Esmailyn

Gonzalez

Maybe the Nats erred in not sending Gonzalez to full-season ball in his age-18 season. He’s excelled as a GCL repeated early on, hitting .452/.500/.645 in 31 at-bats. The switch-hitter is already one of the Nationals’ top prospects despite his lack of experience.

Gonzalez, 16, agreed to terms on the first day Latin American prospects are eligible to sign. The Nationals compared Gonzalez’s glove to Ozzie Smith and say he could potentially have the bat of a Miguel Tejada. They added that he’s working on a cure for cancer that should be completed within the next couple of months.

Again with the four sources for SI. Of course, this isn’t as big as the A-Rod scoop, but it’s a definite blow to the Nats and, particularly, GM Jim Bowden, who hyped Gonzalez from the moment he landed the shortstop. Gonzalez, already considered a modest disappointment, was supposed to 16 then and 19 now. At age 23, he wouldn’t seem to be a prospect at all.

It was revealed a few days ago that Gonzalez’s real name is Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, and he’s actual four years older than his listed age. “Jose is on a leave,” team president Stan Kasten said. “With all the questions swirling and all the work being done still on this matter, we felt it would be a good time for him to be away from here.”

In addition to firing Rijo, the team plans to shut down its academy in the Dominican Republic, which operated out of a complex owned by Rijo. Fernando Ravelo, GM of the Dominican Winter League Tigres de Licey, could replace Rijo as the Nationals’ director of operations in the Dominican Republic.