Nats Farm Report Week Ending May 15

by Tyler Radecki, Staff Writer

Syracuse Chiefs, AAA International League (13-22)

Pitching Report -

Ross Detwiler: Detwiler started off the season strong, but has struggled in his last three starts. He pitched twice last week against the Durham Bulls, losing both  Last Saturday he gave up four runs on six hits and three walk in six innings, then Friday he cruised for six innings before he fell apart in the seventh. He allowed four earned runs on 11 hits and one walk,but gave up two home runs in that outing.  His ERA currently stands at 4.76 with 29 Ks and 12 walks.

Brad Meyers: The recently-promoted Meyers has made two starts in Syracuse so far.  He gave up four runs on five hits and a walk in his first AAA start before tossing seven innings of shutout ball with eight strikeouts Saturday night. If he continues to pitch well in AAA, we may be seeing in with the big club later this summer. Read about his domination in AA here.

Yunesky Maya: After a rocky first AAA start, Maya has been very impressive this year, throwing five consecutive quality starts. In his last start on Thursday, Maya went 7 1/3 innings with three earned runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out three in the Chiefs’ loss. Maya struggled in his short MLB stint last year, but seems to have settled in nicely in Syracuse. For the season, the Cuban is 1-3, 3.57, with a 36/9 K/BB ratio.

Tom Milone: Other than one seven-run start on April 28th, Milone has been very effective in Syracuse, and in his start last Tuesday, he went 7 2/3 innings with three earned runs on five hits and no walks, striking out seven in a win over Norfolk. He was scheduled to pitch Sunday but the game was rained out.  Milone is 2-3, 4.21 with a 35/3 K/BB ratio this season.  He has several pitchers to leapfrog to get the call to the bigs, but Milone is showing that he belongs on the list.

Josh Wilkie: Cole Kimball got his major league call this past week, so Wilkie is going to try to follow in his footsteps. He’s continued to make his case, giving up just one run in his last six appearances over nine innings. He has 20 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings, so if he continues to post good numbers he will work his way onto the Nats’ radar.

Hitting Report –

Michael Aubrey: At 29, Aubrey isn't really a prospect anymore, but he had a career day Saturday, slamming four home runs in four at bats and seven RBIs, leading the Chiefs to a 11-0 win over the Durham Bulls.  The home runs were the first of the season for the first baseman, who has had cups of coffee in the Majors with Cleveland and Baltimore. Aubrey is hitting .254/.356/.460 this season in 22 games.

Chris Marrero: The first baseman is not hitting for power but he’s getting on base consistently. He’s currently riding a five-game hitting streak in which he’s 8-for-19 (.421) with two doubles. With LaRoche signed through next year, Marrero will have a hard time cracking the lineup, but if he continues to hit well he will force his way into the future picture.

Jesus Flores: Flores was 5-for-19 in the last week with two walks and seven RBIs, but he still is not hitting for much power and has an OBP of below .300.  Flores is starting to make better contact as he continues works his way back from shoulder injury that took the better part of two seasons from his career.

Corey Brown: Roger Bernadina’s call up has ignited the Nats offense, but Brown still is in the picture as well as a future outfielder. He’s hitting .273/.415/.515 in his last ten games, though he has just two home runs and four RBIs on the year.

Harrisburg Senators, AA Eastern League (17-18)

Pitching Report –

Brad Peacock: Peacock’s last start was impressive, fanning 14 batters over seven innings, giving up five hits and one run. MILB.com had a short story about Peacock this week and his ERA currently stands at 2.13 with 56 strikeouts to seven walks.

Erik Davis: Davis has had an up and down year so far in Harrisburg, and was placed on the disabled list with an apparent knee injury after being pulled after two innings in a May 11 start. Davis is 1-1 with a 3.49 ERA in six starts for Harrisburg.

Hitting Report –

Stephen Lombardozzi: Lombardozzi had a five-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, but he’s still hit just .217 in his last ten games with a .265 OBP. His overall average is down to .279, but he is still having a solid year at second base and should work out of this slump quickly.

