Washington Nationals’ Rafael Martin living a dream – MLB Update
Washington Nationals’ top prospect Rafael Martin is having an awesome time in the Arizona Fall League and it seems that he is in prime form for an outbreak minor league season in 2012. Expecting to play with a Triple-A side next season, Martin believes that
he is living a dream, especially after considering his career to be over not long ago.
The right-handed pitcher took a quit from professional baseball when he got a job in a construction company. However, the instinct of a baseball player remains and it was that attraction that propelled him back in the fold. He saw times when he was a softball
player after work hours and a recreational player on Sundays, but never thought of returning to the professional scene, not this quick at least.
Martin is still 27 and is making his comeback at a time when the Nationals are improving the overall structure of the ballclub. The management is going all-out in a bid to instil stability in the roster and is thus not hesitant to sign big names from the
free agent market on a long-term, lucrative contract.
The Nationals performed miserably during the first half of this past season, but Davey Johnson’s installation as manager in midseason turned the tide for the National League East side. Although the team managed a 40-43 win-loss record after the All-Star
break, it was far above the expectations of many, including the players.
Showing confidence in Johnson’s abilities, general manager Mike Rizzo has decided to retain the manager for the next season so that he has ample time to showcase his performance. Johnson was of the view that the Nationals have a talented roster and once
a certain level of chemistry is developed between him and the players, results are expected to inflate on the positive side.
Johnson asserted that he needs minor changes in the roster to be more comfortable with his choice of players and the management has agreed to his assertion. If Martin performs above expectations, or even at par with them, it is highly expected that he might
earn a call-up to the Majors.
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