Washington Nationals news & notes: Joan Adon solid in first start of spring + more…

Joan Adon appeared in two games as a reliever in early 2023 and has since started 10 games, with the Nationals’ 25-year-old right-hander posting a 6.56 ERA, 4.65 FIP, BB/94.18, K/98.36, 46. .294/.374/.479 line ²⁄₃ inning.

“Even when he came out of the bullpen for us a while ago,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters late last year.

“His attitude, his maturity, he stepped back.” [to the minors], he’s worked on some of the things we’ve asked him to do and now he’s getting an opportunity to pitch every five or six days and he’s doing well. ”

Martinez said there was noticeable year-over-year improvement in Adon from 2022 to 2023.

“He’s been throwing the ball a lot better for me since we had him last year. Every time he comes on, he seems to get more and more confident, so that’s a good thing,” the coach said. Ta.

Slowing down and slowing down when he gets into trouble, pitch selection and in-game adjustments are areas of his game that Martinez suggested Adon needs to work on to take the next step.

“That’s part of what we’re talking about with him. When he gets into trouble, he has to slow down the game a little bit,” Martinez explained.

“You know, things go on in his head and he starts trying really hard to adjust, and when that doesn’t work, he overthinks things.”

Adon was making his first appearance in the Grapefruit League this year, and although he struggled in his 2024 debut with six consecutive batters on base, he showed the manager something in his second appearance this spring.

After issuing a leadoff walk (Regarding pitch clock violations) In the top of the sixth inning, while going back and forth between the pitcher, the home plate umpire, and the Nats dugout who claimed the pitch com device was not working, Adon struck out the next six batters he faced and was retired. I let it happen. When he returned to the mound for second-inning work, he was on the side.

His manager liked to see Adon keep everything on track.

“He could have been rattled,” Martinez said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

“He didn’t mind it. He came back and threw strikes. That’s got to be the key for him: throw strikes consistently and stay in the zone.

“In high-leverage situations, he definitely has to be able to control his heart rate. If he can do that, he’s going to have a good thing.”

Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

to fight against minnesota twins Adon, who made his third appearance on Sunday and his first start of the spring, was hit into a double play after a man on first base with one out in the scoreless first inning, had two men retired in the second overtime inning, and in the third inning he pitched 40 pitches to lead the team in order. He was forced to retire. The right-handed pitcher has 27 strikes, a 40% fastball rate, an average speed of 94.7 mph, and in his relatively short playing time, he has hit 28% with curveballs, 15% with sinkers, 10% with sliders, and 8% with changeups. mixed.

Adon was thrilled with the result on his first start.

“Obviously I got a little emotional,” Adon said. Quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco.

“That’s what we prepared to come here and get started. And now we’re grateful for the opportunity.”

It was a little different coming in as a reliever though, actually getting the start instead of building up like a starter.

“I’ve been pitching as a starting pitcher the last few years. And in the bullpen it’s different. You have to prepare differently. I don’t know exactly how to prepare. It’s a process. But in any case, I have to go in and do my job.”

“Adon was really good,” Martinez told reporters.

“He attacked the strike zone with his fastball. His breaking ball was good when he needed it. So it was a good day.”

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