Nationals Farm Authority

Watching the MASN post-game show (god only knows why).

CA Paul Lo Duca and 2B Felipe Lopez were unconditionally released and OF Elijah Dukes has been activated from the DL and 2B Emilio Bonifacio has been recalled from Columbus. Add to this the apparent likelihood now that SS Cristian Guzman will be placed on the DL to make room for newly acquired SS Alberto Gonzalez and the Nationals will have a decidedly new … and younger look beginning tomorrow night against the Cincinnati Reds.

The 36-year old Lo Duca batted 230/301/281 in his brief stay with the Nationals. His time in Washington was marred by struggles and injuries and the breakout of Jesus Flores. The 28-year old Lopez was finally cut after a season plus of struggles where he batted 245/308/352 in 2007 and 231/303/309 in 2008. He was certainly a disappointment since being acquired from the Reds. It appears likely that the hand injury to Guzman will send him temporarily to the 15-day DL.

“We are looking for players who play the games hard and play the games right,” said Bowden, “It’s time for us to go in a different direction.” “We tried to deal both of them but we couldn’t,” Bowden continued. “We want to develop our young players,” added Bowden.

Joining the Nationals will be the 24-year old Dukes who was 5/15 with two doubles in his rehab time with Columbus, 23-year old Bonifacio who was 14/31 with nine runs and four stolen bases for the Clippers and the recently acquired the 25-year old Gonzalez.

Do not be surprised if the Nationals start all three tomorrow evening against Cincinnati, Dukes in LF, Bonifacio at 2B, and Gonzalez at SS.

The youth movement has begun.

The first deal is in and it likely spells the end of Felipe Lopez’s time in DC

The Washington Nationals today acquired shortstop Alberto Gonzalez from the New York Yankees in exchange for minor-league right-handed pitcher Jhonny Nunez. Gonzalez is expected to report to Washington, DC on Friday and be in uniform for the Nationals’ series opener vs. Cincinnati. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Nunez was originally acquired by the Nationals from the Dodgers for Marlon Anderson. In 26 games split between Harrisburg and Potomac, Nunez was a combined 2-8 with a 4.85ERA. Over 89IP, he allowed 97 hits and 27 walks while striking out 90.

From the Nats

Gonzalez, 25, is a plus defensive shortstop who last season was rated as the top defensive infielder in the Yankees’ minor-league system. Gonzalez, who played in 28 games during a pair of stints with the Yankees this season, batted .250 (47-for-188) with eight doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI in 47 games with Scranton/W-B of the Triple-A International League in 2008.

My thoughts?

Gonzalez is a solid acquisition for the Nationals. His glove is his calling card, not his bat. Not sure he is an everyday starter but in exchange for a minor league reliever (which Nunez had apparently evolved into), it’s a good move. In the short term, Gonzalez can allow the Nationals to take their time with Cristian Guzman, if he’s more hurt than reports are letting on. Additionally, I would almost have to guarantee this ends the Felipe Lopez era in Washington.

In the long term, I’m intrigued by the idea of Emilio Bonifacio and Gonzalez playing up the middle defense. That is a solid way to build a team. I realize Guzman will be the starter but it’s at the very least solid up the middle defense for later in the game.

Columbus fell behind early 7-0 before rallying for an 11-10 win in Richmond (box/gamer). 24-year old RHP Craig Stammen was knocked around for seven runs on seven hits and two walks over just two innings of work, but the Clippers bullpen kept the game close enough for Columbus to mount a comeback. 23-year old RHP Zech Zinicola picked up the win despite allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over 2IP. 29-year old RHP Jim Ed Warden picked up his seventh save, striking out the final batter of the game. 23-year old 2B Emilio Bonifacio was 2/4 with a double, stolen base, run & RBI. A rehabbing Elijah Dukes was 2/4 with a double, RBI & two runs scored. 26-year old 1B Luis Jimenez was 2/4 with a two-run homer, two runs and three RBI. And 25-year old CA Luke Montz was 2/4 with a pair of solo home runs and three RBI.

