Federal Baseball - All PostsAn Unofficial Washington Nationals Support Group.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50205/federal-fav.png2024-03-18T00:01:00-04:00http://www.federalbaseball.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T00:01:00-04:002024-03-18T00:01:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: MacKenzie Gore strikes out 10 in “weird” outing; Josiah Gray Opening Day starter
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<p><em>Notes and quotes on the Nationals’ weekend in West Palm Beach, FL...</em></p> <p id="TZyQAJ">Going up against New York’s Mets last week in West Palm Beach, FL, MacKenzie Gore gave up two hits, three walks, and one earned run in 5 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings pitched. </p>
<p id="J5Awrt">Gore, 25, retired nine straight to start the outing (<em>on just 32 pitches</em>), before a single and three walks forced in the first run. A 4-3 double play got the lefty out of the fourth inning, and he got a 5-4-3 DP after a one-out hit in the fifth, then returned to the mound for two more outs in the sixth before he was done for the day, having thrown 80 pitches total. </p>
<p id="CcJfn4">Gore said afterwards he was happy with where his stuff was at three starts in as he built up towards the start of his second full season in D.C. and third season in the majors.</p>
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<cite>Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="fsXDUp">“Look, the stuff, we’re going in the right direction,” Gore told reporters, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/gore-avoids-big-inning-barnes-has-strong-debut-lipscomb-triples">as quoted by MASN writer Mark Zuckerman</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p id="SDumSB">“I think the stuff’s good. I think it’s moving the right way. Now, just keep executing at a higher level each start is the plan.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="F0Dmgh">Pitching out of the stretch as he did the one inning he got in a jam was something he had not done much early this spring, so he said he had to get comfortable again with men on base:</p>
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<p id="zcu3Nq">“We haven’t necessarily pitched out of the stretch much, and it’s different than the windup delivery-wise,” he said. </p>
<p id="vuRihK">“So I just wasn’t good, and it didn’t feel good. And it obviously didn’t look good. But that’s what Spring Training is for.”</p>
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<p id="uJd9yv">The day after the outing, the southpaw talked <a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/video/mackenzie-gore-talks-spring-training-more">in an interview on the MLB Network</a> about the ways he has developed since he was the 3rd overall pick in 2017, taken out of high school in North Carolina by San Diego’s Padres, who eventually dealt him to the Nationals in the Juan Soto (<em>and Josh Bell</em>) mega-deal at the trade deadline in 2022. </p>
<p id="3vaBUK">Coming off a 2020 season which was wiped out by the pandemic for Gore, he struggled in 2021, with blisters and mechanical issues leading him to reassess what had allowed him to be a top draft pick and highly-regarded prospect.</p>
<p id="5TsIgB">“I think Mac has learned a lot about himself, about his body, about his delivery, about his mind throughout this whole thing,” Padres’ farm director Sam Geaney said, <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-09-18/padres-minor-league-report-mackenzie-gore">as quoted by reporter Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune</a> late in 2021. “He’s come out on the other end stronger.”:</p>
<blockquote><p id="vKHJcH">“There’s a lot of people who’ve impacted him over the last year and half or so, who have helped him get to a point where he’s in a much better spot than he was when he was pitching with El Paso at the beginning of the year.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="E8ZCLG">“I really think the hiccup we had in ‘20-’21,” Gore explained in the MLB Network interview, “where I just wasn’t very good, I had to kind of figure out myself and learn how to just get better and learn my delivery and why I was good, and not good at times, and I really think — as bad as it was, it’s helped me as much as anything in my career.”</p>
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<cite>Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="5fX91E">Asked about mechanical changes he’s made since he was drafted, Gore talked about some tweaks he’s made along the way to get to where he is today:</p>
<blockquote><p id="GWeCff">“I had the really high hands when I was younger, and I wouldn’t necessarily say the best tempo in the delivery, and so kind of calmed the hands down, the legs still get pretty much to the same spot, but I had to kind of just make everything more efficient, just get better lines to the plate, really.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="KxAoHU">He’s also learned to control his emotions a little better, as he did when he ran into trouble against the Mets last week.</p>
<p id="TVppvW">“I can get annoyed pretty easy,” he acknowledged, “but I’m trying to do a little better job of that as I get older.”</p>
<p id="TA0omf">His manager said he’s seen growth in that area.</p>
<p id="TUGlDQ">“Last year if that would’ve happened,” Martinez said of the hit and three walks which got his starter in trouble, “... the wheels probably would’ve fell off.</p>
<p id="FUDltU">“Today, I watched him and I watched his demeanor. … He kept his composure, and he got us out of that inning.”</p>
<p id="6bSOJz">Nationals’ GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo, in an interview with MLB Network Radio hosts Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette, talked about what he expects from the lefty in 2024, and what Gore needs to do to take the next step.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MacKenzie Gore's 4Ks thru 2. <a href="https://t.co/YIZ8peu07J">pic.twitter.com/YIZ8peu07J</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1769417272794153175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="8bEGfX">“I think just be more economical with his pitches,” Rizzo said. “He’s a strikeout guy. He likes to strike out guys. And guys who like to strike out guys, strike people out. He has to do that more economically. His stuff? You could compare his stuff with any lefty in the league. He’s got a plus-plus fastball, he was up to 98 this spring, and he’s got a big powerful curveball, he’s got a changeup that he’s incorporating more and more in his repertoire, and I think that — again, when he’s in the strike zone he gives us a chance to win, and I think the sky is the limit for this guy. Once that command — once he hones it in, he’s got good, general command last year, I think if he really hones that in, and commands those three pitches well, the sky is the limit. Because the stuff is there.”</p>
<p id="AoNp1f">Start No. 4 for Gore on Sunday was a “weird” outing for the pitcher, who struck out 10 in 4 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> IP, but gave up nine hits, two walks, and eight earned runs in a 96-pitch effort in 9-8 win for Washington. </p>
<p id="f9Xc7A">Luke Voit homered off the Nationals’ starter in the top of the second, after Gore struck out the side in the first. He added three more Ks in a 1-2-3 third, gave up a walk, three hits, and two runs in the fourth, then hit a batter and gave up two doubles, three singles, and a total of five runs in the fifth.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MacKenzie Gore, K'ing the Side.<br><br>7Ks thru 3. <a href="https://t.co/swrwMfuVZj">pic.twitter.com/swrwMfuVZj</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1769423361975710072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="4GUnrX">“I felt the stuff was pretty good whole way through, but yeah, it got a little weird,” Gore said after the game. “I don’t know, but the stuff was good. I thought it was hot. We held the velo. We just gave up a lot of hits, so...”</p>
<p id="Zb69lH">The weird part?</p>
<p id="rjJdkG">“Well, we struck out 10 and gave up eight runs,” Gore told reporters. “That was ... but no, I think the stuff is good, I like the shapes, where they’re at. We went through spring trying things that we wanted do, and we just stuck to the plan and did it today, and I felt good.”</p>
<p id="LUS0Bn">He did get up to 96 pitches, which is a step in his progression towards the start of the 2024 season.</p>
<p id="rGKgxz">“That’s plenty,” he said. “I felt good though on pitch 96, so we went to 80 last time, and made that what, [16]-pitch jump? So feel good, and we’re in a good spot.”</p>
