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Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Won, 6-4;
Cancelled		 vs. Worcester, 6:45pm Lara (2-4, 5.95) vs. Bello (1st AAA start of ’26)
Burgos (1-3, 7.11)
Harrisburg Lost, 11-10 @ Richmond, 7:05pm Lyon (0-2, 8.74) vs. Vrieling (1-1, 5.00)
Wilmington Won, 9-5 @ Greensboro, 6:30pm Sime (0-0, 4.91) vs. Robinson (1-0, 6.39)
Fredericksburg Lost, 6-4 @ Kannapolis, 7pm Sullivan (2-2, 5.70) vs. A. Martinez (1-2, 6.61)
FCL Nationals Won, 4-1 vs. FCL Astros, 12pm
DSL Nationals Lost, 8-1 vs. DSL Blue Jays Red, 11am

Rochester 6 Worcester 4 – GM. 1
• Perales 3⅔ IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 5K, HR, E
• Z. Kent (W, 1-0) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
• Henry (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Morales 2-4, 2R, HR(15), RBI
• Ortiz 2-3, 2R
• House 2-3, R, RBI

The Red Wings fell into a 3-0 hole early but dug themsleves out with five runs in the middle innings to win, 6-4 over the (ugh) WooSox. Luis Perales needed 73 pitches to get 11 outs as he failed to pitch into the 5th inning for the eighth time in 11 starts. He was charged with all four Worcester runs on five hits (one HR) and three walks. Zak “Without a c” Kent stranded two runners while getting out of the 4th, then put up a goose egg in the 5th to get the win. No word on the Peavey amp, 1984, or Sara without an h. Yoyo Morales singled and hit his 15th HR while Abimelec Ortiz and Brady House both went 2-for-3 to pace the Rochester offense.

Worcester vs. Rochester – CNCLD
The second game was rained out and will not be rescheduled despite three opportunities to make it up. Rochester remains a 1/2 game behind and Memphis and Nashville for the 1st half I.L. title.

Richmond 11 Harrisburg 10
• Randall (L, 2-1) 4+ IP, 7H, 8R, 8ER, 2BB, 6K, 3HR, 2HBP
• Shortridge 1IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 1K, WP, 1-1 IR-S
• Petry 2-5, R, 2K
• Petersen 1-3, 2R, 2B, SB(20), CS
• Lawson 2-4, R, RBI
• White 2-4, R, 2B, CS

Harrisburg got eight runs in the 8th, but needed nine as Richmond held on for the 11-10 win. Josh Randall was pounded for eight runs on seven hits (three HR) and two walks over four-plus innings. He struck out six in his first AA loss. Aaron Shortridge let in his inherited runner and three more of his own to dig the hole from 7-2 to 11-2. Johnathon Thomas was the beer man, though he walked and stole a base as the Senators racked up 12 hits, including Devin Fitz-Gerald’s first AA big fly and a grand slam by Caleb Lomavita.

Wilmington 9 Greensboro 5
• Y. Tejeda Jr. 5⅓ IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 5K, HR, 2WP
• Polanco (BS, 1; W, 4-1) 3IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR
• Y. Cabrera 2-5, R, BB, RBI, SB(5)
• Green 2-5, R, HR(10), RBI, OF assist @ 3B
• Farmer 2-4, BB, 2B

Thirteen of the game’s 14 runs came after the 5th, with the Blue Rocks getting four in the 9th to prevail, 9-5. Yoel Tejeda pitched in to the 6th and gave up a run on a home run and three hits total with two walks and five whiffs. He was in line for the win until Bryan Polanco coughed up four in the bottom of the 7th on a pair of homers. Yeremy Cabrera spared him the loss with an RBI single in the 9th and Eli Willits gave Polanco the “W” and put the game away with a three-run HR in the 9th – his third since his promotion on Tuesday.



Kannapolis 6 Fredericksburg 4
• M. De La Cruz 3IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 2K, HBP, WP
• Minckler (L, 2-2) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 2K
• J. Williams 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• M. Cabrera 1-3, 2B, E

Kannapolis got three in the 7th to take the lead for good as the Cannon Ballers downed the FredNats, 6-4. Marlon De La Cruz went the first three innings and let in a run on four hits and three walks. The loss went to Ryan Minckler, who let in the aforementioned three runs on a hit and four walks over an inning and 2/3rds. Jordan Williams homered and drove in two while Manuel Cabrera doubled to lead the Fredericksburg offense.

FCL Nationals 4 FCL
• Herz 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Millikan (W, 1-0) 2⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• N. De La Cruz 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI, SB
• E. Soto 1-2, R, BB, HR, 2RBI

DJ Herz tossed three no-hit, scoreless innings in his second appearance this year as the F-Nats folded the F-Cards, 4-1. Noah Millikan picked up the win while getting seven outs in the middle innings. Nauris De La Cruz and Elian Soto both homered to lead the FCL Nationals offense.

DSL Angels 8 DSL Nationals 1
• Carela (L, 0-2) 2IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K
• Bello 2-3, RBI
• J. Duran 2-4, 2B

The DSL Angels put up crooked numbers four times in seven “ups” as they pummeled the DSL Nationals, 8-1. Enmanuel Carela lost for the second time as he let in two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out two. The D-Nats managed five singles and a double by Juan Duran as they lost for the sixth time in eight games.

