LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Bryce Harper made his return to the Washington Nationals’ lineup Wednesday night, but it was in a new place: center field. The outfielder, who missed the past six games with a tight left calf, played just 20 of his 109 minor league games last year in center.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he’d planned all along to play Harper in center at some point this spring. With Rick Ankiel still dealing with a left hamstring strain, Johnson felt the time was right. When third base coach Bo Porter ran the idea of playing center by Harper, the player’s reaction was enthusiastic.

“As far as I’m concerned, anybody who can throw and run like he can should have experience in all the outfield positions,” Johnson said.

The Nationals have had a well-documented search for a long-term solution in center field, but Harper has never really been considered that answer. Talk of him joining the Nationals‘ major league team this season focused on Jayson Werth shifting to center and Harper slotting into right.

Johnson feels that’s partly because of a lack of experience elsewhere. Harper played 51 games in right field last season and 37 in left.

“Just because he’s got a big, strong arm, that doesn’t mean I have to just play him in right field,” Johnson said. “Who knows what the configuration is going to be tomorrow, much less Opening Day or next season? I’m giving him an opportunity to go express some talent and see how far along he is.”

Harper’s quest to make the roster out of spring training may have been derailed a bit by the time missed with the injury, but Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he doesn’t believe it will affect the team’s decision-making process.

“It’s kind of set him back a little bit as far as getting his at-bats,” Rizzo said. “But we feel he has enough time to get back in the swing of things.”

The Nationals have been pleased with Harper’s progress this spring. He’s 5-for-11 with a walk and two strikeouts in four games. He’s shown great speed on the base paths, along with some inexperience. He’s also shown improvements in the outfield.

As for whether a decision has been made on Harper for the Nationals‘ Opening Day roster, Rizzo points to the remaining 19 games on the Nationals‘ spring schedule. There’s still time.

Nats not shopping Lannan

Rizzo has gotten several calls on left-hander John Lannan, but he said Wednesday he hasn’t been peddling the 27-year-old. The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are among teams rumored to be monitoring Lannan this spring.

“I am not actively shopping him,” Rizzo said. “I haven’t actively shopped him all winter.”

If things remain as is with the Nationals‘ pitching staff, Lannan may be the odd man out in a roster crunch as the season nears. Chien-Ming Wang, who has performed well this spring, appears to be the leader for the fifth starter spot.

Lannan, who finished 2011 with a 3.70 ERA in 184 2/3 innings, is under team control through 2014 and has a minor league option remaining on his contract, though he will make $5 million this season.

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© Copyright 2012 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland remains confident the club has an internal candidate that can fill the club’s fifth-starter vacancy.

But that hasn’t prevented the team from reportedly looking outside the organization — particularly at Washington Nationals left-hander John Lannan, according to multiple reports.

Lannan, a 10-game winner last season, is a back-of-the-rotation starter that isn’t expected to make the rotation out of camp after Washington added depth to its rotation this offseason.

A five-year veteran, Lannan went 10-13 last year with a 3.70 ERA in 33 starts. He is due to make $5 million this season.

Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila confirmed in late February that the team would scout pitchers at other spring training facilities throughout spring, but a source told CBSSports.com that the club has yet to discuss a trade for Lannan.

The Tigers currently have six internal candidates competing for the final spot in the rotation. Leyland confirmed early Wednesday that right-hander Jacob Turner would be shut down for the next week, but said that the 20-year-old remains in running.

Left-handers Andy Oliver, Drew Smyly, Casey Crosby, Adam Wilk and Duane Below are also being considered.

Despite Washington’s overabundance of starting pitching, general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post early Wednesday that the club is not actively shopping Lannan and hasn’t received “a lot of interest” in the 27-year-old.

“I haven’t made any calls. I’ve fielded several calls,” Rizzo told The Post. “But, again, this is way too early to say we have too much starting pitching.”

Washington acquired former Tigers target Gio Gonzalez and ex-Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson this offseason. They are expected to join Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Chien-Ming Wang in the five-man rotation.

