Federal Baseball

Notes and quotes from a big night for CJ Abrams this past season... Washington’s young, 23-year-old shortstop, CJ Abrams, “broke Trea Turner’s 2017 [single-season stolen base] record on the final day of the season,” the Nationals wrote in the 2023 Season in Review, “… with two stolen bases against the Atlanta Braves.” Abrams’ manager, Davey Martinez, was asked after the regular … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals news & notes: CJ Abrams sets franchise single season stolen base record…

Notes and quotes while those other teams delay the real start of the offseason... In his Zoom call with reporters after signing a multi-year extension in Washington D.C., GM Mike Rizzo talked extensively about how Nationals’ talent evaluators were assessing players in the organization at the minor and major league levels as they try to determine which may end up being part of … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals news & notes: Talent evaluation; Do Lane Thomas & Joey Meneses fit?

Lane Thomas collected 16 of his 18 outfield assists this year while playing right field... Lane Thomas finished the 2023 campaign, “ranked second in Major League Baseball with a career-high 18 outfield assists, the second-most in a season in [Nationals’] history,” as noted in Washington’s Season in Review for ‘23. Thomas, 28, played in a career-high 156 games, putting up career … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals news & notes: Lane Thomas a finalist for 2023 NL Gold Glove in right field…

A quick look at a reliever the Nationals still think is a big part of the future… Mason Thompson posted a 1.89 ERA, a 2.47 FIP, one walk, 17 strikeouts, and a .194/.217./313 line against in 11 games and 19 innings pitched in April. By the end of May, his ERA was up to 4.76, with a 4.00 FIP and a .252/.316/.383 line against in 21 games and 28 1⁄3 IP on the year, following a … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals news & notes: Mason Thompson and his up and down 2023 campaign

Notes and quotes on the Nationals’ 2022-23 Rule 5 pick.. Washington’s Nationals selected 26-year-old right-hander Thaddeus Ward from the Boston Red Sox with the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft last winter, taking a shot that the 5th Round draft pick from 2018, who was ranked 15th in the Sox’ system, could stick in the majors all year. It was the first Rule 5 pick by the club in … [Read more...] about Washington Nationals news & notes: Rule 5 pick Thaddeus Ward and his 2023 season…