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Strong-Arm Tactics
Top pitching prospect Collin Balester, 21, is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA at Class AAA Columbus.
(Toni L. Sandys - The Post)
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"I said I'd do whatever they wanted me to do," VanAllen said. The results in the first month at Potomac were spectacular, a 3-0 record and 0.66 ERA based on the command of his fastball and smart use of his change-up and developing slider.
Zimmermann, who will turn 22 this month, is a bit different. Taken in the second round of last year's draft out of Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he had an outstanding professional debut with short-season Class A Vermont, going 5-2 with a 2.38 ERA. His performance there got him ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the Nationals' system in the offseason by the trade magazine Baseball America.
Internally, the Nationals had considerable debate about where Zimmermann belonged this spring. Bowden argued for Harrisburg, director of player development Bob Boone and others for Potomac. "I deferred," Bowden said. But after Zimmermann went 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA for Potomac, Bowden promoted him.
"Jim asked me if he could pitch at Double-A," Knorr said. "I mean, I can't say no. Nobody can touch him here."
Zinicola, 23, is the only reliever in the group, and perhaps the strangest case. A sixth-round pick in 2006, he was the organization's minor league pitcher of the year that season.
"He was on the fast track for our bullpen," Bowden said.
Last year, though, was disastrous. Zinicola went 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA for Harrisburg. He lost both his velocity and his command.
"I would ask him how he was doing," Knorr said, "and he'd say, 'Just trying to get better.' That got old. At some point, there was enough of that. I just told him, 'You are better. Now go out and do it.' It was a confidence thing."
In nine appearances this year, including one at Harrisburg, Zinicola hasn't allowed a run, and opponents are hitting .075 against him.
Despite the varied roads to their promotions, Knorr said he noticed a similar trait in all three pitchers.
"They all had that look in their eye, that desire to get to the big leagues," Knorr said. "Some guys get here and are just happy to be here. They weren't. They have a goal to get to the big leagues, and they think they can. Those guys were the best."
Will any of them be the next Lannan, who has a 3.74 ERA in his six starts this season and doesn't appear headed back to the minors -- ever?
"All three of them have an outside shot of pitching for us this year," Bowden said.
And they are not alone. Balester could. Last year's first-round pick, lefty Ross Detwiler, is struggling a bit at Potomac, where he is 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA, but his potential is perhaps unmatched in the organization. And youngsters such as Jack McGeary and Josh Smoker, high school lefties selected last year, haven't even begun their minor league seasons.
"We have tons of talent at each level," VanAllen said. "I know it's hard to make room for us, but I'm definitely grateful that they didn't waste any time. The results are definitely rewarded."