VIERA, Fla. – Shelby Miller isn’t likely to break camp with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring. The 21-year-old pitching prospect gave a good indication, though, that he’s not that far away from being able to make an impact in the big leagues.

Overcoming the early jitters of his first spring training start, Miller allowed one run on two hits in two innings against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in a game stopped after nine innings with the score tied at 3.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was particularly impressed with the way Miller was able to mix up his pitches, instead of simply relying on an overpowering fastball.

“He’s just got good stuff,” Matheny said. “He’s starting to use his off-speed pitches a little better. He’s getting a feel of when to use them when he’s behind in the count. He’s maturing every time he gets out there.”

Jordan Zimmermann threw three scoreless innings in his spring training debut for the Nationals. He struck out three and gave up three hits.

Zimmermann has said he hopes to throw at least 200 innings this season after the club limited him to 161 1-3 in 2011 when he was a year removed from Tommy John surgery.

“I just wanted to locate the fastball,” Zimmermann said. “I had kind of a rough time today. I was all over the zone with it. But when I needed to make a pitch, I was able to make a pitch. That’s the main thing, locate the fastball and mix in a few off-speed (pitches) for the first time.”

Cardinals reliever Lance Lynn gave up a tying, two-run homer to Carlos Maldonado in the ninth.

Daniel Descalso homered for St. Louis.

Ian Desmond led off the game for Washington with a double and later scored on a single by Jason Michaels.

That first inning also produced a scare for St. Louis when Miller collided with Descalso, who was chasing a wind-blown popup from third base.

Miller said he felt pain in his calf, but insisted he would be all right. He retired the Nationals in order in the next inning.

Miller has been picked the Cardinals’ minor league pitcher of the year the past two seasons. While he is likely to start this season in Triple-A, he isn’t hiding the fact he’d like to make the jump to the big leagues at some point soon.

“I definitely feel closer than I have the past two years, just because I’ve thrown in the high minor leagues and succeeded,” he said. “I had a really good year last year and hopefully will get an opportunity to pitch in St. Louis this year.”

Being able to rely on more than just his fastball is not only something he learned facing Double-A hitters last season, it also could be the key to ramping up that big league timetable.

“It’s something that needs to be done for me to get to St. Louis, because it’s something that’s going to help me in the long run,” Miller said. “I’ve always loved throwing fastballs more in the past, but now I’m getting to love to throw my changeup and curveball more because it’s fun to watch the pitch move, and it’s fun to make the hitters look a little silly sometimes, if you can.”

NOTES: Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche had hoped to make his spring training debut Wednesday, but now it looks like Saturday at the earliest as he continues to work his way back from a slightly sprained left ankle. LaRoche played in a minor league game Wednesday, which gave him a chance to see some live pitching. … Jayson Werth’s strained forearm is not a concern and he is in the Nationals’ lineup for Thursday. … Matheny said reliever Fernando Salas would pitch Thursday against Boston. … Cardinals OF Adron Chambers’ pants were noticeably tighter Wednesday after former St. Louis star Willie McGee told the speedster the baggy pants he had on made him look less aerodynamic. “Willie told him that early in the day, and by the end of the day, he’s already got leotards on,” Matheny said. “That’s respect.”

“It’s getting now where I don’t even think about it,” LaRoche said. “Which is great.”

Last year, his shoulder was all he could think about. LaRoche has recovered from the torn labrum that reduced him to a husk of himself for 43 games last season and sidelined him for the rest of the year. He does not expect the full strength of his throwing arm to return for two years. But he is confident it will no longer ruin him at the plate, that he can redeem his first season in Washington.

“I haven’t felt it swinging,” LaRoche said. “Not only have I not felt it, it’s felt stronger, way stronger, than it did in spring training or during the year last year. That feels great. Throwing will be, I feel it a little bit. But if I make a throw, it’s not going to set me back at the plate.”

If not for the ankle he sprained last week, LaRoche would have already made his spring training debut. Instead, after hoping to play Wednesday, the Nationals are holding him out until Saturday’s split-squad game against the New York Mets.

