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Jesus Flores, who has never played above Single-A, will probably be the Nationals' backup catcher. |
BY TODD JACOBSON
VIERA, Fla.
--Jesus Flores has never played above Single-A, and until last season, he'd never hit more than seven homers in a season.But the 22-year-old Venezuelan has shown enough promise that he'll likely be the Washington Nationals' backup catcher when the team breaks camp in late March, and he has no plans to let the team down this spring.
"I am going to show them that I can do the work and they can have confidence in me when I am behind the plate," Flores said.
The Nationals chose Flores and right-hander Levale Speigner in the Rule 5 draft in December. In order to remain with Washington, they both must make the team's 25-man roster and stay there the entire season.
That means a crash course in big-league catching for Flores, the more likely of the two Rule 5 draftees to stick with the Nats. He attended big-league spring training with the Mets twice, but was never expected to contribute as he'll have to this season.
He said he'll work closely with starter Brian Schneider to learn how to catch big-league pitchers, and he said he most needs to work on the mental part of his game.
He played last year with the St. Lucie Mets, New York's Single-A farm team, and hit .266 with 21 homers and 70 RBIs in 120 games.
"We're willing to take him [on the 25-man roster]," manager Manny Acta said. "I think our minor leagues have been depleted, as you guys know. We would love to carry him and if we have to send him to the minors the next year, we will do it."
Robinson: Not this year
Former Nationals manager Frank Robinson declined an invitation to participate in a day in his honor this season, but didn't rule out returning to Washington in several years for such a celebration.
Nats officials had planned a "Frank Robinson Day" May 20, coinciding with an RFK Stadium game against the Baltimore Orioles. Robinson managed the Expos/Nationals for five seasons, but was most known for his time in Baltimore. The Hall of Fame outfielder helped the Orioles to two World Series title and was the American League MVP in 1966.
"I feel like it's not the right time," Robinson said. "I want to step away for a while and let some time pass and let the Nationals go in the direction they're going and I want to let Manny Acta get himself settled in and not be casting some kind of shadow over him."
Robinson was fired in late September, and he and the Nationals parted ways last month when he declined an offer to join the team in spring training as an unpaid instructor.
General manager Jim Bowden said the team remains in contact with Robinson, and that the "door is still open."
Robinson will work with ESPN through mid-April on coverage of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier, and is still seeking a job in baseball.
Waiting game
Chad Cordero and his agent met with Nationals officials Thursday without a contract resolution, but the closer was confident a deal could be struck before his arbitration hearing Tuesday.
The two sides are separated by half a million dollars. Cordero filed for $4.15 million, while the Nats countered with $3.65 million.
Cordero said the Nationals have offered a two-year deal, but the sides haven't agreed on dollar figures.
Todd Jacobson: 540/735-
Email: 1974tjacobson@freelancestar.com