Record: Columbus 59-51, 3rd place IL West (5GB)

Tonight: RHP Dennis Tankersley (3-3, 5.02) at Richmond RHP Brian Lawrence (3-3, 4.62), 7:00PM

Harrisburg blanked Reading 7-0 behind strong pitching from 22-year old RHP Jordan Zimmermann and home runs by 24-year old LF Marvin Lowrance and 23-year old 1B Bill Rhinehart (box/gamer). Zimmermann allowed five hits and two walks over 5IP with seven strikeouts to move to 6-2 for the Senators. Lowrance was 2/4 with a pair of solo home runs and Rhinehart was 2/4 with a double & two-run home run for Harrisburg. 27-year old 2B Seth Bynum was 3/4 with a double & run scored.

Record: Harrisburg 61-49, 3rd place EL South (4.5GB)

Today: RHP Bobby Brownlie (5-2, 3.43) versus Reading RHP Andrew Carpenter (2-7, 6.94), 12:05PM

Potomac rallied from down two runs in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game on a two-run homer by 22-year old catcher Jhonathan Solano and walking off with the win and a series sweep when 25-year old LF Boomer Whiting scored from second on a throwing error as the P-Nats defeated Wilmington 7-6 (box/gamer). Solano was 1/3 with the two-run homer while Whiting was 2/4 with a stolen base & two runs scored for Potomac. 24-year old 1B Andrew Lefave was 1/3 with a two-run homer and 24-year old CF Francisco Plasencia was 2/4. 21-year old RHP Hassan Pena started for the P-Nats, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 5 2/3IP. 23-year old RHP Clint Everts picked up the win despite allowing two runs on three hits over 1 2/3IP.  Notes: 23-year old CA Brian Peacock was placed on the DL; no replacement was named.

Record: Potomac 22-16, 1st place Carolina North (5 games ahead)

Tonight: RHP Jeff Mandel (4-3, 4.01) versus Winston-Salem RHP Anthony Carter (4-2, 3.56), 7:05PM

22-year old RHP Bradley Meyers gave Hagerstown seven strong innings of work but the Suns couldn’t muster enough offense, leaving twn men on base in a 3-1 loss to Lexington (box/gamer). Meyers allowed just two runs on six hits and one walk over 7IP with eight strikeouts, but lost his fifth game of the season. 23-year old RHP Dan Leatherman pitched the final two innings, giving up an unearned run on two hits while striking out three. 25-year old DH Tim Pahuta was 2/4 with a double & RBI; 20-year old 3B Stephen King was 2/3 with a walk & double; and, 22-year old PH/2B Valerio Heredia was 2/2.

Record: Hagerstown 18-21, 4th place Sally North (9GB)

Tonight: RHP Terrence Engles (3-2, 4.37) versus Lexington LHP Anthony Bello (5-5, 3.99), 7:05PM

Vermont’s offense continued its struggles as the Monsters fell 2-1 to Brooklyn (box/gamer). 19-year old CA Derek Norris kept getting on base, going 2/2 with a double, two walks and one run scored. 21-year old 3B Nick Arata was 1/4 with two stolen bases. Patrick Arnold was the starter for Vermont, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over 6 1/3IP while striking out four. Notes: 3B Steve Souza had successful surgery to remove his hamate bone and is likely out for the rest of the season; replacing him on the roster from the GCL is 20-year old IF Yeurys Tejeda who was hitting 180/246/220 in 18 games for the GCL Nationals.

