The first of the official Opening Day rosters for the Nationals minor leagues is out with the Harrisburg Senators.
Starting rotation: LHP Ross Detwiler, LHP Mike O’Connor, RHP Luis Atilano, LHP Justin Jones, and LHP Cory VanAllen … it’s obviously very left-handed. Detwiler gets a bump up from Potomac despite mixed results in Potomac in 2008, he’ll need to bounce back from a lackluster full season debut. O’Connor falls from the 40-man roster to starting in Harrisburg, my guess is that he lost out to the numbers game in Syracuse’s starting rotation. Atilano was a nice surprise for the Nats in 2008, pitching weel enough to earn a spot on the 40-man roster this off-season; he’s working his way back from Tommy John surgery which limited his innings, I’d hope the Nats stretch him out this year for the Senators. Jones is a guy looking to bounce back after losing his spot on the 40-man to a knee injury after the 2007 season. VanAllen returns to Harrisburg again in 2009, he pitched well early for the Senators but battled with injuries and inconsistencies as the season wore on.
Bullpen: RHP Matt Avery, RHP Adam Carr, LHP Yunior Novoa, RHP Zack Segovia, LHP Jack Spradlin, RHP Josh Wilkie, and RHP Zech Zinicola … Avery was acquired by the Nationals this off-season for Ryan Buchter; a college teammate of Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman, Avery spent the 2008 season in the Cubs Double-A bullpen. Carr and Zinicola start off in Harrisburg in 2009, both had a disappointing 2008 for the Nationals, losing some of their prospect luster. Segovia joined the Nats part way through the 2008 season after being waived by the Phillies; he was primarily a starter but it appears the Nats are moving him to the pen. Spradlin was strong for the P-Nats in 2008 but struggled in his brief time in Harrisburg; he will be a left-handed option out of the Senators bullpen in 2009. Novoa has pitched himself into the picture for the Nats, but the abundance of lefthanded options in Washington right now (Mike Hinckley, Wil Ledezma, and Joe Beimel leave him battling for an opening. The nice story here is Wilkie who started the 2008 season as a right-handed arm in the pen but finished the year as the P-Nats closer and pitcher of the year. It will be interesting to see if the Nats give Wilkie the closer role for Harrisburg.
Catchers: Javi Herrera and Jhonathan Solano … Solano appears to be the preumptive starter for the Senators after spending the majority of the 2008 season with Potomac; he’s a solid defensive catcher who holds his own at the plate. Herrera seems likely to be his backup in a return to Harrisburg
Starting infield: 1B Bill Rhinehart, 2B Seth Bynum, 3B Ofilio Castro, SS Ian Desmond, and DH Matt Whitney … Rhinehart batted his way into the prospect picture with impressive stops in Hagerstown and Potomac in 2008; he slumped some in his time in Harrisburg. Bynum brings a veteran presence to the middle infield. Castro brings solid defense and bat to Harrisburg. Desmond returns to Harrisburg in 2009 but is still in the prospect picture for Washington, most likely as a utility infielder. Avery joins the Nationals organization full time in 2009 after a Rule 5 selection in 2008; he was returned to Cleveland but joined the Nats as a minor league free agent this off-season.
Starting outfield … LF Leonard Davis, CF Mike Daniel, RF Marvin Lowrance … Davis had a breakout 2008 earning a promotion all the way to Triple-A and a spot on the 40-man roster; he starts 2009 back in Harrisburg where he should be the starter in left. Daniel returns to Harrisburg in 2009 and seems the likely choice in center, though he can play any of the outfield positions. Lowrance re-emerged in 2008 as a corner outfielder with power.
Bench … IF Michael Martinezand OF Edgardo Baez … Martinez will serve as the backup at 2B, 3B, and SS and has value as a late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner. While Baez has the same ability in the outfield.
