Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, October 16, 2023. I am Haden Raymer, let’s dive into the news.

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Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Nats add a new voice as a director of amateur scouting

The Nationals have reportedly come to an agreement with Brad Ciolek to join the team as the senior director of amateur scouting, according to Keith Law of The Athletic. Ciolek worked as director of draft operations with the Orioles. There he played a hand in drafting key players from their current core like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday.

Ciolek will now work under the new scouting director, Danny Haas. Both Haas and Ciolek worked together with the Orioles from 2013-2019.

My take: This is the first signing by the Nationals that universally was applauded so far this offseason. Consistently adding talent through the draft has been Mike Rizzo’s biggest challenge during his tenure with the Nationals.

I’m making a rather large assumption, but you’d figure Haas played a key role in getting Ciolek. If so, both additions are great. If Haas continues to add quality scouts to his department, we may watch the Nationals take a step forward as an organization to be consistent contenders. The next key in the puzzle is the director of player development. If the Nationals can add a quality candidate there, the floor of this rebuild and future teams is going to rise.

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MLB Postseason Continues

The MLB Postseason continues with the Championship Series round

Rangers 2, Astros 0: Jordan Montgomery dominated the Astros lineup as he pitched 6 and 1/3 innings while striking out six. The shaky Rangers bullpen kept it together to deny any more runs. Evan Carter doubled in the second inning and Jonah Heim drove him in with a single in the next at-bat. Leody Taveras hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth to give the Rangers a good shot to take game one. The Rangers secured the victory by doubling up Jose Altuve in a similar vein to which Harper was doubled up in the NLDS. I don’t think we will hear an “atta boy Altuve” come out of the Rangers clubhouse this time.

Down on the Farm

The Arizona Fall League is in full swing and Richard dove in on the numbers for all the Nationals prospects so far at the AFL. You can read that below.

2023 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: Updated look at the Nationals Prospects

Richard • Oct 16, 2023

With about a month’s worth of games left to play in the Arizona Fall League, the Nationals affiliate team, the Scottsdale Scorpions, sit in third place with a 6-4-1 record. The Washington Nationals prospects on this year’s team: RHP Jack Sinclair, RHP

Read full story →

Featured Stories of the Day

Kim Ng leaves as GM of the Marlins via MLB Trade Rumors

Giants interview Alyssa Nakken for manager job via ESPN

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