Thursday, April 29, 2010

Storen promoted to Class AAA

The Nationals have promoted Drew Storen to Class AAA Syracuse, moving the 22-year-old reliever one step closer to the big leagues.

Storen, the 10th overall pick in last summer's draft, dominated in seven appearances at Class AA Harrisburg over the last three weeks. He allowed one run and five hits in 9 1/3 innings, striking out 11, walking one and recording four saves.

That was merely a continuation of Storen's dominant performance last season after signing one day following the draft. In 35 minor-league appearances now spanning three different levels of the organization, he owns a 1.75 ERA, 15 saves and a 60-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Storen's promotion would appear to put him slightly ahead of fellow first-round pick Stephen Strasburg in both pitchers' ascension through the Nats' system. Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in the country last summer, is scheduled to make his fifth start for Harrisburg on Sunday. He's 3-0 with an 0.52 ERA so far for the Senators, striking out 23 while walking only two in 17 1/3 innings.

28 comments:

Brian said...

Great news!

Thanks for the heads up

Unknown said...

I bet dollars to donuts that Strasburg follows him up to Syracuse after Sunday's start. Storen is Strasburg's advance agent besides being a future MLB Stopper.

Sec314 said...

Brian Bruney should start looking for apartments in Syracuse!

natscan reduxit said...

Mark,

... earlier this spring, there was some conjecture bandied about concerning the very date fans might see Strasburg at Nats Park. I recall some talk that he might make his appearance during the Pirates series in early June. Anything further on that front?

bdrube said...

"Brian Bruney should start looking for apartments in Syracuse!"

More like Batista looking for new employment after being released.

Anonymous said...

If they stick to Strasburg's five day schedule and shoot to have him start at Nats Park in early June, the only possible date for that would be Sunday June 6th against the Reds. They'd have to stretch his schedule a day or two before then for his turn to hit during that Pirates series. Of course that could happen if there's another rainout or an off day on one of the days he's scheduled to pitch in Harrisburg or Syracuse.

Jaders said...

Clippard setting up for Capps; Burnett setting up for Storen----Gooooooooooo Nats!!!

Diz said...

Quick question for anyone in the know. Does Storen's signing early and being in the system since last year allow him a shorter time table to move up to the ML level than Strasburg?

Kevin said...

so i guess an ERA under .5 is what is required to get to AAA in this organization - not too shabby! Strasburg will get his call into the managers office sunday afternoon. IIRC, syracuse is home on friday while h'burg is on the road.

Mark Zuckerman said...

Natscan Reduxit: That June 4-June 10 homestand against the Reds and Pirates still looks like a safe bet for Strasburg's debut. If he stays on a strict five-day schedule, he's lined up to start Sunday, June 6 against Cincy. But I wouldn't buy tickets on that premise quite yet. There's still plenty of time for the Nats to move him up or back a day or two.

Anonymous said...

Mark,

I believe if he kept a 5-day schedule from this Sundays start he would be slated for Saturday, June 5th against Cincy, right? (not the 6th) I imagine a Saturday debut is more likely than 5 days later, midweek vs PIT.

I imagine they could try to hold off until the June 18th White Sox weekend series but how many innings do they want to waste in AAA??

Anonymous said...

Anon. @ 3:43--

I think you were right--until Monday's Harrisburg game was rained out, and his Reading start pushed back to Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

Other anonymous, I've counted it off a few times and every fifth day from this Sunday comes out on Sun 6/6, not Sat 6/5. It would have been the Saturday had he not been rained out last Monday and pushed back a day because of it.

natsfan1a said...

Atta boy, Drew. Looking forward to watching you pitch at Nats Park later this year.

Nattydread said...

Mark

Hope you're having a good off-travel-day.

Any news on Flores? While Pudge has been in the stratosphere, and even Nieves has been Mr. Clutch, we've kind of forgotten Jesus. Give us a bone.

Anonymous said...

You are right, Sun, 5/6. my bad.

That has to be the day, ESPN 8p game anyone?

Not Really Stan Kasten said...

I would buy tickets to each game of the Reds and Pirates series. Get your red on. And so on.

Doc said...

Wad'id be neat would be Storen's dad, sports announcer Mark Patrick, be in the broadcast both when Drew pitches in his first Nats' game!

johninmpls said...

Eric,

Does that mean you'll pay dollars if I put up donuts, or the opposite?

I've always wondered that.

Either way, I may take the bet. I am a fan of both currency and sprinkles.

Grandstander said...

I believe the expression "dollars to donuts" was coined before donuts began costing a dollar...

Carl in 309 said...

"I would buy tickets to each game of the Reds and Pirates series."

Perhaps that REALLY is Stan Kasten!

natsfan1a said...

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19970210

(Doughnuts are worthless? Not in this gal's army. :-))

Anonymous said...

Erik Arneson is more "the replacement" for Miguel Batista. That is exactly how they are using him in Harrisburg. And he's pretty much been lights out with just as many saves as Storen, great ERA, WHIP and hasn't allowed a homer. (Whereas Storen and Chico are the two pitchers who have.)

Storen would likely be "a potential replacement" for either Bruney or Walker (since Burnett is left-handed).

Anonymous said...

Oh please let Strasburg's first start be against the Reds and Chapman...oh please!!!

Anonymous said...

For completeness: Andrew Kown is also being used in a 'Batista' like role in Syracuse and doing reasonably well.

Anonymous said...

Mark

Where is MacDougal?

Mark Zuckerman said...

Anon: Mike MacDougal is currently on the DL at Syracuse. He hasn't pitched in a AAA game yet.

Wily Mo Peterson said...

I cant wait to see what a Storen-Clippard-Capps 7-8-9th innings looks like. If our starters can just give us 6 strong innings we can win a lot of games. Too bad we still need to use a roster spot on a guy like Batista because on any given night our starter may be pulled before the end of the 1st.

Post a Comment