The Orioles have made the following roster move:
- Returned 27th man LHP Cade Povich to Triple-A Norfolk after today’s doubleheader.
The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey, infielder José Tena and infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr. from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for outfielder Lane Thomas on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Clemmey, is Cleveland’s No. 7 prospect according to Baseball America and its No. 8 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com In his first professional season, Clemmey has struck out 97 batters with a .214 opponents’ batting average in 69.1 innings pitched for Single-A Lynchburg. His 97 strikeouts rank third in the Carolina League and fifth among Guardians farmhands. On the season, he is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts. Baseball America also cites Clemmey as having the “Best Curveball” among Cleveland Minor Leaguers.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Clemmey has pitched to a 2.28 ERA (11 ER/43.1 IP) with 63 strikeouts, a 1.18 WHIP, a .185 opponents’ average and just two home runs allowed in his last 11 starts since May 24. During this stretch, he tossed 4.2 shutout innings with eight strikeouts and three hits on June 12 vs. Augusta (ATL) and on July 5 vs. Salem (BOS), he struck out seven batters in 4.0 no-hit innings. He kicked off the strong run with 5.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball on May 24 at Fredericksburg (WSH).
The 19-year-old was Cleveland’s second-round pick (No. 58 overall) in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Bishop Hendricken (RI) High School. He was named Rhode Island's 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year after finishing his senior year with a 9-1 record and 0.42 ERA (2 ER/43.0 IP) with 105 strikeouts in 10 starts. Clemmey was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 49 prospect in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and the No. 3 high school left-handed pitcher in the draft, according to Perfect Game.
Tena, 23, leads Cleveland’s Minor League system with 110 hits and ranks in home runs (2nd, 17), RBI (3rd, 63), extra-base hits (4th, 36), batting average (4th, .298), slugging percentage (6th, .493) and OPS (6th, .846). He’s clubbed 17 doubles and recorded 14 stolen bases in 90 games for Triple-A Columbus this season. Tena is a career .286/.339/.443 hitter with 109 doubles, 22 triples, 57 home runs, 152 walks, 64 stolen bases and 304 runs scored in 520 games across five Minor League seasons.
The Orioles have made the following roster move:
- Added LHP Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader. He will start the second game.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Activated RHP Zach Eflin. He will wear No. 24.
- Optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Stuart from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Stuart, 24, is 3-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 17 starts for Double-A Binghamton this season. He has 90 strikeouts in 84.0 innings and has held batters to a .259 average against. He's pitched to a 2.00 ERA (6 ER/27.0 IP), with 28 strikeouts, two walks and a .208 opponents’ average (21-for-101) in his last five starts.
Stuart led all of Minor League Baseball (full-season) with a 2.20 ERA and paced New York’s system with a 1.10 WHIP in 21 starts between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton in 2023. He was named a Baseball America High-A All-Star and an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star along the way. Stuart went 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in 14 starts for High-A Brooklyn before being transferred to Double-A Binghamton for his final seven starts of the season. He earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors after his final start on August 23 at New Hampshire (TOR) when he tossed 6.0 innings of two-hit, shutout ball with six strikeouts.
The No. 17 prospect in the Mets organization according to MLBPipeline.com and the No. 23 prospect according to Baseball America, Stuart is 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA and 9.48 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 41 career Minor League games (40 starts). He was originally selected by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Winker, hit .257 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, 45 RBI, 53 walks and 14 stolen bases in 101 games for the Nationals in 2024.
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher ZACH EFLIN and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher JACKSON BAUMEISTER, minor league infielder/outfielder MAC HORVATH, and minor league outfielder MATTHEW ETZEL.
