Nationals To Promote Mitchell Parker

The Nationals will name up left-hander Mitchell Parker on Monday to make his Main League debut.  Grant Paulsen of 106.7FM Radio (X link) reported the information earlier right this moment, and Nats supervisor Davey Martinez confirmed to reporters that Parker will begin Washington’s sport towards the Dodgers.

Parker was a fifth-round choose for the Nats within the 2020 draft, and was added to the group’s 40-man roster final November upfront of the Rule 5 draft so one other membership couldn’t choose the 24-year-old.  MLB Pipeline ranks Parker because the Twenty first-best prospect in Washington’s farm system, whereas Baseball America places the southpaw twenty ninth.

The strikeout potential has at all times been there for Parker, who has a 28.88 Okay% over his 329 2/3 profession minor league innings.  Parker’s prime pitch is a 55-grade fastball that averages roughly 93mph with a ton of break, and he additionally has a plus curveball that works notably effectively as a complement to his fastball.  Nonetheless, controlling both of those pitches or his different choices has been Parker’s largest problem, as his 11.6% stroll fee is on the excessive facet.  Parker has pitched in solely 4 Triple-A video games, with an underwhelming 7.53 ERA over these 14 1/3 innings with Rochester.

Some evaluators really feel his final future is within the bullpen, however Parker has began 72 of his 76 video games within the minors, and the Nationals determine to a minimum of give him a trial run as a starter earlier than deciding on a potential flip to aid pitching.  Going through the star-studded Dodgers lineup is sort of a approach to hit the bottom operating as a giant leaguer, however Parker will get a possibility because the Nats are nonetheless determining easy methods to handle their rotation.

Josiah Gray was positioned on the 15-day injured listing final Tuesday, leaving MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams, Patrick Corbin, and Jake Irvin because the District’s beginning 4.  It appears potential that Jackson Rutledge may’ve gotten the decision forward of Parker, however Rutledge may not be one hundred pc after being hit by a comebacker earlier this week.