Record: Vermont 19-21, tied for 2nd place NYP Stedler (1GB)

Today: RHP Brad Peacock (3-1, 2.36) versus Brooklyn RHP Pedro P. Martinez (0-2, 3.24), 1:05PM

23-year old LHP Cory VanAllen made his first rehab start as the GCL Nationals blasted the GCL Cardinals 17-1 (box). VanAllen allowed one unearned run on three hits over four innings, striking out two. 18-year old RHP Paul Demny picked up the win with four hitless & run-less innings of relief, walking one and striking out two. 20-year old CF Chris Curran was 4/5 with his first professional home run, his twelfth stolen base, and three RBI. 18-year old SS Smiley Gonzalez was 2/4 with a triple, run & two RBI. 18-year old LF Destin Hood was 1/4 with a run scored. 21-year old 3B Ronnie Labrie was 2/4 with a double, two runs scored & three RBI. 22-year old DH Bryan Miller was 1/4 with his first two professional runs and first two professional RBI. 19-year old CA Dan Killian was 1/4 with his first professional home run, an eighth inning grand slam. And 22-year old 1B J.P. Padron was 2/3 with a double, two hit-by-pitches, a stolen base & three runs scored.

Record: GCL Nationals 20-13, 2nd place GCL East (1GB)

Tonight: LHP Josh Smoker (1-0, 0.00) at GCL Dodgers, 7:00PM

The DSL Nationals1 lost a 4-3 decision to the DSL Padres in eleven innings (box). 18-year old DH Hendry Jimenez was 1/4 with a walk, stolen base & run scored. 18-year old CF Eury Perez was 1/5 with a stolen base & RBI. 22-year old RHP Armado De Los Santos started for the Nats1, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over four innings while striking out six.

Strong pitching from 19-year old RHP Victor Mota  carried the DSL Nationals2 to a 2-1 win over the DSL Tigers (box). Mota allowed one run on two hits and one walk over 6 1/3IP with 12 strikeouts. 20-year old RHP Javier Berroa picked up the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief, striking out three. 21-year old SS Francisco Frias was 1/4 with a double and 20-year old 3B Earving Fernandez was 3/3 with a solo homer and two runs scored.

Record: DSL Nationals1 42-8, 1st place DSL S.D. West (19 games ahead); DSL Nationals2 20-31, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (22.5GB)

Today: DSL Nationals1 versus DSL Nationals2, 10:30AM

25-year old RHP Marco Estrada pitched Columbus to a 5-2 win in Richmond (box/gamer). Estrada allowed seven hits over seven shutout innings, striking out three. A rehabbing  Ryan Wagner threw a scoreless eighth, walking one and giving up one hit. And, 29-year old RHP Jim Ed Warden picked up his sixth save getting the final two outs. 24-year old 3B Leonard Davis was 2/4 with a triple, run & two RBI. 25-year old CA Luke Montz was 2/4 with a run & RBI. 29-year old SS Ed Rogers was 2/4 with a double, stolen base & run scored. 23-year old 2B Emilio Bonifacio was 1/4 with one RBI. And a rehabbing Elijah Dukes was 2/3 with a walk, double & run scored.

Record: Columbus 58-51, 3rd place IL West (5GB)

Tonight: RHP Craig Stammen (0-1, 6.14) at Richmond LHP Chuck James (4-5, 2.48), 7:00PM

Harrisburg defeated Reading 9-6 (box/gamer). 25-year old RHP Zack Segovia started for the Senators, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks over 5IP with four strikeouts. 24-year old RHP Carlos Martinez picked up the win in relief, allowing a solo home run in his one inning of work. And, 24-year old RHP Adam Carr picked up his ninth save with a scoreless ninth, giving up one hit and one walk. 23-year old CF Mike Daniel was 2/5 with a pair of solo home runs. 24-year old LF Marvin Lowrance was 2/4 with two doubles & two runs scored. 26-year old CA Devin Ivany was 2/4 with a two-run home run. And, PH/1B Bill Rhinehart was 1/1 with a two-run double.

Record: Harrisburg 60-49, 3rd place EL South (5.5GB)

Tonight: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-2, 3.43) versus Reading RHP Travis Minix (2-3, 3.41), 6:35PM

22-year old LHP Ross Detwiler bounced back from a rough outing, holding Wilmington to only one run on six hits and one walk over six innings as the P-Nats dumped the Blue Rocks 10-2 (box/gamer). 25-year old DH Dee Brown was 4/4 with a double and two RBI. 22-year old CA Jhonathan Solano was 3/3 with two RBI. 24-year old 1B Andrew Lefave was 3/4 with a double, RBI & three runs scored. 25-year old 3B Trevor Lawhorn was 1/4 with a double, two runs & three RBI. 24-year old CF Francisco Plasencia was 2/5 with two RBI. And, 25-year old Michael Martinez was 2/5 with two runs & two stolen bases.

