Nats’ Minor League numbers crunch, recap

MIAMI — The Nationals’ season may not be going ideally so far — and that’s being nice — but their farm system definitely had a good year.

Triple-A Columbus said goodbye to Cooper Stadium in grand style, as 16,777 were in attendance for its final game. Double-A Harrisburg finished off the season four games over .500 to accomplish its first winning season since 2002. Class A Potomac, of course, won it all by beating the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to take home the Carolina League title (pictured) – here’s a link to a story about how that title relates to what Nationals manager Manny Acta went through in 1999. Class A Hagerstown improved by six games compared to last year’s record. And the entire farm system has been stocked, reshelved and completely redone over and over again this year, as players went up the ladder at an incredible rate. The result: The Nationals have 16 players on their roster 25 years old or younger.

Ever since roster expasions beginning Sept. 1, Washington has called up 10 players. Here’s a look at how they’ve done since that point:

Roger Bernadina (OF): .214 BA (3-for-14), 1 RBI, 3 R in seven games

Kory Casto (INF): .318 BA (7-for-22), 3 RBIs, 1 R in nine games

Tyler Clippard (RHP): hasn’t played

Mike Hinckley (LHP): 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks in 7 2/3 innings (eight appearances)

Shairon Martis (RHP): 0-2, 2.70 ERA in two starts

Luke Montz (C): 1-for-12, RBI, 2 BB

Mike O’Connor (LHP): hasn’t played

Levale Speigner (RHP): 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB in 3 1/3 innings (four appearances)

Ryan Wagner (RHP): hasn’t played

Lastly, let’s take a look at those really young guys — as if those weren’t young enough. Here’s a look at how the Nationals’ top nine Draft picks — first-round pick Aaron Crow went unsigned – performed in their first Minor League season:

LF Destin Hood (GCL): .256 BA, 14 RBIs in 25 games

SS Daniel Espinosa (A-):  .328 BA, 4 RBIs in 19 games

LHP Graham Hicks (GCL): 0 R, 1 H, 2 Ks in 2 IP

C Adrian Nieto (GCL): .217 BA, 3 RBIs in eight games

RHP Paul Demny (GCL): 4-0, 2.50 ERA in 11 games (six starts)

C Daniel Killian (GCL): .189 BA, 1 HR, 28 RBIs in 40 games

LHP Ricardo Pecina (A-): 1-5, 3.78 ERA in 12 games (eight starts)

LF John Higley (GCL): .346 BA, 16 RBIs in 35 games 

LHP Tom Milone (A-/A): 1-6, 3.51 ERA in 13 games (10 starts)

Double A player in trouble

Garrett Guzman, an outfielder for the Harrisburg Senators, is being charged with a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors, according to The Associated Press. Guzman allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old girl in late July. The 25-year-old lefty was originally drafted in the 10th round by the Twins in the 2001 Draft. In Double A this season, Guzman hit .274 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs. Read the full story here. 

- Alden Gonzalez, associate reporter/MLB.com