<p id="KfVRDP">“He said he was trying to mix some pitches, get the shape and everything,” But I told him: ‘Next time out, you’ve just got to hone in on who you are. We’ve got to get that pitch count down.’ His stuff is so good, I hate to look up there and see 90 pitches in the fifth inning. But what I loved was the ball was electric.”</p>
<p id="kQgT6q">“He said he was trying to mix some pitches, get the shape and everything,” manager Davey Martinez said after the game, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/gore-has-weird-start-rutledge-in-latest-round-of-cuts">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>. “But I told him: ‘Next time out, you’ve just got to hone in on who you are. We’ve got to get that pitch count down.’ His stuff is so good, I hate to look up there and see 90 pitches in the fifth inning. But what I loved was the ball was electric.”</p>
<p id="GeWpqm">“I know he loves striking out guys,” Martinez added. “And that’s nice. But I need you to go out there and pitch 6-7 innings, get 21 outs. He understands that.”</p>
<h3 id="NYB4q4"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Rizzo was on the Front Office on <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBNetworkRadio</a> today. Talked about the top prospects, including Trey Lipscomb and Jarlin Susana. Also mentioned having a homegrown rotation with the Triple- A <a href="https://twitter.com/RocRedWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RocRedWings</a> led by Jackson Rutledge. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nats?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nats</a> <a href="https://t.co/KYZ8Vcmnfb">https://t.co/KYZ8Vcmnfb</a></p>— Lacy Lusk (@LacyLuskBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/LacyLuskBA/status/1769417216372473937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="RQHx6V"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<p id="nCBIzf">Josiah Gray was named the Nationals’ Opening Day starter on Sunday, with manager Davey Martinez making the announcement before the club’s Grapefruit League matchup with the Mets.</p>
<p id="NS7IFE">“He’s matured so much since the first day I saw him,” <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/gray-earns-first-opening-day-start-of-career">Martinez said, as quoted on MASN</a>: </p>
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<p id="Eapt0e">“Even through the struggles of last year, he’s a lot different. Coming into camp, he’s been so much different as far as growth-wise. Understanding who he is, working on things he needs to work on, not trying to reinvent the wheel. He knows he needs to go out there and attack and throw strikes.</p>
<p id="9RCzY6">“He’s been a lot different this spring. I’m proud of him.”</p>
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<p id="0n97jw">Here’s what Gray said about getting the nod for the season opener, via <a href="http://MLB.com">MLB.com’</a>s Jessica Camerato:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I just remember my first big league camp being with the Dodgers and getting cut and thinking how that feeling was, and to say you’re going to be our first arm out of Spring Training going into the season is really cool and really surreal." - Josiah Gray, Opening Day starter</p>— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessicaCamerato/status/1769395196876165341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="KnHItE">“That’s awesome. He earned it,” rotation mate MacKenzie Gore said after his start Sunday. </p>
<p id="0AUWC1">“Really cool for him and his family, and it will be here soon.”</p>
https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/18/24103752/washington-nationals-news-notes-mackenzie-gore-strike-out-10-in-weird-outing-josiah-gray-opening-dayPatrick Reddington2024-03-17T01:15:00-04:002024-03-17T01:15:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Trevor Williams’ third start; bullpen game + more...
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<p><em>Notes and quotes from the Nationals’ last two games...</em></p> <h3 id="zOZtQ6"><strong>FRIDAY:</strong></h3>
<p id="qH2OSN">Trevor Williams got off to a rough start in his second outing of the spring last week in West Palm Beach. </p>
<p id="zqgH1i">Williams gave up a leadoff home run, back-to-back singles, and a three-run blast which put him and the Nationals in a 4-0 hole early in what ended up a 9-4 loss to the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a>.</p>
<p id="SPvm0r">All four of the hits came on pitches up in the zone, and the 31-year-old veteran left pitches up for back-to-back singles, the second an RBI hit, in his third and final inning in what ended up a 55-pitch, 38-strike outing in his second start of the spring after he arrived at camp late following the birth of a child.</p>
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<cite>Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="0lmtP2">Williams, 31, put up a 5.55 ERA, 5.98 FIP, 53 walks, and 111 Ks, with an NL-leading 34 home runs allowed, and a .300/.359/.533 line against in 144 1⁄3 innings pitched in his 30 starts in the first year of his 2-year/$13M free agent deal in Washington.</p>
<p id="1rDk7M">Heading in the second season in D.C., he said he felt good in spite of the results in start No. 2.</p>
<p id="2w1H3d">“At this point in camp, I’m feeling good,” Williams said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/garcia-nats-sloppy-in-early-loss-to-astros-that-can-t-happen">as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco</a>, after the start. </p>
<blockquote><p id="E8q2tP">“I’m feeling like I’m where we need to be. I think we threw 55 today, or almost 60, so to get to that volume today was good and was positive. … I thought we executed really everything that we wanted to execute. It’s a day in Spring Training that you look at the positives a lot more than the results. So at this point in camp, I’m where I need to be.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="UYVtOf">“He fell behind a little bit,” manager Davey Martinez said of Williams’ start.</p>
<p id="16PB94">“His changeup wasn’t as effective as it was in his first outing. But overall I thought he threw the ball okay. He made some good pitches. They didn’t really hit the ball exceptionally hard. They hit (two home runs). I thought he threw the ball okay. So he’s gotta get that changeup command better.”</p>
<p id="okd6ni">Start No. 3 for Williams on Friday began with another leadoff home run, and he gave up three more hits and a second run before getting out of the inning. </p>
<p id="2MSl8x">He retired the next eight batters he faced, before an error put a runner on he erased with a double play one out later, and worked around three hits in his fifth and final inning in a 68-pitch, 48-strike appearance in what ended up a 7-3 win for the Nationals.</p>
<h3 id="hmiYzd"><strong>SATURDAY:</strong></h3>
<p id="sXi9P8">Things didn’t go as well for the Nationals’ pitchers on Saturday, with Luis Perdomo (4 H, 2 BB, 3 ER in 1 IP), Dylan Floro (2 H, 1 ER in 1 IP), Tanner Rainey (3 BB, 1 ER, 2 Ks in 1 IP), and Robert Garcia (3 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 2 Ks, 1 IP) combing to give up 8 ER on 9 H in 4 IP after two scoreless from Derek Law to start the bullpen game.</p>
<p id="RnxuBu">“Some of these guys, when they get to face big league hitters, the at-bats get extended,” Davey Martinez said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/relievers-get-extra-work-yepez-gets-three-more-hits-wood-gets-a-day-off">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>, after the game: </p>
<blockquote><p id="QEn5hx">“There’s more pitches; they’re not the five-, six-, seven-pitch innings. That’s kind of what I wanted to see. I wanted to see them get deeper in counts and see how they do. And I saw that today. Some guys were good and battled, and it was nice to see them go through that.”</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="dBe3g6"><strong>WOOD’S WRIST:</strong></h3>
<p id="gUBD1H">James Wood, 21, tweaked his wrist on an awkward swing in Friday’s Spring Breakout game, and was a late scratch on Saturday, and Nationals fans had to wait until after their loss to the Cardinals on Saturday for an explanation, which MASN’s Mark Zuckerman got from the Nats’ skipper when he spoke with reporters in his postgame presser:</p>
<blockquote><p id="lCiUKN">“It was a weird swing, so I didn’t want to take any chances,” Martinez said. “He feels totally fine. He said he could play today. But I said: ‘You’ve been playing a lot. Let’s just give you a day, and we’ll get you back out there.’” </p></blockquote>
