Nationals’ prospects Drew Ward, Ryan Brinley named to AFL Fall Stars roster

Through eleven games for the Arizona Fall League’s Glendale Desert Dogs, 21-year-old Washington Nationals’ prospect Drew Ward, a 3rd Round draft pick in 2013, is 16 for 42, .381/.447/.429, leading all AFL hitters in average (tied, 1st), and total hits (16, tied 1st).

Ward is coming off a .252/.348/.412, 23 double, 14 home run campaign split between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg which saw him put up a .278/.377/.491 line, 16 doubles and 11 home runs in 64 games and 268 plate appearances with the P-Nats and a .219/.310/.309 line, seven doubles and three home runs in 53 games and 203 PAs for the Senators.

Ryan Brinley, 23, pitched at High-A and Double-A in 2016, in his second season in the organization after he was selected in the 27th Round of the 2015 Draft.

With the P-Nats, the 6’1’’ right-hander was (4-1) with 16 saves in 32 games and 39 ¹⁄₃ IP, over which he put up a 1.37 ERA, 2.68 FIP, seven walks (1.60 BB/9) and 34 Ks (7.78 K/9).

In eight appearances and 11 ¹⁄₃ IP for the Senators, Brinley gave up 17 hits and 14 ER (11.12 ERA, 9.45 FIP), walking two and striking out four.

In five appearances for the Desert Dogs, the right-handed reliever is (1-1) with a 2.84 ERA, no walks and seven Ks.

Ward and Brinley will represent the Nationals and Desert Dogs this Saturday in the AFL Fall Stars Game, which takes place at 8:00 PM EDT. It’s being broadcast on MLB.com and the MLB Network.

MASN’s Byron Kerr wrote about another Nationals’ prospect participating in the Arizona Fall League this morning, wondering if the answer in center field could be in the organization already.

Andrew Stevenson, 22, and a 2nd Round pick in 2015, is 12 for 37 (.324/.333/.541) with three doubles a triple and a home run in nine games.