The Washington Nationals completed two deals under the August 31 deadline for setting postseason rosters. Washington traded away 1B/OF Daryle Ward to the Atlanta Braves and IF/OF Marlon Anderson to the Los Angeles Dodgers, each in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
Coming from Atlanta is Luis Atilano, a RHP who was the Braves first selection in the 2003 First Player draft (#35 of Gabriela Mistral HS in Puerto Rico). From the release:
Atilano went 6-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) for Myrtle Beach of the Single-A Carolina League this season. He has not pitched since July 24, however, and on Aug. 10, had Tommy John surgery performed on his right elbow by Dr. James Andrews. Last season, while pitching for Rome, Atilano started for the Southern Division in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.
When he was drafted in 2003, he drew comparisons to Javier Vazquez. He has a fastball that has been clocked in the low 90s and an effective sinking changeup. Atilano has added 35 lbs to his 6′3″ frame since being drafted (from 180 to 215lbs). With the Tommy John surgery, I wouldn’t expect the 21-year old being fully recovered until the 2008 season.
In exchange for Anderson, the Nationals received 20-year old RHP Jhonny Nunez. Nunez was signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent in December of 2003 out of San Jose de Las Matas, Dominican Republic. From the release:
Nunez, in his third pro season, went 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) for the Gulf Coast League Dodgers in 2006, his first season playing in the United States. Nunez, who stands 6-foot-3, limited opposing GCL batters to a .177 batting average en route to leading the league in wins. He also ranked among GCL leaders in innings pitched (first with 57.0), strikeouts (second with 56) and ERA (third).
Nunez was the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher for the Month of July. He for the GCL Dodgers in the month of July, posting a 3-0 record in that month. He tossed a total of 26.1 innings surrendering only six earned runs while holding opposing batters to a .157 average against him. While a bit old for the Gulf Coast League, Nunez is another solid pitching option continuing the rebuilding of the foundation of the farm system. I’d expect to see Nunez report to the Nationals Instructional League, likely play winter ball in his native Dominican Republic, and if things break right, he could begin 2007 in A-Advanced Potomac.
Ryan Sullivan | 01-Sep-06 at 11:35 am | Permalink
I know we really gave up nothing, but do either of these arms have promise? I guess I’m asking what chance there is that either of them see the major leagues?
Thanks-
Brian J Oliver | 01-Sep-06 at 12:05 pm | Permalink
As always, TINSTAAPP … but I like both of the pickups. Nunez had some solid K numbers (albeit in a pitcher’s league) and Atilano had some solid numbers prior to his injury (also in a pitcher’s park). The upside on these guys far outweighs any non-development concerns
Sam Stevens | 01-Sep-06 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
Ryan, I think there is alot of promise with Nunez–he could emerge as the staff ace given some time to adjust to the majors. I’m uncertain about Atilano. He’s young enough to rebound nicely from surgery, but these things are never guaranteed. We’ll have to wait and see with this one. I’ll miss both Anderson and Ward, but it’s a good sign that the Nats are focussing on pitching.