24-year old righty swinging shortstop Ian Desmond is off to a good start to his major league career. He has played in 16 games for the Nationals so far this season and he is 18 for 59 (.305 avg, .886 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Desmond is showing why he was the Nationals’ #19 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has played in 97 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he was 115 for 348 (.330 avg, .878 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 7 homers, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. The Nationals might ask Christian Guzman to move to 2B to make room at SS for Desmond in 2010.

23-year old lefty starting pitcher Ross Detwiler was the #2 rated prospect coming into this season heading into this season according to Baseball America. Detwiler’s season started well in AA+AAA ball where he started 16 games and went 4-5 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The Nationals were desperate for starting pitching due to injuries so they decided to call up Detwiler who has been overmatched so far this year. Detwiler has pitched in 13 games (12 starts) for the Nationals this season and he is 0-6 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He has allowed 79 hits and has walked 28 batters so far this season in only 64 2/3 innings for the Nationals.

30-year old lefty swinging reserve infielder Pete Orr has been swinging a good stick for the Nationals. He has played in 18 games for the Nationals this season and he is 15 for 49 (.306 avg, .770 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Orr could be in for a lot of playing time the last couple of weeks of the 2009 season so the Nationals can decide whether to bring him back or not in 2010.

The Nationals have acquired 37-year old righty swinging catcher Jamie Burke from the Mariners for cash considerations. Burke played in 13 games for the Mariners this season and he was 5 for 41 (.122 avg, .358 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He has now played in 184 games in his major league career in which he is 107 for 380 (.282 avg, .690 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 3 homers and 38 RBIs. Burke will backup Josh Bard for the rest of the season due to injuries to Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves. Bard has played in 79 games for the Nationals so far this season and he is 56 for 241 (.232 avg, .642 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 4 homers and 27 RBIs. Getting Burke was a good move for the Nationals as he should help them the rest of the year without costing much.

30-year old righty swinging LF Josh Willingham is hitting the ball well for the Nationals. It’s just too bad that the Nationals weren’t starting Willingham from day #1 this season. He has played in 117 games for the Nationals this season and he is 103 for 371 (.278 avg, .852 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 22 homers and 59 RBIs. With Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham in the middle of the lineup the Nationals will continue scoring a lot of runs. They really need to bring in some quality pitching for next season.