Nationals’ prospects beat Marlins; 6-2 in Instructional League action...

WASHINGTON – Right-handed pitcher Andry Lara has had very few chances to prove himself since he was signed by the Nationals in July 2019.

He got one on Friday as he was the starter for Washington in a 6-2 win over the Marlins in Instructional League play in Florida.

On offense, catcher Israel Pineda had a double, single and was hit by a pitch.

“Pineda swung it well,” wrote Tommy Shields, a co-field director in player development with the Nationals.

Pineda, 20, was one of the youngest players this summer at the alternate site as part of the 60-player pool in Virginia.

His rise continues after he hit just .217 in 101 games with low Single-A Hagerstown as a catcher in 2019 in the South Atlantic League.

After Lara – age 17 and a native of Venezuela – the Nationals used Bryan Sanchez, Tyler Dyson, Mirton Blanco and Karlo Seijas. Dyson was drafted in the fifth round out of the University of Florida in 2019.

He made one start in the Gulf Coast League and eight for short-season Auburn that year.

Blanco pitched in 13 games with three starts in 2019 in the rookie Dominican League.