Washington Nationals News: Sean Burnett impressing in Nats’ camp
By Pablo Roa
Today’s District Daily features stories on Washington Nationals’ reliever Sean Burnett‘s impressive spring and Mike Rizzo looking back on a decade with the Nationals.
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s James Wagner discusses left-hander Sean Burnett’s comeback campaign with the Nationals this spring. As Wagner writes in his article, Burnett has pitched well and continues to impress. The left-hander has allowed just one hit in five appearances this spring and appears to have overcome the injury struggles that sidelined him for much of the last few seasons.
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Burnett is no stranger to the Nationals and their fans. The left-hander spent four years in the nation’s capital earlier in his career and played a big role in the team’s first ever postseason appearance in 2012. If he continues to excel this spring and ultimately makes the big league roster, he’ll have a chance to do it again in 2016.
As Wagner notes, Burnett’s chances of making the team could depend more on the makeup of the bullpen than on Burnett’s perfomance this spring. The Nationals already have two left-handers in the bullpen — Oliver Perez and Felipe Rivero — and there may not be a spot for Burnett.
Of course, for the Nationals, this is a great problem to have. And for Burnett, a strong spring will likely land him a big league job somewhere, even if it’s not in the nation’s capital.
Also in today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson interviews general manager Mike Rizzo, who looks back on a decade of work with the Nationals.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Sean Burnett continues to impress in his comeback with Nationals
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
VIERA, Fla. — Sean Burnett is back in a Washington Nationals uniform, which could be a heartwarming sight for die-hard fans, but he still needed to prove that his oft-injured left arm could withstand the rigors of pitching again. Because of bone chips, a torn flexor tendon and Tommy John surgery over the past three years, Burnett has logged only 10 1/3 innings since the start of the 2013 season.
And through five appearances this spring, Burnett has impressed. He allowed his first hit of the spring in the eighth inning of the Nationals’ 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday but quickly erased it with a trademark double play. A scout who watched Burnett this week said the left-handed reliever “looked like his old self,” and he was throwing his go-to sinkers 87-88 mph, which is just under what he was throwing during his last successful season in 2012. Read full article here.
Rizzo reflects on decade with Nationals
Mike Rizzo is currently in his 10th year with the Nationals. He came in as an assistant general manager in July 2006, and beginning in 2007, he helped rebuild the farm system by selecting Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler in the Draft.
After replacing Jim Bowden as general manager in 2009, Rizzo turned the Nationals into championship contenders by signing free agents Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche, drafting first-round picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper and trading for Gio Gonzalez and Denard Span. By turning the team around, Rizzo was able to win division titles in 2012 and ’14, but he wants more. Read full article here.