The Washington Post has the story, ineffective RP Joey Eischen was ineffective for a reason.
[He] has an injury to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder and likely will miss the remainder of this season, the club announced Wednesday
Taking his place will be 2004 1st round draft pick, RP Bill Bray. The 22-year old lefty is a local guy out of William & Mary and will join the Nationals on Friday with Eischen likely going to the 60-day DL.
Bray will make the Nationals the only team with their last three first round draft picks on the 25-man roster (2003 - Chad Cordero and 2005 - Ryan Zimmerman). The 6′3″ 215 lb lefthander has pitched in New Orleans in 2006 compiling a 4-1 record with 5 saves in 21 games (31.2IP). He has a 3.98ERA 1.11WHIP 1.4HR/9 12.8K/9 2.6BB/9.
Bray is probably best projected as a LOOGY (Left-handed One Out GuY) but if given the opportunity, I believe Bray can be a solid contributor as the LH side of a set-up tandem with Gary Majewski. Given Frank’s preferences towards established player, Bray will likely assume a spot behind Majewski, Mike Stanton, and Jon Rauch in the bullpen. He’ll likely battle Saul Rivera and Santiago Ramirez (or Jay Bergmann if Ramirez is injured) for opportunities.
Scott M. Collins | 31-May-06 at 3:21 pm | Permalink
Bray has been equally good vs. RHB and LHB this year (http://www.angelfire.com/nb/jms/milb/NewPCL.html#Bill+BrayP) Here’s to hoping he gets a good shot during this time.
Kirkie | 31-May-06 at 4:40 pm | Permalink
My impression of Bray (purely from box scores) is that when it goes right, it can be really nice - lots of K’s, few hits.
When it goes wrong, it all goes out with the dishwater. I mean the kind of outings that make it look like your season ERA sucked.
What are his pitches like that make him liable to the big inning, and can he avoid getting beat up at big league level?
Matt b | 31-May-06 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
Given Bray’s college role of a closer, isn’t it possible that he assumes a role beyond a LOOGY? Or is Bowden’s scouting operation so lousy that he spent a first round pick on a guy with such limited capabilities?
Brian J Oliver | 01-Jun-06 at 7:03 am | Permalink
Matt - Bowden was not part of drafting Bray, Omar Minaya was the GM during the 2004 draft.
As for Bray’s ultimate role, I believe he has the potential to be a solid contributor out of the bullpen. But his immediate role in the Nationals’ bullpen will be behind Mike Stanton, primarily a LOOGY