“We’re just going to stay cautious with him,” Manager Davey Johnson said.

LaRoche settled for the chance to hit off minor league pitchers, his first at-bats in a game setting since last May. LaRoche hit four groundouts and walked twice against hard-throwing minor league pitchers Paul Demny, Rob Gilliam and Kylin Turnbull.

“That was the thing I wanted to see, is live pitching,” LaRoche said.

Last year, LaRoche developed a small tear in his labrum during spring training. After receiving tests, he decided to play through the injury. “It only hurt to throw,” LaRoche said. “So I’m like, okay, it’s not affecting my swing. Work through it, rehab it. Oh well if it hurts to play.”

Even if LaRoche felt no pain when he swung, he realizes now the tear kept growing and it weakened his stroke. The lack of strength cultivated bad habits. LaRoche started guessing at pitches because he had to start his swing earlier than usual.

LaRoche still wanted to play through the injury, insisting to the Nationals he didn’t feel any pain while hitting. But in the first year of his two-year, $16 million deal, his performance stagnated. He hit .172 with a .288 on-base percentage and a .258 slugging percentage.

In early May, LaRoche finally admitted to himself that he could no longer keep going. Everything felt perfect, but he could not physically swing the bat like he wanted.

This winter, LaRoche began hitting in January and had to relearn his swing without the bad habits. Working with his father Dave, a former major league reliever, LaRoche felt himself trying to start his swing early, like his ailing shoulder had forced him to. Before he reported to spring training, he had corrected the flaw.

LaRoche now needs to perform exercises with small weights, rubber bands and other resistance every day as maintenance on his shoulder.

Had LaRoche had surgery earlier, he may have had a quicker recovery and would have had more time to prepare for this year. He would not have had to slog through the most miserable stretch of his career. But he wanted to play, and he would not change how he or the Nationals approached the injury.

“All the team can go off of is what I was telling them,” LaRoche said. “They don’t know how I’m feeling. So looking back, no, I’m glad I tried. If it would have been hurting to swing the bat, then I think it’s pretty selfish to go out there. Because it didn’t hurt to swing, I felt like it was worth a shot.

“I don’t have any regrets. It’s disappointing that they brought me here to do a job, and I couldn’t do it. That was the frustrating part. I know I needed to be on the field, and it didn’t happen.”

Nationals notes: In his first start, Jordan Zimmermann allowed no runs in three innings during a 3-3 tie against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed three singles and one walk while hitting a batter and striking out three, all swinging at sliders. .?.?. The teams agreed to end the game in a tie because the Nationals ran out of pitchers.

VIERA, Fla. — Wind gusts blowing out around 18 mph greeted Jordan Zimmermann as he climbed the mound Wednesday for his first start of spring training. One hundred ninety-one days had passed since the Washington Nationals right-hander pitched in a game situation, as an innings limit left him in a spectator’s role for the last month of the 2011 season.

“Fine with me,” the normally stoic Zimmermann said. “As long as I’m able to pitch every five days.”

This spring, reporters surround the lockers of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson. They ask questions about the Nationals’ yet-to-be-decided No. 5 starter (John Lannan, Chien-Ming Wang or Ross Detwiler). The focus on the Nationals’ pitching, and the excitement around it, has never been more obvious, but Zimmermann somehow has managed to avoid the spotlight. That’s also fine with him.

Wednesday afternoon, Zimmermann threw three scoreless innings in the Nationals’ 3-3 tie with the St. Louis Cardinals – the opening act to a season in which he’ll finally, mercifully, have no limitations.

He walked one, surrendered three hits, struggled to locate his fastball in the wind and showed off a slider so nasty that all three of his strikeouts came as hitters swung helplessly at it for Strike 3. Away to Eugenio Velez, inside to Zack Cox and Matt Adams. The only time he threw a changeup, a pitch he’s been working to fine-tune, Jon Jay hit it for a single. Otherwise, he was himself.

On the brink of a season in which Zimmermann is expected to throw 200-plus innings and, if his 2011 was any indication, could be one of the finest any Nationals pitcher has put together, all Washington has wanted is for Zimmermann to be himself.

