P-Nats pitching prospects armed for Arizona

Baseball season ended for most of the Potomac Nationals when they packed their bags and headed home for the offseason.

Extra work, however, is in order for pitching coach Paul Menhart and a few select players.

Menhart is in the same role for the Arizona Fall League's Phoenix Desert Dogs. He is working with P-Nats pitchers Jeff Mandel, Drew Storen, former P-Nats Josh Wilkie and Josh Perrault and 2009 No. 1 overall draft choice Stephen Strasburg to strengthen each player's developmental program.

Mandel (0-0, 3.86 ERA), Storen (1-0, 1.04, nine strikeouts in 8.2 innings) and Wilkie (no runs allowed in eight innings) are all excelling despite being only two months removed from the conclusion of the minor league sea-son.

"All [the] guys have shown no signs of fatigue," Menhart said. "The velocity and sharpness of their stuff is better than what I saw during the season. Storen's stuff is [better], Wilkie's is the same and Mandel's is as good if not better than during the season."

After nearly three months of contract negotiations between Washington officials and Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, which led to a record $15.1 million contract, Strasburg's pro career began in September when he worked out in Washington's instructional league. Strasburg tossed three-and-a-third scoreless innings during his first AFL outing, walked one and struck out two.

His next outing, however, was over after two-and-two-thirds innings as Strasburg allowed eight runs on seven hits.

But Strasburg does have the experience of playing on the bronze medal-winning United States Olympic team in 2008, something which Menhart says was truly a blessing.

"He was able to get initiated to what his life was going to consist of based on the media and the atten-tion," Menhart said. "He has really handled the fans, the autograph seekers and the media like a true professional. He's been outstanding in that regard."

Every player's program is different. Menhart wants Storen to throw quicker to the plate to control the running game. Storen had an opportunity to do that on Saturday when he was chosen to play in the league's All-Star game, the Rising Stars Showcase -- a game Strasburg sat out as a precautionary measure.

Wilkie is attempting to fine-tune his breaking ball to complement an improved change-up.

Mandel's workload might be the most challenging. The Carolina League All-Star has made six relief appear-ances, an adjustment from the 25 starts he made with Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg combined.

"It's opening up another avenue for him to get experience," Menhart said. "This is high-level baseball and thus far he's handled it in an outstanding manner.

"His arm's recovered [from the season] and he's ready to go every day. He's a guy that's going to come out here and learn how to warm up. We're also trying to tighten up his slider and improve his changeup because we already know he has a great sinking fastball."

Menhart also said Mandel is forcing hitters to swing early in counts by attacking the strike zone.

President Stan Kasten, newly-hired assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Roy Clark, assistant general manager and vice president of player development Bob Boone and director of player development Doug Harris have enjoyed the performances from their minor leaguers thus far.

"It's all a process," Boone said. "You expect players to get better every year. The ones that can't make that step go away and the ones that can go to the big leagues. It's an opportunity for them to make the gains."

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-878-8049.