Nationals 2009 3rd round draft pick Trevor Holder has been promoted from Hagerstown to Potomac. Overall with the Suns, the right-handed Holder compiled a 2-0 record with a 3.55 ERA and a 12/3 K/BB ratio. Holder seems likely to replace RHP Adam Carr in the P-Nats rotation (Other SPs are RHP Hassan Pena & Brad Peacock and LHPs Will Atwood & Tom Milone). The P-Nats have yet to announce their SP for Friday’s game.
Additionally, the Suns will receive 2009 4th round selection A.J. Morris to replace Holder. Morris had been playing for the GCL Nationals. Morris was 0-0 in two appearances (5IP) for the GCL Nats with 0.00ERA and 0.00WHIP and four strikeouts.
#1 by Scott - July 30th, 2009 at 15:56
What’s going on here? Are the Nats desperate to make it seem like Holder wasn’t a signability choice in the third round, or are they just trying to challenge him with older competition as a college senior draftee?
Certainly, his stats don’t seem like he’s forcing the Nats to give him two promotions in 2 months…it seems like he easily could have spent the rest of the year in low-A and started 2010 in Potomac.
Or did they just like his last two starts and want to see if they could challenge him for the last 6 weeks?
#2 by Brian Oliver - July 30th, 2009 at 15:59
Scott – My guess is their plan was to have Holder in Potomac by August given his age. Let him get back in the rythym in Vermont/Hagerstown and then put him in High A. It would not surprise me to see Morris in Potomac by the middle of August (age as well)
#3 by hleeo3 - July 30th, 2009 at 16:02
Let’s be fair Scott. Holder has surpassed even my expectations. Besides College players don’t typically stay in the lower levels of the minor leagues long because of their age.
#4 by pm - July 30th, 2009 at 16:29
Will Marcos Frias get promoted to Potomac? He is 19 and putting up good numbers.
#5 by BinM - July 30th, 2009 at 18:10
Looks like I may have to stick my nose into the Pfitz Friday night – maybe get a first-hand look at both Holder & Storen.
#6 by DJ - July 30th, 2009 at 19:18
They deserved it. Nice going young guns!
#7 by cjrugger - July 30th, 2009 at 19:30
Nice, if you draft college seniors you better be ready to promote them. good to see
#8 by Andrew Stebbins - July 30th, 2009 at 20:25
Morris’ Hagerstown debut: 4 ip, 6 h (1hr), 3 er, 1 bb, 4 k.
#9 by Scott - July 30th, 2009 at 20:35
I was just wondering if it was because of his age or if his performances have been better than his stats. Giving up a hit and a half per inning is not exactly domination when you’re 22 years old in low-A ball. If it’s because of his age, that’s fine. I hope he holds his own in Potomac and competes for a double-A spot next year…I’m not rooting against our guys!
I would like to point out it’s not exactly like he’s old for the team though. He’s now the 7th youngest of the 15 pitchers on the PNats, and there still would have been 5 pitchers older than him had he stayed at Hagerstown.
Also, the average age in the Sally league is 22.1, so it’s not like he’s ancient for the competition. I hope he prospers obviously, I was just wondering if they really think he’s this good, or they’re just trying to challenge him to see how he reacts.
When you compare this to Derek Norris, who they keep in the Sally league despite the fact he has nothing more to learn about hitting in that league…it’s just curious.
#10 by Steve - July 30th, 2009 at 23:48
It’s a memo to stephen strasburg while you and Scott are dickin around the rest of the draft picks are movin on up!
#11 by nova_g_man - July 31st, 2009 at 02:44
BinM, if Ozzie relieves for a late inning or so, will you take a look at his curveball?
#12 by TouchemAll - July 31st, 2009 at 09:25
I doubt that SS and Boras are shaking in their boots for fear that he’ll be passed by the others.
#13 by Sue Dinem - July 31st, 2009 at 09:42
It would actually help if folks would refrain from commenting on promotions unless they have actually seen the players play. Storen, for example, did not pitch poorly last night in Potomac. He made the mistake of walking the one guy on the Dash with some speed and then gave up a double to a 25-year-old that would have been caught nine times out of ten above High A.
Defense is the biggest difference between the levels, never mind how piss-poor the official scoring can be (Seriously, if you’re reading this in Woodbridge “The pitcher is the only guy what wants it to be an error” is not in the rulebook. Really.) which further distorts the numbers.
The Nats have been unusually patient this year, even if some of their “fans” have not. It’s been a refreshing change of pace after last summer when 75-80% of the promotions were based on “need” and not merit.
#14 by Sue Dinem - July 31st, 2009 at 09:49
My bad on the age of Mollenhauer (23) – Lang, the baserunner, was the 25-yo, but the point about the differences in defense remains intact.