Eflin, 30, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA (50 ER/110.0 IP) with 115 hits (14 HR), 55 total runs allowed, three hit-by-pitches, 13 walks, and 87 strikeouts in 19 games, all starts, for the Rays. His 2.8 percent walk rate is the second-best among qualified pitchers in MLB this season behind Seattle’s George Kirby (2.6%), and his 5.0 walk rate since debuting in 2016 is the third-best among active qualified pitchers behind St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas (4.3%) and Los Angeles-NL’s Clayton Kershaw (4.7%). Eflin won a career-high 16 games for Tampa Bay last year, tied with Toronto’s Chris Bassitt for the most in the American League, while his 1.02 WHIP was the second-best mark in MLB behind New York-AL’s Gerrit Cole (0.98). He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023. The right-hander was originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the Supplemental First Round (33rd overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Hagerty (FL) High School. He was acquired by the Dodgers as part of a five-player trade involving Matt Kemp on December 18, 2014, and by the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-player move for Jimmy Rollins on December 19, 2014. Eflin signed a three-year contract with the Rays in December 2022 that runs through the 2025 season.
Baumeister, 22, is 1-3 with a 3.06 ERA (24 ER/70.2 IP) with 53 hits (3 HR), 31 total runs, seven hit-by-pitches, 43 walks, and 91 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts, with High-A Aberdeen. He was selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (63rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University. Baumeister is ranked as the No. 17 O’s prospect and No. 6 Orioles pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Horvath, 23, is slashing .232/.328/.417 (63-for-271) with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 40 runs scored, 41 RBI, four hit-by-pitches, 37 walks, and 26 stolen bases in 71 games with High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the Compensation B Round (53rd overall) of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina. Horvath is ranked as the No. 10 O’s prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Etzel, 22, is batting .289/.363/.445 (87-for-301) with 15 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 46 runs scored, 47 RBI, two hit-by-pitches, 36 walks (2 IBB), and 41 stolen bases in 83 combined games between Double-A Bowie and High-A Aberdeen. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the 10th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.
The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar from Triple-A Rochester placed right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems on the 15-day Injured List with right shin splints (retroactive to July 25) on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Salazar, 26, joins the Nationals for his second stint with the club this season. He pitched in one game for Washington after he was recalled on July 13 and worked 2.0 hitless innings with four strikeouts in Milwaukee on July 14.
In 10 games for Triple-A Rochester in 2024, Salazar was 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12.0 IP), 17 strikeouts and just three walks. In his most recent outing for the Red Wings, he struck out a pair in 1.1 scoreless frames against Lehigh Valley (PHI) on July 25. Salazar has not allowed an earned run in Triple-A in his last 11.0 innings (nine games) since June 18.
Salazar was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on June 13 after appearing in four games with Triple-A Tacoma. He opened the season in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system and eventually appeared in one Major League game, May 15 at San Francisco (2.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 3 SO).
A native of Cumana, Venezuela, Salazar was originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a non-drafted free agent on March 4, 2017. He made his Major League debut with Cincinnati on May 24, 2023 vs. St. Louis and earned his first Major League win on June 6, 2023 vs. Los Angeles (NL). Salazar has appeared in 10 Major League games across two seasons, going 1-0 with a 6.06 ERA along the way.
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher SERANTHONY DOMÍNGUEZ and outfielder CRISTIAN PACHE from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder AUSTIN HAYS.
Domínguez, 29, is 3-2 with one save and a 4.75 ERA (19 ER/36.0 IP), with 32 hits (6 HR), 22 total runs allowed, 12 walks, two hit batters, and 40 strikeouts in 38 relief appearances this season for the Phillies. His fastball has averaged 97.6 mph in 2024, which ranks in the top-five percent of MLB, per Statcast. He suffered a right elbow ulnar collateral ligament injury in 2019 that required UCL reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) in 2020 and missed most of the 2021 season. Despite having three years affected by injury, Domínguez’s 230 games since 2018 are the most by a Phillies pitcher in that time. He is 19-17 with a 3.55 ERA (87 ER/220.2 IP) across six MLB seasons. The right-hander was originally signed as an international free agent by Philadelphia out of Esperanza, Dominican Republic in October 2011. Domínguez has a club option for the 2025 season.