Overall … for the first time since moving to Washington, Harrisburg will field a roster predominated by homegrown guys. It’s a solid roster with quite a bit of Double-A experience. From a competitive point of view, the wins should be there. From a prospect point of view, there are some interesting guys to watch (Detwiler, Atilano, Novoa, Wilkie, Rhinehart, Desmond, and Davis to name a few).
#1 by Positively Half St. - April 5th, 2009 at 18:13
Brian-
The season has really started only when you really rev up the NFA machine. I am looking forward to twice-daily posts from here on out, my friend.
+1/2St.
#2 by Mark L - April 5th, 2009 at 18:36
Thanks Brian, I’m heading to Harrisburg to see them for the first time this month. It’ll be time soon to rev up the ‘Rinehart Mafia’ machine.
#3 by Chris - April 5th, 2009 at 20:16
I guess this is the official beginning to the Organizational Yo-Yo portion of Irish Mike’s career.
Oh, if only Zimmerman hadn’t booted that ball in the first inning of his first start in St. Louis. How things could’ve been different!
#4 by Sue Dinem - April 5th, 2009 at 20:17
Some folks are jazzed about the draft, some like to talk about the parent club, but I’m so glad to see a post that gets back to talking about the farmhands we have now and who we get to see over the summer.
I think the folks in Harrisburg will be happy with this crew - it’s not like the ‘07 team that was like a bunch of 16-year-old high-school freshmen that had aged out of middle school.
I’m also happy because this means that Burgess, Marrero and King will begin the ‘09 campaign in Woodbridge.
#5 by MiLBFan - April 5th, 2009 at 20:45
Any word on where Alaniz is assigned?
#6 by DCNatFan - April 5th, 2009 at 21:01
MilbFan-
Alaniz will remain in FL for extended Spring Training due to stiffness in his throwing shoulder. My guess is when JZimm gets called up around April 18th, O’Conner will claim the open rotation spot in Syracuse and Alaniz will get O’Conner’s spot in Harrisburg.
#7 by pahou - April 5th, 2009 at 22:13
what a joke i guess we really dont have any prospects in the organization. A bunch of repeats and has beens I thought they were changing that. I count nine players that will be here for their third year.
#8 by Jane - April 6th, 2009 at 06:08
Welcome Back - Mike O’Connor, Luis Atilano, Justin Jones, Cory VanAllen, Adam Carr, Junior Novoa, Zack Segovia, Jack Spradlin, Zech Zinicola, Javi Herrera, Bill Rhinehart, Ofilio Castro, Ian Desmond, Leonard Davis, Mike Daniel, Marvin Lowrance, Seth Bynum, and Edgardo Baez! Have a GREAT season!!
Also, welcome back - John Stearns, Randy Tomlin, and Troy Gingrich!!! Let’s have a GREAT season!!!!
#9 by Rob - April 6th, 2009 at 08:35
I followed closer Josh Wilkie’s oustanding performance last season; he looks like the real deal ….Harrisburg fans will be impressed.
#10 by cjrugger - April 6th, 2009 at 08:37
Good squad, I think thats a good blend of prospects and organizational guys
#11 by Brian Oliver - April 6th, 2009 at 08:38
I have been told that Bynum will be the starter at 2B with Martinez serving as the utility guy.
#12 by Todd Boss - April 6th, 2009 at 08:49
Definitely odd assignment of O’Conner to AA. After failing several times at the MLB level, why put him back in a “developmental” league like AA? why take a spot away from someone like Brownlie Arneson, Mandel or Pena?
#13 by Brian Oliver - April 6th, 2009 at 08:56
Todd - I have been told that O’Connor is likely to remain in Harrisburg until Zimmermann gets promoted to Washington at which point he’ll move up to Syracuse
#14 by Mark - April 6th, 2009 at 12:06
Looking real like a real solid squad this year. Should make the playoffs, while sending 2-3 guys on to the MLB squad for a stint. I too am excited for the second year of the ‘Rhinehart Mafia’ movement - let’s go Dolla’ Bill!!