#15 by homegrown - July 31st, 2009 at 10:56
Was also at the PNATS game last night. Sue do you mean Michael, no hussle, .179 BA last 10games, Burgess running for the fly ball in the 8th last night? Was really impressed with Storen last night. All he does is throw strikes.
#16 by expo_ram - July 31st, 2009 at 12:38
Padilla, Morse, Detwiler, Desmond, Sosa, and Dukes seem to be providing us with options at AAA.
Sorry Brian you have meetings on deadline day!
#17 by Sue Dinem - July 31st, 2009 at 12:51
I can’t fault Burgess beyond his stumble because he’s RF in arm, and a LF in leg. I do wonder if Boomer could have gotten to it. Unfortunately, Potomac hasn’t has a legit CF since Bernadina moved up.
#18 by Pilchard - July 31st, 2009 at 14:40
MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Nats are close to dealing Nick Johnson to the Marlins for Pitching Prospect Nick Tucker and another player. Tucker was the Marlins #5 rated prospect according to BA heading into this season.
#19 by TimDz - July 31st, 2009 at 15:39
Stupid question time: IF the Nats want to trade NJ after 4 PM today, he would have to pass thru waivers.
What about those that he is being traded for? Does it apply to those on the 40 man roster or ANY player on the other team?
#20 by Pilchard - July 31st, 2009 at 16:32
Johnson was apparently traded for Aaron Thompson. The Marlins’ first round pick in 2005. However, Thompson has not been effective in the minors; he is currently 5-9 at AA. Also, the Nats pay a large part of NJ’s remaining contract.
Would think the Nats could have gotten a better deal for NJ, but maybe not.
#21 by RD - July 31st, 2009 at 16:40
With his injury history and the fact that he is a free agent at the end of the year, I can’t believe they even got a player of Thompson’s value. He’s a 22 year old former first round pick. He’s got the talent, just needs some consistency. We got a player with potential for a guy that doesn’t do much for us now, and definitely wouldnt do anything for us next year.
#22 by RT - July 31st, 2009 at 17:47
Beimel was also apparently traded to Colorado for minor league pitchers Robinson Fabian and Ryan Mattheus. Neither of which look very promising but its not like we could really expect to get much in return for Beimel.
#23 by Dick - July 31st, 2009 at 18:22
Could have held on to Beimel and gotten a top 35 draft pick.
#24 by Steve - August 1st, 2009 at 09:39
I was talking to a friend of mine who follows the S.F. Giants closely and he thinks the Beimel trade to the Rockies was motivated mostly to piss off the Giants. He said the Nats almost had a deal involving NJ but the Giants backed out at the last minute and traded for Garko. I think it was mostly a salary dump and would not have made this trade. Beimel might have been able to pass through waivers or you might have gotten a supplemental pick.
#25 by RD - August 1st, 2009 at 12:00
The Nationals were not going to offer Beimel arbitration, so there was no chance at a supplemental pick.
Nothing to get excited about in the trade, but there really wasn’t much out there and waiting til after the season wouldn’t have gotten us anything.
#26 by nova_g_man - August 1st, 2009 at 17:45
June 28, 1968, Friday METS SIGN NUMBER 1 DRAFT CHOICE Tim Foli, the Number 1 pick in the recent free-agent baseball draft … yesterday signed a contract with the New York Mets for a bonus reported to be about $75,000.
#27 by tomterp - August 1st, 2009 at 18:13
RobRyan, who just joined WNFF and says he’s the Lake Monsters’ radio guy, has posted
“Also, as we gear up for tonight, Pat Lehman has been promoted to Hagerstown.”
FYI
#28 by Jeff E. - August 2nd, 2009 at 18:57
Hey expo-ram! Looks like we can wrap up that JaveY Vasquez trade: Aaaron Thompson and whoever was drafted with that pick via Jose Guillen- Burgess or Smoaker. Ironic Nats gave cash to Jeff Loria for Nick the final one to wear Expo knits when teams usually gave cash to MTL. LOL!! If I am not mistaken- the last trade with COLO was Mike Lansing for Westbrook and Christian Parker. Looks like Dunn to 1b.
#29 by peric - August 2nd, 2009 at 18:57
Glad to see some folks giving Holder and Storen, and by inference Rizzo, some credit. They’re busting butt. Hope they sign Strasburg and Karns …
#30 by Dougie - August 2nd, 2009 at 19:30
Brian, Come Back! I don’t know what to think without you. I tried updating the Big Board in my brain, and it exploded. Help!
#31 by peric - August 2nd, 2009 at 19:41
Dougie it looks like he has been updating it? It looks up to date as of today? The only think missing might be the injured who are the 40-man? I think he used to list that in the middle of the “table” between the positionals and the pitchers. Noting that Ryan Mattheus appears to have bee placed on the 40-man.
#32 by peric - August 2nd, 2009 at 19:44
I think six missing from the 40-man. Not sure if its useful to list them or not … certainly there must be some use to it for Rizzo other than Dmitri Young?