Pache (pronounced PAH-chay), 25, is slashing .202/.288/.269 (21-for-104) with five doubles, one triple, nine runs scored, nine RBI, and 13 walks in 50 games (30 starts) with the Phillies this season. He has appeared in 29 games (18 GS) in center field, 18 games (12 GS) in left field, and one in right field while compiling three Defensive Runs Saved and four Outs Above Average. Pache was acquired by Philadelphia from the Oakland Athletics on March 29, 2023, and by the A’s from the Atlanta Braves as part of a five-player trade sending Matt Olson to the Braves on March 14, 2022. He was originally signed as an international free agent by Atlanta out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in July 2015.
Hays, 29, is batting .255/.316/.395 (40-for-157) with 13 doubles, three homers, 18 runs scored, 14 RBI, six hit-by-pitches, and nine walks in 63 games (38 GS) with the Orioles in 2024. He was the team’s nominee for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s 2022 Heart & Hustle Award, presented to one player from each major league team based on the passion, desire, and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. He started in center field for the American League in the All-Star Game last year and ranks in the top 50 in O’s history (since 1954) in doubles (36th, 121), runs (47th, 269), home runs (T-47th, 66), RBI (49th, 242), and hits (50th, 510). Hays was originally selected by Baltimore in the third round (91st overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Jacksonville University (FL).
To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher LEVI STOUDT has been designated for assignment.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Selected the contract of RHP Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 60 and start tonight’s game, which will be his Major League debut.
- Optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
- Designated RHP Jonathan Heasley for assignment.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher DJ Herz from Triple-A Rochester and optioned right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Herz will start tonight against the San Diego Padres.
Herz, 23, returns to Washington for his second Major League stint this season. He struck out 41 in 31.1 innings over his first seven career starts from June 4 to July 7. He struck out 13 hitters in 6.0 innings in his first MLB win against Miami on June 15 and fanned 10 in 5.2 innings against the New York Mets on July 2. In all, Herz has gone 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA for the Nationals this year.
Herz was 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA, 44 strikeouts and a .176 opponents’ batting average in 10 starts for the Red Wings this season. Over his last five starts, he went 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA (7 ER/21.1 IP), 27 strikeouts and a .151 average against. In his last start before being recalled, Herz pitched 3.1 innings, struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits on July 14.
Herz leads all of Minor League Baseball with a .176 opponents’ batting average and is third with 13.01 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2021 season (min. 250.0 IP). In parts of five Minor League seasons, Herz is 13-17 with a 3.67 ERA with 457 strikeouts in 321.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .178 batting average.
Salazar, 26, pitched in two games for Washington. He worked 4.0 innings, struck out seven and allowed one unearned run on three hits.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Reinstated OF Heston Kjerstad from the 7-day concussion Injured List.
- Optioned OF Kyle Stowers to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Washington Nationals returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated left-handed pitcher Jose A. Ferrer from the 60-day Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Ferrer, 24, joins the active roster after appearing in eight rehab games between the FCL Nationals and Double-A Harrisburg. He pitched to a 2.08 ERA with nine strikeouts, four walks and a .111 opponents’ batting average (3-for-27). He missed the first portion of the season after suffering a left lat strain in Spring Training.
The hard-throwing reliever rose through Washington’s system thanks to a 2.94 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 99 Minor League outings from 2021 to 2023. He became a relied upon member of Washington’s bullpen in 2023 after making his Major League debut on July 1 at Philadelphia. Ferrer allowed just three extra-base hits to left-handed batters all season while going 3-0 with a 5.03 ERA in 39 games.
Ferrer enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, going 3-2 with 11 saves and a 2.48 ERA in 48 relief appearances between Single-A Fredericksburg, High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. He recorded 78 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 65.1 innings between the three stops and was selected to participate in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
A native of Maimόn, Dominican Republic, Ferrer was signed by Washington as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2017.
