Stephen Strasburg’s time in the District is just about up. The No. 1 overall pick has been working out with the Nationals for the last week, continuing his throwing program and taking fielding drills with the major league team.
He’ll fly to Miami with the team for its series against the Florida Marlins, then head to Viera, Fla., for some time in the Nationals’ instructional league before heading to the Arizona Fall League.
“I’ve enjoyed being up here, being around players and everything,” Strasburg said. “That’s kind of what I was lacking [while working out] in Florida. I was down there by myself, doing my own thing, but it’s been a lot of fun being up here.”
From here, the attention on Strasburg only will grow - once he finally gets on a mound, it figures to show up on TV somewhere, and his time in spring training next year will be heavily chronicled.
“I guess it just goes with the territory,” Strasburg said. “I’ve just got to learn to live with it. I’ve kind of accepted the fact that I’m going to have to answer the same questions a few times. It’s all good. I’m finally getting closer to stepping out on the mound, facing some hitters. It’s getting pretty exciting.”
Strasburg, who signed a four-year, $15.1 million contract last month that made him the highest-paid draft pick in major league history, said he hasn’t experienced any animosity or jealousy over the hefty contract from his future teammates.
He wasn’t worried about the possibility of it, either.
“If they like me, they like me,” Strasburg said. “If they don’t, they don’t.”
Call-ups to get some time
One day after Jim Riggleman said he wasn’t likely to give ample playing time to his September call-ups, the Nationals’ interim manager softened his stance somewhat.
Ian Desmond made his major league debut at shortstop, batting seventh and spelling Cristian Guzman for a day. He became the fifth player in franchise history to hit a homer in his big league debut. Justin Maxwell also pinch-hit after starting a handful of games in center field over the last week, and Riggleman said both players will see some time occasionally.
“We talked yesterday about my desire to play the regulars predominantly, let them finish out the year,” Riggleman said. “It’s not exclusively that guys aren’t going to get a day off now and then. Maxwell’s gotten a few starts. Ian will get a start here and there. [It] gives them a chance to help us off the bench. If they do get a pinch-hit appearance, they’ve got to get a few at-bats now and then to stay relatively sharp.”
English claimed from Giants
The Nats claimed left-handed pitcher Jesse English off waivers from the Giants and designated catcher Luke Montz for assignment Thursday. English was added to the 40-man roster; he was 7-7 with a 4.20 ERA for the Giants’ Class AA affiliate this season.
He started 19 games in his 26 appearances.
Montz, who was a September call-up and an outside candidate for a backup job this spring, fell off the Nationals’ radar after hitting .181 at Class AAA Syracuse and Class AA Harrisburg.
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