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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2015 12:29:46 GMT
Nats Add Two BatsThe Nationals made two more selections at the DBL Inaugural Draft and decided to take a couple bats with the picks. The first player picked was power/speed OF Michael Saunders and super utility, to say the least, player Brock Holt was picked second. "Being a Canadian myself, I couldn't resist picking up Canadian boy Michael Saunders and slotting him into our OF spot. As for Brock Holt, the kid can play pretty much anywhere on the diamond, and I mean anywhere." Nats GM Alex Davies said on Nats Live Talk this morning. "Saunders gives us a solid fourth outfielder that is fully capable of being a 20/20 player and will hopefully flourish in a potent Jays lineup. Brock can play everything but Catcher and Pitcher, but he's probably learning those this offseason anyways, and he has good speed on the basepaths to add to our couple speedsters we have already."
Michael Saunders has yet to recreate his 2012 season that saw him hit 19 homers and steal 21 bases but we saw an improvement in average in 2014 that gives the Nats some hope for a solid 2015. He hit .273 with 8 homers and 34 RBI over just 78 games for the Mariners and the change in scenery, back in his home country, should help his case for 2015. Brock Holt has found a home in Boston as their super utility player and put up good enough numbers to force the Red Sox to put him in the lineup for 106 games last year. He batted .281 with 4 homers, 29 RBIs and 12 stolen bases atop a less than stellar Red Sox lineup that has only gotten better this year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 13:11:45 GMT
Last of the Nats Bats
The Washington Nationals finished off their position players with their 21st selection in the DBL Inaugural Draft. The Nats choose Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas in the 20th Round on February 14th, 2015. "Mike Moustakas gives us another option at third behind Santana and fills out our infield line-up. We're hoping he will bounce back to the numbers he put up in 2012." Nats GM Alex Davies said. "He's still just 26 years old and he will regain his power, we're sure of it. We want to see another 20 homer, 70 RBI season out of him in 2015 and on."
Moustakas, or 'Moose' around the clubhouse, turned 26 in September last year so he is in no way on the way out. He's just stepping into his prime as a hitter and is looking to bounce back from back-to-back subpar years. In 2014, he hit 15 homers and 54 RBIs to go with his .212 average. Look for him to fill the Nats last infield position and see some time at third in 2015. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 13:12:02 GMT
Nats Close Out Back of Pen
The Nationals added a couple reliable arms to put in the back end of the bullpen next to closers Craig Kimbrel and Sean Doolittle. They selected relievers Darren O'Day from Baltimore and Ryan Cook from Oakland with their 18th and 23rd picks, respectively. "Both Darren [O'Day] and Ryan [Cook] are reliable, consistent set-up men in their bullpens and thats exactly what they will be in ours." GM of the Nats Alex Davies told the Post. "Darren has been coming out of the pen for all 9 of his years in the MLB and brings that veteran presence to our youthful pitching staff. Ryan is going into his 4th full year of relieving and hasa been as consistent as they come since moving to the A's in 2012. Both arms are going to be well used and much needed for our success in 2015."
The Nationals newest relievers are both talented when it comes to the 7th and 8th innings and both are next in line if their respected closers can't go. O'Day bounced around a couple teams before really finding a home in Baltimore in 2012 and since has pitched in 68 games or more every year. 2014 was his best year as he pitched in 68 games, 68.2 innings, 73 strikeouts, a 1.70 ERA with a 0.888 WHIP and a 5-2 record to go along with 4 saves and 25 holds. Ryan Cook missed some time in 2014 with an injury but still pitched in 50 innings over 54 games and had an ERA of 3.42 (his highest), a WHIP of 1.08 and 50 strikeouts with 1 save and 7 holds. Look for these two to come out of the pen just ahead of Kimbrel and Doolittle in 2015 for your Nats.  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 2:00:28 GMT
Nats Grab Top ProspectThe Washington Nationals have made their first selection in the Prospect portion of the DBL Draft. With their first pick, The Nats chose outfielder Joc Pederson from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. "Joc is a exceptional young talent that surely will find his way into our outfield sometime this year. He is a major threat at the plate and on the basepaths and a power/speed combo like his doesn't come around every day." Nats GM Alex Davies said at a Nats press conference.
Joc Pederson is a 22 year old outfielder from Palo Alto, California and plays for the Dodgers in the MLB. Last season saw Pederson put up a 30/30 season, the only professional player to do so this year, when he smashed 33 homers and swiped 30 bases to go along with a .303 aveage in AAA and got a September call-up to the bigs. He is projected to start the season as the Dodgers main centre fielder and should be able to be a 20/20 player, if not better, for years to come.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 16:42:46 GMT
Nats Take Future Jays' ArmsThe Nats have made a couple more picks in the DBL Prospect Draft. They decided to snag a couple of big name arms from the Toronto Blue Jays organization by picking up Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez. "These two young arms are a couple of guys we have had our eye on from day one. We would've taken both of them in the main draft if they were eligible and are ecstatic to see them fall to us in the Prospect draft." Nats GM Alex Davies stated. "These are two MLB ready pitchers that will surely be in the bigs this year and will help our club when we need it. Daniel, Aaron and Joc [Pederson] are all top prospects who got a call in September last year and will be asked to do big things in 2015."
Daniel Norris, 21, skyrocketed through the minors last year. He started 2014 in high-A Dunedin, posting a 1.23 ERA and 6-0 record over 13 starts with 76 k's in 66 innings. He totaled 25 starts over +A, AA and AAA posting a 12-2 record with an ERA of 2.53 and an impressive 163 strikeouts in 124.1 innings. Aaron Sanchez, 22, didn't have the success Norris did in the minors in 2014, posting a 3-7 record over his 20 starts (22 Total Appearances). He had an ERA of 3.95 and 84 strikeouts in 100.1 innings split in AA and AAA. It's what he did when he got the call to the majors that put him high on everyone's list. In 24 relief appearances, he post a stellar 1.09 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 33 innings and even saved 3 games. Both of these youngsters have bright futures ahead of them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 20:46:43 GMT
Another Peterson for the NatsThe Nationals have picked up another Peterson to join the Syracuse Chiefs. They selected third baseman D.J. Peterson from the Seattle Mariners and he will join Joc Pederson in Syracuse in 2015. "He's got solid power and exceptional bat speed that will help him hit some homers for us in the coming years." Alex Davies, GM of the Nats said early Saturday morning. "He is playing third right now but we will keep an eye on him and see if he might make the switch over to first before he makes it up to the majors."
D.J. Peterson is a 23 year old prospect that has shown some pop in his time in the minors. In 2014 he hit 31 homers and 111 RBIs in 123 games split pretty evenly between high A and AA. He also batted .297 and managed to steal 7 bases. He should provide the Nats with some power from one of the corner infield positions as early as 2015 but most likely not until 2016 and later.
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