Fredericksburg Nationals Head Coach Jake Lowery has a way of connecting with his players that most coaches wish they could have. He has the ability to relate to them and connect on a deeper level because he played in this league not too long ago. He knows how to have fun but also when to get serious.
“We’re the Freddies. We’re gonna have fun, but when it’s time to take the field, we’re gonna be serious with it.”
— Jake Lowery on Media Day
This quote perfectly encapsulates the team’s approach to the game. They know how to have fun and enjoy themselves, but they also know when it’s time to get serious and put in the hard work.
Coach Lowery understands that success comes from hard work and dedication, and he instills these values in his players every day. He encourages them to give their best on the field and to work hard for every victory. “We’re gonna work for the high fives,” he says, and his players know exactly what he means. They know that every high five they receive in that high five line after a win is a testament to their hard work and dedication. They notched their first win on their Opening Day. It took a five inning scoreless debut outing from Jake Bennett, and the top prospects, Brady House and Elijah Green stepped up with enough offense to win it and earn those high fives.
Photo by Clint Often for TalkNats
Under Coach Lowery’s leadership, the Frednats have seen tremendous success. Last season they had their first winning season in club history, followed by a playoff run. But what sets them apart is the joy they bring to the field. Their love for the game is evident in every play, and it’s contagious. They play with enthusiasm and passion, and it’s a joy to watch.
During the 2022 season, top prospect, House, faced a lingering back injury that took him out for the rest of the season. Throughout the time of his recovery, he learned to lean on his faith and trust that everything truly happens for a reason. When I spoke with him, he had a response that went deeper than the surface.
“Everything happens for a reason, I was supposed to go through that, and the Lord has plans for me no matter what it is. There’s a plan and a reason for why it happened.”
— Brady House
He always trusted there was a reason for the pain, and the 19-year-old is now seeing the fruits of his labor. House has learned that, “Keeping a routine every day is crucial” and that listening to his body is key. His hard work has paid off and is starting to shine through, seeing as he hit a monster home run on opening night for the game winner for his team, the Fredericksburg Nationals.
This FredNats roster is loaded, and it goes so much deeper than just House and Green who are both Top-100 prospects and chosen in the first round by the Nats the past two years, 2021 and 2022. On top of that they have former first rounder Mason Denaburg, and another Top-100 prospect in Jarlin Susana who came over in the Juan Soto trade. Armando Cruz is a team Top-10 prospect along with Green, House, and Susana. The team has some other notable prospects in Bennett, Pablo Aldonis, Brenner Cox, Daylen Lile, Roismar Quintana, and Sammy Infante.
This is a very young team with only three players born before 1999, and Susana, Cruz, and Cox were born in 2004, and House and Green in 2003. The Nats were once known as the Los Viejos, and this team is definitely the Los Jóvenos.
