AFL Update: Oct. 10, 2025
Just two Nationals appeared in the game:
● Sam Petersen started in right field and drew a walk but otherwise did his best Elijah Green imitation with three strikeouts. He made three putouts and fielded five hits.
● Austin Amaral got the last out of the 3rd and the first in the 4th on strikeouts, but walked three and gave up three hits. He was charged with four runs with an “assist” from Houston’s Nate Wohlgemuth, who allowed two of three inherited runners to score.
The Scorpions (1-2) return to Scottsdale this afternoon to host the Mesa Solar Sox (1-2).
Paul Toboni’s housecleaning continued with the purge of more than 15 player development staff, according to the Washington Post. Notables to not be let go include managers Matthew LeCroy, Delino DeShields Sr., and Jake Lowery. Four international scouts were also let go, including Modesto Ulloa, who is credited for spotting Juan Soto in the mid-2010s.
The WaPo article also goes over Will’s greatest gripes familiar territory as to the shortcomings of the Nats minors… poor drafting… underinvestment by ownership… outdated PD practices. Very little to argue against, really. And we all know it’s been this way for quite some time.
I wish I could end this with something pithy, but I’ve never been the type to go after the white whale and bring the tartar sauce with me. I just hope that there will be fewer seasons like the past one to cover and comment on.
Toboni’s decision to come here, despite ownership’s lack of previous investment, suggests potential for future progress.
Baseball America had the current system ranked in the middle and while a lot of that was Crews, backing into Willits should offset that promotion.
I wonder how Hass and Ciolek are viewing their decisions?
I don’t outright celebrate anyone losing his/her job, but at least they’ve been let go so early that hopefully they can have a head start on finding work in other organizations.
That said, this HAD to happen. We’ve said many times that it was a chicken-egg thing because we couldn’t tell if it was poor drafting, poor developing, or both. The fundamental reason this organization went off the cliff over the last few years was because the pipeline dried up.
The one among the ones released about whom I’ve heard good things was Joel Hanrahan. But they seem to be going for a complete break with the organization-wide folks. Sorta surprised that LeCroy has an offer to stay in some capacity, as he’s always seemed like one of the hardcore old-school guys. He and Knorr (among the released) have been with the Nats forever.
Kline and Scialabba have long seemed like poster children for poor drafting and development. They were among the ones to whom Rizzo was loyal to a fault.
Of course it’s one thing to clean house. It’s quite another to be able to truly bring in quality replacements. Will Toboni be given the money to lure the right ones?