Washington Nationals add six players to 40-man roster

The Washington Nationals chosen the contracts of infielder Jake Alu, left-handed pitcher Matt Cronin, outfielder Jeremy De La Rosa, left-handed pitcher Jose Ferrer, right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin and right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge on Tuesday. Moreover, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Tommy Romero for project whereas outfielder Yadiel Hernandez, left-handed pitcher Evan Lee and right-handed pitcher Jackson Tetreault cleared outright waivers and had been assigned to Triple-A Rochester. On Monday, Nov. 14, the Nationals requested unconditional launch waivers on left-handed pitcher Seth Romero. On Thursday, Nov. 10, catcher Tres Barrera and left-handed pitcher Francisco Pérez cleared outright waivers. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and Basic Supervisor Mike Rizzo made the bulletins.

Alu, 25, led Washington’s Minor League system in common (.299), slugging proportion (.506), OPS (.871), doubles (40), extra-base hits (62) and complete bases (254) and tied for first in RBI (81) in 2022. He ranked second in on-base proportion (.365) and hits (150) whereas showing in 132 video games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester.

The left-handed hitting Alu completed the 2022 marketing campaign on a season-high 20 recreation on-base streak, hitting safely in 19 of the 20 contests. He recorded two separate hitting streaks of 14 video games from June 28-July 16 and Sept. 11-Sept. 27.

At third base, Alu led all of Minor League Baseball (infielders and outfielders) with 17 defensive runs saved, in accordance with Baseball Data Options. Along with his 114 video games at third base, Alu additionally frolicked at second base (9 video games) and designated hitter (6 video games).

Alu was chosen within the twenty fourth spherical of the 2019 First-Yr Participant Draft out of Boston Faculty. He was signed by Nationals scout John Malzone.

Cronin, 25, went 4-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 48 video games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester in 2022. He struck out 56 batters, surrendered simply three residence runs and held opposing batters to a .191 common in 52.0 innings. He didn’t enable an earned run in his first 16 appearances (18.1 IP) from April 9 via Might 30. Cronin struck out 24 batters and allowed simply seven hits (.117 opp. AVG) over this stretch. 

Since being taken within the fourth spherical of the 2019 First-Yr Participant Draft out of the College of Arkansas, Cronin has pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 147 strikeouts, six residence runs and a .184 opponents’ common in 88 skilled outings (104.0 IP).

Cronin is rated by Baseball America because the No. 17 prospect – and high left-handed pitching prospect – in Washington’s system. He was signed by Nationals scout Jerad Head.

De La Rosa, 20, was Washington’s Co-Hitter of the Yr in 2022 after batting .280 with a .358 on-base proportion and a .436 slugging proportion with 23 doubles, three triples, 11 residence runs, 67 RBI, 48 walks, 66 runs scored and 39 stolen bases in 101 video games between Single-A Fredericksburg and Excessive-A Wilmington. He was one in all solely 12 gamers in all of Minor League Baseball to place collectively a slash line of .280/.358/.436 or higher to go together with 39 stolen bases.

De La Rosa ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in stolen bases (T2nd, 39), on-base proportion (4th, .358), batting common (fifth, .280), OPS (fifth, .794), RBI (T5th, 67) and complete bases (sixth, 173). He set profession highs in almost each statistical class. Following the season, he was named a Carolina League All-Star.

De La Rosa is rated by Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com because the No. 10 prospect in Washington’s Minor League system. He was signed as a world free agent on July 2, 2018, by Nationals scout Modesto Ulloa.

Ferrer, 22, loved a breakout season in 2022, going 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 48 aid appearances between Single-A Fredericksburg, Excessive-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. He recorded 78 strikeouts and simply 11 walks in 65.1 innings between the three stops. Ferrer recorded 11 saves, third-most amongst Nationals Minor Leaguers. He was chosen to take part within the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Recreation.

A left-hander, Ferrer’s greatest stretch of the season got here June 5 to Aug. 11. In 22 video games, he went 2-0 with six saves and a 0.86 ERA (3 ER/31.1 IP) whereas pitching for Excessive-A Wilmington. This included an 18.2 scoreless innings streak from June 5 to July 10, the longest scoreless innings streak amongst South Atlantic League pitchers in 2022.

Ferrer was signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2017, by Nationals scout Moises De La Mota.

Irvin, 25, went 0-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 24 begins between Excessive-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. His 24 begins had been tied for probably the most of any Nationals Minor Leaguer, whereas his 107 strikeouts ranked sixth within the system.

Irvin posted a 1.50 ERA (5 ER/30.0 IP) with 29 strikeouts and no residence runs allowed in 9 begins with Wilmington earlier than being promoted to Harrisburg on June 2. He allowed zero or one earned run in 12 of his 24 begins.

Irvin was chosen within the fourth spherical of the 2018 First-Yr Participant Draft out of the College of Oklahoma. He was signed by Nationals scout Ed Gustafson.

Rutledge, 23, went 8-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 20 begins for Single-A Fredericksburg in 2022. His eight wins had been tied for probably the most in Washington’s Minor League system. He struck out 99 batters in 97.1 innings pitched.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander completed the season sturdy, going 5-1 with a 2.72 ERA (13 ER/43.0 IP) and 47 strikeouts in his closing seven begins of the season. He tossed a career-high 8.0 innings on July 30 vs. Salem (BOS) and struck out a career-high 10 batters on Aug. 17 at Lynchburg (CLE).

Rutledge is rated by Baseball America as Washington’s No. 9 prospect and by MLBPipeline.com because the No. 12 prospect within the system. He was chosen within the first spherical (No. 17 total) of the 2019 First-Yr Participant Draft out of San Jacinto (Texas) Junior Faculty. Rutledge was signed by Nationals scout Brandon Larson.