Nationals Farm Authority

Minors 2006 (1 of 7) - Dominican Summer League

Minors 2006 (2 of 7) - Gulf Coast League

Minors 2006 (3 of 7) - Vermont

The Nationals wrapped up a short affiliation in South Atlantic League Savannah (Montreal established the relationship in 2003) with another tough season.Savannah has not had a winning season since 2000. Beginning in 2007, the Nationals have relocated their A-ball affiliate to the much closer Hagerstown Suns.

Record: The Sand Gnats completed the 2006 season with a 56-83 record. Much like the Lake Monsters in Vermont, Savannah struggled with a Nationals organization without an abundance of lower level prospects. While the 2006 season saw appearances by likely top 10 prospect Shairon Martis (acquired mid-season from the Giants for Mike Stanton) as well as a handful of 2006 draft picks including Chris French and Adam Carr, it wasn’t enough to help the Gnats finish above 0.500.

Statistics: The trend that plagued the Lake Monsters continued with the Gnats. The pitching struggled as Savannah had below South Atlantic League average statistics in what is considered one of the stronger pitcher’s parks in the Sally League. These struggles also impacted the offense where the team also finished below league average. Hagerstown can expect a bit more firepower both on the mound and at the plate in 2007, but the struggles will likely continue until the rebuilding effort is given another season to germinate. The Suns may see a late season appearance by Chris Marrero, Stephen Englund, Stephen King, Colton Willems, or Glenn Gibson. But more likely the fans in Hagerstown will get to know Justin Maxwell, Mike Daniel, Cory VanAllen, Aaron Jackson and Chris Lugo.

Offense:

Pitching:

Players: The Gnats had only a handful of their parent clubs top-level prospects, and even those they had faced their difficulties. Whether it was Dee Brown’s early struggles before heating up mid-season or Brian Peacock’s hot start before struggling as the season wore on, Savannah faced consistency challenges in 2006.