The Washington Nationals, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, announced their 2025 schedule on Thursday. Washington will open the 2025 season at home against the division rival Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, March 27 – the earliest start to the season in Nationals history (2005-pres.). The three-game series against Philadelphia marks the first time the Nationals have hosted the Phillies on Opening Day since April 5, 2010.
Following the opening series, the Nationals will travel to Toronto to face the Blue Jays for three games before returning to Washington, D.C., for a six-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks (April 4-6) and Los Angeles Dodgers (April 7-9).
Washington will embark on the team’s two 10-day road trips before July. The first – from April 11 to 20 – will include matchups against the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. The second 10-day road trip (June 20-29) will take the club across Southern California, beginning in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, down to San Diego to face the Padres and back up to Anaheim to take on the Los Angeles Angels.
The annual Beltway Series vs. the Baltimore Orioles expands to six games in 2024, renewing Tuesday through Thursday, April 22-24, at Nationals Park and in Baltimore from Friday through Sunday, May 16-18. The May series will be a part of “Rivalry Weekend” across Major League Baseball.
Memorial Day weekend will feature a visit from the San Francisco Giants, Friday through Sunday, May 23-25, while the Nationals will also be home over Labor Day weekend with a homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays (Aug. 29-31) and Miami Marlins (Sept. 1-3).
The Orioles today announced their 2025 regular season schedule. Baltimore will open the 2025 season on Thursday, March 27, in Toronto against the Blue Jays. The O’s will celebrate their Home Opener on Monday, March 31, against the Boston Red Sox.
Following an off day on Tuesday, April 1, the Orioles play two more games against the Red Sox before embarking on a six-game road trip to face the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks from April 4-9. Baltimore’s first true homestand is the team’s longest of the season, featuring three games each against the Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, and Cincinnati Reds from April 11-20.
DIVISION RIVALS: The Orioles will play four series each against American League East foes, two at home and two on the road, for 13 games against each divisional rival. Baltimore will host the Red Sox and New York Yankees at Oriole Park for seven games and the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays for six. Thirteen of the Orioles’ final 16 games are against divisional opponents, including the final 10, which includes seven at home against the Yankees (September 18-21) and Rays (September 23-25), and the final series of the season coming in New York (September 26-28).
WEEKEND WARRIORS: Baltimore will host 13 weekend series, including three against AL East rivals: the Blue Jays (April 11-13), Rays (June 27-29), and Yankees (September 18-21).
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: The home schedule features three games played on holidays, including Easter Sunday (April 20 vs. Cincinnati), Memorial Day (May 26 vs. St. Louis), and Father’s Day (June 15 vs. Los Angeles-AL).
Orioles baseball No. 1 in prime time across the Baltimore DMA
Viewership up over 35 percent
Amplifying their first-place spot in the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles on MASN are dominating prime time, outpacing every other local broadcast station and cable network by a wide margin, according to the latest Neilsen ratings. Orioles viewership is up by double digits compared with the 2023 season as the team posted a 58-38 record in the first half of the 2024 campaign.
The Orioles on MASN are averaging 100,000 viewers, per quarter hour, each night across the Baltimore DMA. This is an increase of more than 35 percent over the same period last season. The groundswell of interest is widespread, as the Orioles on MASN are by far the No. 1 viewed program in prime time across the entire demographic spectrum.
“Marylanders love Orioles baseball, and they are coming to MASN every night to be a part of something special," said MASN senior executive John McGuinness. "This young team is talented, exciting and they play the game with the same grit and enthusiasm fans can appreciate and can identify with. Five Orioles just played in the MLB All-Star Game, the farm system is loaded – the future is indeed bright in Birdland. We expect viewership to only grow as the pennant races heat up.”
The Baltimore Orioles made 10 selections on Day Three of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, completing Rounds 11-20. This year, the Orioles selected 21 players overall: 11 pitchers and 10 position players, with 17 of the selections being college athletes and four from the high school ranks. The Orioles selected eight right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers, four outfielders, two infielders, and four catchers.
