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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Won, 1-0 OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Won, 8-0 OFF DAY N/A
Wilmington Won, 6-5 OFF DAY N/A
Fredericksburg Won, 6-3 OFF DAY N/A

Rochester 1 Worcester 0
• Banda 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Cronin (W, 1-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 1K
• Weems (SV, 3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Blankenhorn 1-3, BB
• Hill 1-2, R, BB, SB

Rochester went into FCL mode and trotted out six relievers, who combined to one-hit Worcester for a 1-0 shutout in the series finale. Anthony Banda was the opener, allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out one over two innings. Matt Cronin worked around two walks in the 7th and was the pitcher of record when Derek Hill drew a one-out walk, stole second base, and scored on an error. Alberto Baldonado and Jordan Weems set the side down in order in the 8th and 9th to earn the hold and save, respectively. Hill and Travis Blankenhorn were the only two Red Wings to reach base twice as the (ugh) Woo Sox pitchers held Rochester to five hits and three walks. Roster moves: RHP Cory Abbott recalled to Washington.

Harrisburg 8 Bowie 0
• Rutledge (W, 4-1) 6IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 5K, HBP
• M. Peña (SV, 1) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Arruda 2-3, 2R, 2BB, SB(11)
• Lindsly 2-4, R, SB
• Cluff 1-2, R, 2BB, SB

Make that five straight six-inning outings for Jackson Rutledge and three consecutive wins for the Nats’ 2019 #1 pick as the Senators blanked the BaySox, 8-0, and took the series, 5-1. Rutledge gave up a single and a double but no walks. He struck out five and hit a batter. Malvin Peña walked two and no-hit Bowie over the final three innings to earn the save, his first of the year. J.T. Arruda singled twice, walked twice, and… wait for it… scored twice while Jackson Cluff reached base three times with a single and two walks to lead Harrisburg’s 10-hit, nine-walk offense.

Wilmington 6 Brooklyn 5
• Alvarez 4IP, 4H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 4K
• Pogue 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
• Schoff (W, 3-1) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 2-0 IR-S
• Wood 3-3, 3R, 2BB, 2-2B, HR(5), 2RBI,
• Lipscomb 3-5, 2B, RBI, E(3)
• Farmer 1-3, BB, RBI, E(3)

Wilmington got five scoreless innings from its bullpen, enabling the Blue Rocks lineup to battle back from a 5-3 deficit to down Brooklyn, 6-5, and win five of seven. Andrew Alvarez wobbled through four innings, giving up all five Cyclones runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out four. James Wood racked up eight total bases on two doubles and his fifth HR in the 7th to tie the game. Trey Lipscomb delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI single, his third hit of the afternoon. Tyler Schoff, who stranded two while getting out of the top of the 8th, set the side down in order in the 9th to earn his third win.

Fredericksburg 6 Carolina 3
• Caceres 3⅔ IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 5BB, 3K
• Marquez (W, 1-0) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 2K, 2-1 IR-S
• Denaburg 3BF, 2BB, HBP, 2WP
• Ciuffetelli (SV, 3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Green 2-4, 2R, 2B(5), RBI, 2SB
• Stehly 2-4, R, RBI, SB
• Colmenares 1-3, BB, RBI, CS

The FredNats ‘pen also showed up when they were needed most, allowing one of two inherited runners while getting out of the 4th and then shutting down the Mudcats the rest of the way. Bryan Caceres gave up all three Carolina runs on two hits and five walks over three and 2/3rds. He struck out three. Franklin Marquez got the win though he let in the last run on a single to the first batter he faced. Fredericksburg took advantage of four Carolina errors to score six times on five hits and four walks, with Elijah Green leading the charge with a single, a double, and two stolen bases. Roster moves: C Max Romero placed on the 7-Day I.L.; C Steven Williams activated from the Development List.

13 Commments

  1. The lead that was buried is 17th round draft pick Amos Willingham was promoted to AAA and then continued his dominant ways to keep his 2023 ERA at 0.00.

    James Wood again showed he’s toying with High A pitching and now has a .930 OPS.

    1. There’s a whole crop of interesting relievers in the system at the moment. Ferrer and Cronin are really struggling with Rochester, but along with Willingham, there is the rest of the ’22 Wilmington/AFL contigent (Ribalta and Knowles) in the next tier, followed by another cluster at A-A+ levels.