Top 10 Savannah Sand Gnats Prospects

1. Shairon Martis RHSP - While he only made four appearances for Savannah after his trade from San Francisco (for Mike Stanton), Martis proved that he was among the better arms in the organization with a 3.80ERA, 1.27WHIP, 5.9K/9, and 1.7BB/9. The 19-year old throws a developing low-90s fastball and has an above average curve. If he can develop one additional average to above average pitch, Martis has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter for the Nationals. He’ll likely begin 2007 where he completed 2006 in AA Harrisburg.
2. Craig Stammen RHSP - The 22-year old 2005 12th round draft pick had a breakout season for the Gnats pitching 113 innings with a 3.58ERA, 1.23WHIP, 7.4K/9, and 2.3BB/9. He can throw four pitches for strikes (FB, CB, SL, & CH). What made him stand out was his tremendous work ethic. Manager Bobby Williams said, “Nobody can outwork him. He has excellent makeup. [The strongest part of his makeup is probably his incredible work ethic, his aptitude, and he is coachable. Craig has a very bright future.” Given he completed his season in A-Advanced Potomac, it would not be unexpected for him to begin 2007 in AA Harrisburg.
3. Edgardo Baez OF - The 21-year old was a 4th round selection in the 2003 draft. He began the season with Potomac but struggles there led to a demotion to Savannah. He has good raw power and can drive the ball to all fields, but he isn’t prone to swing for the fences. In 94 games for the Gnats, Baez batted 279/336/403. His plate selection certainly needs work, illustrated by 80K to 30BB in 355AB. Ideally, he’ll return to Potomac in 2007 as he is still young enough to develop.
4. Dee Brown OF - The son of the late Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman, Jerome Brown, the 23-year old 2005 10th rounder showed the makeup that drew the Nationals to him. After a slow start to the season, Brown heated up enough to warrant a promotion to Potomac where he continued to hit putting himself on the radar as one to watch. In 103 games, Brown batted 278/326/408 with a combination of power (33 extrabase hits) and speed (12/16 in SB attempts). Bobby Williams felt, “When he swings at good pitches, he has success. Once he learns the strike zone, he has a chance to be a good hitter with power.” The Nationals should push him to AA Harrisburg in 2007 given his age (23) in order to see if he can hold his own against some of the top minor league pitching prospects in the Eastern League.
5. Francisco Plasencia OF - The 22-year old was brought over from the Brewers as a minor league free agent prior to the 2005 season. He had a solid season in Vermont in 2005 and big things were expected from him in Savannah in 2006. While he didn’t put up the numbers the Nationals had hoped (261/354/371 in 132 games), he remains among the best raw athletes in the system. He has excellent pull power and his defense is above average with a strong accurate arm. He needs to cut down on the strikeouts (124 in 502AB) and like many of his Gnats teammates, improve his pitch selection. He’ll likely play the 2007 season in Potomac.
6. Ofilio Castro IF - Considered one of the better hitting prospects in the organization, the 23-year old Castro played a full season in Savannah hitting 253/342/346. His plate selection was solid walking 60 times and striking out only 65 times in 459AB. He is a good baserunner with solid instincts demonstrated by his 11/13 SB in 2006. His glove seems best fit at 2B, and he is likely to be in Potomac for the 2007 season.
7. Brian Peacock CA - Peacock was drafted in 2004, but signed as a draft-and-follow after his 2005 season in JuCo. He started the season hot batting 302/345/566 in April and 280/321/480 in May with 7 of his 12 home runs. But the drag of his first full professional season and an emergency appendectomy dragged his numbers down. He takes great pride in his defense and handles the pitching staff well. He’ll need to build his durability if he hopes to continue up the organization. He will likely replace Devin Ivany as the starter in Potomac, assuming Ivany is on his way to AA Harrisburg in 2007.
8. John Lannan LHSP - The 21-year old left was an 11th round selection in the 2005 draft. In 138 innings for Savannah, Lannan struck out 114 while walking 54. He has three developing pitches in a low-90s fastball, a curve that was sharper & showed more bite than 2005, and an improved changeup. He’ll likly begin the 2007 season in Potomac but will need to build on his efforts of 2006 in order to make his next step.
9. Gene Yost LHP - The 25-year old Yost was a jack-of-all-trades for the Gnats filling as both a starter (10 games) and a reliever (23 games). He used his plus changeup to hold opponents to a 0.244 BA while amassing 7.4K/9 and 3.5BB/9. His future is likely as a RP and he needs to jump a level soon if he hopes to make the majors. Potomac is the most logical starting point, but if he can produce, a promotion to Harrisburg could come to pass.
10. Brett Nyquist LHRP - After not pitching in 2005, the towering 6′7″ lefty returned to the Nationals organization in 2006 pitching everywhere from Savannah to Potomac to Harrisburg. The 25-year old Nyquist has an above average low-90s fastball that he used in 22 apperances, throwing 63.67 innings allowing a 2.69ERA, 1.15WHIP, 6.5K/9, 1.8BB/9. He has the fastball to excel as a relief pitcher but needs to develop a second pitch in order to work his way up through the system. He could start anywhere from Potomac to Columbus given how the numbers work out.

The press release …

The Washington Nationals today announced that they have signed a two-year extension to their Player Development Contract with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League. Nationals President Stan Kasten made the announcement.

“We are excited to extend our working relationship with the Vermont Lake Monsters for two more years,” said Kasten. “Our franchise has enjoyed its affiliation with not only the Lake Monsters , but the City of Burlington and the New York-Penn League. With our stated commitment to player development, the future for Vermont , and for our entire minor league system, is bright.”

The Nationals franchise’s 13-year relationship with the town of Burlington—which began in 1994 (with its entry into the NY-P League) and will now extend at least through the 2008 season—is highlighted by Vermont’s 1996 NY-P League championship.

