Difo slugs first grand slam on career night

Wilmer Difo came out of nowhere last year to scoop South Atlantic League MVP honors and be considered one of the Minor Leagues' most surprising breakout acts.

Nobody should be surprised if the Nationals' No. 8 prospect takes another league by storm this season.

The switch-hitting shortstop went 5-for-6 with his first career grand slam and five RBIs on Saturday night in Class A Advanced Potomac's 15-8 win at Lynchburg Hillcats. Difo also doubled, singled three times, scored three runs and swiped two bases and is batting .316 with nine RBIs through 10 Carolina League games.

"The body of work was impressive," said Potomac skipper Tripp Keister, who also managed Difo in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2012 and for 16 games with Class A Hagerstown in 2013. "He showed everything he's got. He led off the game with a bunt single and ended up in the ninth inning with a grand slam. He showed his whole offensive game tonight.

"I don't think he will surprise anyone, he won't sneak up on anyone. He had a good big league camp and played well overall. He's kept that going here. People that know him know that he can run and hit and play defense and do a lot of things. He's a fun player to watch."

The 23-year-old beat out an infield hit in the first inning, laced an RBI double to left field in the second, singled to left in the fourth and again to right in the eighth. He came to the plate with the sacks full and two outs in the ninth before sending right-hander Delvy Francisco's fastball over the right field wall.

"The grand slam was huge because it was in a big spot and because it put the game away," Keister said. "He had two strikes and he fouled a couple balls off to stay alive. He got a pitcher's pitch that was up, and he didn't miss it. We had been back and forth, so that was something we needed. His at-bats as a whole were impressive. He was pretty locked in tonight."

Saturday marked Difo's second career five-hit game and his first since he went 5-for-6 for Hagerston last Aug. 11 in Delmarva.

The native of the Dominican Republic broke out last year, batting .315 with 14 homers, 90 RBIs and 91 runs scored in 136 games with Hagerstown. Difo recorded 49 steals in 58 attempts, ranked second in the Minors with 176 hits and earned South Atlantic League MVP honors.

Signed by Washington as a non-drafted free agent in 2010, he'd hit only five homers in his first three years in pro ball. In 2013, Difo batted .217/.296/.348 in 61 games across three levels.

P-Nats starter Wander Suero (2-0) recorded the win, despite allowing seven runs -- five earned -- on nine hits while striking out four over five innings.

Lynchburg counterpart Luis Lugo (0-1) surrendered eight runs -- six earned -- on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings. He fanned four and walked two. Indians No. 3 prospect Bradley Zimmer homered for the third straight game, giving him a league-leading four dingers on the season, all against Potomac. The Nats and Hillcats already have faced each other seven times.

"Some people doubt my power, which doesn't bother me at all," said Zimmer, whose brother, Kyle, is a top Royals pitching prospect. "It's something that comes along with being competitive and putting myself in a good position at the plate. The power is definitely coming. This is a team sport and I'm not going to make this about me just because I had a good day at the plate. It's not going to upset me because I'm committed to the team and helping the team win.

"I think you can see from the results that [Difo] is going to hit. He had a good game tonight and he's been hard to get out this series. Hopefully, we can make some pitches on him tomorrow. He seems to have a bright future ahead of him."