Record: Potomac 21-16, 1st place Carolina North (4 games ahead)

Tonight: RHP Hassan Pena (0-1, 3.60) versus Wilmington RHP Mario Santiago (7-6, 3.73), 7:05PM

Hagerstown had a 1-0 lead entering the top of the eighth, but 23-year old RHRP Jamie Lehman allowed three runs as the Suns fell 3-1 to Lexington (box/gamer). 21-year old LHP Tommy Milone made his first start for Hagerstown, allowing only three hits over six shutout innings while striking out five. 23-year old CA Travis Reagan was 2/4 with a pair of double. 22-year old SS Jose Lozada was 1/3 with a double and RBI.

Record: Hagerstown 18-20, 4th place Sally North (9GB)

Today: RHP Bradley Meyers (7-4, 4.32) versus Lexington (pitcher TBD), 11:05AM

Vermont blew a 3-0 lead late, allowing four runs in the top of the eighth, losing to Brooklyn 4-3 in a game that featured 21 combined walks (box/gamer). 19-year RHP P.J. Dean worked three shutout innings, giving up only one hit and two walks with one strikeout. 19-year old CA Derek Norris kept getting on-base, going 1/2 with a single, RBI and three walks. Norris has now walked 33 times to only 24 strikeouts in 148 plate appearances. 20-year old CF Stephen Englund was 1/4 with a double, run & stolen base. 23-year old DH Jake Dugger was 0/1 with a stolen base, run and three walks.

Record: Vermont 19-20, three-way tie for 1st NYP Stedler (3.5 games ahead)

Tonight: RHP Patrick Arnold (0-1, 23.14) versus Brooklyn (pitcher TBD), 7:05PM

The GCL Nationals did not play.

Record: GCL Nationals 19-13, 2nd place GCL East (1.5GB)

Today: GCL Nationals versus GCL Cardinals, 12:00PM

The DSL Nationals1 split a doubleheader with the DSL Tigers, winning the first game 9-0 (box) and losing the second 4-3 (box). Game one: 24-year old RHP Osvaldo Rodriguez only went 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five. 18-year old RHP Joaquin Santamaria picked up the win with 2 1/3 no-hit/no run innings, striking out three. 20-year old RHP Julio Perez pitched the final 2 innings without allowing a hit and striking out four. 21-year old DH Danny Taveras was 3/4 with a double and three runs scored. 18-year old 2B Adrian Sanchez was 2/4 with a double, run & three RBI. 18-year old CF Eury Perez was 2/4 with a run and two RBI. 19-year old RF Angelberth Montilla was 2/4 with a run scored. 20-year old 1B Eduardo Urbina was 1/3 with a run & two RBI. Game two: 22-year old RHP Juan Martinez took the loss allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 6IP. Montilla was 2/2; Perez was 1/1 with a run & two stolen bases; and 18-year old 2B Hendry Jimenez was 0/3 with a run & stolen base.

The DSL Nationals2 split a doubleheader with the DSL Padres, losing the first game 1-0 (box) and winning the second game 6-5 (box). Game one: 19-year old RHP Luis Jimenez started for the Nats2, going six strong shutout innings without allowing hit, walking four and striking out five. 20-year old 3B Earving Fernandez and 21-year old PH/DH Hector Benzant  had the only two Nats2 hits, both singles. Game two: 20-year old LHP Francisco Vizcaino surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks over 3 1/3IP but the Nats2 bullpen held the Padres hitless over the final 3 2/3 innings with 20-year old RHP Derlyn Tejada picking up his second win of the season. 21-year old SS Francisco Frias was 2/3 with a double and three RBI. Fernandez was 2/4 with a run scored.