RD PICK PLAYER POS B/T HT WT DOB SCHOOL SCOUT
1 22 Vance Honeycutt CF R/R 6-3 205 5/17/2003 University of North Carolina Boyd
PPI 32 Griff O'Ferrall INF R/R 6-1 195 2/2/2003 University of Virginia O'Dowd
2 61 Ethan Anderson C S/R 6-2 215 9/21/2003 University of Virginia O'Dowd
The Washington Nationals selected 10 players on the third and final day of Major League Baseball’s 2024 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Vice President, Amateur Scouting Danny Haas, Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek, and Assistant Director and National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting Reed Dunn made the announcements.
The Nationals opened Day 3 with the selection of left-handed pitcher Merritt Beeker from Ball State (Ind.) University in the 11th round. The 2024 Mid-Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Beeker ranked tied for seventh in all of NCAA Division I with 128 strikeouts in 81.0 innings pitched. He went 9-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 15 starts during his junior season. Beeker spent two seasons at East Carolina University before transferring to Ball State.
In the 12th round, Washington selected right-handed pitcher Alexander Meckley from Coastal Carolina (S.C.) University. Meckley opened the season 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA in his first five starts and recorded a total 57 strikeouts in 52.2 innings on the season. He pitched in 21 games and made nine starts in 2024.
In the 13th round, the Nationals selected left-handed pitcher Bryant Olson from Mercer (Ga.) University. As a junior in 2024, he led the Southern Conference with eight saves while striking out 39 batters in 26.2 innings. Olson transferred from Gordon State (Ga.) College where he recorded 97 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched as a sophomore in 2023.
Washington selected right-handed pitcher Yoel Tejeda Jr. in the 14th round. Tejeda Jr. pitched one season for Florida State and went 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA in 12 games, making one start. He struck out 15 in 19.2 innings of work.
The Baltimore Orioles today made eight selections on Day Two of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, completing Rounds 3-10. The Orioles started the day by selecting outfielder AUSTIN OVERN at No. 97 overall from the University of Southern California. The Orioles also selected right-handed pitcher CHASE ALLSUP at No. 127 overall from Auburn University (AL), catcher RYAN STAFFORD at No. 160 overall from California Polytechnic State University, shortstop DJ LAYTON at No. 189 overall from Charlotte Christian High School (NC), left-handed pitcher CARSON DORSEY at No. 219 overall from Florida State University, catcher COLIN TUFT at No. 249 from Tulane University (LA), right-handed pitcher JACK CROWDER at No. 279 from the University of Illinois, and right-handed pitcher CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ at No. 309 from California State University, Fullerton.
Overn, 21, slashed .270/.349/.461 (65-for-241) with 12 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 57 runs scored, 32 RBI, 19 walks, and 17 stolen bases in 59 games during his sophomore season at Southern California. He paced the team in runs, triples, home runs, runs scored, and stolen bases and was the only Trojan to start all 59 of the team’s games. He was a two-time All-Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2024. As a freshman, he set the program single season triple record with 14, helping him earn Freshman All-American honors. He was a member of the 2022 USC football team as a wide receiver. Overn attended Foothill High School (CA). He was ranked as the No. 85 overall draft prospect by Baseball America and No. 131 by MLB Pipeline.
Allsup, 21, pitched to a 4-3 record with a 5.63 ERA (39 ER/62.1 IP) and 74 strikeouts in 13 appearances (11 starts) for the Tigers during his junior season, leading the team in wins, innings, and strikeouts. In 2023 at Auburn, he made 20 appearances (eight starts) and owned a 1-2 record with a 5.47 ERA (30 ER/49.1 IP) while striking out 49 batters and securing two saves. Allsup made 23 appearances for Auburn in 2022 and posted a 3.38 ERA (11 ER/29.1 IP), notching 32 strikeouts with two saves. He attended Dothan High School in his hometown of Dothan, Ala. He was ranked as the No. 241 overall draft prospect by Baseball America.
