District Daily: Nats Go With Two-Way Player to Open Day 2, Gio Makes First Rehab Start
By Pablo Roa
May 17, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) throws during the first inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Start off your weekend with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web:
Nats go with two-way player to open Day 2
After taking two pitchers in the opening two rounds of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft on Thursday night — right-hander Erick Fedde and left-hander Andrew Suarez — the Nationals selected their first position player in the third round on Friday.
With the No. 93 overall pick, Washington drafted catcher Jakson Reetz out of Norris High School in Hickman, Neb. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound University of Nebraska commit burst onto the scene last August when he was named MVP of the Perfect Game All-American Classic. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
The Draft concludes on Saturday with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET. Read full article here.
Gio makes first rehab start of career
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Gio Gonzalez is still getting used to the whole injury concept, so Friday was another important step in his learning process.
The Washington Nationals’ pitcher made a rehab start with Class A Advanced Potomac as he continues to work his way back from the left shoulder inflammation that landed him on the disabled list for the first time in his career. In an up-and-down outing, Gonzalez allowed eight runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in an eventual 11-10 Potomac victory.
“It’s a first time for everything,” Gonzalez said after the outing. “For me, it’s a work in progress.”
Washington manager Matt Williams wanted Gonzalez to throw 65 pitches in the hopes of getting him back in the rotation during the Nationals’ 10-game road trip. Gonzalez hit 65 exactly, throwing 34 strikes while walking four and hitting one batter, but the pitcher wasn’t ready to say that he was done with his time in the Minors. Read full article here.
Zimmerman unsure what his future position will be
WASHINGTON — It’s been almost a week since Ryan Zimmerman returned as an outfielder and he has been nearly flawless in left, although he acknowledged Friday that he should have caught the ball hit byReid Brignac during Wednesday’s 9-2 victory over the Phillies.
In the fifth inning, Zimmerman misjudged a fly ball hit by Brignac and it went over Zimmerman’s head for a double, scoring Domonic Brown.
“Everybody said it was an easy routine play. As I continue to play, that’s a play I should make,” Zimmerman said. “The more games I get out there, the more experience I get, the more comfortable I get, the more I’ll trust my instincts. It will get easier and easier.” Read full article here.