Record: DSL Nationals1 42-7, 1st place DSL S.D. West (20 games ahead); DSL Nationals2 19-31, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (23.5GB)

Today: DSL Nationals1 versus DSL Padres; DSL Nationals2 versus DSL Tigers; both at 10:30AM

Just received from the P-Nats

The Potomac Nationals announced today that infielder Darryl Lawhorn has been placed on Potomac’s 25-man roster joining his twin brother Trevor.

Prior to getting released by the Oakland Athletics, Lawhorn appeared in 53 games with the Stockton Ports of the California League where he hit .272 with eight home runs and 39 RBI. The North Carolina-native primarily played third base, but was also used frequently as an outfielder and designated hitter before being placed on the disabled list because of a hip injury.

Signed as minor league free agent by the Washington Nationals, Lawhorn has journeyed through the minor leagues. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft but was forced to miss the subsequent season because of a broken foot. The 2005 season did not treat him any better as Lawhorn suffered a similar injury to his foot during the first game of Spring Training.

The 25-year-old then signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 where again an injury halted his playing career. Due to a fractured left tibia in extended Spring Training he was released by the Reds and ultimately signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the Independent Northern League.

The following year helped resurrect Lawhorn’s career by splitting time with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League and Stockton where he hit a combined .242 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI.

Darryl and Trevor are reunited on the same team for the time since 2004. The pair helped lead East Carolina University to a school record in wins (50) for a season and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the second time.

With the addition of Lawhorn, Potomac’s active roster now stands at 25, with 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

Courtesy of a Lawhorn brother fansite.

Trevor (above)

Darryl (above)

23-year old RHP Tyler Clippard allowed four runs in the bottom of the first as Norfolk defeated Columbus 5-2 (box/gamer). Clippard allowed only those four runs on nine hits and two walks over 6IP while striking out two. A rehabbing Ryan Wagner allowed one unearned run on one hit in his one inning of work. A rehabbing Elijah Dukes was 0/4 with two strikeouts in his first action since joining the Clippers. 28-year old Jorge Padilla was 2/4 with a run scored and his tenth stolen base of the season. 27-year old Larry Broadway was 2/4 with one RBI while playing LF.

Record: Columbus 57-51, 3rd place IL West (5GB)

Tonight: RHP Marco Estrada (2-1, 5.27) at Richmond (pitcher TBD) 7:00PM

Neither Harrisburg’s pitching or defense was strong as the Senators were dumped by Reading 12-7 (box/gamer). 23-year old LHP Justin Jones allowed nine runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks over 4 1/3IP. 27-year old 2B Seth Bynum was 2/4 with two homers (one a grand slam) and five RBI. 23-year old CF Mike Daniel was 2/4 with a walk and run scored. 24-year old LF Marvin Lowrance was 1/2 with a double, two walks, one run and one RBI. Since his promotion to Harrisburg, Lowrance is batting 326/431/581 in 15 games for the Senators.

Record: Harrisburg 59-49, 3rd place EL South (6.5GB)

Tonight: RHP Zack Segovia (1-0, 4.76) versus Reading LHP Fabio Castro (8-1, 4.20) 6:35PM

Potomac welcomed 24-year old RHP Erik Arnesen with sixteen hits and nine runs in a 9-3 thrashing of Wilmington (box/gamer). Arnesen allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk over 6 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. 23-year old RHP Edulin Abreu pitched the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. 25-year old 2B Michael Martinez (3/5) had a double and three RBI. 25-year old 3B Trevor Lawhorn (2/4) had a solo homer, drove in two and scored two runs. 23-year old CA Patrick Nichols was 2/4 with a run scored. 23-year old SS Dan Lyons was 2/5 with one RBI and a stolen base; he is now hitting 313/436/463 in his first 25 games with Potomac. 25-year old DH Dee Brown was 2/3 with a walk double, run & RBI; over his last 10 games, Brown is hitting 0.429 with a home run and nine RBI. 25-year old LF Boomer Whiting was 2/3 with one RBI & two runs scored.

