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Washington’s Nationals announced another round of roster cuts after last night’s win over the New York Mets. Three players from the Nationals’ 40-Man roster (Wander Suero, Jose Marmolejos, and Rafael Bautista) were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, and three players (Bryan Harper, Jaron Long, and Jhonatan Solano) were reassigned to Minor League camp as the Nats continue to trim their roster with Opening Day fast approaching.
Suero, 26, suffered an injury in a Grapefruit League outing last week, with new Nationals’ skipper Dave Martinez telling reporters, as quoted by MASN’s Pete Kerzel, that it was an issue with tightness in the right-hander’s left side.
“He complained of tightness in his left side, so we took him out,” Martinez said. “Right now, he’s going to get re-evaluated. There’s no MRI or anything scheduled. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Suero split the 2017 campaign between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse in the Nationals’ system, posting a 1.96 ERA, 3.14 FIP, five walks (1.96 BB/9), and 23 Ks (9.00 K/9) in 23 innings with the Senators, and a 1.70 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 14 walks (2.98 BB/9), and 42 Ks (8.93 K/9) in 42 1⁄3 IP for the Chiefs.
In five appearances this Spring, the 6’3’’ right-hander, who was added to the Nationals’ 40-Man Roster this past November, threw four scoreless innings, with a walk, seven Ks and a .143 BAA.
Marmolejos, 25, made a strong impression this Spring, going 10 for 41 with a double and a home run in 18 games after putting up a .288/.361/.458 line with 18 doubles and 14 HRs in 107 games and 454 plate appearances at Double-A Harrisburg in 2017.
Bautista, who turned 25 on March 8th, was 2 for 23 this Spring, after making his major league debut last summer following six seasons in the Nationals’ system.
Harper, Bryce’s older brother, Long, son of Nationals’ hitting coach Kevin Long, and the veteran catcher, Solano, were reassigned to Minor League camp with their destinations for the start of the season as yet undetermined (or at least unannounced).
Post game roster cuts by the #Nationals: #Nats have optioned the following players to Triple-A Syracuse:
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) March 14, 2018
RHP Wander Suero
OF Rafael Bautista
1B Jose Marmolejos
And have re-assigned the following players to minor league camp:
LHP Bryan Harper
RHP Jaron Long
C Jhonatan Solano