Archive for category International

Nationals Sign Valdez

Posted by Brian Oliver in International on July 9th, 2009

Confirming some news we heard last week, of Baseball Prospectus has the news that the Nationals have indeed signed Dominican SS Jean Carlos Valdez. According to McDaniel, the deal is for $350-450K.

Here is what Baseball America had on Valdez

“…ability to hit for power, though scouts say his swing gets long and he has trouble translating that power into game situations. He has a strong arm, though he’s a below-average runner and will probably move to third base or the outfield”

He also references another signing over $100K. I’m assuming that is RHP Cleto Cabral

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Across the Affiliates 07/06/09

Posted by Brian Oliver in Across the Affiliates, Dominican Summer League, Gulf Coast League (R), Hagerstown (A), Harrisburg (AA), International, Potomac (A), Syracuse (AAA), Vermont (SS) on July 6th, 2009

Syracuse

  • Friday: Swept a doubleheader from Lehigh Valley 4-0 (box) & 7-1 (box) – In the first game, RHP Garrett Mock moved to 4-1 on the season with six shutout innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five. RHP Jason Bergmann earned a three-inning save, giving up a hit and striking out one. RF Jorge Padilla was 3/5 with a triple, run scored & two stolen bases; 3B Mike Morse was 3/4 with a stolen base & run scored; 2B Seth Bynum was 2/5; LF Mike Vento was 1/4 with a double, RBI & two runs scored; and SS Pete Orr was 1/3 with a triple & RBI. In the second game, LHP Horacio Ramirez earned his first win for the Chiefs, scattering five hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings while striking out four. Morse, this time at 1B, was 2/4 with a run scored; RF Kory Casto was 2/3 with a double & two runs scored; Bynum was 2/3 with a run scored & three RBI; and CA Jhonathan Solano was 2/4 with a run & RBI.
  • Saturday – The Chiefs outlasted the IronPigs 3-2 in twelve innings (box). RHP J.D. Martin gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks over 8IP while striking out three. RHPs Jorge Sosa, Logan Kensing, and Saul Rivera pitched four combined shutout innings, striking out four with Rivera picking up the win. Padilla was 2/4 with a double & triple; Morse was 1/4 with a double & run scored; Casto was 2/5 with a homer & two RBI; Bynum was 2/5 with a double, triple, & RBI; and Orr was 2/4.
  • Sunday – Lehigh Valley blanked Syracuse 2-0 (box). RHP Marco Estrada took the loss, allowing a run on six hits and three walks over 6IP. Morse was 2/4; RF Elijah Dukes was 2/4 with a double; and Casto was 1/3.
  • Today – Lehigh Valley LHP Brian Mazone (0-1, 4.50) at Syracuse RHP Shairon Martis (NR)  7PM

Harrisburg

  • Friday – The Senators slugged their way past Connecticut 9-2 (box). 3B Ofilio Castro (3/5 with 4RBI) & CA Luke Montz (1/4) each hit two-run homers for Harrisburg. SS Ian Desmond was 1/4 with a stolen base & two runs scored; LF Joel Guzman was 2/5 with a double, two runs & two RBI; and 2B Michael Martinez was 2/4. LHP Cory VanAllen earned the victory, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk over 5IP while striking out four. LHPs Justin Jones & Yunior Novoa along with RHPs Andrew Kown & Clint Everts pitched the final four scoreless innings of relief, striking out a combined five.
  • Saturday – Harrisburg fell in the series opener against Akron 7-5 (box). RHP Luis Atilano made the start for the Senators, allowing five runs on ten hits and a walk over 6IP while striking out three. RHP Josh Wilkie took the loss allowing a run on four hits over two innings of relief and LHP Jack Spradlin gave up a solo homer in his one inning of work. Desmond was 2/3 with a double, two-run homer, stolen base & two runs scored; RF Leonard Davis was 2/5 with a solo homer; Guzman was 3/5 with one RBI; and Martinez was 3/3 with a triple & run scored.
  • Sunday – Harrisburg was swept by Akron in a doubleheader, losing game one 6-2 (box) and game two 2-0 (box). In the first game, RHP Carlos Martinez allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits over 5IP. LF Marvin Lowrance was 2/3 with a double; Martinez was 1/3 with a run scored; RF Edgardo Baez was 1/2 with a run scored; and Desmond was 1/3. In the second game, the Senators managed only four hits, a double by Castro and singles by Davis, Guzman & Baez. RHP Adrian Alaniz came off the DL to make the start, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over 4IP.
  • Today – Akron LHP Ryan Edell (2-1, 2.62) at Harrisburg LHP Justin Jones (3-10, 4.95) 7PM

