Covering the top prospects in the Nats' minors since 2009

David Freitas Traded To Oakland A’s

August 3, 2012

David Freitas, a 15th-round draft pick out of the University of Hawaii and three-time All-Star in the Washington Nationals minor leagues, has been traded to the Oakland Athletics for C Kurt Suzuki. He is the second catcher to be traded from the Nats to A’s in less than eight months.

Freitas had been hitting .271/.374/.407 in 78 games for High-A Potomac when the trade was announced this afternoon. He was the starting catcher in the 2012 Carolina League All-Star Game, the 2011 Sally League All-Star game, and the 2010 New York-Penn League All Star game.

A corresponding move has not yet been formally announced, but with the activation of Jeremy Mayo on Wednesday — which put the Hagerstown roster at three active catchers — it would appear that one of the Suns backstops will be joining the P-Nats in Winston-Salem tonight (if they’re not already there).

Good, Bad, Interesting – Vol. 16

August 3, 2012

Our weekly look at the leaders, trailers, and outliers in the Washington Nationals minor leagues. SYRACUSE CHIEFS 54-58, T5th place I.L. North, 7½ games behind Good Eury Perez .408/.453/.490 in 13G since callup (hit safely in every game) Bad Austin Bibens-Dirkx 6.27ERA, 1.61WHIP in last 10 appearances Interesting Yunesky Maya 3-1, 3.00ERA since I.L. All-Star …

Zach Walters Promoted To Syracuse

August 3, 2012

The estimable Bill “The Rocket” Ladson is reporting that IF Zach Walters has been promoted from Harrisburg to Syracuse, which has been confirmed by MASN’s Byron Kerr. The corresponding move appears to be the reassignment of longtime National farmhand Seth Bynum from Syracuse to Harrisburg, though OF Jesus Valdez has also been placed on the …

Last Night In Woodbridge

August 3, 2012

After dropping the continuation from Wednesday by a 5-3 count in 10 innings, a quartet of Nationals pitchers combined for a five-hit, 8-0 shutout of the Salem Red Sox to claim sole possession of first place in the Carolina League’s Northern Division. Nathan Karns got the win, his eighth, with five scoreless innings, which lowered …

Friday’s News & Notes

August 3, 2012

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers Syracuse Won, 2-0 @ Buffalo, 7:05 p.m. Mandel (2-3, 2.53) vs. Familia (7-7, 4.88) Harrisburg Lost, 4-3 (12 inn.) vs. Richmond, 7:00 p.m. Holder (2-2, 5.66) vs. Fitzgerald (7-7, 3.74) Potomac Lost, 5-3; Won, 8-0 @ Winston-Salem, 7:05 p.m. Gilliam (0-0, 1.69) vs. McCray (5-3, 3.72) Hagerstown Won, 9-7 vs. …

Thursday’s News & Notes

August 2, 2012

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers Syracuse OFF DAY @ Buffalo, 7:05 p.m. Maya (8-8, 3.76) vs. Olson (4-6, 4.78) Harrisburg Won, 3-2 @ Binghamton, 6:35 p.m. Wang (MLB rehab) vs. Mazzoni (4-3, 3.21) Potomac Tied, 3-3 (suspended) vs. Salem, 5:05 p.m. (comp.) Karns (7-2, 1.84) vs. Celestino (7-6, 4.34) Hagerstown Won, 12-7 @ West Virginia, …

Last Night In Woodbridge

August 1, 2012

It took six innings for the P-Nats bats to show signs of life, but it was too little, too late as the Salem Red Sox withstood four runs late to win this one, 5-4. Of course, credit for the offensive coma should go to Salem’s Keith Couch, who tossed six scoreless innings and allowed just …

Wednesday’s News & Notes

August 1, 2012

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers Syracuse Lost, 8-6 OFF DAY N/A Harrisburg Lost, 3-2 @ Binghamton, 6:35 p.m. Demny (6-6, 5.40) vs. Germen (6-7, 4.60) Potomac Lost, 5-4 vs. Salem, 7:05 p.m. Meyer (1-0, 0.00) vs. Workman (7-6, 3.28) Hagerstown Lost, 4-2 @ West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. Rauh (0-1, 6.23) vs. Jefferson (4-6, 4.81) Auburn …

Tuesday’s News & Notes

July 31, 2012

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers Syracuse Won, 3-2 vs. Lehigh Valley, 12:00 p.m. Bibens-Dirkx (0-2, 4.93) vs. Chocran (5-4, 4.28) Harrisburg OFF DAY @ Binghamton, 6:35 p.m. Rosenbaum (7-7, 3.67) vs. Wheeler (9-6, 3.29) Potomac OFF DAY vs. Salem, 7:05 p.m. Grace (6-9, 5.51) vs. Couch (7-8, 3.89) Hagerstown Lost, 14-2 @ West Virginia, 7:05 …

Tanner Roark Named Int’l Lg. Pitcher of the Week

July 30, 2012

On the strength of his complete game win yesterday, Tanner Roark was named the International League’s Pitcher of the Week for the period of July 23 to 29.

Roark twice went seven innings during the week, winning both starts giving up just a run in each outing. He allowed nine hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters combined.

The 25-year-old was acquired at the 2010 trade deadline along with Harrisburg Senator RHP Ryan Tatusko from the Texas Rangers for Christian Guzman, which has led to the nickname of “The Guz Two,” by regular readers here.

Roark currently leads the Syracuse Chiefs in strikeouts, walks, and losses but is also third in innings pitched, and has exceeded 100IP for four straight seasons.