Washington Nationals' '09 First Round Pick Drew Storen's Potomac Nationals Debut...

After agreeing (almost immediately) to a $1.6 million dollar signing bonus with the Washington Nationals just days after the 2009 MLB Draft, DC's second '09 1st Round pick, 21-year-old right-handed closer Drew Storen, was introduced to the nation's capital in a press conference where he was asked, as reported by Washington Post writer Chico Harlan in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "More on Storen", why he had decided to sign so quickly? Mr. Storen responded:

" I just wanted to get going. I miss playing. We didn't make the playoffs at school, and my arm is feeling great. I wanted to get going and really get that chance to help the Nationals win this year."

More On Drew Storen's Potomac Nationals Debut After The JUMP...

Storen, as the closer for the Stanford Cardinal, was (7-1) with 7 saves and a 3.80 ERA in 28 G and 42.2 IP over which he walked just 8 while collecting 66 K's in his sophomore year. The Cardinal baseball season ended on May 24th, and Storen started his professional career on June 18th with the Class-A Hagerstown Suns. Storen continued to throw strikes and collect K's, posting an (0-1) record with a 3.68 ERA in 11 games and 14.2 IP for the Suns, in which Storen struck out 26 batters without issuing a walk. MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in a blog post entitled, "Drew Storen promoted to Class A Potomac", asked "Acting" GM Mike Rizzo if Storen's work with the Suns had warranted a promotion, and Mr. Rizzo, (before the announcement of Storen's promotion had been made official), responded:

"'There is a possibility [he could be promoted]. I'm not sure,' Rizzo said. 'Like I said before, you really have to master the league before we move you up, but he is leaning toward really make it tough [when it comes to staying in Hagerstown] .'"

Storen was officially promoted to the Carolina League's Potomac Nationals this past Sunday, and he made his debut on Tuesday night, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings in a 5-4 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats to record his first save in his first outing for the P-Nats. Anthony Masterson (Broadcast/Media Assistant with the Class-A Carolina League's Potomac Nationals) sent along a link to his post game article entitled, "Storen Dominant as Nats Top Cats in Opener", wherein he describes Storen's debut:

"Using a brilliant mix of mid-90s fastballs and devastating curveballs, Storen kept the Hillcats guessing, striking out the side in his first Carolina League inning. He came out for the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Eric Huber, but the right-hander out of Stanford stayed calm, getting two ground balls including a 4-6-3 double play to end the ballgame, giving Storen the first save of his professional career."

In a note on Storen's debut that Mr. Masterson included with the link to the P-Nats' game report, he added a comment which echoes Mr. Rizzo's statement from earlier this week before Storen's jump between the Nationals' two Class A affiliates..."Unfortunately for the P-Nats," Mr. Masterson wrote, "I can't imagine him sticking around much longer here with more outings like that. It has to be pretty exciting for everybody involved with the Nationals that he's doing so well so quickly. Just thought all the Nats fans might like to know..." 

• Drew Storen's '09 Stats So Far (w/ Hagerstown/Potomac):

(0-1, 3.24 ERA), 12 G, 16.2 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 29 K's, 0 BB.

LINK: Washington Nationals: Minor League Minute - Federal Baseball - Ed Chigliak

Washington Nationals: Minor League Minute - Potomac Nationals' Boomer Whiting Breaks SB Mark!! PLUS: I ask "Acting" DC GM Mike Rizzo About Storen...