Potomac

  • Friday – Potomac jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and held on to defeat Frederick 6-5 (box). RHP Jeff Mandel won his seventh game of the season despite surrendering five runs on six hits and a walk over 5 2/3IP. RHP Dan Leatherman earned his second save with two innings of shutout relief, striking out two. LF Boomer Whiting was 2/5 with a double; CA Sean Rooney scored and drove in a run; SS Danny Espinosa was 1/3 with a double, run scored, & two RBI; and DH Chris Marrero was 2/4 with a double.
  • Saturday – RHP Brad Meyers picked up his sixth win of the season as the P-Nats defeated Frederick 4-1 (box). Meyers worked six shutout innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five. RHP Adam Carr earned a three-inning save, giving up a run on one hit with two strikeouts. Rooney was 2/4 with a two-run homer; LF Dan Nelson was 2/2 with a stolen base & RBI; Espinosa was 1/4 with a double & run scored; and Marrero was 1/4 with a double.
  • Sunday – Potomac defeated Frederick 4-3 (box). LHP Will Atwood picked up his fourth win of the season, holding the Keys to one run on four hits and two walks over 5IP while striking out eight. LHP Atahualpa Severino picked up his eleventh save witht wo scoreless innings of relief. 2B Dan Lyons was 1/2 with a double & RBI; Rooney was 1/3 with a double & run scored; Espinosa was 1/3 with one RBI; and Marrero was 1/2 with two RBI.
  • Today – No game scheduled

Hagerstown

  • Friday – The Suns were swept in the series with Kannapolis falling 6-2 in fourteen innings (box). RHP Marcos Frias made the start, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over 7 2/3IP with 6 strikeouts. RHP Justin Phillabaum threw four shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out five. Hagerstown hitters struck out seventeen times in the fourteen innings. 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 2/6 with one RBI; SS Steven Souza was 1/6 with a run scored & stolen base; LF Robby Jacobsen was 2/4; and CA Derek Norris was 1/5.
  • Saturday – The Suns were battered 13-5 by Hickory (box). LHP Pat McCoy was torched for eight runs on ten hits and three walks over 4IP, RHP Chris Lugo gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over 3IP, and LHP Austin Garrett allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in 1IP. Norris was 1/2 with a two-run homer; CA Travis Reagan was 1/2 with a triple, run & RBI; and Lombardozzi was 1/5 with a run scored.
  • Sunday – Hagerstown lost their eighth game in a row (and 12th of the last 13) falling 9-7 to Hickory (box). Norris was 3/5 with a pair of solo homers; Souza was2/5 with a  run & RBI; 1B Tyler Moore was 2/5 with a double, run & RBI; and 3B James Keithley was 1/3 with a run & two RBI. LHP Ricardo Pecina was torched for seven runs on seven hits and four walks in just 1 2/3 innings of work. RHP Patrick Arnold provided 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out seven. RHP Drew Storen allowed two runs on two hits in his one inning of work.
  • Today – Hagerstown at Hickory 7PM (pitchers TBA)

Vermont

  • Friday – Split a doubleheader with Hudson Valley, losing game one 2-1 (box) and winning the second game 4-2 (box). In game one, RHP Trevor Holder made his professional debut with three shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out one. RHP Juan Jaime took the loss, giving up two runs on one hit and three walks in jus tone inning of work. The Monsters managed only one hit on offense, a single by 3B Jack Walker. In the second game, LHP Graham Hicks picked up his first win of the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over 5IP with a pair of strikeouts. RHP Johan Figuereo earned his first save with a scoreless inning, walking & striking out one. Taking the loss for Hudson Valley was former Nationals prospect Glenn Gibson who was traded for OF Elijah Dukes. CA Ricky Nolan was 1/1 with a walk & two-run homer; 2B Sean Nicol was 1/3 with a stolen base, run & RBI; LF J.P. Ramirez was 1/3 with a double; and DH Justin Bloxom was 1/3 with a double & run scored.
  • Saturday – The Monsters blanked Hudson Valley 8-0 (box). LHP Jack McGeary allowed one hit and two walks over 6IP while striking out four, RHP Pat Lehman pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts, and LHP Evan Bronson pitched a perfect ninth. Nicol was 3/4 with a double & three runs scored; DH Dan Killian was 3/5 with a double & two RBI; Bloxom was 2/5 with two RBI; and CF J.R. Higley was 1/4 with two runs scored.
  • Sunday – Vermont manage only one hit as they fell 5-1 to Hudson Valley (box). LF J.P. Ramirez hit a solo homer for the Monsters, accounting for the only hit, run & RBI. Jeff Kobernus made his debut as the DH going 0/4. RHP Kyle Morrison made the start, giving up two runs on three hits and four walks over 2 2/3 IP. RHP Jose Pinales also walked four, surrendering two runs (one earned) on one hit over 2 1/3IP. RHP Federico Tanco gave up an unearned run on two hits over 3IP while striking out a pair.
  • Today – Hudson Valley at Vermont LHP Mitchell Clegg (1-0, 0.00) 7:05PM

