Nationals pitching prospect Sammy Solis, whose 2013 season was mainly spent recovering from Tommy John surgery, had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, going 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 29 strikeouts to seven walks in 29 innings. The performance led general manager Mike Rizzo to believe the 25-year-old is close to breaking into the majors.
"I just think he needs to log innings," Rizzo told MASNSports.com. "He is a guy that his progression was cut short by the Tommy John injury and surgery. But when he is performing and he was healthy ... he pitched extremely well. He is a stuff left-hander that we think his stuff can play in the big leagues in the short term. He gives us some depth in the rotation and a guy that we feel that can help us in the major leagues very soon."
Solis, who Baseball America rates as the No. 5 prospect in the Nationals organization with Robbie Ray now with Detroit, had a 3.32 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 14 appearances, including 13 starts, in the lower levels of the minors last year.