As the Nationals set up their draft board in June 2007, Zimmermann’s name resided in the bottom quarter of their top 100. The Wisconsin native pitched with his jaw wired shut and down about 10 pounds when the Nationals had scouted him as a group under then-general manager Jim Bowden during a tournament in Florida. They came away unimpressed, and with the majority of his games in snowy Stevens Point, Wis., not many scouts found their way out to see him again.

But Mike Rizzo did, as did Nationals scout Steve Arnieri, and both knew there was more to the young man than had come across in the team’s first viewing. He was a bulldog, they surmised, using a term that still comes up constantly when Zimmermann’s name is mentioned. They knew they had to have him.

That was the prelude to Rizzo’s draft-room bombshell. When the board was nearly set, Rizzo watched quietly as each placard was placed before Bowden asked if it had everyone’s approval. Rizzo picked up Zimmermann’s name and slid it horizontally across the board as the room sat shocked at what the then-assistant GM was suggesting. He let it rest once Zimmermann had moved into the team’s top 15 and Bowden, siding with Rizzo and his scouting judgment, helped put out the heated argument that ensued.

Still, Rizzo had to wait as the Nationals selected Detwiler (sixth overall), Josh Smoker (31st) and Michael Burgess (49th) ahead of Zimmermann (67th). Rizzo had no intention of letting him drop further, though, and with each start in which Zimmermann has shown what he’s capable of, with each slider that dazzles or fastball that pops the mitt, Rizzo has been proved right.

Smoker, a lefty, has since been converted to a reliever and hasn’t pitched above Single-A Potomac. Burgess never played above Double-A with the Nationals and was part of the trade with the Chicago Cubs that brought left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to the Nationals in January 2011. Zimmermann, meanwhile, has a 3.84 ERA in 49 major league starts the past three seasons – including a 3.18 mark and just 31 walks in 161 1/3 innings last year.

“I think he’s a top-of-the-rotation guy,” manager Davey Johnson said earlier this spring, comparing Zimmermann’s development to that of Ron Darling, who Johnson managed on the New York Mets. In his third full season, Darling was 15-6 with a 2.81 ERA and threw 237 innings to help the Mets win the World Series in 1986.

“I think Zim is closer,” Johnson said. “I think, after what he’s done, he’ll be closer this year to being the kind of pitcher we all know he’s capable of being.”

© Copyright 2012 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

VIERA, Fla. (AP)—Shelby Miller isn’t likely to break camp with the St.
Louis Cardinals this spring. The 21-year-old pitching prospect gave a good
indication, though, that he’s not that far away from being able to make an
impact in the big leagues.

Overcoming the early jitters of his first spring training start, Miller
allowed one run on two hits in two innings against the Washington Nationals on
Wednesday in a game stopped after nine innings with the score tied at 3.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was particularly impressed with the way
Miller was able to mix up his pitches, instead of simply relying on an
overpowering fastball.

“He’s just got good stuff,” Matheny said. “He’s starting to use his
off-speed pitches a little better. He’s getting a feel of when to use them when
he’s behind in the count. He’s maturing every time he gets out there.”

Jordan Zimmermann threw three scoreless innings in his spring training debut
for the Nationals. He struck out three and gave up three hits.

Zimmermann has said he hopes to throw at least 200 innings this season after
the club limited him to 161 1-3 in 2011 when he was a year removed from Tommy
John surgery.

“I just wanted to locate the fastball,” Zimmermann said. “I had kind of a
rough time today. I was all over the zone with it. But when I needed to make a
pitch, I was able to make a pitch. That’s the main thing, locate the fastball
and mix in a few off-speed (pitches) for the first time.”

Cardinals reliever Lance Lynn gave up a tying, two-run homer to Carlos
Maldonado in the ninth.

Daniel Descalso homered for St. Louis.

Ian Desmond led off the game for Washington with a double and later scored
on a single by Jason Michaels.

