Mitchell Parker to make MLB debut in LA:
Speaking to reporters before Saturday’s Game 2 against the Athletics in Oakland, Davey Martinez announces who will start for Washington in the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at Chavez Ravine. I wasn’t ready.
“No,” he said. [GM Mike Rizzo] “We’re going to talk about other things today,” Martinez said, “…but we haven’t decided who’s going to pitch on Monday yet, but we’ll let you know hopefully tomorrow.”
Asked at the time if he would be able to play in the bullpen, the manager said it was something the club had discussed.
According to sources, the Nationals are calling up LHP Mitchell Parker to make his MLB debut tomorrow.
Parker, 24, was a fifth-round pick in 2020. He made 150,000 in 124 IP in the minors last year. His development has become a success story for Washington. He started this year at Triple-A.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 14, 2024
“That’s what we talked about. Yesterday was definitely a big help for Jake. [Irvin] He pitched strong for six innings, so let’s see how the next two days go. ”
After the final game against the Athletics, Martinez revealed that 24-year-old 2020 fifth-round pick Mitchell Parker will be making his MLB debut.
“It’s a funky, unconventional development, mechanics,” special assistant general manager Chris Klein, then the club’s assistant GM and vice president of scouting operations, told reporters after the fifth round of 2020.
“That’s a deception, it’s an overhand slot. 90-97, but he’ll throw around 92-93. And he has an above-average breaking ball.
“Right now, he’s handling his breaking ball better than his fastball. He’s tweaking his throws a little bit.”
Over four seasons in the Nationals’ system, Parker continued to improve, posting a combined ERA of 4.15 and making one start this season in Triple-A, allowing one hit and one earned run in four innings. call.
Martinez said Sunday that he thinks the left-handed pitcher will handle himself well when he makes his MLB debut tonight.
“He’s going to have a lot of emotions,” Martinez said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
“If he can get through the first inning, I think he’ll be fine. It’s always the first inning that they get their momentum going. But his heart rate is very low and I like that about him. ”
Mitchell Parker will make his MLB debut tomorrow night at Dodger Stadium, Davey Martinez announced. The left-hander, a 2020 fifth-round pick, will face Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in his first Major League innings.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 14, 2024
“Everyone thinks about what it’s going to be like when they go out for the first time,” Parker said. As quoted on MLB.com.
“Hopefully this exceeds everything we dreamed of. It should be fun.”
Mitchell appeared in four games with the Nationals this spring, pitching a total of six innings, pitching four scoreless innings and posting a .111 BAA.
His manager took a good look at the southpaw.
“The way he attacked the strike zone, it seemed like nothing really fazed him. He was very calm,” Martinez said. “He has good balance in his pitching. He’ll go out there and hopefully keep us in the game.”
Riley Adams ready:
Keibert Lewis can’t seem to get over the flu he’s been battling since the series in San Francisco.
The Nationals may have kept catcher Drew Millas if they had known he would be unavailable, but after the club vacationed in California on Thursday, the Nationals announced that they would have retained 26-year-old Drew Millas. Obtained as an option.
“Yeah. [Ruiz] He said he felt better and yesterday [Thursday] He said he was starting to feel sick again,” manager Davey Martinez explained before Friday night’s series opener against the Athletics.
“Poor guy, he was just lying in the training room. So he’s sick.”
“He’s going to see the doctor again today to see what’s going on,” Martinez added.
“I saw him the other day, and he has the flu. So he’s feeling really weak. He still has a little fever, so I hope he gets better in a few days.”
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Riley Adams, 27, is in his fourth year with the club after being acquired on a loan deal in 2021, and although he had a good performance against Oakland, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a walk, coach Martinez said he was not expected to play on Saturday. He returned to the lineup for the game. After guiding Jake Irvin’s start the night before, he did the same in this game.
Adams’ ability to step in when needed without missing a beat is something his manager recognized before his second of three innings at the Coliseum. How can Adams do that?
“He treats you the same way every day,” Martinez explained.
“He comes to the ballpark every day prepared to play. And he attends pitchers’ meetings and is ready in case something happens.
“So I’m never worried about Riley Adams. He’s ready to play every time I put him in the lineup.”
For a player used to playing regularly, it took Adams some time to get used to the backup role, but according to the Nats’ captain, he made it and really turned the corner in late 2022. That’s what it means.
“He’s gotten so much better. He’s improved his called game, his catching, even his at-bats, and he’s gotten a lot better at the plate. So he’s done well. He’s done well.
“I know I can rely on him when I need him. He’s gotten a chance to play a little bit more than usual right now, but he’s done a great job.”
Adams went 2-for-4 on Saturday with two singles and kept the inning alive with his second two-out hit in the ninth inning, scoring an RBI after Trey Lipscomb moved from first base to third base to put the Nationals up three times. He led by -1. As.
Adams had hits in five of six games leading up to the final game of the 2024 series against the Athletics in Oakland, going 7-for-22 and hitting in each of his final three games (11 5 hits at bat).
He went 2-for-4 and scored one run in Sunday’s 7-6 loss.
“He’s been a godsend to me,” Martinez said after Saturday’s 3-1 win.
“Today was another example. He did really well, both him and Mackenzie.” [Gore] We worked really well together and he hit some big hits for us so he’ll probably be there tomorrow so he better get some rest. ”
With Milas optioned out and Lewis still unavailable, Ildemaro Vargas was the right fit to be the Nats’ emergency catcher on Saturday…
Ildemaro Vargas warmed up this time in full catcher gear. I could see his smile all this time. https://t.co/1utfiJHYg4
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 13, 2024