According to Bobby Williams of the Nationals, the following minor leaguers have been released:
- Zach Baldwin - 2006 31st round selection; LH SP/RP pitched for Hagerstown in 2007
- Greg Bunn - 2004 5th round; RHRP split time between Hagerstown and Potomac in 2007
- Devin Drag - 2007 37th round; RHRP split time between Vermont and Hagerstown in 2007
- Coby Mavroulis - 2005 21st round; LHRP pitched in Hagerstown in 2007
- Buzz Vargas - minor league free agent signed in 2007; RHRP split time between Vermont and Hagerstown in 2007
- Joe Welsh - 2006 32nd round; LHRP pitched in Hagerstown in 2007
- Gene Yost - 2004 20th round; LHRP split time between Hagerstown and Potomac in 2007
- Lindon Bond - 2007 50th round; RH OF split time between the GCL and Hagerstown in 2007
- Erick San Pedro - 2004 2nd round; RH CA split time between Hagerstown and Columbus in 2007.
One more month | 14-Jan-08 at 5:24 pm | Permalink
Zach Baldwin, Greg Bunn, Devin Drag, Coby Mavroulis, Buzz Vargas, Joe Welsh, Gene Yost, Lindon Bond, Erick San Pedro -
If you are hoping to catch on with another team, and to continue your baseball careers, good luck, and I hope to see you play in the majors some day. If this is the end of that part of your life, good luck in all you do next. In either case, thanks for playing in the Nats’ organization. We hoped that each and every one of you could play above and beyond your draft position.
Ryan Sullivan | 14-Jan-08 at 7:32 pm | Permalink
San Pedro- our 2nd pick in the 2004 draft is sent packing, at a position of need in the organization… it doesn’t get much worse than that- someone REALLY dropped the ball on that one-
natsfan07 | 14-Jan-08 at 8:10 pm | Permalink
How can Baldwin be released? He was one of the better true pitchers in the low levels? I saw him shut several teams out. That is a move i dont agree with..
Joe From Montana | 14-Jan-08 at 8:11 pm | Permalink
Catcher is always a position of need no matter what. San Pedro was the guy that dropped the ball here, IMO. He is a career .181 hitter with a .237 slugging percentage. For a second rounder he never payed off.
Suns Fan | 14-Jan-08 at 9:08 pm | Permalink
San Pedro I agree with. He was the oldest guy on the team, and he still wasn’t hitting well. He was also injury prone. Pat Nichols is all around in my view (calls a better game, has a very good arm, and hits better). Last year, Nichols mostly rode the bench while Solano (decent potential), San Pedro, and later John Poppert split time. Nichols only started at catcher in games Baldwin started (college teammates). Why they did that was beyond me, as Nichols should’ve been given the chance to play every day, especially after a late season injury to Solano.
Baldwin is a good pitcher. He could make the major leagues, and potentially be a long reliever or fifth starter. He was clearly the best of the full season bunch in Hagerstown last year. That alone may cloud my judgment, as the bunch wasn’t too great here. (Brad Meyers was the best pitcher to come through Hagerstown; he has some serious potential).
Bond is a nice guy, and was one of my favorite players last season. He has a great attitude. He’s very fast. He hit well at the start, but cooled off at the end of the season. He was some power. He could improve his defense–especially his arm. I was hoping he’d get another year to play in Hagerstown. I hope he continues his professional career and succeeds.
Mavroulis is also a nice guy. He was never the same after he got hit in the face by a line drive. It can take major league players several years to recover from that. But the cold reality of the minors is that players don’t have several years to recover from injuries. He played Center Field at the end of the season for a few games, and he is a good hitter for a pitcher. I hope he finds a spot elsewhere and continues his career.
I didn’t see much of Bunn or Yost, so I can’t comment on their skills.
Best wishes to everyone.
Ric | 15-Jan-08 at 9:57 am | Permalink
According to Baseball America, OF Richard Hidalgo also was released.
Freda | 15-Jan-08 at 1:23 pm | Permalink
Wow - two of last year’s draft guys! Never even got to experience Spring Training. That hasn’t happened since Kenny Beck back in 2002.
Ryan Sullivan | 15-Jan-08 at 1:40 pm | Permalink
I may be overthinking this, but to me, something just doesn’t add up with releasing Baldwin and to a much lesser degree, San Pedro. Baldwin was drafted this year, is left-handed, and had some reasonable numbers in Low A this past season. I realize that he will be 25 in May, so that contributes to it, but I am shocked that he was simply released.
Fairly similar argument with San Pedro; the numbers don’t lie, but he still is 24 and a catcher, and was our 2nd pick three years ago.
Anyone else feel the same way, or do I just have too much time on my hands?
Brian Oliver | 15-Jan-08 at 1:44 pm | Permalink
Baldwin was drafted in 2006 not 2007. His is probably the more puzzling move.
As for San Pedro, I am not sure he ever completely recovered from the broken leg he suffered in 2005
Shawn | 15-Jan-08 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
Baldwin is a surprise as he finished the season pretty well on a horrid team.
San Pedro kinda seemed like he was mailing it in.
Not a poor attitude,more of a disinterested one.
It would not surprise me to never see San Pedro play again….
Ryan Sullivan | 15-Jan-08 at 2:19 pm | Permalink
Brian-
Have you heard anything about Baldwin (bad attitude, makeup, etc) that would explain this move, because he seems like a potential lefty bullpen arm that would have a place in most organizations?
Bob | 15-Jan-08 at 3:40 pm | Permalink
Baldwin had a great attitude. Good Kid, very effective “pitcher”, commanded 5 pitches he can throw for strikes. He has got to catch on elsewhere. If he doesn’t, it is crazy.
theword | 15-Jan-08 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
I was in vermont when baldwin was there and he was a terrific kid. Kept his nose clean on and off the field. was always generous to the fans and always seemed to have a smile on his face. To release such a great kid is absolutely horrible. He is a hometown hero in WV and im sure everyone in that state is wondering what happened.. I know he had solid numbers in vermont and started on a tear in hagerstown. His finish was down but he showed that he could do anything for the suns. I know tommy herr loved him along with paul menhart. This is a move i do not understand as he was on the verge of getting called up (inside source in VT). Upper managemnet never gave the player a chance. He is 6′6 230 and LEFT HANDED also a strike thrower.. What is this organization doing… Sorry for just talking about baldwin but he is the only one i really ever knew or followed… Brian do you have any reasoning on why something so idiotic could occur?