GCL Nationals

  • Friday – No game scheduled
  • Saturday – The GCL Nationals bullpen & defense faltered in a 10-5 loss to the GCL Cardinals (box). LHP Josh Smoker threw three perfect innings in his start. RHP Ruben De La Rosa allowed one hit and one walk over his 3IP with five strikeouts. RHPs Julio Perez, Wanel Vazquez, & Rob Wort gave up a combined ten runs (two earned) on seven hits, three walks, one hit batter & two errors over 2 1/3IP. Stephen Englund made his debut on the mound, retiring the two batters he faced (one by strikeout). CF Eury Perez was 2/3 with two stolen bases & two runs scored. 1B Brett Newsome was 3/4 with two RBI; a rehabbing Jesus Valdez was 1/3 with a two-run homer; and CA Adrian Nieto was 1/2 with a double & run scored
  • Sunday – The GCL Nationals split a doubleheader with GCL Astros, winning game one 7-1 (box) and losing game two 7-2 (box). In the first game, RHP Matt Swynenberg made his first start, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over 4IP while striking out three. Perez was 1/4 with two runs scored; LF Destin Hood was 2/4 with a double, run & two RBI; Nieto was 1/2 with a triple & run scored; 2B Hendry Jimenez was 2/3 with two RBI; and CA Ricardo Martinez was 2/3 with one RBI. Jesus Valdez homered in his second straight rehab appearance. In the second game, LHP Danny Rosenbaum allowed five unearned runs on four hits and a walk over 1 2/3IP. Hood was 2/3 with a double and Newsome was 2/3 with two double. Valdez homered for the third straight game.
  • Today – GCL Nationals at GCL Mets 12PM

DSL Nationals

  • Friday – The DSL Nationals doubled up the DSL Padres 12-6 (box). 17-year old 2B Estarlin Martinez was 3/6 with a solo homer, double, stolen base, two runs & three RBI; 23-year old SS Carlos Alvarez was 2/5 with a solo homer, triple, stolen base, two runs & two RBI; 20-year old RF Aridio Rodriguez was 2/5 with a run & RBI; 20-year old CA Andruth Ramirez was 2/4 with a double, stolen base, two RBI & three runs scored; and 18-year old 3B Paul Chacin was 2/5 with two doubles, a run & RBI. 21-year old RHP Antonio Guzman picked up the win, allowing two hits and walking five over 5IP with five strikeouts.
  • Saturday – The DSL Nationals fell 6-3 to the DSL Indians (box). Alvarez was 3/4 and 19-year old RF Joseph Cabreja was 2/3 with a homer & two RBI. 22-year old RHP Manuel Rivera fell to 0-3, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over 4IP.
  • Sunday – No game scheduled
  • Today – DSL Diamondbacks at DSL Nationals 10:30AM

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Couple of Items

Posted by Brian Oliver in International, Players, Syracuse (AAA), Washington (MLB) on July 4th, 2009

Update: Just out from the Nationals, “Following today’s game, the Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Jason Bergmann from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and designated right-handed pitcher Jesus Colome for assignment. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.”

Bill Ladson has the news that RHP Jason Bergmann is going to be recalled from Syracuse after today’s game. No word on who he will replace but Ladson hints it’s likely to be RHP Jesus Colome.

And on the international front, I have it on good authority that one of the five international players signed by the Nationals is RHP Cleto Cabral. I’ve heard the bonus is in the low six figures (less than $200K).