Among the Nationals’ recent crop of prospects to don the Vermont uniform are first baseman Larry Broadway (2002), outfielder Kory Casto (2003), right-handed pitcher Clint Everts (2003), left-handed pitcher Mike O’Connor (2002) and right-handed pitcher Chris Schroder (2001).

The Nationals now have reached agreements with all of their affiliates. All of their agreements expire in 2008 with the exception of Harrisburg & Potomac which runs through 2010.

The minor league affiliation merry-go-round has almost completed its final rotation for the Nationals. As of today, the Nationals only outstanding player development contract is with their short season affiliate, Vermont of the New York/Penn League in 2006. There had been rumblings that the Nationals were considering the relocation of their Short Season team to a location closer to Washington much like they did with Hagerstown and Columbus. Unfortunately for the Nationals, the closer options are quickly disappearing.

The latest:

• The Pittsburgh Pirates switched their NY/Penn team from Williamsport, PA to State College, PA (four year deal). The owners of the State College Spikes also own another Pirates affiliate in Altoona.
• The Philadelphia Phillies have switched their NY/Penn team from Batavia, NY to the now vacant Williamsport affiliate (two-year deal). Another instance of moving an affiliate closer to a parent organization.
• The St Louis Cardinals wrap up the musical chairs moving from State College to Batavia (two-year deal).
• At present the Jamestown Jammers and the Florida Marlins have not agreed on extending an agreement.

Where does that leave the Nationals?

1. The Nationals can return to Burlington, VT on a two-year deal and revisit this in 2008
2. The Nationals can seek an agreement with Jamestown, NY which would move their Short Season affiliate somewhat closer (about 180 miles or 3 hours closer)
3. The Nationals can abandon a Short Season team and purchase the Appalachian League affiliate in Pulaski, that was left by Toronto. This would put the Nationals approximately 230 miles or about 5 hours closer. The issue here would be NY/Penn league would be left with two open affiliates (Burlington and Jamestown) and only one parent organization (Florida).

It will be interesting to see how this all works out.

Minors 2006 (1 of 7) - Dominican Summer League

Minors 2006 (2 of 7) - Gulf Coast League

In what is believed to be the Nationals last year in Vermont, the Lake Monsters struggled through another tough season with only a few bright spots.

Record: The Lake Monsters finished with a league worst 23-51 record in the New York/Penn League. This was certainly a function of the shortcomings of the farm system overall. The invigoration of the farm system with premium younger talent will place their new affiliate (assuming their rumors of relocation are true) in a much better position.

Statistics: Given that Vermont had the worst record, it comes as no surprise that the Lake Monsters also ranked towards the bottom of the league in both offensive and pitching categories.

Offense:

Pitching:

Players: The Lake Monsters roster was populated by bats from the 2006 draft along side three promising bats from 2005 (Justin Maxwell, Mike Daniel, and Ryan Delaughter). The bats from 2006 were lower round college guys with lower ceilings which explains the overall offensive struggles of Vermont. The Nationals selected Vermont as the spot to debut their 4th round selection 19-year old LHSP Glenn Gibson who made 3 brief appearances as well as their first college selections (Cory VanAllen and Zech Zinicola).

