2014 Watchlist: LHPs

Sammy Solis Sammy Solis
DOB: 8/10/88
Ht. 6’5″
Wt. 230
Bats: R
Career Stats
Solis successfully returned from TJ surgery, had a strong AFL
season (his third), and got added to the Nats’ 40-man roster.
Still, he’s 25 and not pitched at AA yet. Solis features a low-90s
FB with a CH and CV as his secondary pitches, with the CH con-
sidered the better of the two, though he’s shown a knack for
altering the plane of the CV. Should start the season at Harrisburg.
Matt Purke Matt Purke
DOB: 7/17/90
Ht. 6’4″
Wt. 205
Bats: L
Career Stats
Like Solis, Purke has been dogged by injuries throughout his pro
career. His next April start will be his first as he was held back
in XST in both 2012 and 2013. The low-to-mid 90s heat came as
advertised last summer in Woodbridge, but the command varied
from start to start. While he’s faced AA competition in the AFL,
he’s only pitched 61 innings above Low-A, so it’s not a given
he’ll begin with the Senators in April 2014.
Felipe Rivero Felipe Rivero
DOB: 7/5/91
Ht. 6’0″
Wt. 170
Bats: L
Career Stats
Picked up in the trade of Nathan Karns, Rivero could be viewed as a
hedge against some of the older LHPs listed above and below. Tampa Bay
protected him last November as a five-year IFA, which could be problem-
atic. Rivero features a 91-94 mph FB but has a history of losing speed
during starts, which could force a shift to the bullpen, though the CW
is he’ll continue to start, most likely at AA Harrisburg.
Brett Mooneyham Brett Mooneyham
DOB: 1/24/90
Ht. 6’5″
Wt. 235
Bats: L
Career Stats
Erratic control continues to dog Mooneyham who was able to get away
with it at Low-A but was pounded in three High-A starts while walking
13 in 11 innings. His velocity has also diminished from the high-90s to
the low-90s. The secondary pitches (SH, SL, SLV) are also inconsistent.
His size and dexterity have bought him time but he’ll begin 2014 as a
24-y.o. in his just his second year of full-season ball.
Nick Lee Nick Lee
DOB: 1/13/91
Ht. 5’11”
Wt. 185
Bats: L
Career Stats
Lee has improved his velocity, bumping it into the 90s, and refined his
command while developing a curve to create the classic repetoire (FB/
CH/CV/SL), though scouts believe the slider will likely be scrapped,
probably when he’s moved to the bullpen as that’s where they believe
his future lies. The smart money is that he’ll spend another season
as a starter in Potomac before that move is made.
R.C. Orlan R.C. Orlan
DOB: 9/28/90
Ht. 6′
Wt. 185
Bats: L
Career Stats
Orlan came down with Nats elbow late in his junior season for UNC,
but got drafted anyway in 2012, true to Washington’s form for taking
risks on hurt players. He was the leading Auburn pitcher for GS and
IP and posted respectable marks of 3.65/3.38/1.34. Prior to surgery,
he worked in the upper 80s with the FB, mid-80s with the CT, and
worked with a CH and CV.
David Napoli David Napoli
DOB: 10/3/90
Ht. 5’10”
Wt. 180
Bats: R
Career Stats
Taken in the 8th Rd. out of Tulane, Napoli was the sole Doubleday
named to the NYPL All-Star team. He led the Auburn relievers with a
1.14 ERA and was second in FIP at 2.48. Napoli’s heat ranges from
90-94, but his best tool is an 11-5 hammer that he can throw for
either a called strike or as a chase pitch. He does, however, have
a history of forearm troubles as well as a tendency to give up walks
(4.7/9IP in college, 3.8 for Auburn).
Hector Silvestre Hector Silvestre
DOB: 12/14/92
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 180
Bats: L
Career Stats
Silvestre is a three-time watchlister, but 2013 was his first season in
the GCL. Like his starboard-side counterparts, the 20-y.o. southpaw
dominated with a 7-0, 1.82/2.45/0.83 mark and led the team in innings
pitched. He was even called upon to make a spot start for Potomac
shortly before the Carolina Lg.’s All-Star break.
Travis Ott Travis Ott
DOB: 6/29/95
Ht. 6’4″
Wt. 170
Bats: L
Career Stats
No, that’s not a typo (DOB: 1995), and no, he’s not a JuCo player.
Ott is one of two (2) high school picks the Nats signed in 2013. The
25th Rd. pick dominated in his senior season at Shippensburg, toss-
ing a perfect game and a no-hitter while fanning nearly two per inn-
ing. Ott posted a 4.03/3.54/1.24 mark in 10 appearances, with nearly
half his earned runs coming in one horrific outing (1.2-3-6-6-3-2-1)
on July 19.
Jake Walsh Jake Walsh
DOB: 1/1/91
Ht. 6’3″
Wt. 195
Bats: L
Career Stats
It’s a small sample size (17 appearances, 20⅓ IP) but combined
with a bump up to Hagerstown and the usual bias that southpaws
enjoy, Walsh’s numbers (1.40/2.37/0.78) were impressive. As
with many of the short-season guys, his 2014 destination is
very tough to project.

4 Commments

  1. Solis is a known quantity, so nothing much to add there. The other big stories here are Purke, who is about to be out of options and Ott.
    What do you do with Purke after this year, when you can’t really send him down without waivers. He sure doesn’t look ready for the show in 2015, and some lousy team will definitey take him off the waiver wire.
    The Ott story is fascinating. The Nats could only offer him $100,000 because of the new rules and he was only 17 when drafted. Check out his height & weight; how does he get wet in the shower? We’ll see how far along the F.O. thinks he is when we find out if starts in the GCL or Auburn. Or if he starts in Florida, how long before he heads north.

        1. Somatotypes — ectomorphs are long, lean and not prone to gaining weight; mesomorphs are muscular and broad-shouldered and can lose or gain weight easily; endomorphs are similar to mesomorphs, but have difficulty losing fat and tend to be more well-rounded. Originally, this was proposed in conjunction with personality types in the mid-20th century. The pscyhology part of the theory has generally been debunked, but nutritionists, exercise scientists, and physiologists continue to use the categories to this day.

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