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Bonifacio |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
WASHINGTON--
The Washington Nationals touted Emilio Bonifacio as their second baseman of the future when they traded for him on July 22, but that didn't stop them from stockpiling middle-infield depth.That included trading for Anderson Hernandez, whose recent emergence at the plate has provided the foundation for a 2009 spring-training position battle between Bonifacio and him. Manager Manny Acta doesn't consider that a negative development. In fact, his evaluations of both players during the remainder of the year will impact who starts next season.
"Once they show up to the big league camp, a lot is going to be decided over there," Acta said. "But that being said, the last month of the season is that lasting impression that you leave on people. Going into spring training, whoever played the best here probably has the upper hand on getting in."
Hernandez hit .340 with 12 RBIs in his first 17 games since arriving from the New York Mets in a trade on Aug. 20. His breakout was somewhat surprising considering he batted only .203 in 125 games at Triple-A before the trade, in which Washington sent reliever Luis Ayala to the Mets.
Hernandez's transformation has been fueled by improved confidence. When he was struggling in the minors, he was hard on himself because he knew he could play better than what his numbers showed. Now, he is more relaxed.
"When I got traded, I just said, 'Well, I'm just going to start again. I'm going to try to do my best again.' I've been working hard," Hernandez said.
Acta is familiar with Hernandez from his days as a coach with the Mets and said he isn't surprised by Hernandez's contributions so far.
"He probably needed a change of scenery," Acta said. "Other than 2006 when he started as the second baseman there, he hasn't had that many at-bats at the big league level. So I think being able to play more and the change of scenery probably helped him."
Hernandez, 25, played 117 games at shortstop in Triple-A this season but since the trade has played 12 at second and only two at shortstop. Acta believes Hernandez and Bonifacio are both capable major-league defenders.
"I think [the deciding factor] is going to have to be what they can bring to the table offensively and on-base percentage and stuff like that," Acta said.
That's where Bonifacio, 23, has fallen back. He began last night hitting .246 in 130 at-bats with the Nationals. The switch hitter is batting only .135 against left-handed pitching.
"We're just going to continue to pound him, keep working with him and maybe get less body movement from the right side so he can see the ball longer and have a better approach from the right side," Acta said.
Bonifacio has a clear speed advantage, though. He'll start tonight, Acta said, and will against most right-handers the rest of the season.
"We're just trying to get at-bats for all of them," Acta said.
Flores vows to return
Catcher Jesus Flores would not rule himself out for the rest of the season yesterday. He insisted that he will rest and rehabilitate his sprained left ankle with hope of getting back in the lineup.
"It has been progressing," said Flores, who had just removed his walking boot. "The doctor just said that I got to wait a little bit more and give it a little more rest because it's still swollen.
Flores, who was hurt in a collision at home plate on Sept. 2, has been icing his ankle, putting it in hot water and running on it on the Nationals' underwater treadmill. He has also been taking anti-inflammatory medication.
Regardless of whether he returns this year, he said he will play winter ball in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Navegantes del Magallanes, which are based in Valencia. He was assured by the team that he will be their everyday catcher.
Flores is hitting .256 with eight homers and a team-leading 59 RBIs in 301 at-bats this season.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