Top 10 Vermont Lake Monsters Prospects

1. Justin Maxwell OF: The 22-year old 2005 4th rounder out of Maryland is one of the few five tool guys in the Nationals farm system. He has among the best raw speed and baserunning instincts in the organization. In 74 games in Vermont, Maxwell was 20/25 in SB attempts. Adding to his speed, Maxwell projects out as a 270-280 hitter with 20-25 HRs, he batted 269/346/376 over 271AB for the Lake Monsters. He needs to improve on his strikeouts, as he K’d 61 times. What Maxwell needs right now is playing time. A 2007 start in Potomac is not out of the question, but more likely he’ll begin the season in Hagerstown with a quick promotion to Potomac if he proves himself capable.
2. Glenn Gibson LHSP: Gibson was the last of the first six high schoolers drafted as well as the last one signed (2nd rounder Sean Black did not sign). The Central Moriches (NY) grad is all about projectability. He is already the owner of a high 80s fastball that in time should be low 90s, this is complemented by both a projectable changeup and curveball. Gibson only made three brief appearances for Vermont but showed signs of what drew the Nats to him (6IP 2H 0R 0BB 7K). A return to the replacement for Vermont is likely in 2007.
3. Jack Spradlin LHSP: Spradlin was an 8th round selection in 2005 draft. He is the purest definition of a finesse pitcher as his game is predicated not on his mid to high 80s fastball as much his above average slider and a deceptive changeup. In 48IP for Vermont, he had a 1.69ERA, 1.04WHIP, 5.8K/9, 1.9BB/9, and 0.6HR/9. Spradlin’s game is based upon his great command as well as a funky motion. Refining his slider and changeup will be his focus in 2007, likely in Potomac.
4. Mike Daniel OF: The 22-year old UNC gradauate was a 2005 7th round selection with a smooth swing and solid mechanics. The lefthanded Daniel hit 304/376/431 in 53 games for Vermont with a nice balance of extrabase power (14/55 hits) and speed (13/17 in SB). Daniel needs to refine his eye at the plate where he struck out 52 times while only walking 16 times. A 2007 start in Hagerstown seems most likely but the opportunity to jump to Potomac would not be out of the question by mid-season.
5. Zech Zinicola RHRP: Drafted in the 6th round of the 2006 draft, the 21-year old Zinicola shot up the organization finishing the season in AA Harrisburg. Zinicola has a low 90s fastball along with a developing slider and a changeup with splitfinger action. He projects as a RH setup man with an upside as a closer. Zinicola could crack the 2007 season in the Washington bullpen, but expect some seasoning in AAA Columbus.
6. Ryan Delaughter OF: The 19-year old Delaughter was a 5th round selection in thee 2005 draft out of high school. Delaughter was a two-way star for his Texas high school team, but the Nationals saw the most promise as an OF. Scouts compare his makeup to former major leaguer Jay Buhner, as Delaughter has both amazing raw power and a cannon for an arm in the OF. In 203AB, his offense is still a work in progress (227/293/300) compounded by an alarming 75 strikeouts, but he shows flashes of a HR bat that the Nationals hope develop in time. He may return to the same level in 2007 with an eye on developing Delaughter alongside 2006 first rounder Chris Marrero.
7. Cory VanAllen LHSP: VanAllen was selected in the 5th round of the 2006 draft of Baylor after bypassing signing in the 3rd round of the 2003 draft. VanAllen has a low-90s fastball that needs more movement, as well as a developing slider and changeup. All three pitches need work, but VanAllen is considered highly projectable by scouts as ideally a middle of the rotation starting pitcher. In 14 games, he threw 57.67 innings with an 4.06ERA, 1.20WHIP, 6.4K/9, 2.5BB/9, and 0.8HR/9. He should start the 2007 season in Hagerstown but could be challenged with a placement in Potomac.
8. Francisco Guzman OF: The 22-year old OF is all about power. He led the Lake Monsters with 5HR in 2006 and has shown the HR bat that the Nationals hope progresses up the organization. He batted 261/312/383 in 230AB. Much like most of his Vermont teammates, Guzman needs to work on his eye at the plate (48/15 K/BB ratio). He’s likely to spend the 2007 season in Hagerstown.
9. Zach Baldwin LHP: A 31st round 2006 draft pick, the 23-year old Baldwin split time between starting an relieving for the Lake Monsters. In 54.33 innings, the soft-tossing lefty had a 3.81ERA, 1.34WHIP, 6.6K/9, 2.5BB/9, and 0.5HR/9. His fastball tops out at about 88mph, but is complemented by an assortment of a changeup, slider, curveball, and splitfinger. He is not going to blow guys away, but could develop into a finesse lefty a la Jamie Moyer. Hagerstown is his likely 2007 debut.
10. Aaron Jackson RHSP: A 2004 22nd round draft pick, the 20-year old Jackson continued the trend of finesse pitchers in Vermont. In 63.67IP, he had a 3.11 ERA, 1.27WHIP, 6.8K/9, 2.3BB/9, and 0.1HR/9. Soft-tossing RHPs have a tough road, but Jackson has done enough in 2006 to likely earn a promotion to Hagerstown in 2007.