Stafford, 21, slashed .368/.444/.568 (86-for-234) with 23 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 49 runs scored, 46 RBI, 26 walks, and 10 stolen bases in 57 games during his junior season at Cal Poly. He paced the team in hits, doubles, triples, total bases (133), and slugging, and was one of two Mustangs to play in all 57 of the team’s games. He was the 2024 All-Big West Defensive Player of the Year, a former Freshman All-American, and a one-time first and second team All-Big West honoree. He set the Cal Poly program record with 59 career doubles. Stafford attended Folsom High School (CA), where he was named first-team All-League. He was ranked as the No. 175 overall draft prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 202 by Baseball America.
Layton, 17, attended Charlotte Christian High School (NC). He slashed .449/.532/.719 (40-for-89) with six doubles, three triples, four home runs, 30 runs scored, 34 RBI, and 18 walks in 30 games. Layton was named a 2024 Perfect Game Atlantic Region Preseason All-American honorable mention. He is committed to the University of Southern Mississippi.
The Washington Nationals selected eight players on the second day of Major League Baseball’s 2024 First-Year Player Draft on Monday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Vice President, Amateur Scouting Danny Haas, Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek, and Assistant Director and National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting Reed Dunn made the announcements.
The Nationals kicked off Monday’s action by selecting catcher Kevin Bazzell from Texas Tech University in the third round. Bazzell is the No. 55 ranked prospect in the 2024 Draft, according to MLBPipeline.com. He combined to hit .330 with a .431 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage in 112 games across two seasons at Texas Tech, clubbing 37 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs, 94 RBI and 92 runs scored along the way.
As a freshman in 2023, Bazzell was named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, a NCBWA First-Team Freshman All-American, ABCA All-Region Second Team and First-Team All Big-12 after ranking 11th in NCAA Division 1 with 24 doubles and pacing his club with 87 hits. Bazzell joined Texas Tech in the spring of 2022 after spending his first collegiate fall season at Dallas Baptist University.
In the fourth round, Washington selected left-handed pitcher Jackson Kent from the University of Arizona. Kent earned First-Team Pac-12 honors as a sophomore in 2024 after he went 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 15 starts and helped Arizona to the Pac-12 Baseball championship. He pitched to a 2.41 ERA (18 ER / 67.1 IP) in his first 11 starts of the season and did not allow more than three runs in any of those games.
Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Kent went 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He struck out 27 in 25.0 innings of work.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan has been added to the National League All-Star Team and joins shortstop CJ Abrams in representing the organization in the 2024 Major League All-Star Game in Dallas.
Finnegan, 32, ranks second in the National League and third in Major League Baseball with 25 saves. He’s pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 42 strikeouts, a 1.02 WHIP and a .190 opponents’ batting average in 41 games (40.1 IP) out of Washington’s bullpen so far this season.
Originally signed by Washington as a free agent in November 2019, Finnegan’s 75 career saves are tied for third-most in Nationals history (2005-pres.). He is the first Nationals reliever to be named an All-Star since Tyler Clippard (2014, 2011) and the first Nationals closer to make it since Matt Capps in 2010.
From April 3 to June 2, Finnegan pitched to a 0.42 ERA (1 ER/21.1 IP) with a .127 opponents’ batting average while converting 15 of 16 save opportunities. Opposing hitters went 9-for-71 with just one extra-base hit against him over that span. He followed that up with a stretch of 9.1 innings (36 PA) without issuing a walk from June 2 to June 19.
Finnegan tossed 11.0 no-hit innings from April 13 to May 8. Opposing batters went 0-for-32 with 11 strikeouts and three walks against him while converting all eight save opportunities during that stretch. It was the second-longest hitless streak for any pitcher in Nationals history (2005-pres.) behind Max Scherzer's 16.0 inning streak, June, 14, 2015 to June 26, 2015.
