WASHINGTON -- Dave Martinez has always kept a close eye on the Nationals’ Minor League players. He watches videos, talks to pitching coaches and managers and tries to monitor everything the young prospects are doing.
“We're getting guys that are moving from Double-A to Triple-A, pushing them up because they're doing well,” said Martinez. “So we'll keep an eye on those guys and see how they progress. It's all about the development right now for those guys in the Minor Leagues.”
Cade Cavalli, Washington’s first-round pick in the 2020 Draft, had quite a week in Double-A Harrisburg. He was named Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Week (July 26-Aug. 1) following a start in which he struck out 12 batters in 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball. It is the second time this season he’s earned the honor, after receiving the Pitcher of the Week accolade in High-A on June 13.
Cavalli is one of those prospects who has risen through the Minor League ranks throughout the season. He was promoted from High-A Wilmington to Double-A ball in June, and had the opportunity to show off his stuff at the SiriusXM MLB Futures Game.
In 14 starts between Willmington and Harrisburg, the Nationals’ No. 3-ranked prospect owns a 2.57 ERA, and he’s recorded a combined 125 strikeouts (71 in High-A and 54 in Double-A).
“For me, as much as you want to talk to some young guys personally, on the phone, I kind of stay away and let them just play,” Martinez said. “[I] let the managers and pitching coaches that they're with handle that stuff.”
Martinez joked, “They'll have enough from me once they get here.”
The Scherzer family says ‘Thank you’ to DC
The Washington community has been special to Max Scherzer and his wife Erica. They have both spoken out in support of the Humane Rescue Alliance for years, including adopting dogs of their own.
The Scherzer family wanted a way to thank Nationals fans for seven great years in the District, so they teamed up with HRA once again to fund adoption fees for every animal adopted from Aug. 4-10.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to honor our time in Washington, D.C., than by sponsoring adoption fees at the Humane Rescue Alliance so even more families can benefit from the love and joy of rescue animals -- a feeling we personally experience every day through our own adopted animals,” said Erica and Max Scherzer. “While our time in the District is coming to an end, we are grateful to Nationals’ fans and the entire community for welcoming us. Whether near or far, we will remain steadfast supporters of HRA.”
The seven-day adoption event comes at the perfect time, according to the HRA, with the adoption center and foster homes at capacity, full of animals that need a loving home.