Glove love for Lipscomb: Urbana grad named Nationals organization's defensive player of the year

Sep. 25—During his pre-MLB draft interviews in 2022, each team would ask Trey Lipscomb what area of his game he wanted to most improve. The answer was always the same for the Urbana High graduate: his defense.

Lipscomb told the same to Washington Nationals infield coordinator Cody Ransom when he joined the big league club for Spring Training earlier this year. But he went one step further, telling Ransom his goal was to be named the organization's defensive player of the year.

Six months later, Lipscomb has achieved that, being formally awarded as Washington's Minor League Defensive Player of the Year last Thursday.

"It was a complete surprise," he said Monday. "That was a pretty cool moment."

The award was handed out in the clubhouse following Double-A Harrisburg's Sept. 17 season finale, which was rained out.

He served as an everyday third baseman for High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg until top prospect Brady House joined the Senators on July 18, necessitating Lipscomb's move to a utility infield role. That was no problem for Lipscomb, as he's found success no matter where he plays.

"I've never had a problem with it. It's always just been, as long as I stay in the lineup and keep hitting, I think it's a good thing," Lipscomb said. "I've always wanted to play other positions. I think the more positions I can play, the better and more versatile I am, and the better it makes my chances of getting up to the big leagues."

Lipscomb played shortstop in high school and some first base in college at the University of Tennessee but had never seen game action at second base.

His first foray away from the hot corner was at second, and he seemed to naturally pick it up. In his second game there, he turned a double play, one of 11 across 19 games at the middle infield positions. He also appeared in 15 games at first base.

"It all came naturally, just catching the ball and throwing it at the end of the day, getting the guy out," Lipscomb said. "And I've always been a fan of turning double plays. I feel like at third base, you can start a double play, but you can't really turn a double play. ... I think it's the best play on defense."

Lipscomb made just three errors in 80 games with Double-A Harrisburg, showing tremendous growth after a slightly shaky start to the season in Wilmington. That field work backed up his remarkable consistency at the plate in what's been a successful first full season in the minors for the 23-year-old.

Lipscomb, the Nationals' No. 14 prospect per MLB.com, quickly worked his way into Harrisburg's starting lineup after just two months at Wilmington. In 129 games between the teams, he hit .272 with 14 homers, 72 RBIs and 10 steals.

He'll get a chance to continue developing in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions, playing against several of the game's top prospects. Lipscomb leaves Tuesday for the six-week season, which starts Oct. 2.

He said he's hoping to continue improving his glove work, which has already made significant strides since he was drafted by the Nationals in July 2022.

"I really take pride in my defense, so I think that's one thing I'm gonna go out there and continue to do," Lipscomb said.

Redmond leads Double-A in homers as area minor leaguers wrap up seasons

Middletown native Chandler Redmond continued to mash in his second full season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. The first baseman and designated hitter raked 31 home runs, the most in Double-A, and totaled 92 RBIs, good for third in the Texas League.

His offensive production anchored the middle of a Springfield lineup that had a strong second half and led the Cardinals into the Texas League Playoffs. In Game 2 of Springfield's lone series with Arkansas, Redmond had an RBI double.

Elsewhere, former Catoctin player Mason Albright saw a midseason change of scenery, as the Los Angeles Angels traded him to the Colorado Rockies on July 30 as part of the return for C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk. But no matter for the left-hander, as he finished the year just as strong as he started.

Before the trade, Albright pitched to a 9-4 record with 86 strikeouts and a 3.62 ERA in 79 2-3 innings for Single-A Inland Empire. He was assigned to Single-A Fresno after joining Colorado's organization and made one start, tossing five scoreless innings, before being promoted to High-A Spokane. He ended the season there, going 2-0 in 25 innings with a 2.88 ERA and 24 strikeouts.

Albright is now rated as the Rockies' No. 22 prospect, per MLB.com.

Walkersville grad Jacob Wetzel saw more limited action in his first full year at High-A South Bend. The outfielder in the Chicago Cubs organization hit .211 with one homer and 13 RBIs in 67 games.

After missing the first half of the season recovering from foot surgery, Frederick native Chase DeLauter made his minor league debut in late June and immediately went on a tear. The 2022 first-round pick by Cleveland hit .355 with five long balls and 39 RBIs between High-A Lake County, Double-A Akron and the Guardians' Arizona Complex League team.

The outfielder is rated as Cleveland's No. 4 prospect and the league's No. 85 overall prospect, per MLB.com.