District Daily: Tyler Clippard, Stephen Strasburg and More
By Kenny DeJohn
Jun 23, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Tyler Clippard (36) pitches in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Clippard earned his first save of the season as the Nationals beat the Brewers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the All-Star break, folks. Here’s the latest Nats news on this Monday, July 14.
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Nats prospects test mettle in Futures Game
INNEAPOLIS — Lucas Giolito was one of those special prospects it seemed most every scout and coach wanted to see during Sunday afternoon’s SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. This is partly because the baseball world has gotten to see so little of the special talents possessed by Giolito, who had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery shortly after the Nationals took him with the 16th overall selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
To some, Giolito might still be “that guy the Nationals took a chance on, despite knowing he was dealing with a tender elbow.” To those who have seen or kept close tabs on the 19-year-old right-hander, he is the guy who has the potential to be one of baseball’s top pitchers within the next couple of years.
But when given a chance to compete against the game’s other best prospects on Sunday, Giolito was reminded that he was far from the only special talent who had been invited to Target Field for this event. With the fifth pitch of his appearance, Giolito hung a 79-mph first-pitch curveball that Javier Baez drilled the other way for a two-run homer that accounted for all of the World team’s offense in a 3-2 loss to the United States team. Read full article here.
Clippard to represent Nats in All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA — On Sunday morning, right-hander Tyler Clippard received word that he would represent the Nationals in the All-Star Game in Minnesota.
It will be the second All-Star appearance for Clippard. His first came in 2011, when the right-hander picked up the victory as the National League won, 5-1.
Clippard entered that game in the fourth inning with runners on first and second, two outs and the American League leading, 1-0. On an 0-2 fastball, Adrian Beltre singled to left field, but then-Astros outfielder Hunter Pence threw out Jose Bautista at the plate to end the inning. Read full article here.
Strasburg gets the call for Nats vs. Lohse, Brewers
Right-handed aces Kyle Lohse and Stephen Strasburg will kick off a very charged series between Washington and Milwaukee to begin the second half.
The Nationals were upset that injured starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was their only selected representative at this year’s All-Star Game at Target Field before right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard was tabbed to join the squad on Sunday afternoon.
But that’s all they have to complain about in their attempt to overcome a disappointing 2013. Read full article here.