<p id="PUovAJ">Wood, the 2021 2nd Round pick by the Padres acquired from San Diego in the Juan Soto (and Josh Bell trade in 2022), is 12 for 37 (.324/.457/.649), with a double, triple, and three home runs so far this spring in an impressive run in Grapefruit League action.</p>
<h3 id="aUAkEJ"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
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<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/O7VqRPeFsG">pic.twitter.com/O7VqRPeFsG</a></p>— Robert Hassell III (@robert_hassell3) <a href="https://twitter.com/robert_hassell3/status/1769081075840495970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="cjk692"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Jarlin Susana, 102mph & 103mph ⛽️⛽️ <a href="https://t.co/vqtdSemPRk">pic.twitter.com/vqtdSemPRk</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1768743652761751949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">⛽️ 103 mph ⛽️<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nationals</a>' Jarlin Susana threw 29 pitches in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringBreakout?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringBreakout</a> action yesterday.<br><br>20 of them were faster than 100 mph. <a href="https://t.co/YhYZN2nprv">pic.twitter.com/YhYZN2nprv</a></p>— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1769037665733914861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/17/24101706/washington-nationals-news-notes-trevor-williams-third-start-bullpen-game-morePatrick Reddington2024-03-15T00:01:00-04:002024-03-15T00:01:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats’ prospects in Spring Breakout game today
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<p><em>Notes and quotes on the Nationals’ prospects in today’s Spring Breakout game...</em></p> <p id="K7YYOd">“I think the Baby Nats are no surprise anymore,” manager <a href="https://x.com/mlbnetwork/status/1768087265203372495?s=46&t=pLbexj7OLkjvGhU3lOz0fw">Davey Martinez told MLB Network hosts Mark DeRosa and Robert Flores</a> on Wednesday afternoon in West Palm Beach, Florida, referring, of course to the top prospects in big league Spring Training with the Nationals this year like James Wood, Robert Hassell III, Brady House, Trey Lipscomb, Darren Baker, and Dylan Crews. </p>
<p id="VAOSrn">“They’re here,” Martinez said, and if they stay on the same trajectory, some or all those prospects will be in the majors in the near future. </p>
<p id="zCP0p6">For now, though, they are gathered together in the clubhouse with the players expected to start the season in the big leagues and the vets fighting for another shot in the Show.</p>
<p id="LI0GW0">Martinez said he refers to the line of lockers they are occupying near one another as “Hope Row”.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="z0Gqyn">“We got them all line up in the clubhouse and they’re all together,” he explained.</p>
<p id="77rrrA">“They’re a good group of kids, and they have, really, they’ve united together and so I call that little section ‘Hope Row.’</p>
<p id="sa3cuN">“They’re the future of the Nats and they have done really well. They really have. They’re eager, they’re willing to learn, they’re willing to do anything we ask them to do. It’s been a lot of fun.</p>
<p id="qL2oIA">As much fun as the young prospects are having, and as big a learning opportunity they have, Martinez said he’s really enjoying himself too, and enjoying watching them learn.</p>
<p id="6dLeMP">“This camp has been a lot of fun for me, I get a chance to teach, got a great staff — and my coaching staff is unbelievable — so we’re having a lot of fun with these kids, and they’re playing really well.”</p>
<p id="gSKSID">Asked if Crews and Wood, currently ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/nationals">on MLB Pipeline’s list</a> of the organization’s top prospects, will make an impact in the big leagues at some point in the coming season, Martinez said, “I really believe that. I really believe so, they’re close.”</p>
<p id="A3Ngz5">Most of the names mentioned above will get a spotlight this afternoon as part of Major League Baseball’s inaugural Spring Breakout Series, (<em>in Port St. Lucie at 3:10 PM; TV: SNY; RADIO: Nationals.com</em>), going up against the top prospects from the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>’ system as teams around the majors field rosters from their organizational ranks for one day of head-to-head competition.</p>
<p id="XTBTNx">Unforunately, Hassell III won’t participate as planned, since he was diagnosed with a groin strain after he went for an MRI this week. </p>
<p id="ssxkSn">Martinez acknowledged that Hassell III will miss some time, though he stressed he doesn’t think it’s a significant issue.</p>
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Washington Nationals Workouts" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QWzZOcz9GSsdpbmNLU1C-0WnVNY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25337207/usa_today_20043283.jpg">
<cite>Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="otpMOG">“He feels good,” Martinez explained, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/hassell-has-groin-strain-but-not-expected-to-miss-much-time">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a> on Wednesday. </p>
<p id="1oC3Ex">“He’s going to just do some strengthening stuff, and hopefully we get him ready as soon as possible.”</p>
<p id="dnUvFP">As for when the current No. 8 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list will return to action, Martinez declined to offer a timetable.</p>
<p id="J60oPb">“We don’t want to put a timetable on it, because he is feeling good, and his strength is pretty good,” Martinez said. </p>
<p id="fzb84q">“They’re going to continue to push him and see where he’s at.”</p>
<p id="3g0NU3">Hassell III, who suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand, struggled at the plate in 2023 (.225/.317/.324, 15 doubles, 8 HRs in 106 games and 476 PAs at Double-A Harrisburg), but hit in the Arizona Fall League (.290/.366./348 in 20 G and 82 PAs) and has looked more like the top prospect he is this spring, going 5 for 14 (.357/.412/.786) with a double, a triple, and a home run in 12 games in Grapefruit League action.</p>
<p id="ckaLcS">“He swung the bat really well,” Martinez said. </p>
<blockquote><p id="NnAty5">“I think he’s one of our better defenders out there at all three outfield positions. But he can put a jolt in the ball, especially to left field, left-center field. He’s worked on some things. We talked to him about being a little shorter (with his swing). He did that, and his swing looked really good. My plan is to talk to him, tell him don’t change anything, stay right there. And when you’re ready, get off to a good start.”</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="cJQ945"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="oxRWDv">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/CJAbrams01?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CJAbrams01</a> had a great year at the plate last season, hitting 18 home runs and stealing 47 bases. <br><br>What's in store for the young <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nationals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nationals</a> shortstop in 2024?<a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nationals</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATITUDE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATITUDE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringTrainingTour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringTrainingTour</a> <a href="https://t.co/vL1ASha5Xq">pic.twitter.com/vL1ASha5Xq</a></p>— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio/status/1768035558503448695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3 id="BYfYwz"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="dgrJas">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Spring Training note from Washington Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner.<br><br> : <a href="https://t.co/6CAC9XNt2Y">https://t.co/6CAC9XNt2Y</a> <a href="https://t.co/nnzidosS8B">pic.twitter.com/nnzidosS8B</a></p>— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1768356862649327808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a>
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https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/15/24100730/washington-nationals-news-notes-nats-prospects-in-spring-breakout-game-todayPatrick Reddington2024-03-14T00:30:00-04:002024-03-14T00:30:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Jake Irvin takes advice to heart; Carter Kieboom outrighted to Triple-A...
