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AFL Fall Stars GameThread: Abel De Los Santos represents Nationals in Arizona

Washington Nationals' right-hander Abel De Los Santos is the only Nats' prospect representing the organization in tonight's AFL Fall Stars Game, which gets started at 8:00 PM EST on the MLB Network.

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There's a chance Washington Nationals' prospect Abel De Los Santos will pitch in tonight's Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game, but other than that there's not too much for Nats fans to look for in tonight's showcase of the top prospects in the so-called finishing school for the game's top prospects.

While a number of Nationals' minor leaguers are out in the AFL this year, playing for the Salt River Rafters, including pitchers Dakota Bacus, Wirkin Estevez, Nick Lee and John Simms, catcher Spencer Kieboom and infielder's Chris Bostick and Drew Ward, only De Los Santos was selected to participate in tonight's game.

"He's been closing some games for [Harrisburg], pitching high-leverage situations and back-of-the-bullpen situations for them. Everybody loves his stuff." -Matt Williams on Nats' right-hander Abel de Los Santos

The 22-year-old right-hander, acquired from the Texas Rangers last winter along with Bostick in the deal that sent lefty Ross Detwiler to Arlington, pitched at Double-A Harrisburg in the Nats' system this season, going (4-4) with eight saves, a 3.43 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 12 walks (1.87 BB/9) and 55 Ks (8.58 K/9) over 39 games and 57 ⅔ innings pitched.

De Los Santos made two appearances in the majors as well, when he was called up to make his MLB debut in July.

In five relief appearances in Arizona, the Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic-born releiver has given up 10 hits and nine earned runs, walking one batter while striking out six.

After giving up, eight runs in his first three innings of work in AFL action, De Los Santos has allowed one run in two innings in his last two appearances.

In a chat with readers after the latest Washington Nationals' Top 10 Prospect List was released, Baseball America writer Ted Cahill talked about De Los Santos, who moved from a starting role to the bullpen while still with the Rangers and has pitched exclusively out of the pen with the Nats:

"De Los Santos is a reliever at this point," Cahill wrote. "He’s done really well in that role and is close to being big league ready. Don’t know if he’ll make the team out of Spring Training, but you’ll see him back in Washington at some point in 2016."

MLB.com's Jim Callis provided quick scouting reports for all the players in tonight's game this afternoon as well. Here's what he had to say about De Los Santos:

"Acquired from the Rangers last December in a trade for Ross Detwiler, de los Santos saw his fastball jump to 92-96 mph when he became a full-time reliever in 2013."

The East Division Fall Stars will be managed tonight by Tripp Keister, who's the manager of the Nationals' High-A affiliate in Potomac.

The AFL Fall Stars Game starts at 8:00 PM EST...