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Wire Taps: Nationals make first two selections of 2015 MLB Draft

The first two rounds of the 2015 MLB Draft are over with, and the Washington Nationals selected two outfielders with their top two picks. Get to know Andrew Stevenson and Blake Perkins. Links and lots of them below.

By Patrick Reddington

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Washington's top two picks in the 2015 MLB Draft were the 58th and 69th overall selections in the second round, which the Nationals used to take 21-year-old, LSU outfielder Andrew Stevenson and 18-year-old high school outfielder Blake Perkins.

Stevenson put up a .356/.407/.458 line in 59 games with the Tigers this season, with 12 doubles, five triples, a home run and 26 stolen bases, and is still playing in the College World Series.

The Nationals' press release on their top pick noted that Stevenson, a left-handed hitting and throwing outfielder, "... is considered one of the top defensive center fielders in the nation and one of the best hitters in one of the best baseball conferences in the country," the SEC.

Perkins, a right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder, who reportedly has a commitment to Arizona State, was 41 for 89 as a senior at Verrado High School in Buckeye, Arizona, with a .461/.583/.966 line, eight doubles, eight triples, seven home runs, 23 walks and 16 Ks in 29 games.

He was, according to the Nationals' press release, selected to the Arizona Republic's All-Arizona Team for the second straight season in 2015.

2015 Nationals Draft coverage:

• "Stevenson hits and throws lefty, and is listed at 6-foot, 184 pounds. He is considered one of the best defensive outfielders in college baseball." - "Nationals add two outfielders to begin 2015 draft" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Assistant general manager Kris Kline said the Nationals were looking to add left-handed bats to the Minor League system. And they did just that on Monday..." - "Nats select lefty-swinging Stevenson No. 58" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

• "Since the Tigers are still active in the College World Series, Stevenson won’t be able to negotiate a deal just yet." - "With first two picks of 2015 draft, Nationals select outfielders Andrew Stevenson, Blake Perkins" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post

• "The Nationals have drafted several pitchers in recent years who were already injured when they joined the organization. Both Fedde and Giolito were players who needed Tommy John surgery..." - "State of the Nats: 2015 draft preview" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Because they have no first-round pick, the Nationals have significantly less bonus money to spread among their picks than other teams in the league." - "MLB draft preview: With no first-round pick, Nats will wait on impact talent" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post

NATS BEAT: Old draft picks, McCatty on Stras + Harper stories

• "Eventually, the near-capacity crowd wised up and decided that every Strasburg pitch on this night was worth standing for." - "Stephen Strasburg will never be as good as he was on the first Strasmas and that’s okay" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post

• "Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty shared his memories of Stephen Strasburg's memorable debut with our Mark Zuckerman." - "McCatty reflects on Strasburg's electric debut" - Comcast SportsNet Washington

• "But Sunday was an important anniversary as well, as it marked five years since Bryce Harper was drafted by the Nationals." - "The Baseball Show: Looking at Harper five years after he was draft" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "Span is the latest of the Nationals to leave manager Matt Williams concerned after sudden back spasms forced the center fielder out of yesterday's game just before the start of the eighth inning." - "Nationals Pastime: Injuries leave streaky Nats confused" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "The biggest concern here is the fact that Escobar has sustained his early-season marks thanks to a .370 BABIP, a number 60 points higher than his career-best mark..." - "Fantasy baseball: Abandon ship on Nats’ Yunel Escobar" - Collin Hager, The Washington Post

• "Here they are again, the heavily-favored Washington Nationals, middling through June as fans and pundits shake their heads." - "Weathering the storm" - Tom Schad, Washington Times

• "Regardless, any time we can picture Peter Gammons enjoying a good belly laugh at the expense of the Harper haters, we might as well picture it." - "Peter Gammons laughs at people who are jealous of Bryce Harper" - Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post

• "The Nationals just completed another successful Gala to help raise money for the Dream Foundation's programs." - "10 in 10: Dream Foundation builds off success to introduce new initiative" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Over the first two-plus months of the season, 12 players on the Washington Nationals’ 40-man roster have missed a combined 385 games." - "With lineup in constant flux, Nationals harvest farm talent" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Mets in 1st; Nats vs Yanks; South Dakota represents

• "The Mets wake up Monday in first place in the National League East by a half-game over the Washington Nationals, at 31-27." - "Seriously, the Mets are in 1st place in National League East?" - Mike Vorkunov, NJ.com

• "That said, New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka returns to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for a titanic battle with the Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer." - "New York Yankees notes: Masahiro Tanaka returns to the Stadium Tuesday" - Andrew Marchand, Yankees Blog - ESPN

• "Buy Me Zucchini and Crackerjacks — The Washington Nationals are adding a unique twist to ballpark concessions — fresh vegetables from a new rooftop garden at the stadium." - "Morning Rundown" - Bryan Doyle, Hill Now

• "The fact that two recent SDSU pitchers – Caleb Thielbar and Blake Treinen – have both advanced to the major leagues and thrived at the big league level doesn't hurt the current hopefuls' case." - "SDSU baseball hopes to make a splash at MLB draft" - Matt Zimmer, Argus Leader

• "Max Scherzer's 10.4 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 are quite similar to Kluber's but his matchup is considerably more challenging." - "Fantasy baseball daily notes for June 9, 2015 -- pitcher rankings, batter ratings, news, injuries, next level" - Todd Zola, Fantasy Baseball - ESPN

• "Nationals P Max Scherzer comments on his deal with Washington, his transition to the National League, Bryce Harper's development, Stephen Strasburg's struggles and the pressure on the team to win" - "SVP & Russillo on ESPN Radio: Show In Review" - ESPN

• "Anyway, the Washington Nationals and the Astros are coming to a spring facility near 45th Street and Haverhill Road in 2017, if all construction projections are met." - "MLB: West Palm loving Astros 2017 spring move a little more each day" - Dave George, Dave's Digital Domain

NATSTOWN/NATS MINORS:

• "[John] Simms, who earned his 3rd win of the 2015 campaign, dealt 7.0 innings, allowed one earned run on just two base hits, fanned four, and walked no one." - "Potomac Nationals Game Recap at Carolina Mudcats" - Potomac Nationals News

• Harrisburg 5 vs. New Britain 6 - Pedro Severino - 3 for 4, HR, 2 R - Harrisburg Senators Box

• "The Jayson Werth garden gnome finally has its own space — besides Doug Fister’s shirt collar — to call home at Nationals Park." - "Nats plant a rooftop garden at Nationals Park" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post

NL EAST UPDATES: NL EAST DRAFT PICKS

• Braves: "Based on what he saw while watching Kolby Allard pitch last summer, Braves scouting director Brian Bridges did not think he would have a chance to select the talented young left-handed pitcher." - "Braves take prep lefty Allard with No. 14 pick" - Mark Bowman, braves.com

• Phillies: "The Phillies picked second baseman Scott Kingery with the 48th pick overall of Monday’s second round." - "Five things to know about Phillies pick Scott Kingery" - Jesse Dougherty, Philly.com

• Mets: "[Desmond] Lindsay, out of Out-Of-Door Academy in Bradenton, Florida, is 'basically an offensive machine,' according to Mets’ director of amateur scouting Tommy Tanous..." - "Mets draft high school outfielder Desmond Lindsay" Anthony McCarron, NY Daily News

• "With the twelfth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, the Marlins selected first baseman Josh Naylor." - "2015 MLB Draft: Miami Marlins select Josh Naylor twelfth overall" - Scott Gelman, Fish Stripes

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