FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Joel Hanrahan recorded 14 saves while pitching for the Nationals from 2007-09.
Now a first-year pitching coach in player development with Washington, the native of Iowa has a key role in guiding the next wave of pitchers to the majors.
Hanrahan, 40, will be the pitching coach this year for low Single-A Fredericksburg, and he told Federal Baseball here on Tuesday that Rodney Theophile will be the starting pitcher in the opener.
Theophile was 4-11 with an ERA of 5.56 in 22 starts for Fredericksburg last season.
These Nationals start the season Friday at the Delmarva Shorebirds, a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles located in Salisbury, Maryland.