Derek Norris: His average is just .197 after an ice-cold start to the year, but this past week he went 6-for-15 (.400) with seven runs scored, two doubles, one home run and two RBIs. He’s still adjusting to AA pitching and hopefully this recent success will translate as the season progresses.  The good sign is that his elite on base skills are not suffering, as his OBP is .357 despite the low average.

Tyler Moore: He’s hitting .295 in his last ten games, capped off by a 3-for-5 on Sunday. He’s had a solid start to the year, but Chris Marrero is blocking him in AAA.  Moore has five home runs and 15 RBIs with a .270/.301/.482 slash line in 137 at bats. 

Potomac Nationals, High-A Carolina League (14-21)

Pitching Report –

Daniel Rosenbaum: He’s pitched seven innings in four of his last five starts and has yet to give up over three earned runs in a start this year. Saturday against Wilmington he gave up three earned runs on 10 hits and three walks in seven innings and did not factor in the decision. He's 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA in seven starts this season.

Josh Smoker: A first-round pick in 2007, Smoker has struggled with injuries so far in his career but he may have found his niche as a reliever. He’s given up just two ER in 13 innings so far this year (1.38 ERA), and at 22 years old, he’s still young enough to consider a prospect.

Cameron Selik: Selik started the year off in Hagerstown and got promoted to Potomac, but he got roughed up this week in his start against Wilmington.  He only went 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and a walk.

Hitting Report –

Eury Perez: Perez is red-hot in his last 10, hitting .419 with five stolen bases. He went 4-for-4 on Sunday with three doubles in the Nationals 5-4 win Sunday, and his slash line for the season is .313/.343/.358. He’s not hitting for a lot of power, but he has nine hits in his last 15 at-bats. Impressive.

Destin Hood: He also had a 4-for-4 day Sunday, but he had a home run and three3 RBI as well. He’s hitting .316 in his last 10 games, and his average is up to .246. He has a lot of potential, and he may be coming around in Potomac.

Hagerstown Suns, Low-A South Atlantic League (25-12)

Pitching Report –

Robbie Ray: Ray’s first two professional outings probably couldn’t have gone any better, as he went a combined 11 innings, giving up just three hits, no runs, one walk and 13 strikeouts. The fourth round pick in the 2010 draft has been impressive so far in his short time in Hagerstown and is proving the draft experts correct in that he had first round talent.

Taylor Jordan: A 2009 draft pick, Jordan has pitched well in Hagerstown, with a 2.51 ERA in seven games (six starts). Wednesday he went six innings, allowing two earned runs (five total) on seven hits. He did not walk or strike out a batter.  For the season, Jordan is 6-0 with a 2.51 ERA with 16 Ks and six BBs in 32 1/3 innings.

A.J. Cole: Cole has given up three earned runs in 7 2/3 total innings in two starts for Hagerstown. His last start was a four inning outing, and he allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Cole has been on a pitch count early this season after starting the year in extended spring training.

Hitting Report –

Bryce Harper: Harper’s hitting streak came to an end on Sunday after 18 games as he went 0-for-4 with a walk against the Lakewood BlueCrabs, but boy did Harper have a great streak. His line so far this year: .381/.458/.683, 9 home runs, 31 RBI, 11 doubles, 18 BB, 30 K, 6 SB/3 CS. The Post had a great slideshow featuring Harper this week. If Harper continues to rake, he may find himself in Potomac very soon.

David Frietas: He’s a sleeper prospect at catcher, and is hitting .325 over his last 10 with a seven-game hitting streak. He's hitting .283/.386/.451 overall and has four HR and 25 RBI on the year, and he’s definitely one to watch.

Randolph Oduber: Oduber hit .297/.357/.297 in his last ten games with six stolen bases and five runs scored. He's hit safely in eight of his last ten games.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE WEEK

Pitcher:  Brad Peacock is dominating in AA, and if not for some stud pitchers in Syracuse, he may be getting a call-up soon.

Hitter:  Eury Perez is one to watch in Potomac. He may be the future in CF for the Nationals, with tons of speed and solid hitting.