The pitching in Vermont excites us, starting with Cuban defector Hassan Pena, who started the opener. He entered the 2006 draft as a possible top two-round pick, but fell due to injury and sign-ability concerns. He had surgery just before last year’s draft and we picked him in the 13th round. He did not pitch for us last year, but we had him on a rehab program. He’s been clocked at 94 mph in recent outings. He definitely has guts, character and poise.

Our next two starting pitchers are two young high schoolers, whom we drafted early last year. Colton Willems has been impressive this spring and he will be starting the third game for Vermont. He was our second first-round pick last year (after Chris Marrero) and pitched well in the Gulf Coast League last year (3.38 ERA).

Willems is stronger. After working more innings than ever last year, he’s regained his velocity in his fastball and is now running it up to 94 mph. He has tremendous poise and is really maturing.

Glenn Gibson, a fourth-round pick last year, is one of our top left-handed pitching prospects. Gibson has a special curveball and throws in the low 90s. His father, Paul Gib son, was a major league pitcher. So Glenn has great makeup. He comes from a small school in New Jersey, but if he had come out of Florida or Texas or California, he would have been a first-round pick. Gibson signed late last year, but did throw six shutout innings with no walks and seven strikeouts in Vermont.

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Our next starter just arrived in Vermont. Jordan Zimmerman was our second-round pick this year out of Wisconsin Stevens-Point. He went 10-0 with a 2.08 ERA this year and was a two-time All-American. Other pitchers in Vermont will be Adrian Alaniz (Big 12 Pitcher of the Year from Texas), Cole Kimball (12th-round pick last year), Alberto Tavarez (2006 draftee who throws 94), Jeff Mandel (Baylor) and Luke Pisker (VCU) to name a few.

The lineup will feature three players drafted in the top 11 rounds the past two years. Catcher Sean Rooney, center fielder Mark Gildea (Florida State) and first baseman William Rhinehart (Arizona) will supply the offense, while other new draft picks will support them, including catcher Craig Stinson (Texas A&M), shortstop Daniel Lyons (Minnesota), third baseman Anthony Benner (Southwestern College) and outfielder Aaron Suess.

Rooney, Stinson and Lyons are really good defensively. Gildea is a complete all-around player.

As told to The Examiner’s John Keim.

Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden provides an exclusive column to The Examiner each week, ranging on topics from the Nats to the state of Major League Baseball.