedro Gonzalez get demoted. He hasn’t been able to get his stuff to work state-side, but I still have high hopes for him, as he’s still just shy of age 19.

    Meanwhile, his 2017 DSL teammate, Alfonso Hernandez is doing what he does best: dominate hitters. His 1.47 ERA is only slightly better than his miniscule career ERA of 2.01 across 4 seasons now. He turns 20 next month, but has shown exceptional command and control, with 20 K in 18 IP, and only 1 BB. He still hasn’t given up a HR… ever. Four seasons, 134 IP, 0 HR allowed. I love this guy. And without patting myself on the back too much, I’ll point out again that I had him at #5 on our top 10 arms ratings this winter. Happy to keep him high up!

    Finally, Jose Ferrer bounced back from a poor first game stateside with a strong second outing: 3 K, 0 ER, 2 H allowed in 2.2 IP. Good stuff.

    1. Was going to post the similar kudos for Alfonso Hernandez. His 20 to 1 K to BB ratio is eye-popping. The 19 year-old lefty is only listed at 5-11 and 162, but he has stuff with command.

  4. Very nice continued progress by Tim Cate. He should be at AA next year in his age-22 season. He has produced a 65% GB rate at Potomac thus far.

    Nice game by that Ward “kid” at Auburn. Maybe he has a future! How easy it is to forget that it’s just his age-24 season, but his sixth of professional baseball.

    1. Ward is definitely a victim of prospect fatigue, ESPECIALLY in the Nats system which is forever devoid of high school picks. We’re so accustomed to seeing a player struggle for two seasons then get released as a result. But with HSers, they can basically fail for three straight years, and still be ahead developmentally of a college pick.

      Some interesting age facts about Ward. He’s currently younger than the following prospects: Wil Crowe, Cole Freeman, Nick Banks, Rhett Wiseman, Tres Barrera, Taylor Guilbeau, Andrew Lee, Jacob Condra-Bogan, Jack Sundberg, Hayden Howard,

  5. Pilchard — A quick follow-up on yesterday’s conversation. You asked what hitter I would have drafted over Seth Romero. The answer is Brent Rooker, which I wrote in comments on Todd Boss’s site before the draft. This isn’t 20-20 hindsight. He’s .286/.406/.550 at AAA and will be in the show sooner rather than later. The knocks on him were position limitations and age, but he can at least stand in LF, which we’re not sure Mendoza can do. The pitcher I would have taken over Romero would have been Alex Lange. He’s struggled some but is doing OK at AA now after weirdly getting promoted with a 7.36 ERA and 1-9 record at A+. But I preferred Rooker.

    1. In hindsight, I’d have taken Griffin Canning. Or Drew Waters, Nate Pearson, Jeter Downs, Corbin Martin, just to name a few.

  6. Will — Brendon Little (27th pick), Nate Pearson (28th), and Lange (30th) were the other pitchers generally considered rated around the same level as Romero. There was some chatter linking the Nats to Little, a JUCO guy with a similar background as Rutledge who has struggled with the Cubs. The Cubs got both Little and Lange. I don’t think the Nats would have had the money to go after high schoolers Bubba Thompson (who Pilchard mentioned yesterday) or Waters, or Downs, not and still draft/sign Crowe with their second pick. For whatever reasons, Canning and Crowe fell, although they’ve progressed better than Romero, Little, and Lange. Pearson could be a stud.

  7. Four passed balls for Mason Doolittle…ouch. The bat has showed up so far. Maybe his future is not behind the plate, though, unless yesterday was just a reeeeeally off day.

    Interested to see what moves are in store today and tomorrow as the All-Star festivities conclude.

    1. The present skipper for Senators has that game for Frank who pulled him from the game having a three stooges day ..

  8. Hoping Ward can pick up right where he left off when he returns from his rehab in Auburn. He had a great start to the season.

    RE: Wiseman, he is definitely the player you all warned me about. Hot start, then nothing.
    I’m not sure why he was chosen for the ASG.

    Hoping all the moves coming to the island today will light a spark and get the Senators out of last place!

  9. Hey LM,
    Don’t forget about Austin Voth who was already assigned to HBG. Excited to see us get so many from the 40 man in HBG!

  10. I assume Voth was sent down to make one regularly scheduled start, then will return as the 5th starter in the MLB rotation. He hasn’t been terrific in that role, but considering the Fedde and Ross struggles, it would seem to be his to lose at this point . . . unless they trade for another starter with the deadline approaching.

    1. Nats have a day-off on Monday July 15, after the upcoming 3 game series with the Phillies. So, if the Nats choose to do so, they could hold-off on using a 5th starter until July 20th.

      The problem with that is that would mean that Voth/Fedde/whomever else the Nats want to use in the #5 spot would start against the Braves in Atlanta. If they use their 5th starter on July 17 against the Orioles (and who the 5th starter might have a better chance of beating), they could start Strasburg, Corbin, Max and Sanchez in the 4 games in Atlanta, and all would have an extra day of rest.

      Seems like the better option.

  11. Don’t want to seem redundant but agree with everyone on Drew Ward. He had really reached a new level before his injury.

  12. What about McGowin? He has a chance to be the 5th starter! He’s one of the few pitchers who’s done well in Fresno. I think he’s in HBG to make that quick trip to DC!

    What should I expect to see out of Nick Banks?

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