Washington Nationals still high on prospect Joan Adon

WASHINGTON – The ERA climbed this year for Joan Adon, but the Nationals remain high on the right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic.

“He has done very well,” said Mark Scialabba, assistant general manager, player development, told Federal Baseball on Thursday.

“I think he realizes the hitters are a little more disciplined there” at Double-A.

After going 6-4 with an ERA of 4.97 in 17 starts for high Single-A Wilmington, Adon was moved up to Double-A Harrisburg on August 24. In his first three starts with the Senators, Adon was 1-2 with an ERA of 6.43.

“His pitch repertoire has evolved this year,” Scialabba said. “His breaking ball has become a swing and miss offering and he has confidence in it to both left and right-handed hitters. He has that changeup he can go to any count as well. So he has two off-speed pitches he has confidence in and he has a mid-90s fastball he can pound into the zone. I’m really happy with the strides he has made this season.”

Adon, who turned 23 last month, had an ERA of 3.54 in the Dominican Summer League in 2017 in his first pro year.

He had a mark of 4.11 in 2018 split between the Gulf Coast League and Auburn in the New-York Penn League.

Adon was in the rotation for low Single-A Hagerstown in 2019 and was 11-3, 3.86 in 22 games, with 21 starts.

He was part of the alternate site with the Nationals in Fredericksburg in 2020.

Harrisburg improved to 42-73 with a 4-3 walk-off win in the seventh and last inning Thursday night at New Hampshire – the Senators were the home team.

Mario Sanchez allowed three runs in six innings in his last start of the year while Gilbert Lara drove in two runs with a double for the win in the seventh.

Sanchez, 26, ends the year with an ERA of 3.98 with Harrisburg in 22 games, with 18 starts.

The teams didn’t play Tuesday due to COVID-19 issues with the Fisher Cats and didn’t play Wednesday due to rain.

The Senators are slated to end the year Sunday at New Hampshire.