District Daily: In-Depth Look at Tanner Roark, Bryce Harper Takes BP
By Kenny DeJohn
Jun 11, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark (57) throws the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals are getting closer to a return of Bryce Harper, but just how far off is the young slugger? Find out in the collection of links below.
Who’s That Guy? Nationals Pitcher Tanner Roark
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Who Is He? Nationals righty Tanner Roark.
Where Is He From? Wilmington, Illinois, where he led the Wilmington Wildcats to high school state baseball titles in 2003 and 2005.
How Old Is He? He’s 27, which makes him 18 years older than the Washington Nationals, 128 years younger than Nationals sideline entertainer Teddy Roosevelt, and roughly the same age as Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. Read full article here.
Harper makes step toward full batting practice
WASHINGTON — Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper hit with two hands on Tuesday for the first time since tearing a ligament in his left thumb, manager Matt Williams said. Harper sustained the injury while sliding into third base against the Padres on April 25.
Williams said Harper took soft toss in the cage as part of his continuing rehab program, and he hoped to get the slugger on the field in the next few days to evaluate the progress.
Harper, who had been doing one-handed work with a bat in the cage in recent weeks, reported no thumb pain to Williams after his two-handed batting session Tuesday. When the two sat down to talk, Harper said he felt ready to take the next step. Read full article here.
Gwynn remains Strasburg’s favorite player
WASHINGTON — Stephen Strasburg was 4 years old when he first watched the Padres play. It took him just one game to pinpoint his favorite player: the team’s hard-nosed, uncompromising right fielder wearing No. 19, Tony Gwynn.
More than a decade later, Strasburg earned a scholarship to play for his hometown university, San Diego State, where Gwynn — who died Monday at age 54 — was the head coach. The Nationals right-hander then lived out the dream of every young athlete across the world, gaining wisdom from his lifelong hero and one of the greatest baseball minds to ever play the game. Read full article here.