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<p>Notes and quotes from West Palm Beach, FL, where Jake Irvin shoved and Carter Kieboom was outrighted to AAA...</p> <p id="RkNHtr">Jake Irvin made his first two appearances in Grapefruit League action this spring out of the bullpen, piggybacking on the days he and MacKenzie Gore were scheduled to pitch. Irvin’s first start (<em>after he’d given up 8 R, 7 ER in 3 </em><sup><em>2</em></sup><em>⁄</em><sub><em>3</em></sub><em> innings pitched in his first two outings</em>), was a four-inning, 51-pitch, 37-strike, two-hit, five-K outing. </p>
<p id="l9Mohl">Good to get in that routine again,” Irvin said of starting for the first time this year, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/irvin-strong-in-first-start-gallo-struggles-in-return"><strong>as quoted by MASN’s Blanco</strong></a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="9OmriX">“The goal is just kind of be in attack mode, be on the offensive all night and I think we did a good job.</p>
<p id="yOJQSJ">“(Catcher Drew Millas) and I had a really good game plan and executed really well.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="WISXQR">Davey Martinez, Irvin’s manager, liked what he saw from the 27-year-old, 2018 4th Round pick, (<em>who made his MLB debut in</em> 2023 <em>with 24 starts over which he posted a 4.61 ERA, a 5.31 FIP, 54 walks, 99 strikeouts, and a .255/.340/.431 line against in 121 IP</em>).</p>
<p id="Txh2D7">“Jake was good. He was very good, very efficient,” Martinez said. </p>
<p id="sPSrMP">“Fastball was live. He threw the ball over the plate for the most part. The cutter was good. </p>
<p id="Q4mByJ">“He didn’t throw any changeups today. He just wanted to work on his cutter. His fastball was really good. His curveball he could drop for strikes. And that’s really good. A good outing.”</p>
<p id="1O3IoN">Irvin threw 45% fastballs in the start, (23 of 51), averaging just under 96 MPH with his four-seamer, while mixing in 13 curves (25%), eight cutters (16%), and seven sinkers (14%). </p>
<p id="ln70yB">In his fourth appearances and second start of the spring on Wednesday, Irvin went with his fastball 44% of the time, mixing in 33% curves, 13% sinkers, and 10% cutters, as he held the Miami Marlins’ lineup to one hit in five scoreless in which he struck out five of the 15 batters he faced. </p>
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<figcaption>Screencap via BaseballSavant.mlb.com</figcaption>
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<p id="Tn46SF">Irvin pounded the zone too, throwing 43 of 52 pitches for strikes, and he got 16 swings and five swinging strikes on his fastball, to go along with five called strikes on the heater, which averaged 95.9 MPH on the night. He got eight swinging strikes total, and nine called strikes, the other four with his curve.</p>
<p id="AaOKt8">“You talk about pitch efficiency; he was really good,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/jake-irvin-tosses-five-scoreless-innings-in-spring-start">as quoted by MLB.com’s Bill Ladson</a>. </p>
<blockquote><p id="sN23uF">“He attacked the strike zone. He was ahead in the count. I can’t say much. … Some of our young starters are really starting to get it, and that’s awesome.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="d6sHh6">Martinez said he talked to Irvin after he gave up five hits and seven runs (6 ER) in 1 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> IP in the second outing out of the pen, and when told by the pitcher he was trying to work out some things in game action, the manager had a simple message.</p>
<p id="uLCqqK">“Work on the stuff you need to work on, but do it in the bullpen,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/irvin-gets-message-and-flips-switch-kieboom-outrighted-to-triple-a">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>. </p>
<p id="2XDSd1">“When you’re in the game, you’re here to compete. I need you to forget about everything and start getting some outs. And he took it to heart.”</p>
<p id="sc2BR4">Irvin said he considered the source and followed Martinez’s advice:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="osXH2u">“He kind of just got my focus back on competing, which was the kick in the ass that I needed,” Irvin said. </p>
<p id="YT4Ysd">“I respect the hell out of him. His word goes a long way with me. It was good to hear that from him. I made the adjustment, and now it’s about competing.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 id="e0etzU"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<p id="peDqIe">On Wednesday afternoon, the Nationals announced Carter Kieboom has cleared outright waivers and the Nationals have assigned him outright to Triple-A Rochester. Kieboom, 26, and a 1st Round pick in 2016, was a highly-regarded prospect as he worked his way up in the Nats’ system, but he’s struggled at the major league level ( with a <em>.199/.297/.301 line, nine doubles, 12 home runs in 133 games and 508 plate appearances over four seasons</em>). </p>
<p id="sZpirU">Kieboom missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he got back up to the majors for 27 games last year. Now the organization made the decision that they would remove him from the 40-Man roster.</p>
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3wY30yhnPGDoEW0-ckmOHA_6cQM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25335378/1717404497.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="OQJzDj">“He missed some time with injuries, and I believe he’s still playing a little bit of catch-up,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/irvin-gets-message-and-flips-switch-kieboom-outrighted-to-triple-a">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>, in explaining the decision:</p>
<blockquote><p id="qB6ukK">“I know this is kind of disappointing for him, but he’s still got a uniform on, and he’s got to perform. I want him to go down there and really show us that he’s going to put the work in and get himself ready. And if he’s called upon, he’s going to come up here and help us win.”</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="4AGGxT"><strong>AND THIS/THESE:</strong></h3>
<div id="DWJ8q2">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our 30 Clubs in 15 Days coverage hits <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nationals</a> camp today!<a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonmorosi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LGRed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LGRed</a> look back at the prospects making a name for themselves with the Nats following the Scherzer/Turner and Soto/Bell trades. <a href="https://t.co/Gpk9omM5yK">pic.twitter.com/Gpk9omM5yK</a></p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1767917522643267984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a>
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<div id="ASACh7">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I think it's a really promising time… to be a National and a <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nationals</a> fan.”<br><br>Josiah Gray chats with <a href="https://twitter.com/markdero7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@markdero7</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RoFlo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoFlo</a> about the energy and optimism in the clubhouse for the 2024 season. <a href="https://t.co/AW9czMWj0q">pic.twitter.com/AW9czMWj0q</a></p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1768075899625214033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a>
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https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/14/24100330/washington-nationals-news-notes-jake-irvin-takes-advice-to-heart-carter-kieboom-outrightedPatrick Reddington2024-03-13T00:16:48-04:002024-03-13T00:16:48-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Roster cuts + more from Spring Training in WPB...
