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Nats Name AFL Roster

Still the wrong AFL?
The 2023 Rosters for the Arizona Fall League have been announced, including an octet of Nationals on the Scottsdale Scorpions:

  • OF Robert Hassell III
  • LHP DJ Herz*
  • IF Trey Lipscomb
  • RHP Holden Powell*
  • C Israel Pineda**
  • RHP Orlando Ribalta*
  • RHP Jack Sinclair
  • RHP Thad Ward**

* Rule 5 Elgible
** On 40-man roster
This is a smaller group than last year, and the inclusions of Ward and Pineda are, to say the least, specious. But this is how Washington operates: Send a catcher, a few Rule 5 guys, a couple of guys who were hurt (always a large pool from which to pick), and one player that checks the prospect box.

While I appreciate being able to cut & paste from last year’s post, that the Nats are sending Robert Hassell and Orlando Ribalta Forrest Gump pause again is dispiriting. Given how both Dylan Crews and James Wood struggled at AA, one would think the Nats would like to have one of them get a few more AB’s.

Anyway, have at it in the comments…

11 Commments

  1. Jack Sinclair makes total sense
    His projectory is good
    I don’t mind Hassel getting a few more reps and swings
    Everything will be fine with Hassel Wood
    Crews etc .

    2. One never has enough bullets in the next wave of bullpen arms for the arsenal .
      Forest Gump pause
      Many of us have been intrigued by ( Tony ) Orlando ( Dawning ) Ribalta through the injuries .
      Sure willl be interesting what the next wave of bullpen arms materislize out of Amos W, Sinclair ( oil ) , Schoff , Orlando , Cronin , … etc ..
      Now we all relax like your handsome guy in his cozy canine pad .
      Now I get to focus on my Boston on early “ dawn patrols “ in the back acreage without being distracted by NP postings lol!
      Odd ball question : do the Nats retain Ron Herrera for another campaign to eat IP in the minors ?
      May Seth Shuman return 100 pct healthy

  2. As much as Rizzo is respected, I think he makes plenty of bone-headed decisions with MLB call ups and minor league promotions / demotions.

  4. I imagine a lot of who goes to AFL depends on the player and what he has gone through during the regular season. Crews for example has been through a lot in college and at two levels of the minors. He may need to clear his head and get a fresh start in the spring. Some pitchers can handle a greater load than others. Some players may need to work on things more than others in live action, and others just may need a little rest and body-building to get ready for spring.

  5. Crews had a very LONG college season, so I’m willing to cut him some slack. Not sure what the story is on Wood. If they’re hoping he’s ready for a call up next year, he could have used more work.

    Hassell definitely needs to rebuild some confidence, of course. We still don’t know what to make of him.

    Is Lipscomb a legit prospect? We’re about to find out. It also will be interesting to see what defensive position(s) he’s playing.

    Let’s note here that we hope they get to play. With the expanded rosters last year, some of the Nat players entered the witness protection program.

  6. Of course the hope is that someone will have a switch flipped in the manner that Drew Millas did last fall. I really had a hard time believing that a guy who had hit only .225 during the regular season was suddenly .305 good in AZ, but he’s hit .291 in the upper minors this season and is now a major-leaguer.

  7. Totally understand Pineda. He rocketed through the system last year but this year has been a lost year for him. Maybe this will help spark something.

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