Hat tip to District of Baseball for pointing out The Other Paper from Columbus which digs deeper into the recent two-year agreement between Columbus and the Nationals

GM Ken Schnacke—who works for the local Clippers organization, not the departing Yankees—had let it be known he was looking for the closest thing he could get to a one-night stand. He plans to spend the next 24 months figuring out how to lure the Cincinnati Reds or Cleveland Indians

This has been frequently cited as the endgame in the Triple A musical chairs that has all but wrapped up this month. To summarize:

1. Ottawa of the International League (IL) will be no more after 2007, they are relocating to a yet to be named team in Allentown
2. The Phillies will displace the Orioles in Ottawa in 2007
3. The Yankees end their 28-year affiliation with IL Columbus and agree to a two-year deal with Scranton
4. The Nationals leave the Pacific Coast League (PCL) New Orleans Zephyrs and sign for two years with Columbus
5. The Mets end a near forty year arrangement in IL Norfolk with hopes of landing Scranton, but settle for a two-year deal in PCL New Orleans
6. The music stops and Norfolk and the Orioles are left to pair up in what is rumored to be a two-year arrangement as well

The AAA  agreement merry-go-round is going to take a two-year respite, but come the end of the 2008 season, there could be fireworks as no less than 10 agreements will be expiring in the IL and no less than 9 expiring PCL agreements (Tucson and Tacoma are still TBD) :

• Buffalo Bisons - Cleveland
• Columbus Clippers - Washington
• Durham Bulls - Tampa Bay
• Indianapolis Indians - Pittsburgh
• Louisville Bats - Cincinnati
• Norfolk Tides - rumored to be Baltimore
• Rochester Red Wings - Minnesota
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons- New York (AL) 
• Syracuse SkyChiefs - Toronto
• Toledo Mud Hens - Detroit
• Albuquerque Isotopes - Florida
• Colorado Springs Sky Sox - Colorado
• Fresno Grizzlies - San Francisco
• Las Vegas 51s - Los Angeles
• Memphis Redbirds - St. Louis
• New Orleans - New York (NL)
• Omaha Royals - Kansas City
• Portland Beavers - San Diego
• Round Rock Express - Houston

This is when Clippers GM Ken Schnacke hopes to switch Columbus to either of his fellow Ohio major league teams, Cincinnati or Cleveland. I’m not sure that either the Reds or Indians would seem willing to part ways in what thus far have been very good relationships with their AAA affiliates. Both Buffalo and Louisville are among the top draws in the IL. The fanbase in each city is considered top-flight. The Reds also have an enticement to remain in Louisville, Cincinnati draws well from Kentucky and there is a defined fanbase in the Louisville area. Former Red/current Nat Austin Kearns is a Kentucky native who has referred to the Reds as his ‘hometown team.’ The distance between Cincinnati and both Louisville or Columbus is roughly equidistant (about 100 miles) so it’s not really any closer. As for Buffalo, while Columbus is closer to Cleveland than Buffalo, the Bisons are well-known for having some of the better fans in Minor League Baseball, and often are on the short list when people consider locations for Major League relocation/expansion.

I’m not dismissing the possibility of Columbus luring the Indians or Reds, and I understand the Nationals/Clippers ‘getting to know you’ agreement for two years. However, if Stan Kasten’s plan for rebuilding the farm system continues on a healthy/successful path, come 2009, the Nationals could have an impressive contingent of top prospects knocking on the door to the majors … possibly a boon for whatever AAA team they find themselves aligned with.