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<p><em>Notes and quotes from Spring Training...</em></p> <p id="BSh82v">When the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> made their first roster cuts of the Spring on Monday, 6 of 8 players optioned out to Triple-A or reassigned to minor league camp were pitchers, with Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez explaining it was time they get stretched out and prepare for the start of the regular season.</p>
<p id="2dXaor">Joan Adon, Cole Henry, DJ Herz, Mitchell Parker, and Amos Willingham were sent down to Triple-A Rochester (along with infielder Jake Alu), while veteran Travis Blankenhorn (OF) was reassigned to minor league camp in West Palm Beach, FL.</p>
<p id="ANYPve">“Really wanted to see some young guys pitch up here, and for the most part, I saw some really good things,” Martinez said, in explaining why they kept all their pitchers around as long as they did, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-option-three-prospects-ahead-of-spring-breakout">as quoted by MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato</a>. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="WOS29G">“But it’s time to get these guys stretched out and get them on a regular routine. </p>
<p id="nsa107">“Some of these guys are going to start, so we’ve got to build them up.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="j369zz">Martinez got a good, long look at those pitchers though, and liked what he saw.</p>
<p id="NTYHwh">“They’ve got a really good mix of pitches, they really do,” Martinez told reporters. </p>
<p id="Ose1t2">“They attack the strike zone. There was no fear in them.”</p>
<p id="JIlHhd">Cole Henry, 23, and a 2020 2nd Round pick by the Nats, underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in August of 2022. Martinez talked after the moves were announced on Monday about the right-hander’s progress as he works his way back.</p>
<blockquote><p id="XEav1j">“I was so happy with Cole Henry because of where he’s at and the fact of the way that he’s throwing the baseball,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to us and it means a lot to him to see him healthy and competing on the field. We’ve got to get him in a routine and get him going.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="OQLXTx"><a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/henry-full-go-to-start-camp-after-thoracic-outlet-syndrome-surgery">Henry told MASN’s Bobby Blanco</a> in late February he thought it would still take him a while before he was back to 100%:</p>
<blockquote><p id="OBBXgk">“I definitely think, as with any surgery, it’s going to take a year or two years just to be fully past it,” he said. “I mean, I’ll still have hiccups here and there as far as just a little bit more soreness on different days. Doing new things or pitching for a little bit longer than I’m used to. Whatever it is, there’s gonna be a little bit of that. But as far as being able to let the reins loose a little bit, take the training wheels off it’s been full-go. No restraints as far as rehab or anything. I’ve been basically going after it like it’s gonna be a regular full season.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="hLEqIc">After Monday’s Grapefruit League game, the club optioned the eighth player out to Triple-A, sending 2023 Rule 5 Draft pick Thaddeus Ward to Rochester after he made it through the ‘23 season with the club so they could keep the righty in the organization (<em>rather than returning him to his original team, the </em><a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/"><em>Boston Red Sox</em></a><em>, as per the rules of the Rule 5 Draft</em>).</p>
<p id="PPjKEz">“He’s had a really good Spring Training, as far as throwing strikes,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/corbin-finds-positives-and-negatives-in-start-ward-optioned-to-triple-a">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>. </p>
<p id="7B85ct">“Hopefully he keeps it that way, and he’s consistent. As I told everybody today: In the course of the year, we’re going to need starters. Get yourself ready, and be ready.”</p>
<h3 id="d7R6io"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="jlsbfF">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">⭐️ <a href="https://twitter.com/tlips03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tlips03</a> triple ⭐️ <a href="https://t.co/JQxdIVeac7">pic.twitter.com/JQxdIVeac7</a></p>— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nats_PlayerDev/status/1767732997418058143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3 id="fNk1SW"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<p id="1uoju7">If <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/12/24097103/washington-nationals-news-notes-patrick-corbin-finally-walked-someone-luis-garcia-tough-more">you didn’t read yesterday’s post here at FBB</a>, which included a section about Davey Martinez seemingly taking a tough love approach with Luis García, go read that now.</p>
<p id="qND9e4">Now that you have, here’s what Mike Rizzo, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman, told reporters when asked about the mental mistakes from García recently, and the position battles at second and in center field this spring, with García and Victor Robles trying to claim the spots they’ve held over the last few years in D.C.</p>
<p id="ZZvOqd">Rizzo’s take on where things stand?: </p>
<blockquote><p id="e3ClmT">“I think they’re playing hard, they’re playing well,” Rizzo said. “We have to eliminate the mental lapses and the mental mistakes. But when you think about it, they’re both still young men chronologically. Although they seem like they’ve been here forever, they’re still young people. Luis is still 23 years old. If they didn’t have ability, obviously you wouldn’t be putting up with the mental mistakes that they make. But they have a lot of ability. They’ve shown it in the past at this level. We just have to get them over that, because that’s not helping the team.”</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="gjkznF">
<strong>AND THIS:</strong> </h3>
<p id="Sn3jlT">On Tuesday afternoon, the Nationals announced the latest roster cut:</p>
<p id="3r6loy">The Nationals have optioned RHP Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A Rochester.</p>
<p id="AcuLJV">Brzykcy, 24, missed the entire 2023 season after having Tommy John surgery, but going into camp, GM Mike Rizzo said this winter things were progressing well.</p>
<p id="MJ0doK">“He’s typical Tommy John surgery,” Rizzo said at the Winter Meetings. “He’s a reliever. We expect him to be in Spring Training, we may slow play him in Spring Training to start, but the Tommy John protocol is going well, and we haven’t had any blips on the radar on his rehabilitation.”</p>
<p id="6UVNTh">Brzykcy was in Spring Training last season too, coming off a 2022 campaign in which the non-drafted free agent who signed with the club in 2020 put up a a 1.76 ERA in 51 games across three levels of the Nationals’ system, as the club noted after they added the right-hander to their 40-Man roster this winter.</p>
<p id="iVCtAS"></p>
https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/13/24098396/washington-nationals-news-notes-roster-cuts-more-from-spring-training-in-wpbPatrick Reddington2024-03-12T00:01:00-04:002024-03-12T00:01:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Patrick Corbin finally walked someone; Luis García tough ❤️ + more...
