The Washington Nationals didn’t play Tuesday (a scheduled off day) or Wednesday (a rainout). Perhaps the rare two-day break was a blessing for this team given all the roster questions that needed to be resolved in the interim.
The Nationals made two more moves Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday’s demotion of center fielder Lastings Milledge. They recalled outfielder Roger Bernadina from Class AAA Syracuse and outrighted outfielder Leonard Davis to Class AA Harrisburg (clearing a spot on the franchise’s 40-man roster).
Bernadina struggled in a 26-game tryout with Washington last season, batting .211, but he recommitted himself this spring and impressed team officials with his progress. The 24-year-old said he returns to the big leagues a more confident player.
“Last year when I came up, I wasn’t that good,” he said. “Now I’m more motivated because I know I can do it.”
Bernadina will have trouble getting much playing time in the Nationals’ crowded outfield. With Milledge in the minors, manager Manny Acta plans to start Elijah Dukes in center field between Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. Josh Willingham should get some more at-bats, too, perhaps spending some time in right field. (Acta said Dunn could fill in there as well.)
On top of the outfield situation, Washington had to check on the statuses of shortstop Cristian Guzman’s hamstring (needs a couple more days to return) and second baseman Ronnie Belliard’s back (would have been available Wednesday night).
Because both injured infielders are progressing faster than anticipated, the Nationals didn’t need to promote another infielder for insurance purposes.
Once Guzman returns, Acta plans to bat him leadoff and first baseman Nick Johnson second.
Zimmermann delayed
A rainout Tuesday in Allentown, Pa., combined with Wednesday’s rainout in the District, forced the Nationals to change their starting rotation and bump back Jordan Zimmermann’s big league debut one day.
Zimmermann, the organization’s top prospect, was scheduled to make his debut Sunday against the Florida Marlins. He was supposed to throw one final tuneup with Syracuse on Tuesday, but the Chiefs’ game against Lehigh Valley was washed out, so Zimmermann threw a six-inning simulated game.
That should have allowed the 22-year-old right-hander to pitch for the Nationals on Sunday after all, but that was before Wednesday’s game was postponed. The club now will push back all its starters, so Shairon Martis will pitch Thursday’s series finale against the Phillies, with John Lannan, Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera going this weekend against the Marlins and Zimmermann going Monday against the Braves.
Robinson Day postponed
Wednesday’s rainout also postponed the scheduled Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Nationals Park. Every player and uniformed personnel in the majors was to wear Robinson’s No. 42 (which has been retired by Major League Baseball) in tribute to the man who broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.
The Nationals will hold the event at another home game. They didn’t immediately announce when that will take place, but Thursday is booked as Military Appreciation Night.
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