Farm

Nationals Report: Down on the farm

Date published: 9/7/2006

The Nationals finalized rosters for the Arizona Fall League and Hawaiian Winter League, adding first baseman Josh Whitesell to the team's AFL roster in place of Larry Broadway and substituting right-hander Adam Carr for right-hander Zechry Zinicola in Hawaii.

Right-handed reliever Dan Foli will also pitch for the Nationals in Arizona.

Whitesell hit 19 homers with Double-A Harrisburg this season, driving in 56 runs with a .264 batting average. Carr was the Nationals' 18th-round draft pick in June out of Oklahoma State and he's had little trouble making the switch from hitter to pitcher.

Carr didn't pitch at all during his senior season at Oklahoma State, but in 25 innings split between the Gulf Coast League and Single-A Savannah, he allowed just eight earned runs.

"He's a guy we're really excited about," said Bob Boone, the Nationals' director of player personnel.

Filling out the Nationals' Arizona Fall League roster are left fielder Kory Casto , shortstop Seth Bynum and relievers Devin Perrin , Roy Corcoran and Brett Campbell . New Orleans pitching coach Rick Tomlin will be the pitching coach for the Peoria Saguaros.

Shortstop Ian Desmond , catcher Devin Ivany and right-hander Marco Estrada will join Carr with the Waikiki Beach Boys of the Hawaiian Winter League.

When the Nationals were scouring minor league rosters in preparation for last year's Rule 5 draft, they spotted Brandon Powell , a third baseman stuck in the talent-rich Diamondbacks system.

They took him in the minor-league phase of the draft and were pleasantly surprised as Powell finished the season as Single-A Potomac's lone Carolina League all-star selection. He led the P-Nats with a .280 batting average, 14 homers, 30 stolen bases and 71 RBIs, opening the eyes of the Nationals' front office.

"He has done a wonderful job for us," Nats farm director Andy Dunn said. "It's great to draft a kid in the Rule 5 and see him have a nice year for you. It's what you want to happen."

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Date published: 9/7/2006