Minors 2006 (1 of 7) - Dominican Summer League

The Gulf Coast League (GCL) team is located in Melbourne, FL and was the place where eleven of the 2006 draft picks made their professional debut. Much like the DSL, the GCL is considered a strong pitcher’s league, and for the GCL Nationals that was most certainly the case.

Record: The East division of the GCL is comprised of Rookie teams for the Nationals, Marlins, Mets and Dodgers. These are the only three teams the Nationals play during the season. The GCL Nats finished with a 23-31 record, last place in the division, one half game behind the GCL Mets. However, their record was not the worst in the GCL overall. Improvements in their international scouting/signing and continued focus on drafting the best available talent in the First Year Player Draft are the first steps toward re-establishing the foundation of the Nationals farm system.

Statistics: While the pitching performed roughly to league average, the hitting in the GCL, with a few exceptions, was terrible.

Offense:

Pitching:

Players: As previously mentioned, the Nationals had eleven 2006 draft picks make their professional debuts in Melbourne, they were Chris Marrero (1st round), Colton Willems (1st), Stephen Englund (2nd), Sean Rooney (8th), Desmond Jones (11th), Adam Carr (18th), Chris French (21st), Robert Jacobsen (22nd), Brett Logan (26th), Joseph Welsh (32nd), and Cory Anderson (43rd).

