Minor League Report

I pretty much lifted this minor league report on the discussion boards of the Washington Post.  While I was going to consider this a Fanshot - I figured it might be better placed here for a discussion on who we'd like to see in the team before too long.  How long before Stammen is called up?  Or will Clippard be called up to fill the (gaping) hole in the bullpen?

Nice to see Ross D back to form.

The original post is here:

Washington Post discussion board

This Week's Top Headlines

ROSS IS BOSS: Harrisburg Senators LHP Ross Detwiler struck out 9 and did not walk a batter in 5.0 innings of one-run ball in his most recent start, Monday vs. Altoona (Pirates)...the southpaw has posted a 1.83 ERA (4 ER/19.2 IP) and recorded 20 strikeouts against 6 walks (3.33 K/BB ratio) over his last 4 outings...in his first season at the Double-A level, Detwiler owns a 2.96 ERA in 6 starts...the 23-year-old has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 5 of those 6 starting assignments...Detwiler, Washington's top pick (6th overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, entered the season rated as the Nationals' No.2 prospect according to Baseball America.

DEREK'S DANGEROUS: Hagerstown Suns C Derek Norris ' 7 home runs and 25 RBI are both tops among minor league catchers, and rank 2nd in professional baseball behind only San Francisco's Bengie Molina (8 homers, 26 RBI)...Norris ranks among the Single-A South Atlantic league leaders in RBI (t-1st), walks (2nd, 17), homers (3rd), OPS (4th, .980) and slugging (5th, .583)...he has thrown out 34% (11-for-32) of would-be basestealers...per Baseball America , he entered the season rated as the No. 6 prospect and top overall catching prospect in Washington's system...Norris was selected in the 4th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Goddard (KS) High School.

 

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs

International League North Division

16-14, 4th Place , 6.0 Games Back

STAMMEN'S JAMMIN': RHP Craig Stammen won his 4th straight decision, allowing just 4 hits in 6.0 shutout innings, Sunday vs. Indianapolis (Pirates)...the 25-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 6 starts this season...he has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 5 of those 6 starts...Stammen was selected in the 12th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

PAPER CLIP(PARD): In 9 relief appearances, RHP Tyler Clippard has allowed just 2 earned runs run in 18.1 innings (0.98 ERA) of work and posted a .175 BAA...he has struck out 22 and walked 8...Clippard, 24, has worked 2.0 or more innings in 7 of his 9 appearances...he made 2 spot starts with the Nationals last season, going 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA...the 24-year-old was acquired from the Yankees in exchange for RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, December 5, 2007.

START ME UP: RHP J.D. Martin surrendered just one hit, a solo homer, in 6.0 strong innings to earn the win on Monday vs. Indianapolis...in his last 3 starts, he has gone 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP), 16 strikeouts and just one walk...Martin is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA and a 11.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio (22 K/2 BB) in 5 starts overall...the California native signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent in the offseason.

THE MASK OF JASON: RHP Jason Bergmann has offered scoreless relief in 8 of 9 appearances, going 1-0 with one save and a 1.46 ERA...the 27-year-old began the season with Syracuse before he was recalled to the big leagues on April 20...he made 3 appearances with Washington, but was optioned back to Syracuse on April 29 when the Nationals acquired RHP Logan Kensing from Florida...since being optioned, he is 1-0 and has worked 6.1 scoreless innings (5 games).

Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Month - April

INF Seth Bynum - batted .333 (13-for-39) with 3 doubles, 3 homers and 10 RBI in 11 games.

RHP Craig Stammen - went 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA (6 ER/23.0 IP) and a .205 BAA in 4 starts.

Double-A Harrisburg Senators

Eastern League Southern Division

6-23, 6th Place , 16.0 Games Back

 

ZECHMATE: RHP Zech Zinicola has allowed only one earned run in 11.1 innings (0.82 ERA) in 10 games this season...he is 2-for-2 in save opportunities...Zinicola, selected in the 6th round of the 2006 Draft, was tabbed as Washington's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2006.

Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Month - April

OF Marvin Lowrance - hit .309 (17-for-55) with 4 doubles, one triple, 3 homers and 6 RBI in 16 contests.

LHP Justin Jones - posted a 3.31 ERA (6 ER/16.1 IP) in 3 starts.

 

Single-A Potomac Nationals

Carolina League Northern Division

19-12, 2nd Place , 1.0 Game Back

SIMPLY FILTHY: RHP Brad Meyers earned MILB.com Single-A Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of May 4-10...Meyers has fired 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 3 games (2 starts)...he is 2-0 with 18 strikeouts, 2 walks (9.0 K/BB ratio) and a .159 (11-for-69) BAA in those contests...overall, the 23-year-old is 3-0 with a league-leading 1.16 ERA in 5 games (4 starts)...Meyers, selected in the 5th round of the '07 Draft out of Loyola Marymount University (CA), is scheduled to make his next start tomorrow vs. Salem (Red Sox).

DON'T DISS CHRIS: 1B Chris Marrero has reached base via hit, walk or HBP in 28 of 30 games this season...additionally, he has hit safely in 23 of those 30 contests, batting .295 with 7 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 RBI...the 20-year-old is tied for 8th in the CL with 33 hits...Marrero entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect -the top hitter- in Washington's system...he was the Nationals' top selection (15th overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

FRANCISCO TREAT: OF Francisco Plasencia is 13-for-33 (.394) with 7 runs scored, 5 doubles, 2 homers, 5 RBI, 6 walks and a 1.245 OPS in 9 games this month...in 27 games overall, he is batting .311 with 9 doubles, 5 homers, 17 RBI and a .544 slugging percentage...additionally, the Venezuelan native is hitting a team-best .346 (9-for-26) with 12 RBI with RISP.

WILL(EMS) POWER: RHP Colton Willems , 20, has yet to allow an earned run in 11.0 innings (2 starts) and owns a .147 BAA since joining the P-Nats on May 4...Willems was selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Month - April

SS Danny Espinosa - went 22-for-66 (.333 ) with 8 doubles, 2 homers, 10 RBI, 16 walks and 7 steals in 21 games.

RHP Brad Meyers - went 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP) in 3 starts.

Single-A Hagerstown Suns

South Atlantic League Northern Division

14-15, 7th Place , 3.0 Games Back

EVEN STEVEN: 3B Steven Souza is batting at a .405 clip (15-for-37) with 3 doubles, one home run and 4 RBI through 11 games in May...he has hit in 7 consecutive games, raising his average from .224 to .280...Souza, 20, was a 3rd-round selection in the '07 Draft.

Organizational Player and Pitcher of the Month - April

1B Robby Jacobsen - hit .341 (15-for-44) with 3 doubles, one triple, one homer and 10 RBI in 14 games.

RHP Brad Peacock - posted a 2.45 ERA (6 ER/22.0 IP) and a 6.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio (18 K/3 BB) in 4 starts.