Washington Nationals: September Call-Ups: Ross Detwiler, Zack Segovia, Marco Estrada, Logan Kensing and IAN DESMOND!!!

Washington Nationals Call Up Detwiler, Segovia, Estrada, Kensing and Desmond.

• Everyone in DC knows Ross Detwiler, who's been plying his trade with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs since he was sent down in July after going (0-5) with a 6.40 ERA in 10 starts and 52.0 IP with Washington. In his first stint at Triple-A, Detwiler, a 23-year-old left-hander taken 6th overall in the '07 Draft by the Nationals, who'd jumped from Double-AA Harrisburg to DC to make his debut as a starter on May 18th of '09, was (4-2) with a 3.10 ERA and 42 K's over 10 starts and 49.1 IP for the Chiefs, over which he walked 20 and allowed 56 H, 23 R, 17 ER and 2 HR to opponents who hit for a .281 AVG with Detwiler on the hill...

• Zack Segovia is a former Philadephia Phillies' prospect who was signed by the Nationals as a free agent on June 18, 2008. Segovia, a 2nd Round pick, taken 58th overall by the Phillies in the 2002 MLB Draft, underwent Tommy John Surgery that cost him his 2004 season when he was just 21-years-old. In 3 years, Segovia recovered from surgery and rose through every level of the Phillies' system even making one start in the majors against the Florida Marlins in 2007, but when he signed with Washington he started back and in the GCL as a 25-year-old in rookie ball. According to an article by Geoff Morrow of the Patriot News (a local paper covering Harrisburg, PA) entitled, "Segovia's seven stops", when Segovia was released by Philadelphia:

"The Washington Nationals quickly snatched him up, knowing that he was still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery..."

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Segovia ended the '08 season in Double-AA Harrisburg, and started there in 2009, going (1-3) with a 3.68 ERA and 39 K's in 44.0 IP before moving up to Syracuse where he saved 5 games and finished the year with a (2-2) record and a 2.54 ERA in 27 appearances and 28.1 IP over which he allowed 18 H, 8 ER, 1 HR and 8 BB's and collected 27 K's, while holding opposing hitters to a .184 AVG. 

• Marco Estrada And Logan Kensing...Estrada hasn't pitched in the Majors since the end of September 2008, when he made 11 appearances with the Nationals. In 12.2 IP, Estrada, who failed to record a decision, posted a 7.82 ERA and allowed 17 hits, 13 runs, 11 earned, 4 HR and 5 walks while striking out 10 batters. When Estrada was drafted by the Nationals with the 174th pick in the 6th Round of the 2005 Draft, scouting director Dana Brown told MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in an article entitled, "Nationals excited with draft results", that when Estrada arrives in the Majors:

"...he will be an innings eater and a fifth starter-type guy. He was valued because of his pitch ability. He really throws a lot of strikes..."

Estrada, now 26, appeared solely as a reliever in 2008 with the Nationals, but in Syracuse this season, he made just 2 relief appearances, starting 25 times and posting a (9-5) record with a 3.63 ERA in 136.1 IP in which he gave up 13 hits, 55 ER, 10 HR and 33 walks while piling up 98 K's. Estrada was also named the Topps IL Pitcher of the month for August, an honor that's bestowed monthly, according to a Chief's press release, "...by the field managers within the 14-team (International League),"  Logan Kensing? Kensing, another 26-year-old right-hander has already had two stints with the Nationals this season, and he's (0-2) with a 10.46 ERA in the 26.2 innings he's pitched for Washington. With Syracuse, Kensing is (2-1) with a 2.97 ERA in 31 games and 33.1 IP. Kensing's walked 15 and given up 6 HR's in 23 games with the Nationals. In 31 games with Syracuse he's walked just 6 and allowed 2 HR's. Maybe the third time is the charm for Mr. Kensing...?

• Ian Desmond...Finally!!! 

The Montreal Expos' 3rd Round pick, 84th overall in 2004, Ian Desmond, 23, has played at every level in the system in his 6 years with the franchise, but only this season did he finally rise up to Triple-AAA where the shortstop hit for a .354 AVG in 55 games and 177 at bats, after having put up a .306 AVG with 12 doubles, 6 HR's and 18 RBI's at Double-A Harrisburg. Once with Syracuse, Desmond lifted his .372 Double-AA OBP to an impressive .428 OBP as a Chief. In August, Desmond was 36 for 100, for a .360 AVG with a .413 OBP, .510 SLG and .923 OPS, and he ended the season with a 12-game hit streak in tact.

• ?'s For The DC Faithful...

• Will Ian Desmond force the Nationals to move finally move Cristian Guzman out at short?

• Do you expect anything different from Logan Kensing?

• Had anyone been paying attention to Zack Segovia before yesterday afternoon? Seriously?

• Are you surprised Shairon Martis didn't get the call?

• Anyone else you wish had been called up?

• Which of the September call-ups will have the biggest impact?

Further Reading:

• From 8/31/09 - "Washington Nationals' Possible Candidates for September Roster Expansion" - Federal Baseball - Dave Nichols from the Nats News Network. 

"SURE TO BE INCORRECT PREDICTIONS:  

The Nats add a bunch of arms, but just one more hitter, injury notwithstanding.

From the 40-man: RHPs Balester, Detwiler, Martis, Estrada and SS Desmond

Need to be added to 40-man: RHP Everts and Segovia and LHP Spradlin"