Washington Nationals Minor Leagues: Nick Pivetta Promoted To Double-A Harrisburg
Earlier today, the Washington Nationals advanced one of their top pitching prospects up another level in their farm system. 22-year-old right-hander Nick Pivetta, who is coming off throwing a near perfect game, is being promoted up to double-A Harrisburg, according to James Wagner of the Washington Post:
Nats RHP prospect Nick Pivetta promoted to AA Harrisburg. Had 2.29 ERA in 15 games at A Potomac. Team impressed with his command & stuff.
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) July 8, 2015
With the high-A Potomac Nationals this season, Pivetta was 7-4 with a 2.29 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). His 2.29 ERA was third in the Carolina League this season. He struck out 72 batters, which was fourth in the league and second on the team, behind top prospect Lucas Giolito.
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While the Nats’ fourth round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft has walked 29 batters this season, he has done a great job of keeping opposing hitters from hitting home runs (four home runs allowed all season). Of course, the recent start that everyone is talking about involving Pivetta is his start on Sunday against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals). He went seven innings, gave up one run on two hits, struck out nine (a career high), and walked one.
This is what Pivetta told MILB.com after his start about how his changeup and curveball were working, in addition to his mid 90’s fastball:
“Those things finally clicked together, the two of them. And with my two-seam [fastball], I had a lot of two-seam action and everything moved forward.” (h/t MILB.com)
Pivetta, who is the number 12 prospect in the Nats organization (according to MLB Pipeline), has pitched into the sixth inning or later in each of his last four starts. It will be interesting to see how Pivetta will do at double-A as he now joins a rotation headed by Eastern League All-Star Austin Both (3-5, 3.19 ERA). As a team, Harrisburg’s ERA of 3.42 is third in the league.
In other prospect news ,the Nationals made other key promotions in their farm system today as well. Left-handed pitcher Matt Purke and right-handed pitcher Austen Williams were both promoted from low-A Hagerstown to high-A Potomac.
RHP Austen Williams and LHP Matt Purke promoted to high Single-A Potomac
— Byron Kerr (@ByronKerr) July 8, 2015
In eight starts at Hagerstown, Purke was 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA. The 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery in May of last season. He had been off to a good start this season for the Suns as he gave up three earned runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts. Purke was the Nats’ third round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.
As for Austen Williams, he was arguably one of the best pitchers in the South Atlantic League this season. The 22-year-old was 8-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 13 starts and had 63 strikeouts. His 2.10 ERA was second in the league. Williams was also picked to play in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game last month. Williams, the Nats’ sixth round pick in last year’s draft, will now get a chance to play at a higher level when you consider he has not lost a start since his first outing of the season on April 9.