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<p><em>Notes and quotes from Monday’s game in West Palm Beach, FL...</em></p> <p id="8LYFa5">Patrick Corbin left a cutter up to Marlins’ outfielder Griffin Conine, a 2018 2nd Round pick who’s worked his way up to Triple-A in Miami’s system but hasn’t yet reached the majors, and Conine turned it around for a two-run home run in the third inning of the Nationals’ left-hander’s four-inning, 47-pitch, 37-strike start last week.</p>
<p id="sBAhNA">Corbin missed his location on that particular pitch, but overall, he said, he’s been happy with the cutter as he’s worked to add it to the mix this spring.</p>
<p id="NqY15O">“I think I like it,” Corbin said of the new pitch, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/crews-hits-first-homer-corbin-continues-cutter-work-in-win">as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco</a>. </p>
<blockquote><p id="u8Azeb">“The homer today was just middle-up there. Not really knowing that hitter too well, but I probably wanted it away a little bit more. But sometimes that happens. I think other than that all the pitches were kind of where I wanted them. I’ve had some success with the cutter so far this camp, so just looking forward to using that.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="lAaw5p">His manager said he was happy that four starts in this spring, Corbin (<em>who had 10 Ks in 8 </em><sup><em>2</em></sup><em>⁄</em><sub><em>3</em></sub><em> IP before yesterday’s start</em>) hadn’t walked anyone yet in Grapefruit League action.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="MelKap">“It’s awesome,” Martinez said of Corbin pounding the zone and throwing strikes. </p>
<p id="iIGgOO">“He’s starting to get that cutter and changeup combination with the fastball. It looks good.”</p>
<p id="zpx5xW">“Just getting ahead with quality pitches and putting them in swing mode,” Corbin said of his early success as he prepares to start the final year of his 6-year/$140M deal in D.C. </p>
<blockquote><p id="4RDnWb">“Get some ground balls and some easy fly balls. I think when you throw strikes, that forces them to swing and I’m able to mix things up. I mixed up the slider and the cutter and the fastball well. And threw some changeups early. So just a good combination of everything.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="yl7eQl">Start No. 5 for Corbin got off to a rough start in a 29-pitch bottom of the first inning for the southpaw in which he gave up two runs and his first walk of the spring, and he was up to 52 pitches in two innings after he gave up a two-out hit, his second walk, and an RBI single on which a third run scored.</p>
<p id="isDczy">Corbin worked around a two-out single in the third, and got two outs in the fourth before he was done for the day, with 74 pitches on his arm, 45 of them strikes, three earned runs on the board, two walks allowed, and six Ks from the 18 batters he faced, “four of those coming on his newly developed cutter,” <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/corbin-finds-positives-and-negatives-in-start-ward-optioned-to-triple-a">as MASN’s Mark Zuckerman noted in his report</a> on the game in Jupiter, FL’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.</p>
<p id="PVc6uM">“Obviously, you want good results,” Corbin said, as quoted on MASNsports.com. “The first inning, to throw – what, 30 pitches? – is not ideal. But it’s going to happen at some point in the season. It’s not what you’re trying to do, but sometimes just try to see how you bounce back from that.”</p>
<p id="asZeoz">“The balls that were really hit hard, they were all up,” his manager said, with the manager then reiterating the message he’s been delivering to Corbin as he’s struggled since 2019.</p>
<blockquote><p id="923Cac">“We always talk about with him: When he’s down, he’s very effective. Pitch count got up there. … He’s got to understand that down is good for him.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="2uHCMp">Corbin went slider-heavy in the outing, throwing it 36% of the time, with 23% sinkers, 22% cutters, 14% fastballs, and 5% changeups on the day.</p>
<h3 id="J9oFBK"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<p id="zs2V1u">Before Monday’s game the Nationals put out the list of their first roster cuts of the spring: </p>
<p id="VHvXjm"><strong>Today’s roster moves:</strong></p>
<p id="5CPUcq"><strong>Optioned to Triple-A Rochester:</strong></p>
<p id="JdHTEZ">-RHP Joan Adon</p>
<p id="GVVQN8">-RHP Cole Henry</p>
<p id="WMahc5">-LHP DJ Herz</p>
<p id="kOVwdi">-LHP Mitchell Parker</p>
<p id="2QVKGH">-RHP Amos Willingham</p>
<p id="q3bPqO">-INF/OF Jake Alu</p>
<p id="I5lxIA"><strong>Re-assigned to Minor League Camp:</strong></p>
<p id="HuT4tP">-OF Travis Blankenhorn</p>
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<img alt="MLB: Washington Nationals-Workouts" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aSrlSn97z8wcZbTrgl1_gNer_qY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25331383/usa_today_15628730.jpg">
<cite>Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="nH688O"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-option-three-prospects-ahead-of-spring-breakout">MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato had an interesting story</a> on Monday looking at three of those pitchers who were optioned to Triple-A that fans should keep an eye on this season and in this Friday’s Spring Breakout game.</p>
<h3 id="2B5qTt"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<p id="rnZru8">Luis García made errors on back-to-back to plays on Saturday, throwing one away (<em>on a throw </em><a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/garcia-nats-sloppy-in-early-loss-to-astros-that-can-t-happen"><em>MASN’s Bobby Blanco described as “too casual”</em></a>) then missing a catch at second base on a potential double play, which, manager Davey Martinez said after the game was not acceptable. </p>
<p id="MJm9ze">“That can’t happen,” Martinez said. </p>
<blockquote><p id="lu0KeD">“We talked about that with him. We got to be beyond that now with him. I mean, like I said, he’s not a rookie. He’s been in this league now for a while. Those things cannot happen. If we’re gonna compete and do the things we want to do, he’s got to play good defense. He’s got to play good defense, he’s gotta run the bases the right way, he’s got to work good at-bats. So I’ll talk to him tomorrow about it. But you can’t give up those kinds of errors like that.”</p></blockquote>
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d04Kujl5DCmvTPqaM0yl5Ja4q4A=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25331381/usa_today_22753353.jpg">
<cite>Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="RFGqQq">About that “run the bases the right way” bit: García made a mental error in the Nationals’ matchup with the Twins on Sunday. </p>
<p id="qV1BYE">Martinez didn’t hold back on that one either.</p>
<p id="UMPDM8">“That’s dumb. I mean, it really is,” <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/adon-more-confident-attacking-strike-zone-in-first-spring-start">Martinez said, as quoted on MASN</a>. </p>
<blockquote><p id="re0wvu">“You shouldn’t get picked off there. You know? So I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow. It’s no outs, we get to start our inning, he gets on base for us and then (he gets picked off). That can’t happen. It can’t. But like I said, we got to move on from those mistakes like that. That could take us out of, potentially, a big inning.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="XST4UQ">Will the tough love approach work with the still young, 23-year-old, four-year vet?</p>
https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/12/24097103/washington-nationals-news-notes-patrick-corbin-finally-walked-someone-luis-garcia-tough-morePatrick Reddington2024-03-11T00:01:00-04:002024-03-11T00:01:00-04:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Joan Adon solid in first start of spring + more...
