Washington Nationals Minor Leagues: Players Of The Week (5/25-5/31)

Potomac Nationals (21-29)

 Hitter Of The Week: SS Stephen Perez (.245, 1 HR, 14 RBI’s)

Potomac struggled to score runs this week against Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, but Stephen Perez was still able to drive in some runs for the Nationals high-A team. This week, Perez had seven hits in 18 at-bats and drove in seven runs. Before yesterday, Perez had driven in a run in four straight games. He enters this week’s action on a five game hitting streak.

While the 24-year-old hit only .130 with Harrisburg, he had a .237 average in the month of May with Potomac. He had 13 RBI’s in 28 games and had a .365 on-base percentage. I’m interested to see if Perez can continue his solid hitting from this past week and continue to drive in runs at the top of the order.

Honorable Mention: 2B Christopher Bostick (.235, 2 HR, 11 RBI’s

The Potomac middle infield shares the player of the week honors this week. While the 22-year-old Bostick did not have much power this week, he was able to pick up some hits. Even though he was only 5-for-18 this week, he does enter this week on a five game hitting streak.

On May 29, against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals), Bostick had the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to help the Potomac Nationals get the win, 3-1. Bostick finished the month of May, hitting .260 with two home runs and seven RBI’s and a .394 slugging percentage.

Pitcher Of The Week: RP Wander Suero (4-2, 2.82)

Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez did not have great outings this week, so the pitcher of the week goes to a reliever this week, but for good reason. 23-year-old right-hander Wander Suero has been great as a reliever for Potomac in his last five outings. The former starter has not given up an earned run in those outings. This week, Suero picked up his first save of the season.

On May 28 against Wilmington, he went four innings, gave up seven hits, struck out three batters, and walked one to get the save. In six appearances in the month of May, he went 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA in six games. While he has given up a hit per inning in 12.1 innings of relief, he has yet to give up an earned run. Suero had a 4.15 ERA in five starts before moving to the ‘pen.

Honorable Mention: SP Phillips Valdez (5-2, 1.47)

This week, Valdez was promoted to Potomac after having an excellent start to the season with low-A Hagerstown. In his Potomac debut on May 29 against Wilmington, Valdez got his high-A stint started on a great note. He went six innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out three batters, and walked one in a no-decision.

The 23-year-old was dominating the Nationals’ low-A affiliate, posting a 1.47 ERA in eight starts. This past month, he was 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA in five starts with the Suns. You look at this P-Nats rotation now with Giolito, Lopez, Nick Pivetta, Valdez, and maybe Austen Williams down the road, this has the makings to be a very tough high-A rotation.

Next: Low-A