Before the start of the 2008 season, the Washington Nationals appeared set with two proven, veteran catchers in Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada. Having a third-string backstop was the least of the team's worries. Yet the calendar had barely turned to May before both Lo Duca and Estrada were on the disabled list, suddenly leaving the Nationals extremely thin behind the plate. But injuries often create opportunities. And Jesus Flores is certainly making the most of his.
A 23-year-old native of Carupano, Venezuela, Flores signed with the Nationals as an unrestricted free agent and appeared in 79 games last season with the club, hitting .244 with four homeruns and 25 RBIs.
With Lo Duca and Estrada shelved, Flores has now assumed the starting catching duties for the Nats, and he's looked right at home behind the plate. In his first seven games as the emergency starter, Flores went 7-for-19 (.368). He's added six walks, giving him an impressive .520 on-base percentage. All that time on the base paths have resulted in five runs and four RBIs. Flores was even enjoying a five-game hit streak before being ejected against the Baltimore Orioles for arguing balls and strikes.
It's been an incredibly disappointing season for the Nationals, with players like Ryan Zimmerman, Lastings Milledge, and Austin Kearns all failing to live up to expectations. So watching Flores come from nowhere to provide an offensive spark has to be at least some consolation for frustrated Nats fans.
