Nationals Sign 13 to Minors Deals
Infielders Freddie Bynum, Brad Eldred, Joel Guzman, Pete Orr and Matt Whitney, outfielders Ryan Langerhans, Jorge Padilla and Mike Vento, and pitchers Bobby Brownlie, Preston Larrison, J.D. Martin, Ryan Wagner and Justin Jones have all been invited to big league Spring Training.
Brownlie made 21 starts for the Senators in 2008. He went 8-4 with a 3.99 ERA. Brownlie was originally signed by the Chicago Cubs after having been selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2002 draft.
Padilla played only 33 games with the Senators before being promoted to Columbus. He batted .330 with a HR and 14 RBI in 33 games with the Sens. He was originally selected by the Phillies in the third round of the 1998 draft.
Jones started 12 games with the Senators in 2008 going 2-5 with a 5.69 ERA. He was originally selected by the Cubs in the second round in the 2002 draft. Jones has played in the Cubs and Twins organization prior to coming to the Nationals organization prior to the 2007 season.
Orr and Langerhans are the only two among the group who were on the team's 25-man roster this past season. In 73 games, Langerhans hit .234 with three home runs and 12 RBIs, while Orr hit .253 with seven RBIs in 49 games.
The 2009 season, the 23rd for the Senators since returning to the Eastern League, gets underway on Thursday, April 9th at Reading. The home opener for the Senators is Thursday, April 16th against the Reading Phillies.