Record: Potomac 20-16, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)

Tonight: LHP Ross Detwiler (5-7, 5.44) versus Wilmington LHP Paul Mildren (0-4, 7.27) 7:05PM

Home runs by25-year old 1B Tim Pahuta and 22-year old CF Mark Gildea were all the Suns needed as Hagerstown edged Greensboro 3-1 (box/gamer). Pahuta was 2/3 with a double & two-run homer while Gildea was 1/4 with a solo homer. 22-year old SS Jose Lozada was 2/4 with a run scored. 22-year old RHP Cole Kimball started for the Suns, allowing one run on four hits and four walks over 5 2/3 IP with three strikeouts. 21-year old LHP Ryan Buchter made his Hagerstown debut with one inning of relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two. 23-year old RHP Kyle Gunderson picked up his seventh save with the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Record: Hagerstown 18-19, 4th place Sally North (8GB)

Tonight: Hagerstown hosts Lexington (pitchers TBD) 7:05PM

Vermont and Lowell played on into the evening, exchanging zeros for ten and a half innings before the Monsters walked off with a 5-4 18-inning victory (box/gamer). 21-year old RF Michael Guerrero (1/7) drove in the game-winning run with an 18th inning single. But the story on offense was 19-year old DH Derek Norris who was 3/4 with a three-run home run. Norris reached base safely in eight of his nine plate appearances with two singles, the homer and five walks; Norris is hitting 292/456/451 in 35 games for Vermont with gour home runs and seven out of twelve stolen bases. 21-year old SS Nick Arata (1/8) had the other Monsters RBI. 19-year old LHP Patrick McCoy was the starter, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out four. The next five Monsters relievers combined on thirteen scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and seven walks with nine combined strikeouts. 21-year old LHP Austin Garrett picked up his first professional victory, pitching the final three hitless innings, walking two and striking out four.

Record: Vermont 19-19, tied for 1st place NYP Stedler (1 game ahead)

Tonight: RHP P.J. Dean (2-0, 0.38) versus Brooklyn (pitcher TBD) 7:05PM

The GCL Nationals blasted the GCL Marlins 14-3 (box). 20-year old RF J.R. Higley was 2/4 with one run & four RBI; he is now batting 351/464/455 in 24 GCL games. 18-year old LF Destin Hood was 2/5 with a run, double & three RBI. 21-year old 3B Ronnie Labrie was 2/4 with a walk, double, RBI & two runs scored; he is now hitting 305/406/441 in 18 GCL games. 19-year old CA Dan Killian was 2/5 with a double & two RBI. 21-year old PH/2B Francisco Soriano was 2/3 with a double, two RBI & three runs scored. 20-year old CF Chris Curran was 1/1 with a double, two walks & three runs scored; he has scored 30 runs in his first 31 GCL games. 19-year old 2B/SS Steve Lombardozzi was 3/4 with a walk & run scored. 19-year old RHP Marcos Frias picked up his first GCL win, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and one walk over five innings pitched with two strikeouts.

Record: GCL Nats 19-12, 2nd place GCL East (1GB)

Today: No game scheduled

The DSL Nationals1 tied in up in the bottom of the ninth and won it in the tenth defeating their Nationals2 4-3 (box). 20-year old RHP Luis Ortega started for the Nats 1, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits over 6IP while striking out six. 19-year old RHP Wilson Eusebio picked up his fourth win pitching the final 2 1/3 shutout innings, allowing only two walks while striking out one; over 12 appearances all out of the bullpen, Eusebio is 4-1 with a 1.35ERA and 0.97WHIP with 30K & 12BB over 26 2/3IP. 21-year old RHP Manuel Rivera started for the Nats2, lasting only 1 2/3 innings where he gave up one unearned run without allowing a hit; he walked four and struck out two. On offense for the Nats1 … 18-year old CF Eury Perez was 1/4 with a walk and two RBI. 18-year old LF Alejandro Hodge did not have an official at-bat, but walked twice, stole two bases and scored once. 19-year old RF Angelberth Montilla was 2/4 with a stolen base. For the Nats2 on offense … 21-year old CF Eleazar Cuevas was 2/4 with a stolen base, run & RBI.