That first inning also produced a scare for St. Louis when Miller collided
with Descalso, who was chasing a wind-blown popup from third base.

Miller said he felt pain in his calf, but insisted he would be all right. He
retired the Nationals in order in the next inning.

Miller has been picked the Cardinals’ minor league pitcher of the year the
past two seasons. While he is likely to start this season in Triple-A, he isn’t
hiding the fact he’d like to make the jump to the big leagues at some point
soon.

“I definitely feel closer than I have the past two years, just because I’ve
thrown in the high minor leagues and succeeded,” he said. “I had a really good
year last year and hopefully will get an opportunity to pitch in St. Louis this
year.”

Being able to rely on more than just his fastball is not only something he
learned facing Double-A hitters last season, it also could be the key to ramping
up that big league timetable.

“It’s something that needs to be done for me to get to St. Louis, because
it’s something that’s going to help me in the long run,” Miller said. “I’ve
always loved throwing fastballs more in the past, but now I’m getting to love to
throw my changeup and curveball more because it’s fun to watch the pitch move,
and it’s fun to make the hitters look a little silly sometimes, if you can.”

NOTES: Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche had hoped to make his spring training debut
Wednesday, but now it looks like Saturday at the earliest as he continues to
work his way back from a slightly sprained left ankle. LaRoche played in a minor
league game Wednesday, which gave him a chance to see some live pitching. …
Jayson Werth’s strained forearm is not a concern and he is in the Nationals’
lineup for Thursday. … Matheny said reliever Fernando Salas would pitch
Thursday against Boston. … Cardinals OF Adron Chambers’ pants were noticeably
tighter Wednesday after former St. Louis star Willie McGee told the speedster
the baggy pants he had on made him look less aerodynamic. “Willie told him that
early in the day, and by the end of the day, he’s already got leotards on,”
Matheny said. “That’s respect.”

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Gio Gonzalez said he wanted to ”jump out of the chute” in his spring debut for the Washington Nationals.

And he wasn’t kidding.

Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, allowed only one hit and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.

Gonzalez said he was fired up for his first game as a National after being traded by the Oakland Athletics after last season.

”I wanted to get started right off the bat,” he said. ”I was throwing hard and may have been a little overanxious, but I had a lot of fun out there.”

Gonzalez’s pitches were registering in the high-90s, a lot more than most pitchers want for their first spring outing. Gonzalez said the numbers might have been exaggerated, but he wasn’t sure.

”I had my adrenaline pumping,” Gonzalez said. ”If that is what the radar gun says, then my arm is lying to me. Maybe the radar guns were more juiced than I was, but I’m not sure.”

Kris Medlen started for the Braves and went two innings. He gave up three hits, including the Werth homer, and gave up three hits.

Medlen is a candidate for one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation. He is coming off a surgically repaired elbow. Medlen pitched only 2 1/3 innings last season after starting 14 games in 2010.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman also made his spring debut. He was 0-for-2, but made seven putouts. He injured his right kneecap during fielding drills on Feb. 28.

But the day really belonged to Gonzalez.

He was 16-12 last season with the Athletics and was acquired for three pitching prospects. He struggled with his control last season, but walked only one in his two innings against the Braves.

”I thought he looked great,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. ”He didn’t look rusty at all. I had a pitch count on him and he reached it in the second inning, but he looked strong so I let him go.”

Gonzalez was the subject of trade rumors after last season, but said Washington is a perfect fit for him and he’s looking forward to being in Washington for a long time.

”Washington is where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. ”I still feel like I am fighting for a job in this rotation.”

Since John Lannan led the Nationals with 10 wins as a starter last season, Gonzalez probably doesn’t have to worry about having a spot in the rotation.

Gonzalez, 26, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, traded to Philadelphia, and then swapped back to the White Sox before being dealt to Oakland. He feels like he has found a permanent home in Washington.

”I liked the trade,” Gonzalez said. For the first time in my life, I was the main man in the trade.”

Jayson Werth, coming off a disappointing 2011 season, homered to right to put the Nationals ahead, and went 1-for-2. Chad Tracy doubled in two runs in the third to put Washington ahead, 3-0.

