From the P-Nats …
The Potomac Nationals announced today that right-handed pitchers Edulin Abreu and Hassan Pena have been promoted from Low-A Hagerstown and will replace Carlos Martinez and Zack Segovia who were sent up to Harrisburg.
Abreu was a reliable arm out of the bullpen for the Suns this season owning a 2-1 record with a 4.03 ERA. The right-hander tied for the team-lead in saves (6) and ranked second in appearances (30) which all came out of the bullpen. The Dominican-native’s best outing came on July 5 against the West Virginia Power when he tossed four shutout innings without allowing a hit while notching two strikeouts.
Signed by the Washington Nationals as a non-drafted free agent in 2005, Abreu split 2007 between Hagerstown and Short-Season Vermont. The 23-year-old appeared in a combined 24 games primarily as a reliever going 4-5 with a 4.87 ERA. Abreu has never played above Low-A during his four-year professional career.
Prior to his call-up to Potomac, Pena made six starts with Hagerstown going 2-2 while sporting a 2.08 ERA. The right-hander was effective for the Suns recording 24 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. In his last outing on July 20, Pena tossed six shutout innings against the Greenville Drive allowing just four hits en route to the victory.
Selected by the Washington Nationals in the 13th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Pena is in just his second season of professional baseball. The 23-year-old spent all of the 2007 season with Short-Season Vermont where he went 4-5 in 13 starts with a 4.25 ERA. Not counting rehab assignments, Pena will be the 13th different starting pitcher Potomac will use this season
The Potomac Nationals active roster now stands at 24 with 12 pitchers and 12 position players
No word yet who Hagerstown will receive to replace Pena and Abreu
e | 25-Jul-08 at 12:41 pm | Permalink
I’d like to see Jose Pinales and PJ Dean get the call up from Vermont to Hagerstown.
Pinales has 30 K’s in 19.2 IP (ok, so he has 14 BB’s as well, still) and opponents are only hitting .169 against him.
Dean is 2-0, 0.38 ERA in 5 starts (24 IP) in Vermont. It might be too soon for a move up, but those are 5 really good starts!
Freda | 25-Jul-08 at 1:03 pm | Permalink
It would surprise me if they sent PJ up right now. He is just coming off a missed start due to shoulder tightness. He only pitched 2 innings in his last start. Of course, sometimes the Nats do things that don’t make much sense.
Marc | 25-Jul-08 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
I know it’s more complicated, both in terms of travel and visas and all the rest, but I’d really like to see the 24-year-old Dominican kid get a shot at Hagerstown for the rest of the year. He’s got less than nothing to prove at DSL, and lack of a challenge may really stunt his growth.
A DC Wonk | 25-Jul-08 at 2:13 pm | Permalink
Re: Edulin Abreu
Isn’t an ERA of 4+ for a reliever kind of high?
Nate | 25-Jul-08 at 2:16 pm | Permalink
Wonk -
Yep, but he is 23, so it looks like it’s sink or swim time for Abreu.
expo_ram | 25-Jul-08 at 4:12 pm | Permalink
Marc, there are about 6 pitchers with DSL1 that IMO should at LEAST get a GCL look. Good point about the Visas though - I thought of that too as maybe an impediment…
Garrett T | 25-Jul-08 at 9:14 pm | Permalink
The nats need to bring back Bernadina back up, bring up Jordan Zimmermm, and Bonifacio. They also need to trade Austin Kearns, Felipe, Dimitri, and Paul lo duca, and Tim Redding to try to get any type of a quality prospect or young mlb ready players.
Beisbol | 26-Jul-08 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
Edulin Abreu is leading the SAL League in saves right now. His last outing was shakey but other than that he is usually on top of this game.