After thriving in the daytime heat in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Washington Nationals first-round pick Ross Detwiler will make his high Class A Carolina League debut tonight.
Good news: Jason Simontacchi's injured elbow won't require surgery, and the right-hander will be able to pitch again for the Washington Nationals this season.
The Washington Nationals' future was on display at RFK Stadium last night. Ross Detwiler, a 21-year-old left-hander drafted sixth overall last month, formally signed his first professional contract and spent the rest of the evening doing interviews with every media outlet in town, waving to the crowd and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Washington Nationals' first-round draft choice Ross Detwiler sauntered out to the mound at RFK Stadium last night with his $2.15 million left arm and bounced the ceremonial first pitch in the dirt to catcher Brian Schneider.
Ross Detwiler stood and posed for pictures, wearing his new Washington Nationals No. 18 jersey, flanked on both sides by Ryan Zimmerman and Chad Cordero.
Ross Detwiler became this year's highest-drafted player to agree to terms on a contract. Now, the 21-year-old left-hander will try to become the first player in his class to make it to the big leagues.
The Washington Nationals have come to terms with Michael Burgess, their third pick in last month's amateur draft, but there are indications the club may not be able to sign both of their top two picks and instead might divert their resources toward signing international amateurs.
Ross Detwiler, the Washington Nationals' first pick in Thursday's draft, meet Balor Moore — the first first-round pick in the history of the franchise in 1969.
So the Nationals didn't take my recommendation and take a position player with the sixth selection in yesterday's baseball draft, but only because the two position players they had targeted that high — Mike Moustakas and Josh Vitters — were already taken.