Top 10 GCL Nationals Prospects

1. Chris Marrero OF: The 18-year old Monsignor Pace HS (FL) 3B was the first of six high schoolers selected starting off the Nationals 2006 draft (all but SP Sean Black signed).  Marrero shows average to plus tools in the five traditional areas (hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability and fielding abilities) with his greatest asset of power. Scouts have compared him to Pat Burrell. This is apt given that like Burrell, Marrero has been shifted from 3B to LF given the presence of Ryan Zimmerman at 3B. His season was cut short by viral meningitis batting 309/374/420 in 81AB. I’d expect Marrero to begin 2007 with the replacement for Vermont.
2. Colton Willems RHSP: The second of the Nationals first round draft picks, the 18-year old graduate of John Carroll HS in Florida arguably becomes one of the top pitching prospects in the Nationals system. Armed with three solid to above average pitches: a 92-94mph fastball, a 80-84mph slider, and a developing changeup; all done with a smooth and clean delivery. If he can refine his changeup and develop even an average curveball, the righthander is well on his way to success. In five starts, he was held to a minimum workload of 16 innings pitched with a 3.38ERA, 1.65WHIP, 4.5K/9, and 1.7BB/9. While the strikeout numbers need to increase, his transition to professional baseball was solid. He will likely join Marrero in the replacement for Vermont.
3. Stephen Englund OF: Yet another 2006 draft pick, the 18-year old Bellevue HS (WA) SS was drafted with the Nationals second 2nd round pick. He was immediately shifted to CF, based upon his incredible athleticism. He has amazing raw speed which translates well to his shift to CF, allowing him to cover the outfield from gap to gap. He needs to focus on his hitting 183/307/235 but he the righthanded hitter has shown developing plate discipline for an 18-year old (17BB in 115AB). He will provide the Vermont replacement with another premium prospect to watch.
4. Yunior Novoa LHSP: The 21-year old was the #1 Dominican Summer League (DSL) prospect and didn’t let up with his promotion to the GCL. In seven games (six starts), Novoa threw 31 innings with an ERA of 1.74, 1.10 WHIP with 10.2K/9 and only 2.6BB/9. He held GCL hitters to a 221 BA. His performance earned him a promotion for his final start for Vermont. A return to the Vermont replacement is possible but the Nationals may challenge him with a spot in the newly acquired Hagerstown affiliate.
5. Adam Carr RHSP/1B: The 22-year old 2006 18th round draft pick out of Oklahoma State University had a very interesting professional debut. After playing primarily as an offensive player for Oklahoma State, the Nationals drafted Carr with designs of converting him to a RH RP (a role he filled at times during his college career). Upon his arrival in the GCL, Carr showed why the Nationals thought a RP role would be ideal, throwing a mid-90s fastball. In ten games, Carr pitched 17.67 innings with a 3.06ERA, 1.13WHIP, 9.7K/9, and 3.6BB/9. What was pleasantly surprising was his abilities with the bat, serving as a DH/PH in the GCL when he wasn’t pitching, Carr batted 343/425/629 in 35AB with six extra-base hits out of his twelve total hits. All of this earned Carr a jump up to A level Savannah. He could be bumped up to Potomac in 2007 as a RP with PH/DH appearances on his non-pitching days.
6. Jean Alvarez SS: The 19-year old righthanded SS from the Dominican Republic impressed with an above average glove at SS for the GCL Nats. His peformance was not limited to the glove as he showed the best plate discipline for the GCL Nats, with a 46/25 K/BB ratio in 146AB. He still has some work to do at the plate (219/350/274) but he has put himself into a position to begin the season one step up from the GCL in 2007.
7. Edulin Abreu RHP: Another solid performer promoted from the DSL, the 22-year old Abreu split his time in the GCL between starting (five games) and relieving (five games). In 33 innings, Abreu had an ERA of 1.91, WHIP of 1.27, 7.1K/9, and 2.2BB/9. He was a bit old for the GCL but for his first experience in the US, Abreu showed he has the potential for the future. His next step will likely be in the bullpen one level up in 2007.
8. Marco Estrada RHSP: The 2005 6th round draft pick out of Long Beach State had a breakout appearance in the GCL in 2006. The 23-year old impressed in five appearances (four starts) with 23.67 innings, an ERA of 1.52, 0.84 WHIP, 10.3K/9, and 2.3BB/9. He has a repertoire of a low-90s fastball, low-80s curveball, and a developing changeup. His performance earned him a jump up to Savannah where after initially struggling, he finished the year acceptably. His 2007 will likely begin in Hagerstown and he needs to continue his development with designs on getting to Potomac not too far into the 2007 season.
9. Robert Jacobsen 1B: A guy with local connections as a 22nd round draft pick out of George Mason, the 22-year old righthander was the best baserunner in the GCL stealing 14/15 bases. While his performance at the plate was not typical of what one would expect out of a 1B (249/321/290), Jcobsen raised enough eyebrows to earn a promotion to Vermont in 2006. He needs to improve on his SLG if he hopes to remain a 1B, but the bserunneing acumen he demonstrated make him worth watching.
10. Desmond Jones RHRP: The 2006 11th round draft pick out of Middle Georgia Junior College is a promising raw talent the Nationals hope develops into a solid RP. The 20-year old righthander has a low-90s fastball, a high-80s cut fastball, and low-80s changeup, but the team is most excited about his slider. It’s a plus pitch already, in the high-70s/low-80s. What he needs now is work. He only threw 8.67 innings in 2006 and he needs the experience. Expect him to begin 2007 in the Vermont replacement.

Next Vermont Lake Monsters

The Washington Nationals today announced that they have signed a two-year Player Development Contract with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League.  Nationals President Stan Kasten made the announcement.

“We are very excited to be affiliating with the Columbus Clippers,” said Kasten. “The Clippers’ long-standing history as one of the best Triple-A operations in the country, together with the City of Columbus’ reputation as one of America’s finest cities, makes Ohio’s capital city a perfect partner for our team from the nation’s capitol. The Clippers now become the key players in our new program which focuses on a reinvigorated player development system.”

The Columbus Clippers entered the International League in 1955 and currently play in 15,000-seat Cooper Stadium, which is named after former International League Commissioner Harold M. Cooper, the instrumental figure in landing Columbus ’ IL franchise in 1955.  The Clippers currently reside in the International League’s four-team West Division along with Indianapolis , Louisville and Toledo . 