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<p><em>Notes and quotes on the Nats’ right-hander’s start against the Twins...</em></p> <p id="LgIGHh">Joan Adon made two appearances in relief early in 2023, then 10 starts down the stretch in which the Nationals’ 25-year-old right-hander put up a 6.56 ERA, a 4.65 FIP, 4.18 BB/9, 8.36 K/9, and a .294/.374/.479 line against in 46 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings. </p>
<p id="UA4M2S">“Even when he was coming out of the bullpen for us earlier,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters late last year, “I saw a big difference in him. </p>
<p id="F8J7Y5">“His demeanor, his maturity, and he went back down [to the minors], he worked on some things we asked him to do, and now he’s getting an opportunity to pitch every five or six days, and has done well.”</p>
<p id="LZvGnh">Martinez remarked on the marked improvements he saw with Adon year to year between 2022-23.</p>
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<img alt="MLB: Washington Nationals-Workouts" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iCXNg1DoquAhinMOk_6ImwSbSDc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25329136/usa_today_22539598.jpg">
<cite>Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="dnZ4ta">“He’s thrown the ball a lot better for me since we had him last year, and every time he’s come up it seems like he seems like he’s gained a lot more confidence, so that’s a good thing,” the manager said.</p>
<p id="yCRaw9">Slowing things down when he gets in trouble, pitch selection, and in-game adjustments were areas of his game Martinez suggested Adon needed to work on in order to take the next step. </p>
<p id="E4ZORO">“That’s some of the things that we talk about with him, when he gets in trouble, he’s got to slow the game down a little bit,” Martinez explained.</p>
<p id="3de2IU">“Things go on in your head, as you know, and he starts really trying really hard to make the adjustments, and when it doesn’t work then he starts over-thinking about things.”</p>
<p id="3mYxcb">Adon struggled his first time out this year in Grapefruit League action, with six hitters in a row reaching base against him in his 2024 debut, but he showed his manager something when he made his second appearance of the spring.</p>
<p id="Nm4fc5">After issuing a leadoff walk (<em>on a pitch clock violation</em>) in the top of the sixth, and some back and forth between the pitcher, the home plate ump, and the Nats’ dugout when he argued hia pitch com device was not working, Adon retired the next six batters he faced, striking out the side when he returned to the mound for a second inning of work. </p>
<p id="zh5HlY">His manager liked seeing Adon take it all in stride.</p>
<p id="hMuAo6">“He could’ve gotten rattled,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/davies-strong-debut-bleier-s-near-immaculate-inning-and-adon-s-bounce-back?format=amp">as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman</a>. </p>
<p id="sVVtW6">“He didn’t let it bother him; he came back and threw strikes. That’s got to be the key for him: Be consistent throwing strikes, stay in the zone. </p>
<p id="fhb0T1">“The high-leverage situations, he’s definitely got to be able to control the heartbeat. If he does that, he’s got good stuff.”</p>
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Houston Astros at Washington Nationals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8Wyowi68rPt5xMZFPBaCb1ousfE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25329137/usa_today_22610566.jpg">
<cite>Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="k9vSy4">Going up against the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> in his third appearance and first start of the spring on Sunday, Adon got a double play after a one-out single in a scoreless first, stranded two in an extended second, then retired the side in order in the third in a 40-pitch, 27-strike outing for the righty, who threw 40% fastballs, averaging 94.7 MPH on the pitch, and he mixed in 28% curveballs, 15% sinkers, 10% sliders, and 8% changeups in the relatively brief appearance.</p>
<p id="IWCZWl">Adon was pumped about the results in his first start.</p>
<p id="mrB1Ol">“Obviously, a little emotional,” Adon said, <a href="https://www.masnsports.com/blog/adon-more-confident-attacking-strike-zone-in-first-spring-start">as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco</a>.</p>
<p id="FTSbLe">“That’s what we prepared for, to come here and make that start. And now that I got the opportunity, I appreciate it.”</p>
<p id="MT2eUD">Getting to actually start instead of building up like it’s a start but coming on in relief was a little different.</p>
<blockquote><p id="5vP40I">“I’ve been pitching for several years as a starter. And in the bullpen, it’s different. You just gotta prepare differently. You don’t know how exactly to prepare. It’s a process. But either way, I gotta come in and do my job.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="OWfoce">“Adon was really good,” Martinez told reporters. </p>
<p id="5EWxXq">“He attacked the strike zone with his fastball. Breaking ball, when needed, was good. So it was a good day.”</p>
<h3 id="JFXXpi"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="cJOC5M">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another full quote from Davey Martinez on Luis García Jr. getting picked off at first after leading off the fifth with a single: <a href="https://t.co/vEtYcCinK9">pic.twitter.com/vEtYcCinK9</a></p>— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bobby_Blanco/status/1766920763666231329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="Xq6Uq0"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="Q3W29j">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crews-ing our way towards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringBreakout?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringBreakout</a>! <a href="https://t.co/WZ66jgjblU">pic.twitter.com/WZ66jgjblU</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1766831920967455104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="cZ13r5"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GM Mike Rizzo on James Wood, who is the Nationals’ player raising “positive eyebrows” this spring: <a href="https://t.co/ndEKhfqs6j">https://t.co/ndEKhfqs6j</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZOKD8WqzI">pic.twitter.com/vZOKD8WqzI</a></p>— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/federalbaseball/status/1766159966476423674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/11/24096250/washington-nationals-news-notes-joan-adon-solid-in-first-start-of-spring-morePatrick Reddington2024-03-09T00:01:00-05:002024-03-09T00:01:00-05:00Washington Nationals news & notes: Josiah Gray, Angel Hernandez; Gaining experience + more...
