Covering the top prospects in the Nats' minors since 2009

Rule 5 Pick Jeff Kobernus Returned

March 24, 2013

Well, it looks like yesterday’s reports were wrong: the Tigers have returned Rule 5 pick Jeff Kobernus to the Nationals.

Kobernus hung a line of .220/.298/.300 in 50ABs for Detroit in 21 games while attempting to make the 25-man roster as a utilityman. The 24-year-old made appearances in all three outfield positions, playing there for the first time since his collegiate days at California.

Officially, he’s been reassigned to minor-league camp but is expected to open the season in Syracuse after an injury-shortened 2012 in Harrisburg. He played in 82 games for the Senators and hit .282/.325/.333 with 42 SBs with a career-best .982 fielding average.

The watchlist and the second baseman page have been both been updated to reflect his return.

Kimball, Accardo Sent Down; Releases Coming Soon

March 23, 2013

Following the signing of erstwhile southpaw J.C. Romero — who spent roughly two weeks with the Syracuse Chiefs in the summer of 2011 — the Nationals optioned RHP Cole Kimball to AAA and reassigned Jeremy Accardo to minor-league camp yesterday. Kimball, who had been held out of games since last week due to shoulder stiffness, …

Morning Reading

March 22, 2013

As promised earlier this week, here’s a few minors-oriented news items to pass along while we wait out the last 10 days of Spring Training. …As noted yesterday in the comments, it’s looking bright for Rule 5 pick Jeff Kobernus to make the Tigers’ Opening Day roster, while Adam Kilgore’s sources say the Rockies are …

The PTBNL: Ian Krol

March 20, 2013

The other shoe has dropped on the Michael Morse trade, as the Nationals announced that LHP Ian Krol is the infamous “player to be named later.” Krol was drafted in the 7th round out of Neuqua Valley HS in Naperville, IL in 2009 and put together a 9-4, 2.65 season in 2010 that put him …

Shifting Gears

March 19, 2013

With six players optioned to Syracuse, two reassigned to minor-league camp, and a veteran given his release so he can pursue a job elsewhere, that’s my cue that it’s time to shift gears away from spring training. As I wrote last month, I would post about spring training from the minors point of view for …

Solano Adds Appeal To Ugly 12-10 Nats Win

March 18, 2013

Ross Detwiler pitched well, Ryan Perry did not, but a pair of Tyler Moore home runs plus a two innings in the outfield from Jhonatan “The Onion” Solano were the highlights of an ugly 12-10 win for the Nats over the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. In his first start since Team USA was bounced from …

A Tale of Two Pitchers In 4-2 Nats Loss

March 17, 2013

Stephen Strasburg looks ready for April, but Drew Storen seems stuck in October. Strasburg threw more than 90 pitches in his fifth spring start (93, 64 for strikes to be exact), surrendering a solo HR to former teammate Rick Ankiel to account for the lone run he gave up over five and a 1/3rd innings. …

Nats Drop Back To .500 With 5-1 Loss To Cards

March 15, 2013

St. Louis had its way with starter Dan Haren, roughing up the veteran for four runs on two home runs in the first and five runs overall to hand Washington a 5-1 defeat this afternoon. Haren gave up six hits and two walks overall across the five innings he threw in his fourth spring appearance. …

Owings Blast Powers Nats Past Astros, 6-3

March 14, 2013

Micah Owings hit a grand slam in the 7th off former White Sox and Dodgers farmhand John Ely as the Nats took their third straight Grapefruit League game, 6-3 over the Houston Astros this afternoon in Viera. Owings, a former RHP in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization [insert reference to Mike Rizzo’s tenure here], is attempting …

Karns, Rendon & Skole Among Next Round Of Cuts

March 14, 2013

This morning the Nationals announced the second major cutdown, sending seven guys to the backfields, including top prospects Nathan Karns, Anthony Rendon, and Matt Skole. Also sent packing: Eury Perez, Sandy Leon, Pat McCoy, and Will Rhymes. Officially, Perez was optioned to AAA Syracuse, Leon and Rendon were optioned to AA Harrisburg, while the rest …