06/15/2006

Associated Press

Stephen King, the Washington Nationals' third-round draft pick who has not signed with the team, worked out at RFK Stadium before Wednesday's game against Colorado.

King, a shortstop from Winter Park, Fla., donned a Nationals jersey with number 93 on the back and took batting practice about four hours before the game. He also got some hitting pointers from manager Frank Robinson.

"It feels awesome," King said. "It's just good to be out here with the other guys. You get to put on a major-league uniform. It's obviously not something you get to do every day."

Whether he will wear a Nationals jersey in the future is still up in the air. King has signed to play college ball with Louisiana State.

"I think we're going to work something out," King said. "I really want to play professional baseball, so I'm sure we'll work something out."

The 6-foot-2 King had been pegged to go as high as the first round in the draft, and he had drawn interest from several teams, including the Cubs and Red Sox. He was among several prospects who tried out with the Nationals at RFK on May 28.

King's stock fell during his senior year after a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee slowed him down. King said that he has recovered from the injury and does not expect it to be a problem.

NADER QUESTIONS STADIUM COSTS

In a letter to Washington mayor Anthony Williams, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for a more accurate study of the costs of environmental cleanup at the site of the Nationals' new stadium on the Anacostia River.

The Washington Post reported on June 8 that the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission authorized the spending of half of the stadium's $19.3 million in contingency funds. Almost $3 million was spent on taking care of unexpected environmental problems found at the site when 53 unreported oil tanks were found under the soil, The Post reported.

"Given the site's proximity to the Anacostia waterfront, the varied uses of the land — including industrial uses — in its history, and the ballpark project's potential to wreak serious environmental harm, it's time for you to give taxpayers an accurate assessment of the costs for building a stadium at the current site," Nader said in his letter.

VIDRO, WARD RETURN

Jose Vidro started at second base and batted third on Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game early with a bruise on the right side of his chest. In the sixth inning of the Nationals' 9-2 loss to Colorado, Vidro made a spectacular, sprawling catch of a looping liner by Jamey Carroll. He was slow to get up, and he was replaced by Brendan Harris at the start of the second inning.

Daryle Ward was also back being sent home from Tuesday's game with the flu. Manager Frank Robinson said that Ward was available for pinch-hitting duty.

VETERANS HONORED AT RFK

The Nationals held a Veterans Appreciation Day at RFK Stadium on Wednesday. The festivities included a pregame ceremony led by the marine drum and bugle corps band, a military flyover and the singing of God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.