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<p><em>Notes and quotes on the Nationals in West Palm Beach, FL.</em></p> <h3 id="0dmRli"><strong>ROUGH DAY FOR GRAY:</strong></h3>
<p id="7wsHQI">Josiah Gray walked two, struck out five, and gave up a run on two hits when he faced the Boston Red Sox in his second start of the spring last weekend.</p>
<p id="BU1WRq">Gray, 26, gave up a run on four hits, with two walks and 10 Ks in his first five innings pitched this spring going into last night’s outing. </p>
<p id="lpzW1y">He talked to reporters after his second start about his new, shortened, delivery, which he adopted late last season, as a key to his success early this year.</p>
<p id="XIrbx5">“I went to sort of an abbreviated stretch delivery, and I think focusing on the start of the delivery has allowed me to stay more stacked, stay more stable throughout the delivery, and really give myself a chance to throw strikes,” Gray said, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/news/josiah-gray-adjusted-delivery-mechanics?partnerId=sf107741637&sf107741637=1">as quoted by MLB.com writer CJ Haddad</a>. “I think there were times last year where I’d be pitching well out of the stretch, and then go back to the windup and throw four balls in a row.</p>
<p id="LZxpG0">“I think putting in that work with the abbreviated delivery has been successful so far.”</p>
<p id="7dqtb6">Having done the work late last year, over the winter, and early this spring to get comfortable with the new delivery, Gray said he’s been enjoying the fruits of his labor in his early outings in Spring Training.</p>
<p id="HvzkQd">“Felt good from pitch one,” Gray said of the start against the Red Sox, which saw him throw a total of 48 pitches (27 of them for strikes):</p>
<blockquote><p id="kxsugu">“Maintained the fastball. Established the fastball. Finished a lot of good hitters with the fastball. Another good start. Definitely encouraged.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="uF24U2">Start No. 3 for the righty… did not go as well as the first two:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josiah Gray walked Jordan Walker and gave up a two-run home run to Nolan Gorman in the first. Cardinals take a 2-0 lead.</p>— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bobby_Blanco/status/1766241266201739657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No broadcast today so here’s some footage of Nolan Gorman’s 2-run HR off of Josiah Gray <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/RPdbqmjbkK">pic.twitter.com/RPdbqmjbkK</a></p>— Luke Liberatore / Deviilzz (@LiberatoreLuke) <a href="https://twitter.com/LiberatoreLuke/status/1766250118586511730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tough outing for Josiah Gray this evening: five hits, three walks and a hit batter tonight. Five runs scored and he's getting pulled after 1 1/3 innings.</p>— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewcgolden/status/1766249624732311786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rough night for Josiah Gray, who exits the second inning with one out and the bases loaded.<br><br>After starting the frame with a strikeout, he gave up a single, hit batter, single, single, walk and walk to allow three runs to score and the Cardinals to take a 5-4 lead.</p>— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bobby_Blanco/status/1766249784715702385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josiah Gray is back on the mound because it’s spring training and who cares about conventional baseball rules? <a href="https://t.co/x8rK0kt0hn">https://t.co/x8rK0kt0hn</a></p>— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewcgolden/status/1766252011526271400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">More spring training action: Angel Hernandez just threw Lance Lynn out of the game.<br><br>Lynn, like Josiah Gray, was removed in the middle of the second and came back in for the third (spring training!), but was tossed in the bottom of the third for arguing. Weird night in WPB.</p>— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bobby_Blanco/status/1766255681831567395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2024</a>
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<p id="Gxyl5F">All I took from the above Twitter/X posts = #AngelHernandez</p>
<h3 id="EYuQ4h"><strong>YOUNG NATIONALS:</strong></h3>
<p id="8HeDuu">Davey Martinez talked early this spring of the value of having the Nationals up-and-coming prospects in camp with their big league colleagues in the organization.</p>
<p id="iuMWFe">“I’ve seen some guys already kind of mix and mingle with some of the veteran guys, and so it’s been interesting to watch the whole combination of how they’re conversing,” he said on Day 1 of Spring Training. “So I’m excited, I’m really excited about this year. I talk a lot about what our young players did last year. Another year under their belt. And I’m looking at these guys to do some big things for us this year.”</p>
<p id="jyCpr3">His message for the prospects in camp with the club this spring?</p>
<p id="DjL3YA">“I’ll talk to them a lot about just being where your feet are, be that sponge, listen, learn, and enjoy every second of it,” the former big leaguer said, “because as I look back, as a young 20-year-old in big league camp, to where I am now, it really does go fast, so enjoy every second of it, but learn. Learn as much as you can. I’ll talk a lot about — keep progressing, enjoy the process, and what it takes to be a major league player and what it takes to stay up here and be consistent.”</p>
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Miami Marlins" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DvqkdqN5S3FzIhDRD33uzPKfpVo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25326346/2064065874.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="5wULJF">Almost a month into the process, he told reporters last week about the progress the Nats’ prospects have made early this spring.</p>
<p id="MyFDah">“It’s about teaching and having these moments where I can get them and talk a little bit more, maybe one-on-one, maybe in a group,” Martinez said, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/trevor-williams-has-strong-start-in-nationals-shutout-win">as quoted by MLB.com’s Paige Leckie</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="pSlIZM">“Some of these guys that I have, they’ve learned the game, they really have. So now just getting them ready for that next jump, you know? Like, playing in the major leagues, being consistent, playing in front of 35,000, 40,000 people on a daily basis. </p>
<p id="HegWzr">“A lot of talking about the process and preparation, and communication. I tell them, ‘Hey, we’re here to help you be the best version of you, times two. That’s our job. And we will help you do that. But you gotta buy in.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="PSFSDd">“They’re hungry and passionate,” Martinez added. “This camp has been going real well.”</p>
<h3 id="VHdcpd"><strong>ALSO THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="r8wZaH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GM Mike Rizzo on James Wood, who is the Nationals’ player raising “positive eyebrows” this spring: <a href="https://t.co/ndEKhfqs6j">https://t.co/ndEKhfqs6j</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZOKD8WqzI">pic.twitter.com/vZOKD8WqzI</a></p>— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/federalbaseball/status/1766159966476423674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="yPNYT9"><strong>AND THIS:</strong></h3>
<div id="2tYjFm">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who is an NL East prospect that'll be must-watch during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringBreakout?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringBreakout</a>?<a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jimcallisMLB</a> joins us to cover Dylan Crews, Luisangel Acuña and James Wood! <a href="https://t.co/mIzApCx0c2">pic.twitter.com/mIzApCx0c2</a></p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1765890739366437175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a>
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https://www.federalbaseball.com/2024/3/9/24094331/washington-nationals-news-notes-josiah-gray-angel-hernandez-gaining-experience-morePatrick Reddington