Nationals calling up top catching prospect Pedro Severino
By Ted Fleming
Wilson Ramos is having a career year and Jose Lobaton is considered a solid backup, so where does Severino fit in with Washington?
The Washington Nationals are calling up their top catching prospect, Pedro Severino, from their Triple-A Syracuse club. The 23-year-old, who recently posted a Facebook picture from the airport, is slated to meet team representatives in San Francisco, according to a report at MASN.
Severino was signed as an amateur free agent in 2010 and has appeared in three big league games — two a year ago when the rosters expanded in September, and one earlier this season. It’s not yet known how he fits in the near term, why with the Nationals already fielding two catchers in starter Wilson Ramos and backup Jose Lobaton, neither of whom has displayed any depth-compromising injuries.
Ramos is enjoying his finest season in the big leagues, touting .333/.386/.535 splits to go along with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 86 games. Lobaton, meanwhile, is in his third season in Washington, and while hitting just .194 this season and .222 over his career, has provided some clutch hits for the Nationals since coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Severino and has a career .240/.291/.336 minor league slashline. He entered the season as the club’s No. 16 prospect in the MLB Pipeline.
While he’s hit just 19 homers in 412 games, Severino is a solid defensive backstop, having thrown out 35-percent of would-be base-stealers.
The Nationals are expected to make a corresponding roster move before tonight’s second game of a four game set with the Giants.
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