Nats Farm Report Week Ending May 22

by Tyler Radecki, Staff Writer

AAA Syracuse Chiefs, AAA International League: (18-22, 3rd in North Division)

Pitching Report -

Ross Detwiler: Detwiler turned in his fourth consecutive start giving up four runs or more on Thursday night, going five innings with five hits, four earned runs, four walks, and three strikeouts against Norfolk. It’s now been just about a month since his last “good” start, an April 25th start in which he gave up just one run over 6 1/3 innings. His ERA stands at 5.04 on the year, but he's still striking out two for every one walk.  He needs to turn it around quickly though to avoid being passed over by other prospects.

Brad Meyers: Three starts into his AAA career, the 25-year-old Meyers has a 3.63 ERA (seven ER in 17 1/3 IP) and 16 strikeouts to just one walk. His last start was Friday night, and he went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs (two home runs) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks. His control is still very good and as continues to be a candidate for the bigs if injury or attrition call for it.

Yunesky Maya: Maya has continued to pitch himself to the top of the Nats’ call-up list (likely) in Syracuse, throwing 51 2/3 innings so far with a 3.66 ERA. In his last start Wednesday night, he threw 6 1/3 innings, giving up three earned on four hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He’s not striking may batters out, but he’s getting outs consistently and appears to be much more comfortable this year.

Tom Milone: His best start of the season came Saturday, as he threw seven shutout innings against Rochester, giving up just three hits and racking up nine strikeouts. Milone has given up more than three earned runs in just one out of his seven AAA starts. His strikeout to walk ratio is an incredible 44/3 in 43 1/3 innings.

Josh Wilkie: In 2 1/3 innings this week, Wilkie gave up four hits and one earned run, striking out four. His ERA still stands at 1.83 on the year, though he has been hit harder in May (11 hits against in eight innings).

Craig Stammen: Sometimes forgotten because of other, younger pitchers, Stammen has still been good in AAA this season. Prior to Sunday’s start, Stammen had a 3.43 ERA and 38 strikeouts to just five walks. On Tuesday he gave up three runs in six innings, and on Sunday, he gave up seven hits, four walks and three runs over five innings in the Chiefs’ 9-3 victory.

Hitting Report –

Chris Marrero: He had a big day Sunday afternoon, going 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and a walk, raising his overall average to .283. He’s smashing the ball right now, hitting .351 in his last ten games heading into Sunday’s game. He’s not hitting for a whole lot of power, but he’s getting on base and with Adam LaRoche seeking medical advice for his ailing left shoulder, Marrero needs to give the major league team a reason to believe he could be an option.

Jesus Flores: Flores hasn’t hit well this year, and he’s hitting just .229/.363/.343 in his last 10, though he did homer – his second of the year – on Sunday afternoon.

Corey Brown: Brown went just 2-for-14 this week, but he did have three walks and his overall OBP is about a hundred points higher than his average. He’s not hitting well, but he’s drawing walks (nine walks to seven strikeouts in his last 10 games).

Michael Aubrey: Aubrey isn’t considered a prospect, but with LaRoche possibly going to the DL, he may become an option for the major league team. The 29-year-old went 3-for-5 on Sunday afternoon, and is hitting .400/.488/.914 in his last 10 games. This week, he went 8-for-22 (.363) with five walks, one home run and six RBIs. His last time in the major leagues was in 2009 with Baltimore, where he hit .289/.326/.500 in 90 at bats. He maybe getting hot at the right time.

Harrisburg Senators, AA Eastern League (20-19)

Pitching Report –

Brad Peacock: He dazzled again this week, this time tossing six innings of one run ball while give up one hit (a home run) and two walks with 10 strikeouts. He’s given up more than two runs in just one start this year, and his ERA stands at 2.05. Opponents are hitting .180 off of him.

Oliver Perez: The Nationals acitvated Perez from extended spring training and assigned him to Harrisburg.  He made his first appearance of the season Thursday, starting against New Britain.  Perez went five innings and gave up one run on one hit and two walks, striking out three in a 3-1 win.

Hitting Report –

Stephen Lombardozzi: He’s struggled in his last 10 games, especially when it comes to plate discipline, which has always been his strength. He’s struck out 11 times to just one walk in his last 10 games and is hitting .222 in those games (.282/.344/.436 on the year).