The Columbus Clippers are recognized as one of the most successful franchises in the history of Triple-A baseball and are unique as a publicly-owned professional sports team. The Clippers are owned by Franklin County . The club recently completed its 30th season of managing and operating the team and Cooper Stadium, as well as its 28-year working relationship with the New York Yankees.  The Clippers are currently scheduled to move into a new ballpark, Huntington Park , in downtown Columbus in 2008.

Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell, Dave Righetti, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, as well as the Nationals’ own Alfonso Soriano (1999-2000) and Nick Johnson (2001-2003), are among those who have enjoyed stints playing in Columbus during their minor-league careers.

The Nationals now have official agreements with all but their Short Season afilliate (Vermont in 2006). There are a few options available in the New York/Penn League that are closer than Vermont [State College (STL in 2006), Williamsport (PIT in 2006), Batavia (PHI in 2006), and Jamestown (FLA in 2006)].

However, another option is the Pulaski in the Appalachian League. The Toronto Blue Jays recently said they will not be returning to Pulaski in 2007. The Nationals could give up their SS Vermont team and purchase Pulaski for another Rookie level team (one in GCL, one in Appy). This isn’t unheard of, Atlanta (Appy/GCL), Cincy (Pioneer/GCL), Anaheim (Pioneer/AZ), Minnesota (Appy/GCL), Milwaukee (Pioneer/AZ), and Los Angeles (Pioneer/GCL) do the same thing.

According to the Columbus Dispatch:

The board of directors of the Columbus Clippers will meet this afternoon in the Captain’s Club of Cooper Stadium to approve a working agreement with the Washington Nationals baseball team. Sources said the player development contract, as it is known, is for the next two seasons, per the wishes of the Clippers. The deal includes the Nationals playing a major-league preseason game in Columbus next year.

The Nationals now have agreements with 5/6 minor league affiliates. Only a replacement for the Vermont Lake Monsters is still pending.

The Washington Nationals today announced that they have signed a two-year Player Development Contract with the Hagerstown Suns of the Single-A South Atlantic League.  Nationals President Stan Kasten made the announcement.

“We could not be happier to join forces with not only the Suns, but the town of Hagerstown , Md. ” said Kasten. “Municipal Stadium is less than 70 miles from Washington , and this partnership will provide our fans with another first-hand view as we continue with our stated commitment to player development.”

By aligning with nearby Hagerstown , the Nationals remain in the 16-team South Atlantic League.  The Hagerstown Suns joined the South Atlantic League in 1993 and currently play in 4,600-seat Municipal Stadium.  Over half of the South Atlantic League’s clubs reside within a six hour drive of the nation’s capital.

The Nationals’ agreement with Hagerstown ends a four-year affiliation with the Savannah Sand Gnats.  The Suns recently completed a two-year working agreement with the New York Mets.

The Washington Nationals today announced that they have signed a four-year extension to their Player Development Contract with the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League.  Nationals President Stan Kasten made the announcement.

“We are excited to extend our working relationship with the Potomac Nationals for four more years,” said Kasten. “The proximity of their facility to Washington has been a great asset to our organization as it pertains to players on rehabilitation assignments and for workouts.  We have enjoyed a great relationship with the Potomac ownership and are looking forward to working together in the future.”

UPDATE:

Basil from Federal Baseball highlighted a note from Nats.com beatwriter Bill Ladson that should be pulled up into the body:

The Nationals are close to being affiliated with Triple-A Columbus, according to three sources. Washington’s contract with New Orleans has expired, and the organization is looking for an affiliate closer to home. The Nationals also were looking at Triple-A Norfolk, but it appears, according to the sources, that Norfolk will go to another team. The Orioles reportedly have serious interest.

Also, Todd Jacobson has this note regarding the affiliation status of the Nationals and Vermont (NY/Penn League):

The Nationals are also expected to end a 12-year affiliation with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League.