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Detwiler is going to start in AA. Where's Clippard on that list? Zech getting the boot to Harrisburg?
Detwiler could start in Double-A, but he should start in High-A.I have Clippard in a pending pot along with a bunch of other guys.You have more faith in Zinicola than I do.
I believe Shell will be in the Nats' pen on opening day. Guess Brian expects Terrell to go back to the Reds.
I believe Shell will be in the Nats' pen on opening day.
So, anybody think Potomac can repeat? Will Potomac's great results move up the chain to Harrisburg this year?Is there any hope for Hagerstown?
Harrisonburg should have a good season and I am looking for the Suns to have a surprising season as well.
Well, I'm thinking College Park is going to be tough this year too.
Is Ozzie Rodriguez expected to move up in the system this season? I know he was older than most players in the DSL last year, but giving up 8 runs in 71 innings is pretty amazing at any level. He also had 104 strikeouts.
Some Potential Breakout/Sleeper Players, NL EASTBlake Brewer, RHP, Florida Marlins Brewer was drafted in the 11th round last year, out of high school in Tyrone, Georgia. The younger brother of Milwaukee shortstop prospect Brent Brewer, Blake (like his brother) is an excellent athlete, though he uses his strong arm on the mound instead of the infield. Projectable at 6-5, 180, he works at 87-90 now but will (hopefully) pick up velocity as he matures. He posted a 2.16 ERA with a 32/13 K/BB in 25 innings in rookie ball, allowing 15 hits. Brewer needs polish in all phases, but is projectable enough to be worthy of note. Sergio Escalona, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies Escalona is from Venezuela, signed as a free agent in 2004. He made slow progress through the lower levels of the system, not breaking through until 2008 when he posted a 3.43 ERA with a 60/18 K/BB in 45 innings for Lakewood in the Sally League, then a 2.22 ERA with a 29/14 K/BB in 24 innings for Double-A Reading. Escalona has a 90 MPH sinking fastball and an impressive, if erratic, curveball. His K/IP marks are sharp and he made some progress with his control last year, giving hope that he might be able to contribute in the bullpen in 2009.J.J. Hoover, RHP, Atlanta Braves Hoover was picked in the 10th round last year from Calhoun Community College in Alabama, but could have gone several rounds higher. He pitched great in the Cape Cod League and eventually signed with Atlanta for $400,000. He's thrown just five pro innings thus far in the Appy League, allowing no runs on four hits, walking one, and fanning six. Hoover has a 90+ fastball, and his slider, curveball, and changeup are all promising. I think he can move quickly.Marcus Jones, OF, Washington Nationals Jones went to North Carolina State, but went to high school in Bethesda, Maryland, making him a local guy for the Nationals. Drafted in the 11th round last year, he is quite toolsy and did OK in college but has some issues with contact. He hit .333/.403/.433 in the New York-Penn League, but with a weakish 5/17 BB/K mark in 60 at-bats. He is well-regarded defensively and has good tools, but is still working on the consistency of his swing and his plate discipline. He is an under-the-radar guy with some upside, but also needs refinement.Elvin Ramirez, RHP, New York Mets A Dominican signed by the Mets in 2004, Ramirez posted a 3.67 ERA with a 62/36 K/BB in 81 innings last year in the Sally League, not overly impressive. But he gets tons of grounders with his 90-94 MPH sinking fastball, flashes a good curveball and changeup, and has made progress with his command. He's had durability problems and command remains an issue, but he should be watched for signs of further development.
the Landon School
I am a big fan of M Jones myself. I believe he was actually a resident of Washington D.C. the city and attended Landon.
For those of you from the Bethesda area, Jones was also a member of the Bethesda "Big Train" and a former 38th round pick of the Nationals is 2005.
I was wondering that too. Thanks for the info. If any of you want to experience really motivated players in a SIMPLY beautiful setting for really cheap, go see a Bethesda Big Train Game. Its a league of College players who use wooden bats. Its at Cabin John, right around the corner from the ice rink.
This probably does not come as a shock to many people, but the Washington Nationals system is not very good. There are some interesting players in the lower minors, but most of their talented Latin signings from the last few years turned out to be 35 years old and older… OK, not quite. But the grey hair should have been a tip off.AAA/AAJordan Zimmermann had a great 2008 season and an even better spring training in 2009, which earned him a spot on the club’s opening day starting rotation. The former second round draft pick was selected out of a small college in 2007. During the 2008 season, Zimmermann allowed just 89 hits in 106.2 Double-A innings. He also posted rates of 3.29 BB/9 and 8.69 K/9. He has good four-pitch mix with a fastball that touches 94 mph, a slider, curveball and change-up.While Zimmermann has taken a huge step forward, Ross Detwiler has taken a step or two back after being the club’s first round pick in the same draft. Detwiler received a taste of big league action after signing, but he spent all of 2008 in High-A ball with modest results. He allowed 140 hits in 124 innings and posted rates of 4.14 BB/9 and 8.27 K/9. Detwiler has a fastball that can touch 96 mph, along with a good curveball and change-up. He’s expected to open 2009 in Double-A despite his struggles.A+/AMichael Burgess, 20, was another player that had a disappointing season in 2008. After a stunning debut in 2007 after being a supplemental first round pick out of high school, the outfielder hit just .249/.335/.469 with 18 home runs in 401 at-bats. He posted rates of 10.3 BB% and a gut-churning 33.9 K%. He “earned” a late-season promotion to High-A, where he hit .225 albeit with six homers in just 71 at-bats. Burgess is not the best fielder but he has a strong arm, which helps him immensely in right field.Chris Marrero was the organization’s first round draft pick in 2006 but he has been slowed by injuries (a broken leg and damaged ankle in ‘08) and inconsistencies. The 20-year-old first baseman spent 2008 in High-A ball where he hit .250/.325/.453 with 11 home runs in just 256 at-bats. He also posted rates of 8.9 BB% and 21.5 K%. It was his second time in High-A and most of his numbers took a small dip. Regardless, he should open 2009 in Double-A.Catcher Derek Norris is an intriguing sleeper in the system, who is starting to get noticed more and more. In 2008, the 2007 fourth round pick out of high school hit .278/.444/.463 with 10 home runs and 11 steals (in 20 attempts) in 227 short-season at-bats. Norris also posted impressive rates of 21.7 BB% and 24.7 K%. Defensively, the right-handed hitter is raw but he has a strong arm and threw out almost 50 percent of base stealers last year.SS/ROne of the best bits of news that the organization received this year is that Jack McGeary is going to pitch full-time for the first time since signing for almost $2 million in 2007. He had been splitting his time between baseball and finishing his degree at Stanford. The left-hander had a good year in 2008 and he allowed 61 hits in 59.2 innings. He also posted rates of 1.96 BB/9 and 9.65 K/9. McGeary has a repertoire that includes an 87-91 mph fastball, good curve and change-up.Outfielder Destin Hood was selected out of high school in the second round of the 2008 draft. The toolsy outfielder played both baseball and football in college and was given a large contract to forgo college. In his debut in rookie ball, Hood hit .256/.333/.349 in 86 at-bats. Catcher Adrian Nieto was another prep player given an above-average contract to sign. He hit .265/.390/.353 in 34 rookie at-bats. Following the trend, J.P. Ramirez cashed in after signing late. He hit .364 in just 11 at-bats. Impressively, he walked four times and did not strike out.