Derek Norris: He seems to have finally adjusted to AA hitting, hitting .324 in his last 10 games. He’s riding a six-game hitting streak right now in which he’s 9-for-21 (.428) with four doubles, a home run, three RBIs, four walks and three strikeouts. He’s on fire right now, and his triple slash line is up to .222/.374/.375.

Tyler Moore: He’s hitting a paltry .167/.186/.357 in his last 10 games, and is just one for his last 16 at bats. His strikeout to walk ratio stands at 40 strikeouts to four walks, and his average on the year is at .255 with five homers and 15 RBIs. He may be getting exposed at the higher level after such a torrid summer with Potomac in 2010.

Potomac Nationals, High-A Carolina League (19-23)

Pitching Report –

Daniel Rosenbaum: His start Thursday was a disaster, giving up six runs over five innings against Frederick. His ERA is still just 3.12, and the 23-year-old has been good the rest of the year, so it may just be a bad start.

Josh Smoker: He isn’t getting a whole lot of work, but in 1 2/3 innings this week, he allowed no runs, one hit, two walks, and struck out two.  His season ERA is at 1.23. The adjustment to reliever continues to be a success and we’ll see if he can continue to pitch well in his new role.

Cameron Selik: Selik hasn’t pitched since May 13.

Hitting Report –

Eury Perez: Perez is absolutely raking right now, hitting .463 (19-for-41) in his last 10 games with six runs, one home run, 10 RBIs and four steals. He has 15 SB to just 2 CS on the year, and while he’s not drawing many walks, he doesn’t strike out much either (just 12 in 92 at bats), and his speed is absolutely lethal. He went 1-for-4 on Sunday and has a nine-game hitting streak, with six of those games multi-hit games.

Destin Hood: Hood is also red-hot with a five-game hitting streak – and all of those games are multi-hit games. He’s 13 for his last 22, with five runs scored, eight doubles (three on Sunday), one home run and nine RBIs. He’s just 21 years old, and has built off his strong 2010 campaign in which he hit .285 with five HR, 30 doubles, and 65 RBI.

Steven Souza: The 22-year old first baseman leads the P-Nats in RBIs with 32 and has shown good power in his last ten games, hitting three home runs and driving in 10.  He's hitting .248/.323/.504 for the year with eight homers and 32 RBI with 12 steals to boot.

Hagerstown Suns, Low-A South Atlantic League (27-16)

Pitching Report –

Robbie Ray: Ray has been spectacular in his first three minor league starts, and in his most recent on Friday he pitched six innings, giving up one earned run with four strikeouts. He’s not yet 20 years old, but he’s been very good out of the gate, going 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA (one earned run in 17 innings) with 17 Ks and one BB.

Taylor Jordan: He’s yet to give up more than three runs in a start this year, and his start on Monday was solid: six innings, seven hits, three earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts. His record is 6-0 and his ERA is 2.82 on the year.

A.J. Cole: Cole made one start this week, going four innings and giving up six hits and five runs (just two earned) with five strikeouts.

Hitting Report –

Bryce Harper: Harper was due to come back to earth after his hitting streak, and he was 4-for-19 (.210) this week with three walks, one home run and three RBIs. He’s still hitting .359/.440/.655 this season in Hagerstown with 13 doubles, 10 HR, 34 RBI and 21 walks to 33 strikeouts. Oh, and seven stolen bases and just two errors on the year.

David Frietas: He’s been consistent this year, and is hitting .324 in his last 10 games to raise his average to .290 – though more impressive is that he has 20 walks to 13 strikeouts and an OBP of .392. He went 2-for-5 Saturday with a home run and two RBIs and is definitely a catcher to look out for.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE WEEK

Pitcher: Brad Peacock, Harrisburg. He’s been remarkable this year, leading the Eastern League in strikeouts and dominating AA. With the major league rotation staying healthy so far, Peacock has to have some luck to get a call-up soon, but he may get a look in September.

Hitter: Destin Hood, Potomac. He’s just absolutely raking and is hitting for power with eight doubles in his last 13 hits. The 21-year-old is very much still a good prospect, and the former two-sport high school star is looking very good so far in Potomac. If he keeps this up for another month or so, he may get a look in Harrisburg.