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Possible International Names

Posted by Brian Oliver in International on July 2nd, 2009

Dominican SS Jean Carlos Valdez and Dominican pitcher RHP Cleto Cabral (HT to John).

I have heard their names mentioned with regards to the Nationals.

Cabral reportedly has good FB movement. (HT again to John).

Here is what Ben Badler of Baseball America has on Valdez

“…ability to hit for power, though scouts say his swing gets long and he has trouble translating that power into game situations. He has a strong arm, though he’s a below-average runner and will probably move to third base or the outfield”

Update: Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus confirms there is a possible link between the Nationals and Valdez and that we will know more in a few days

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HUGE Defection News

Posted by Brian Oliver in International on July 2nd, 2009

Courtesy of CubaeanCuentro (in Spanish) … 21-year old LHP Aroldis Chapman allegedly defected from the Cuban National team while they were in Holland. He reportedly walked away from the team hotel. For those who watched the WBC, Chapman was the young lefty who touched 100mph in his appearances.

Assuming it’s true, the timing of the defection means he will not make any decision on his future for at least a couple of months. As it appears the Nationals are not going to get involved in the 2009 international market, it would be a coup if they landed Chapman as part of their rebuilding process.

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International Signing Deadline

Posted by Brian Oliver in Dominican Summer League, International, Management on June 25th, 2009

Given the struggles on the field in 2009, many Nationals fans had circled June 9 on their calendars. It was on that date the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall selection in the Rule 4 Draft.

What most fans do not realize is that July 2 is almost as critical a date for the future of the organization.

On July 2, major league baseball teams can begin to sign the cream of the crop internationally. These are the players not covered by the Rule 4 draft (those being the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the other US territories).  MLB’s rules dictate that international players who are 16 years old are eligible to sign with major league teams during the international signing period, which lasts from July 2 to Aug. 31. Any player who is 16 as of July 2 is eligible for selection on that date (players who turn 16 years old during the international signing period are eligible to sign with teams on their birthdays).

After the whole fiasco with Jose Rijo, Jim Bowden, Smiley Gonzalez, and allegations of bonus skimming, the Nationals have had to re-establish their international presence. After leaving Rijo’s academy in Loma del Sueño, the Nationals dropped one of their two teams in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), relocated to Boca Chica (reportedly temporarily), and brought in a new set of personnel to oversee their Latin American operations. After a week or so of being the story of the Nationals, the story there went to the back burner until the DSL season kicked off at the end of May with a handful of new names on the roster.

Nationals Acting General Manager made it known in April that, “[the Nationals] definitely plan on being active. We are going to sign prospects. We are going to be bigger players in July. With Fernando [Ravelo] knowing as many people as he does, we’re going to be fine. I think we’re highly respected down there. Now we have to go and put the resources down to sign the players.” 

But early indications coming out from Latin America are that the Nationals are not linked to any of the bigger names available to sign on July 2. The rumors are that the Nationals are going to have to spend the bulk of their budget on Strasburg, leaving little for the bigger names from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere.

For those interested, here are a list of some of the more heralded names on the  international market (gathered from Baseball America, ESPN’s La Esquina, and Kiley McDaniel):

Read the rest of this entry »

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International Nats, Domestically

Posted by Brian Oliver in International on June 16th, 2009

A request was made to keep track of those Nationals prospects signed from the international market. Specifically, the request was on those players who have made it to the US. I did a quick scan of the Nationals minor league affiliates and tried to tag all of the international players I could find.

I’ve added a link on the righthand side of the page under the Big Board and DraftTrack. And, I’ll work on cleaning it up as I find mistakes and oversights.

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Names from Rizzo

Posted by Brian Oliver in Dominican Summer League, International on February 27th, 2009

Chico Harlan has the latest news on the Nationals’ rebuilding efforts in the Dominican. This time, we get to hear from Mike Rizzo who provides some details as well as some names.

