After the All-Star break in July, the Nationals made a conscientious decision to put more of their big league-ready players with Double-A Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, as opposed to Triple-A Fresno in California.
It was mostly a matter of geography: Harrisburg is about a 2 1/2-hour drive from Washington, while it is 2,766 miles from Fresno to the nation’s capital.
“It certainly allowed us quicker travel time to the big leagues,” Mark Scialabba, the Nationals’ director of player development, said. “I think it worked out for us.”
Major league teams can expand their active rosters from 25 to 40 on Sunday, but they aren’t required to add 15 players.
Harrisburg has qualified for the Eastern League playoffs, which begin Wednesday at either Bowie or Erie, so that could delay some call-ups. While Scialabba wouldn’t speculate on possible promotions, here is a look at some candidates:
Pitchers
The bullpen has been a concern all season for the Nationals, with a combined 5.87 ERA going into Friday’s home game with the Marlins.
Two possible relievers with Harrisburg who could join Washington in September are major league veterans Greg Holland, 33, and Aaron Barrett, 31, though neither are on the current 40-man roster. That means if the Nationals called up one of them, someone else would have to be taken off the 40-man roster.
Holland, a three-time all-star, pitched in 24 games for Washington last season. He did not allow a run in his first seven games with Harrisburg after he was signed to a minor league contract Aug. 12.
Scialabba said the organization wants to help Holland reach a point where he can help the big-league club.
“To have a guy like that, you can only learn from him,” Barrett said. “He has looked great.”
Barrett, meanwhile, pitched in 90 games out of the bullpen in 2014-15 with the Nationals and has battled back from arm injuries to record a league-high 31 saves for Harrisburg through Wednesday.
“Aaron has really put together a great year,” Scialabba said. “His slider has a chance to be a wipeout pitch up here.”
For now, Barrett said he will wait and see what happens.
Harrisburg pitchers on the Nationals’ 40-man roster include Austin Voth (injured list) and Kyle McGowin, both of whom have seen MLB action this year.
Fresno pitcher James Bourque, also on the 40-man, had a 5.83 ERA in his first 31 games out of the bullpen in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
“He has two electric pitches in his fastball and curve,” Scialabba said.
Fresno starter Wil Crowe (0-4, 6.75), a second-round pick in 2017, is one of the top pitching prospects in the system.
Infielders
One of the Nationals’ top prospects, Carter Kieboom, made four errors in 10 games at shortstop for the Nationals in May while filling in for the injured Trea Turner. Since his major league debut, Kieboom has returned to Fresno and was hitting .305 with 16 homers through Wednesday. Kieboom turns 22 next week.
“What you saw here in D.C. is not an accurate description of who he is on defense,” Scialabba said. “He is getting more reps at third base, second and at short. It is important he gets reps at other positions.”
Fresno infielders Wilmer Difo and Jake Noll and catcher Raudy Read are also on the 40-man roster and all have been with Nationals at some point this year. Difo was hitting .284 heading into Thursday’s game.
Other minor-league infielders on the 40-man roster include Adrian Sanchez and catcher Spencer Kieboom at Harrisburg. Both have spent time with the Nationals this year, and Sanchez recorded his 1,000th career minor-league hit Tuesday.
Outfielders
This takes on a little more urgency since Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton left Wednesday’s game in the first inning after he was hit by a pitch. Manager Dave Martinez said Eaton is day to day.
Outfielders on the 40-man roster in the minors include Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Stevenson in Harrisburg.
Taylor, who plays well in center field, had more than 350 at-bats with Washington in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Florida native was hitting .211 for the Nationals when he was sent to Harrisburg in late June.
Since then, he has hit .229 with eight homers and 10 steals in his first 53 games with the Senators.
“He is still a great defender and plays the game aggressively,” Scialabba said.
A longshot outfield candidate is Richmond native Alec Keller, 27, who was hitting .297 for Fresno through Wednesday but is not on the 40-man roster.
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