Washington Nationals Player Profile: Tony Campana
Speedy outfielder Tony Campana will get a shot to make the Nationals team after getting invited to Spring Training after tearing his ACL in February 2015.
Out of the 20 player the Washington Nationals extended non-roster invitees to spring training, Tony Campana, the 29-year-old outfielder is one of the most intriguing. Campana was a 13th round pick for the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 draft. He played his college baseball at UNC-Asheville and The University of Cincinnati. The outfielder holds the all-time record for stolen bases in a career at Cincinnati with 104. He also posted 60 stolen bases in his senior season.
Campana last played in the Major Leagues in 2014 when he appeared in 44 games split up between the Los Angeles Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks. The speedy outfielder posted a very unimpressive slash line of .187/.197/.227 and only stole four bases in six attempts. The one thing he has always posessed that has made him an interesting option for teams to consider and gotten him many opprutinities is his blinding speed.
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Although he posted fairly low stolen base numbers during his 2014 campaign, he stole 24 bases in 26 attempts during his rookie year with the Cubs back in 2011. The following season, he stole a extremely impressive 30 bases in 33 attempts
Campana did sign with the Nationals in August 2015 to a two-year deal. He has currently been rehabbing with the Nationals organization and will be healthy and ready to go for spring training. He will not have an easy road to making the team with an already crowded Nationals outfield. With Jayson Werth, Ben Revere, Bryce Harper and Michael Taylor almost guarantees to be on the 25 man roster on Opening Day barring injury, it will not be an easy road for him.
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Campana will most likely have to compete with players like Tyler Moore, Chris Heisey, Brendan Ryan and Matt den Dekker for the final roster spot. The speedster is a left-handed bat, which does increase his value, and would be able to provide late game speed in pinch running opportunities.
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Although Campana’s chances to make the team at the moment are very slim, he does have his speed going for him, which is something the team has emphasized they want to improve upon under new manager Dusty Baker. It will be very interesting to see his speed on display at spring training this year. If Campana can prove he is healthy again, even if he does not make the Opening Day roster, he could get a September call up and make an impact on the Nationals hopeful playoff push.