  • Fernando Ravelo -He’s already been profiled here.
  • Moises de la Moto – Rizzo referred to him as the coordinator of their Dominican scouting. A quick scan of the media guides show him a member of the organization since 2007. It appears he has survived the purge in the DR. The other names listed as scouts there are Juan Espino, Bernadino Valera, and Angel Ozuna. No word on their status.
  • Nelson Silverio – He was with the Mets organization through the 2007 season. Here is a profile I found of him online … “Inside pitch: Begins his first season (2007) at Binghamton … Has been with the Mets’ organization since 2003, and spent the past season and a half as hitting coach at Single-A St. Lucie. … Coached for the Dominican Republic in last year’s World Baseball Classic. … Worked as a bench coach for the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican League. … For the past five years, has been the general manager of Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League — the team New York shortstop Jose Reyes played for in 2002 and 2004. … Previously worked as a coach for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Mets in 2005 and was New York’s bullpen catching instructor in 2003 and 2004. … Also coached in the Marlins organization. … Played minor-league ball from 1985-1993 in the Oakland and San Diego systems. … His father, Tom, was an outfielder for the California Angels from 1970-72.” It appears we was also the GM of los Gigantes del Cibao through early 2008 … not sure if he was this pastwinter league. Either way, the Nationals now have personnel from two of the Dominican Winter League teams (Ravelo is from Licey).
  • Nelson Norman – Hired for some undefined role. Nelson Augusto Norman is a former Major League Baseball shortstop (Rangers, Pirates & Expos). 1992-1994 – Manager of the GCL Expos. 1995- Manager of the Macon Braves. 2001 -infield coach for the Boston Red Sox. 2002- Red Sox Latin field coordinator. 2007- Quad City Hitting Coach (St Louis). 2008 – Manager DSL Cardinals.

From what I can determine from a search of the internet (and it is never wrong), none have any ties to Bowden, Rijo, or the Reds, for whatever that is worth.

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Kasten on the Changes in the DR

Posted by Brian Oliver in Dominican Summer League, International on February 26th, 2009

I will just point you to Chico Harlan who has some great stuff from Stan Kasten on the status of their moves in the DR today.

A couple of things that stand out to me:

  • “They have released 14 players” … I’ll see what I can find out about who the fourteen are. Teams typically don’t release that information about the players in the DR. I still think they can afford to jettison a few more if they are down to one DSL team
  • “They will relocate to a complex in Boca Chica” … As ESPN mentioned in last night’s article, “Most team academies are located in the Boca Chica region.” So I hope the plans are to create an academy from the ground up with the assistance of Fernando Ravelo
  • “They have replaced virtually all of the office staff and coaches” …More of the page turning. Hopefully this helps start afresh in the DR
  • “Kasten is doubtful that the operation in the DR will be operating at full-throttle this year; his plan is to be up to speed by 2010.” … Disappointing, but not surprising. The Nats will likely fall another year behind in the DR which does not help but given the late date of this move, it is complete expected.

And finally, this exchange

Q: You said as far as you’re concerned this closes the book on the team’s side. Does that mean you do not anticipate any more firings or removals of team employees?
Kasten: Well, related to the Dominican, I think it closes the book on Jose and the Jose Rijo complex and all of that. And that’s all I want to talk about today. As I said to you the other day, I am supporting and continue to support everyone who works for the Nationals, and that’s not lip service. I sincerely mean that. Having said that, there are many things going on behind the scenes that you all aren’t privy to yet. When I’m able to talk to you about things I will, but I’m not going to discuss anything but the Dominican today, because I do not want to open any doors or lead you astray in any way, and believe me, I have seen stuff in the last couple days that are real head-scratchers. You know, things get out there and what passes for journalism, it just blows me away. But I’m just not going to be a party to any discussions about anything other than this for right now.

The door is closed on Jose Rijo and his complex. But it stops short of excusing or exonerating anyone else. Kasten touches a bit on what I called the echo chamber. The Nats have down a solid job of controlling the story as much as they can, but until the investigation reaches the conclusion they are waiting for, stuff is unfortunately going to continue to linger.

The waiting continues.

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Fernando Ravelo

Posted by Brian Oliver in Dominican Summer League, International on February 26th, 2009

Barry Svrluga repeated the news reported last night by ESPN, Fernando Ravelo, the GM of the Tigres de Licey, is the likely choice to oversee the Nationals rebuilding efforts in the Dominican Republic.

Here is a photo of Ravelo (credit: DiarioLibre.com)

Here is a link to his biography from Licey’s website. A rough translation of the introduction using Babelfish …

It is in his ninth year as GM of the team, in which it has won three national (league) championships and two Caribbean Series crowns. He replaced Rafael Landestoy in 2000 and his first move was the dismissal of manager Ron Washington.

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