• AFL Update: The Washington Nationals announced Tuesday afternoon (via Twitter @NatsTownNews) that, "#Nationals prospects OF Mike Burgess and RHP Cole Kimball were selected to play in the Arizona Fall League's 5th annual Rising Stars Game," which takes place this Saturday at 6:00 pm MST (9:00 pm in D.C.). Burgess, the Nats' '07 1st Round pick who split time in 2010 between Class-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg posting a combined (.265/.357/.465) slash line, is 10 for 45 so far this Fall, (.222/.365/.311) with 2 doubles, 1 triple and 7 RBI's in 12 games. Kimball, an '06 12th Round pick who pitched for Potomac and Harrisburg this past season, striking out 11.6 K/9 in 57 games and 78.2 IP, has given up 5 hits and 1 ER in 6 games and 7.0 IP so far this Fall, collecting 7 K's and hitting more batters (2) than he's walked (1).
Burgess was in the lineup for the Scottsdale Scorpions last night, going 0 for 4 with a K. '08 19th Round pick Stephen Lombardozzi was 3 for 4 with a triple last night, singling in his other two at bats but failing to score in a 7-4 loss to Peoria's second-favorite team, the Javelinas. Derek Norris (who was surprisingly snubbed by those choosing the AFL Rising Stars rosters) was 0 for 2 with 2 walks, leaving the Nats' '07 4th Round pick with a .281/.467/.719 slash line after 11 games and 32 at bats for the Scorpions. 6'2'' right-hander Adam Carr, the Nats' '06 18th Round pick who pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse in 2010, threw a quick 1-2-3 ninth last night.
Bryce Harper makes his 5th AFL start this afternoon when the Scorpions travel to Surprise, Arizona to take on the Surprise Rafters at 12:35 pm MST. (3:35 pm in D.C.)
• Winter Leagues Updates:
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional Update: Nats' outfielder Roger Bernadina and catcher Jesus Flores were in the lineup last night for the Navegantes del Magallanes in Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional action. Bernadina, playing left field in his first Winter League outing, was 1 for 4 with a single and a stolen base. Flores, who struck out with two down to strand his Nats and Navegantes teammate in the 6th inning of last night's game, finished his first game this winter 2 for 3 with a single and double and the inning-ending groundout in his final AB. Final score: Cardenals de Lara 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 4.
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico Update: Nats' second baseman Danny Espinosa, who started at short last night, was 1 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI in the Leones de Ponces' 9-0 win over the Gigantes de Carolina. Espinosa singled and scored the Leones' 6th run in a 6-run 4th inning in which Espinosa's teammate Chris Marrero (the Nats' '06 1st Round pick) doubled and scored. Marrero ended the game 2 for 5 with a run scored and 2 K's, and the 22-year-old future Nats' first baseman (in a perfect world) has now hit in all eight winter league games he's played so far. Espinosa hit in his sixth straight game. Final Score: Leones de Ponce 9, Gigantes de Carolina 0.