Big Shot: Nats' Flores Is Hard to Keep Down

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THE ONLY THING CAPABLE of slowing down Jesus Flores this season has been a vicious foul tip straight into his face mask. And even then it took two of them off the bats of Arizona hitters to drag Flores from the game.

Opposing pitchers haven't been able to keep the Nationals' second-year catcher down. Nor has Washington's front office, which as recently as April wanted to keep him in the minor leagues, convinced that the 23-year-old needed more seasoning.

A Rule 5 draftee, he hit .244 in spot duty last year. The Nationals wanted him to play every day this year but figured the only place that would happen would be in Triple-A Columbus. They signed free agent catchers Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada to handle the big-league pitching staff.

Flores took the decision in stride but didn't necessarily agree that he wasn't ready for the majors.

"For me, personally, I don't think so," he said. "I've been here. This is my second year. I just want to play every day."

Then both Lo Duca (hand) and Estrada (elbow) landed on the disabled list and neither is expected back in the foreseeable future. Flores was called back up and excelled. He hit his first career grand slam last week, and entering Wednesday was batting .333. He's grown as a defensive player, as well.

"That guy's really turned into some heck of a catcher," right-hander Jason Bergmann said. "I trust him with every pitch. We've got our own little code that goes on with both what to throw and if I shake [off the signal] and how we go from there."

The Nationals will face a decision when Lo Duca is ready to return. If healthy, the veteran could have value on the trading block later this summer. But he'll have to prove he's healthy, and he can do that only on the field. The question will be whether the Nationals are willing to take Flores out of the everyday lineup.

"He's calling such a great game," Bergmann said. "You can see it in the pitchers and how they're doing. He's really maturing and becoming a great major-league catcher."

Written by Express contributor Derek Turner
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post