Record: DSL Nats1 41-6, 1st place DSL S.D. West (20 games ahead); DSL Nats2 18-30, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (23.5GB)

Tonight: DSL Nats1 at DSL Tigers; DSL Nats2 at DSL Padres 10:30AM

In Baseball America’s weekly listing of minor league transactions, it was noted that the Nationals signed OF Bryan Miller as an undrafted free agent out of Troy University. The 22-year old Miller batted 402/433/685 in 58 games for the Trojans with 12 home runs and 64 RBI. The right-handed Miller was 2008 All Sun Belt and he was a member of the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American baseball first team. There is not much out there scouting-wise. Neither BBA nor PGCC had any reports on Miller from either 2007 or 2008. I’d imagine he’ll report to the GCL Nationals.

I have been meaning to point out some good work over at the Washington Nationals Fan Forum. One of the folks registered over there, JMUAlumni, has been compiling some pretty exhaustive bios of 2008 draft picks. If you’re looking for a good background on these players, I highly recommmend it.

• 6th rounder Paul Demny
• 7th rounder Dan Killian
• 9th rounder J.R. Higley
• 10th rounder Tom Milone
• 12th rounder Will Atwood

• Columbus: Currently at 23/24 players with the recent move of IF Yurendell de Caster to the inactive list for the Olympics
• Harrisburg: IF Matt Rogelstad is moved to the inactive list for the Olympics. UPDATE: IF Marco Yepez was activated from the DL replacing Rogelstad. Roster is full at 24/24
• Potomac: For the first time in a while, Potomac has a full 25-man roster. RHP Erik Arnesen was added from Hagerstown. The 24-year old Arnesen was 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA in 25 games for the Suns. Over 81 2/3IP he struck out 75 and walked 21. As a reliever (18 appearances), he’s 5-2 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 41 1/3IP with 35K & 13BB. As a starter (seven appearances), he’s 1-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 40 1/3IP with 40K & 8BB. UPDATE: So much for Potomac having a full 25-man roster, RHP Joe Norrito was placed on the DL
• Hagerstown: With the loss of Arnesen, the Suns are at 24/25
• Vermont: Has 27 active players (15 pitchers; 12 hitters) and one known injured player, 3B Steve Souza. they have not received a new player since OF Yhonson Lopez was added on 7/11

Just received this from the P-Nats

The Potomac Nationals hottest hurler, Luis Atilano, was named the Carolina League’s Pitcher of the Week for July 21-July 27. Atilano joins former P-Nats Jordan Zimmermann, Edgardo Baez, Leonard Davis, and Marvin Lowrance to earned weekly honors this season.

While being limited to just five innings while still recovering from “Tommy John” surgery which he underwent in 2006, the Puerto Rican made the most of his limited opportunity, one-hitting both the Kinston Indians and the Frederick Keys in his two starts during the week. The 23-year-old struck out six, including matching a season-high with five punch outs against Frederick, and walked just one. He ran his scoreless innings streak to 12 by hurling 10 shutout frames over the week.

Atilano was a supplemental first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2003, which they received with the departure of Tom Glavine, and was selected 35th overall. The Washington Nationals acquired him on August 31, 2006, 21 days after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery, in exchange for Daryle Ward. He has won each of his last four outings after having to wait nearly two years between victories – having not won since knocking off the P-Nats on July 24, 2006, while a member of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

The starting pitcher for the Southern Division in the 2005 South Atlantic League All-Star Game began the season with Low-A Hagerstown and has pitched at three levels this season including Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg compiling a 4-1 record and 2.60 ERA in 19 games, 10 starts. In 10 appearances with the P-Nats including six starts, Atilano is 4-0 with an ERA of just 2.39.

The Potomac Nationals will begin a seven-game homestand and three-game set against the second-place Wilmington Blue Rocks on Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Every Monday is Washington Post Dollar Monday as fans can purchase grandstand tickets and hot dogs for just one dollar. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.