      Strangely, as Willingham has rocketed up the farm ladder, Knowles still sits in Wilmington, where he spent all of 2022. He’s been very good (2.25 ERA), so I’m not sure what’s keeping him there any longer. Ribalta has been good in Harrisburg, posting a 2.13 ERA. Others in the mix, who didn’t make the AFL roster: Carlos Romero, Reid Schaller, and even Tim Cate might have made himself relevant again with his switch to relief.

      Then in A/A+, you’ve got Kevin Rodriguez, Schoff, Sinclair, Pogue, Marlon Perez and darkhorse Dannel Diaz.

      Then there’s a whole raft of guys injured (Collins, Glavine, Carrillo, etc.) and your starters who look likely to end up in relief (Parker, Irvin?, Troop)

  2. What’s going on with Max Romero? He was only the IL for a couple weeks, then returned, played 4 games in 9 days (the last game lasting one at bat), and was sent back to the IL. Seems he hadn’t actually recovered yet.

    Another fabulous outing from Rutledge. It’s now his 5th straight start reaching the 6th inning. Without fixing something that isn’t broken, I wonder if he can work on his efficiency. Despite only allowing three base runners, he still racked up 83 pitches in 6 innings. This has been a trend every outing. It seems like his pitch limit is 90, and he consistently hits that count in the 6th inning. I know, this is being nitpicky, but it’s great to see him succeed.

    As expected Cory Abbott got a promotion after a couple stellar starts. I hope they let him start this time. His performance in Rochester has earned it.

    Lastly, will someone put Denaburg out of his misery and send him to XST? For several weeks now, it’s been abundantly clear even to me a box-score-reader that something is fundamentally wrong with Denaburg’s mechanics/delivery/health. I don’t see how it’s doing anyone any good to getting trotting him out at this point. Send him to Florida and work on his mechanics – and possibly more importantly his confidence. As I’ve pointed out before, there’s also still a few guys from last season’s FCL Nats team that still haven’t appeared (Agostini and Ogando) that were more than good enough to earn a promotion this season.

  3. It’s great news for the organization that Rutledge finally seems to have “found it,” and is sustaining some success. Now to find some magic pixie dust for Denaburg . . .

    Wood is only 20, so there’s no rush to get him to AA, particularly with 38 K’s in 31 games. The big news with him is the power surge, with three homers in the last week. He LOOKS like a guy who should have big HR numbers, but that level of power is just starting to come.

  4. First-time poster after lurking for a while but I diligently follow the Nats prospects and thus, this website.

    After some really down years, couldn’t be more pleased with the state of the farm system, especially if you factor in Paul Skenes, who was excellent (again) Friday night. I’m very intrigued by all the potential relievers the team is cultivating, especially at AA, and hope they give some of those guys a shot, soon.

    Question for the group: Is there any chance James Wood gets moved to 1B given his size or is he just too athletic to remove from the outfield?

    1. That’s an interesting question L-T/F-T. Some of the prospect “gurus” have mentioned that possibility for Wood. It should be noted, though, that even though he’s gigantic, he can really run. He already has five triples this season.

      With a somewhat crowded OF pecking order, the Nats have already moved two guys to 1B this season — T. J. White (A+) and Roismar Quintana (A). Neither is particularly setting the world on fire, although both are still quite young.

      The Nats’ three top OF prospects (and four if you count Vaquero in the yet-to-start FCL) all currently are playing in center: Hassell (AA), Wood (A+), and Green (A). (If Dylan Crews “falls” to the Nats, he also plays CF.) Of those, Wood would be the least likely to stay in CF, although he certainly seems to have the range to remain in a corner OF slot.

      1. Oops, four triples thus far for Wood, with five homers and eight doubles, making it 17 of his 31 hits being for extra bases.

  5. The FCL bullpen outing in ROCH underscored the starting pitching theme found on all the affiliate rosters : 60 day DL / full season / the drawn out 7 day DL.
    Time for the amateur draft and more arms for the hopper .

    1. while Rutledge still feel behind a bit, he then challenged the hitters pretty effectively and also rarely missed badly. the sixth was pretty easy, surprised they didn’t bring him back out for one more, then again they seem to have his development right where they want it for now. if he keeps it going and goes to AAA after the break that would seem about right

  7. Jeff, any shout-out to Kuhl is painful! Hoping we’ve seen the last of him as a Nat.

  8. Kieboom suffered a lat injury, per MASN site. MRI results pending, kid can’t catch a break

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