Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Patrick Corbin playing Call of Duty for charity; Stay in the Fight masks + more Nats links...

Everyone apparently thinks the Washington Nationals will select Cole Wilcox with their top pick (No. 22 overall this season) in June 10th’s Draft. Patrick Corbin is playing video games for charity. Remember Jon Rauch? Get to know Kyle Finnegan. Davey Martinez wants all of you to Stay in the Fight against coronavirus. MLB and the MLBPA’s PR battle? It’s all there a few inches below here. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Long road leads Nats reliever to MLB doorstep - (MLB.com)
"This June will mark seven years since right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan was selected by the A's in the sixth round of the 2013 Draft."

Nats’ Dave Martinez helps launch ‘Stay in the Fight’ masks to benefit health workers - (WaPost)
"The masks were a gift from [Davey] Martinez, who partnered with BreakingT on the design. All proceeds from the masks, available in packs of three for $35, benefit Direct Relief, which works in the United States and more than 80 other countries to equip doctors and nurses with lifesaving medical resources."

MLB's return may hinge on a public relations battle between owners and MLBPA - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Word came Monday that the owners had put together a season-rebooting proposal to send the Major League Baseball Players Association. Within hours, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark told The Athletic players would not take a further salary cut. And, the rock fight was underway."

Curly W Live: From The Booth - (Curly W Live)
"In Episode 5, Charlie and Dave answer questions from Nationals Season Plan Holders, including what they thought was the turning point in Game 7 of the World Series, their favorite calls from the 2019 Postseason, and much more."

Catching Up with…John Simms - (Mayflies & Big Flies)
"The Nationals selected Simms in the 2013 11th round out of Rice University. The right-hander made 67 appearances (including 49 starts) over parts or all of the 2014, 2015, 2016,and 2017 seasons..."

State of the Nats roster: Catchers (plus ticket refund info) - (MASN)
"The Nationals believe Gomes has a bounceback season in him, though, and his performance down the stretch and in the playoffs helps bolster that argument."

Nationals needed clubhouse camaraderie to win World Series - despite what Cal Ripken says - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Does clubhouse chemistry matter? Probably not if you don’t have a bunch of talented players at the lockers."

Most hyped OF prospects of the past 20 years - (MLB.com)
"Nationals: Bryce Harper - The former No. 1 overall pick (2010) was MLB’s No. 3 prospect in 2011 and No. 2 in ’12 -- the same year he took baseball by storm at age 19 en route to NL Rookie of the Year Award honors and his first All-Star selection."

More notes on catchers Pineda, Pratt, Cropley and Gushue - (MASN)
"Barrett told me of the sheer numbers he has to work with: The Nats had five catchers in short-season Single-A Auburn last year and as many as 17 catchers from low Single-A Hagerstown on down in the system."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

MLB Baseball Plans COVID Comeback, But Challenges Remain - (Time)
"Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle took to social media to express skepticism about the return plan."

Washington Nationals to host Call of Duty tournament with fans to raise money for charity - (WJLA)
"The Washington Nationals continue to give back to the community. One of the players leading the charge is starting pitcher Patrick Corbin."

C-NS grad Patrick Corbin waits for safe MLB return - (WSTM)
"That's the goal of everyone, of course. Corbin believes there are many logistics to work out before baseball can get to that point, as tantalizing a thought as it may be for a sports-starved nation."

Remember That Guy: Jon Rauch is the tallest pitcher in MLB history - (NBC Sports Chicago)
"Of course, he's best known for being the tallest player in MLB history, at 6-foot-11. Remember that guy?"

Keith Law’s 2020 MLB mock draft: First-round projection 1.0 – (The Athletic)
"22. Washington Nationals: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia ... The Nats tend to like big, hard throwers, especially when they have track records."

MLB 2020: Players prepared to play on one condition as talks heat up - (USA TODAY)
"Agent Scott Boras, who represents about 100 major league players, told USA TODAY Sports that all of his players are prepared to play right now and are willing to squeeze in as many as 124 regular-season games through October. On one condition."

MLB: Whose World Series chances improve with limited travel schedule? - (Yahoo!Sports)
"According to multiple reports on the league’s plan, a schedule of 78 to 82 games for the delayed 2020 season would consist only of division opponents and interleague opponents from the same geographical division."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Girardi leads students in virtual math class - (MLB.com)
"Girardi, who graduated from Northwestern in 1986 with an industrial engineering degree, joined a video call to lead two math classes (one each for sixth and seventh grade) alongside instructors Jessica Tilli and Alex Piazza."

The Mets' three-decade journey to David Wright - (MLB.com)
"Mets history buffs may easily recall that when Mike Hampton signed with the Rockies as a free agent in 2000, his old team received the compensatory pick it needed to draft David Wright."

Marlins to furlough 40% of baseball operations department staff - (Fish Stripes)
"In response to the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 90-100 of the employees in Miami’s baseball operations department are being furloughed next month, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports."

Braves well-equipped for DH in National League (if necessary) - (AJC.com)
"The proposed guidelines for a potential MLB season include the universal designated hitter. In other words, National League tradition will be set aside, and you’ll be spared Mike Foltynewicz at-bats."