20 Commments

  1. I’ve been a Willits skeptic, largely because his power looked limited to a 10-15 HR guy in the future. But so far in Wilmington, I’m seeing the kind of signs that he won’t always be a spray-hitter, double machine. His HR last night was a BOMB. Check it out here: https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/2065248196587389204 . Even if it’s a bit of an outlier, it demonstrates the kind of upside I’ve been hoping to see.

    So good to see Herz back and immediately in shape. That’s now 2 perfect outings (5 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 8 K). Now put him up against some real competition!

    Going from Mikolas to Herz in a few weeks in the rotation could be just the sort of boost the Nats would normally hope to get from a trade. And Chaparro -> Morales, and Nunez -> King… man, that could be a genuine playoff team.

    1. Totally agree on Willit’s power. The Athletic had his maxEV over 110, and that was before last night’s missile.

      Yes, the minor league ball has been spiked, but everyone is using the same ball. At this point, I don’t see how you can doubt league average power at maturity.

      1. Cue the song Like a Yo – Yo for the Rochester push .
        Todd I’m keeping my eyes on you cause you need to update your free agent pitcher arms tally signed to fill the gaps
        Another Lara in system from ATL and Don’t call me Dobie or Gillligan Gillis
        Even with Rizzo gone it’s worth the question : another ( horse with no name ) Athletics and Nats deal or better yet
        Orioles and Expos / Nats first deal since Ryan Minor?

    2. FWIW, think that its more likely to for the Nats to go from Parker to Herz, than Mikolas to Herz. Barring another extended stretch like Mikolas has to start the season, Miles isn’t going anywhere. He’s reliable and is now on an extended stretch of what the Nats expected Mikolas to be.

    3. Geeze. He turned on a high fastball and put it over the damn scoreboard.

      When you watch him run the bases .. you know what I see? I see a guy with a very thick trunk, thick legs. I don’t see a scrawny slap hitting shortstop. He’s filled out. That power is coming for sure. I wonder if he sticks at SS.

      1. Has anyone published the EV or distance on it? It looked absolutely massive.

        And I’m not worrying about his defense yet. I know we have very unreliable signals about minor league defense, but they’re all pointing positively for Willits. All the scouts like it. The team has played him at SS for 43 of his 50 games so far this year despite there being a ton SS-capable prospects at these levels if the org. And he only has 1 error to 61 putouts and 107 assists at short this year. (King has 11 errors, 48 POs and 106 assists, for comparison.)

    4. The sound of Samil Serrano name makes me think of the Laverne and Shirley tv phrase
      Shamil schamazooooo!
      Double and HR today

    5. Hummmm , baby Sime
      ( Roger Craig )
      7 Ks through one run through the lineup
      Repeat , young fireballing
      Sime , Jr
      Keep it up Lara get that QS

    6. One more time ( Count Basie ) Eli goes yard
      Luke this will be my Snarkle phrase for Eli doubters
      One time time , Count Basie !

  2. If you were wondering why Ogasawara got added to the development list, it was because the Nats were negotiating a deal for him to return to Japan. The Yomiuri Giants have made a deal with the Nats to allow him to rejoin the NPB. It’s a shame it didn’t work out, but I hope this doesn’t dissuade the Nats from dipping their toes back into the East Asia market.

    1. Clear as much spaces for the upcoming amateur draft and further NDFA period

  3. Today’s starters up and down the farm chain all are names that even the young Turks have their eye brows raised on
    This is a thought : you think TJ White like many players just love playing for Delino Senior ???
    Peavey ( once a SD Padre starter )
    Sara Smile Hall and Oates runs through my head now
    Ok folks especially you Todd : which players in Omaha CWS are you keeping your eyes on besides the underclassmen who have stepped up for UNC and OU.???

  4. List of Nats’ organizational players with double digit HRs and SBs through June 11:

    – Devin Fitz-Gerald
    -Sam Petersen
    -Elijah Green

    Don’t give up on Elijah…

    2. Green is fun to dream on. The speed! The arm! The glove! The power! But … his K% is 45.8%. In his second go around at High A. Even Joey Gallo, the “best case scenario” profile for Green, had a 38% K rate in MLB with a .262 ISO. Green’s ISO of .178 in High A is his career best above rookie ball.

      1. This is the right take on Green.

        If he was producing like this at AAA, I could see the argument for calling up for him 50 PAs and just finding out how the mix plays against major league pitching. But striking out 45% of the time in high A is completely disqualifying.

        1. I agree completely. At the same time, I wouldn’t release him given the slight improvement we’ve seen this year. If the dude is willing to keep riding the bus in A-ball, let’s wait and see if the new regime can get him to improve to a more meaningful degree (though, realistically, a 10+% improvement in K% is what he needs and is implausible).

          His homer last night was a BOMB.

    3. Does this mean we should play the old Peter Gabriel tune with Kate Bush- Don’t give up ( cause you have friends , Elijah ?)
      ?

  5. This Young Turks plan truly needs more time to resonate on many .
    Some of us are not as patient as Jon Tapper rescuing bars with staffs who would require much more tough love and patience than in baseball
    Granted it’s just a staged TV show where many of the bars file chapter 11 – rebrand then flounder
    Months or years later

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