The Nationals signed 23rd round selection SS Kyle Breault. Breault’s signing brings the total to 22 players from the 2009 draft.
Also of note, RHP Hassan Pena was activated and assigned to GCL Nationals. Reports were he was rehabbing an undisclosed injury.
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#1 by Guy Holly - June 24th, 2009 at 12:59
Brian,
What is the general feeling about Jack Spradlin?
Also JD Martin, is he an organization player or does he have a chance?
#2 by Ronny - June 24th, 2009 at 13:03
What awards has Kyle Breault won while in high school?
#3 by JayB - June 24th, 2009 at 13:03
Brian,
Where is Smoker? What do you hear about Jack M and his high ERA?
#4 by Brian Oliver - June 24th, 2009 at 13:05
Spradlin could turn into a left-handed option in th bullpen. Not sure it would be anything more than a middle reliever (interesting Spradlin fact … his father played on the PGA)
Martin seems likely to get the call when the Nationals start to shut down the younger arms. I am interested to see if he has major league stuff or if he’s more of a Four-A guy
#5 by John - June 24th, 2009 at 13:06
Awesome news. He seemed like a high upside player. Lots of speed if I remember right.
#6 by Brian Oliver - June 24th, 2009 at 13:07
Ronny – Not sure. I can Google to see what I can find out.
JayB- Smoker is in the GCL. Rehabbing is the story I have. Not sure of much more. As for McGeary, Nats are saying it’s mechanical.
#7 by VladiHondo - June 24th, 2009 at 13:21
I always assumed ex-Red Jerry Spradlin was Jack’s dad! I guess in the Bowden-era it made sense he’d draft a Red-spawn.
#8 by RD - June 24th, 2009 at 13:22
I guess Ill ask the question here …
With the number of pitchers in the organization, at what point do we convert certain guys to the pen to see what they have in that role?
Zimmermann, Martis, and Detwiler could be long term answers in the bigs. Stammen too, although I think he’s a bit below them as far as upside goes. Ballester is probably deserving of another go round right now, and of course, Strasburg should be aboard soon. That is 6 guys at the big league level or ready within the year, not to mention Lannan. Mock and Estrada could be quick fill ins at any point. They were tried in the pen but didn’t work out.
Where do guys like Van Allen, Alaniz, Milone, and Meyers fit in?
To me, Milone screams reliever. He’s 22, but I would think if he’s converted to the pen he could probably be a faster riser.
Alaniz is another guy to me that says pen. He doesn’t have the overpowering stuff to face hitters three times during a game. One time through the lineup … maybe he has some value.
I don’t know what to think about Van Allen … He had his moments of dominating last year so I think you can still leave him in the rotation. Meyers is having a tremendous first half and is only at Potomac so he too is a guy Id leave in the rotation.
Is there any thought of trying to convert some of the guys with lesser upside to relievers anytime soon? I mean it’s not like Alaniz is tearing the world apart as a starter and the stuff clearly isn’t there. To me, it’s worth a try but I don’t see these guys on a daily basis so I could be completely off base.
#9 by Ronny - June 24th, 2009 at 13:23
Is it possible that the Nats changed McGeary mechanics and now he’s where Detwiler use to be. I mean he seem to have the same problems Detwiler had.
#10 by Brian Oliver - June 24th, 2009 at 13:29
RD – Not sure the Nationals will shift them to the pen too soon. They’ll keep them starters and possibly shift later. Of all the names you mentioned (Mock, Estrada, VanAllen, Alaniz and maybe Milone) are all relievers getting development work in as starters. Meyers is still a SP candidate IMO.
#11 by Brian Oliver - June 24th, 2009 at 13:29
Ronny – Quite possible. The other thing we have to take into account is that this is his first full real season of development. Something isn’t right there for sure.
#12 by John - June 24th, 2009 at 13:36
Breault had 9 HR(third on his team) 10 triples(school record), 40 SB, and 53 runs. Sounds like a potential leadoff guy. I like this signing.
#13 by JayB - June 24th, 2009 at 14:13
Brian,
Did you get a chance to go to the Blog day avaliablity last week? If so, are you willing to ask about Rizzo’s view of our current player development staff. It seems we do more harm than good with mechanical remakes. Ross D seems to have been allowed to go back to his old style with great results. How many other top prospects like Jack M and J Smoker have we hurt?
#14 by expo_ram - June 24th, 2009 at 14:22
Off topic, but I have a buddy that photographs a lot of baseball players as a hobby here in AZ. Couple of items: - He sent me a sweet pic of Bryce Harper in a 16 and under tourny in Peoria and Surprise – said he was definitely a man among boys. Interesting tidbit – Harper plays for a club team, the San Diego Show – same team Strasburg played for as a teenager - He just got back from the Hi-A allstar game and got me a couple of pics of Burgess – interestingly, his last name was spelled “BURGUESS” on the back of his jersey! Maybe there is a uniform company CEO somewhere that is just an O’s fan?
#15 by Brian Oliver - June 24th, 2009 at 14:33
JayB – I did not go to the blog day at Nats Park, had other things on my calendar. If I get the opportunity, I’d ask the PD question
expo-ram – Bur-Guess … a new clothing line?
#16 by cjrugger - June 24th, 2009 at 14:43
RD- We don’t have any more or less pitching prospects than any other team (just like our catchers)
It will sort itself out. Injuries and lack of development will weed some people out, the cream will rise, and the rest will be left somewhere between AA and AAAA
I’m not sold on Martis yet, and would bet Stammen is not a starter long term. At that point we have Strasburg/Zimmerman/Detwiler/Lannan with Martis, Balester and a bunch of others battling for starts. I’m intrigued to see how Meyers does as he moves up
#17 by cjrugger - June 24th, 2009 at 14:47
PS. glad to see Breault sign early. thats a crowded middle infield in the GCL tho
#18 by Ric - June 24th, 2009 at 17:15
What’s going on with the holdout NCAA draftees (not named Strasburg)? I understand Kobernus is probably holding out on bonus (although he was an overdraft to consensus, so should feel as if he’s getting a windfall). Right after the draft, Morris was quoted in a Kansas paper as saying he will sign, and expected to hammer out a contract by last week. And I remember that you linked to something saying that Applebee would sign.
I don’t recall seeing anything recently about Weaver, Karns, Ridings, Manno or Cropper, although I recall pre-draft reports that Manno was leaning towareds returning to Duke unless he went in the top few rounds.
All of these guys were in the Baseball America state-by-state rankings, and it would be great to get them signed. I am guesing that the remaining HS guys probably either won’t sign or will sign on the last days of the period.