Brett Carroll had two hits for the Nationals.

Notes: Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro arrived in camp and will work as an adviser until March 10.Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones missed his third straight game with an injured left heel. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was nothing to worry about. .. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann will start on Tuesday against St. Louis in Viera. Shelby Miller will start for the Cardinals. … Washington 1B Adam LaRoche was expected to play, but is slowly working his way back following surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage in his left shoulder. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against St. Louis as well.

In his first Nationals start, Jackson walked two batters and allowed one hit, addled by overexcitement and his effort to alter mechanics. Hernandez twirled a looping, first-pitch curveball to Nationals phenom Bryce Harper, who was 5 years old when Hernandez won the 1997 World Series MVP.

A few pitches later, Harper laced a grounder to right for his first hit.

Both Jackson and Hernandez threw two scoreless innings in their first spring tune-ups, both oblivious to what their meeting represented.

At the end of last year, Hernandez met with Nationals Manager Davey Johnson. Hernandez listened as Johnson told him the Nationals would like to bring him back, perhaps as part-time reliever and a full-time mentor. Inside, though, Hernandez knew his tenure in Washington, which included the first pitch after baseball returned, had ended.

The Nationals once relied on Hernandez’s rubbery right arm for consistent innings. They have higher aims now, having traded competence for what they hope will be contention. They traded for Gio Gonzalez, welcomed back Stephen Strasburg, signed Jackson for $11 million and let Hernandez know his best opportunity would come elsewhere.

“I prepared for that,” Hernandez, 37, said. “I go home and told my girlfriend: ‘I don’t think I have a chance to come back to Washington next year.’ But I know that. Everybody, a couple people said: ‘I want you back.’ But inside, I say, ‘Yeah, right. It’s not gonna happen.’ ”

Having navigated the business of major league baseball for almost two decades, Hernandez harbored no ill feelings toward the Nationals. “We’re good,” Hernandez said. “I’m good with Johnson, and Mike Rizzo is a great guy.”

Hernandez said he would still like to work for the Nationals after his career. When that will come, he’s not sure.

“Let’s see if I can go for three more [years], maybe more, I don’t know,” Hernandez said. “I want to be the Jamie Moyer of right-handers.”

Saturday, as chance would have it, he faced his old team in the spring’s first game. “No matter what happens on the field,” Hernandez said, “we’re still friends.”

Michael Morse had sent Hernandez a text message Friday night that read, “I’m coming! You better be ready!”

The Nationals did not send Morse on the road trip, but Jackson, one of the pitchers who made Hernandez expendable, drew the start. Jackson had chosen the Nationals’ one-year, $11 million offer in February, in part, because he believed they could help him correct a mechanical flaw and hide the ball from hitters better in his delivery.

Jackson, who ended his 2011 season by walking seven batters in a World Series game, began his Nationals’ tenure by walking Houston leadoff hitter J.B. Shuck on five pitches. Jackson needed to work on the timing of certain parts of his new delivery — when to take the ball out of his glove, when to swing his arm up. He also faced the jitters that come with any first start. “It’s just getting timing down,” Jackson said.

Jackson walked a batter in the second inning, and overall he threw 12 strikes in 28 pitches. From the wind-up, the motion he wants to change, Jackson faced three batters and walked two.

Pitching coach Steve McCatty has tried to limit Jackson’s focus on his mechanics. He fears Jackson could become bogged down by the change as he prepares for the season, losing his natural ability.

“When I talk to him, we don’t talk mechanics,” McCatty said.

McCatty and Jackson will keep working together, and Hernandez will find his way with the Astros, the team with the worst record in the majors last year. His old team will move on and up without him. For one day, the Nationals and Hernandez crossed paths again.

“It was really weird,” Johnson said. “I love the guy for a lot of reasons, just because he’s an athlete and a heck of a pitcher. He’s been a great influence on this ball club. Toward the end of the season, he sacrificed his starts for some of these young guys. He’s just a special person.”