Nationals Farm Authority

Roger Bernadina has been in the Expos/Nationals organization since 2001 when he was signed as an international free agent out of Curacao. After spending three seasons in Low-A, Bernadina had a solid season with Potomac in 2006 and followed up with another very good season in Double-A Harrisburg in 2007. Over 97 games (371AB) he hit 270/340369 with an organization-leading 40 stolen bases. Besides his speed, Bernadina has an above average glove in the outfield, where he can fill in at all three positions. He’s probably a #5 outfielder as a ceiling but his lefthanded bat, glove and baserunning ability could make the 23-year old an option for the Nationals if an injury arises in 2008. He should be the starting center fielder in Columbus.

Zech Zinicola was the Nationals’ 2006 minor league pitcher of the year after getting drafted out of Arizona State in the 6th round of the 2006 draft. This was likely more a testament to the lack of a strong pitcher in the organization than his chances as a top prospect. The 22-year old righthanded relief pitcher had a disappointing 2007 where he was 0-4 with a 5.46ERA and 1.54WHIP over 42 appearances in Harrisburg. He profiles well as a righthanded arm out of the pen with a fastball that has been clocked at 95. His changeup and slider are still works in progress. If Zinicola can bounce back in Columbus in 2008, he still has a shot at being a viable arm out of the Washington bullpen in 2009.

Coming in at #16 is a former #1 overall for the Nationals, 3B/OF Kory Casto. Casto was a 3rd round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in the 2003 draft. He had a really disappointing 2007 hitting 246/334/384 in 114 games with the Columbus Clippers. It’s not too late for Casto but at 26 years old his best case scenario is a lefthanded bat off of the bench filling in at 3B and LF. With the overabundance of outfielders already ahead of him on the depth chart, expect him to start the 2008 season in Columbus.

Estrada was a 6th round draft pick in 2005 out of Long Beach State. He has four average pitches with a low-90s fastball. His 2007 was a mixed bag, disappointing in low-A Hagerstown was 1-5 with a 5.25ERA and 1.56WHIP with 35K and 17BB in 36IP. But in Potomac, better 5-3 with a 4.94ERA and 1.44WHIP with 54K and 17BB in 58.33IP. His upside is realistically as a back of the rotation #5-starter stype. He should be a member of the Harrisburg rotation in 2008. 

LeFave was the player the Nationals acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a month plus of LHRP Ray King. LeFave was signed in 2006 as an undrafted free agent. All he’s done since then is hit. Over the past two seasons he’s hit 347/431/517. The challenge that LeFave is going to face is his age. He played the 2007 season in Low A as a 23-year old. He’ll need to perform in Potomac quickly in 2008 in order to remain on the prospect radar.

Alaniz was an 8th round selection in the 2008 draft out of the University of Texas. He is by no means overpowering (fastball in the mid-80s) but he knows how to win with four average pitches. His professional debut in Vermont was anything but average where he was 8-2 in 13 games with a 2.39ERA and 0.83WHIP with 62 strikeouts and only 8 walks over 60 1/3 innings pitched. Much like LeFave, Alaniz faces an age-related question. Entering the 2008 season, the righty will be 24-years old and no full season experience. His window is much narrower but if he can translate his success in the NY/Penn league early in 2008, he can perhaps advance quickly. Expect him to join LeFave in Potomac in 2008.

From Nationals Journal, the Nationals finally made the roster move necessary to open up a 40-man spot for Johnny Estrada. The San Diego Padres claimed RHP Enrique Gonzalez off of waivers from Washington. Gonzalez was claimed late in 2007 from the Arizona Diamondbacks but never made an appearance for the Nats.

Of more interest was the signing of Japanese LHP Katsuhiko Maekawa to a minor league contract. As Barry reported

He went 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA for the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League … Maekawa had legal problems in Japan resulting from a hit-and-run accident. He did not pitch in Japan in 2007 because of the problems, and according to Japanese media, he had been driving without a license for as many as four years and was unofficially barred from the Japanese major leagues. He was the No. 1 draft pick by the Kinetsu Buffaloes in 1997. He’s 29, and was 1-7 with a 5.26 ERA with Orix in 2006

It’s unlikely that he’ll be anything more than an extra arm in Columbus, but the more interesting aspect is the fact the Nats have made their initial step into the Pacific Rim. It’s not a move on par with Ichiro or Hideki Matsui or Daisuke Matsuzaka, those moves appear to be farther out on the horizon. This move is similar to the signing of Esmailyn Gonzalez (though, Smiley seems more of a “prospect”). By signing any Japanese player, the Nats have identified themselves as a candidate for Pacific Rim options. Bill Singer and the Nationals scouting department are working on the Nats visibility in Asia. It’s going to be a longer process as they build a network within Japanese baseball.

What will be worth watching is whether the signing of a Japanese player with baggage back home will be viewed positively or otherwise.

This week’s installment of BBA’s minor league transactions listed one move by the Nats.

Signed: OF Steve Doetsch

Doetsch is a 24-year old righthanded hitting outfielder who played four years in the Braves organization, maxing out at High-A Myrtle Beach in 2005-06. He played the 2007 season in the Independent Atlantic League as a member of the Road Warriors, a team out of Pennsylvania that were on a season long road trip with no official home. They no longer exist as the franchise has been relocated to Maryland for the 2008 season as the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  After hitting only 22 home runs in his Braves minor league career (over four seasons and over 1500AB), he hit 22 home runs for the Road Warriors over 405AB.

My off-the-cuff guess? Minor league roster filler if he sticks.

Nationals press release

The Washington Nationals today announced they will host Georgetown University’s baseball program in an exhibition game to be played at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 28 at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL. Due to the weather that hampered Nationals Fan Fest last weekend at Space Coast Stadium, free admission will be offered to all fans. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden and Senior Vice President of Business Affairs Mike Shapiro made the joint announcement.

The Nationals will field a team consisting of players from both big league camp and their second-annual accelerated development camp.

The matchup marks the first time in the 132-year history of Georgetown baseball that the Hoyas will play against a Major League Baseball team. Head Coach Pete Wilk’s Hoyas embark on the ‘08 campaign looking for their 5th consecutive 20-win season. The Hoyas are members of the Big East Conference.