Editors Note: This is the latest in our player profile in our 40-man breakdown series that we have started here at the Nats Report. Check out our other player profiles.

Carter Kieboom

• Position: Third Base
• Current status: 3rd-year Pre-Arb (Arb-eligible 2025, Free Agent 2028)
• How acquired:  Drafted in the first round (28th overall) in 2016
• 2023 Grade: D
• 2024 Opening Day Projection: Likely on the outside looking in
• 2023 stats: 27 G, 207/.266/.368, 2 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 74 OPS+, .277 wOBA, 70 wRC+, -0.1 bWAR/-0.1 fWAR

2023 Analysis

After missing a year and a half thanks to Tommy John surgery and related complications, Kieboom finally made it back to the majors last August and homered three times in his first six games…and then did next to nothing thereafter, collecting more golden sombreros (three) than multi-hit games (one) over the last five weeks of the season. 2023 was another disappointing turn in the career of the former heir presumptive to Ryan Zimmerman, as neither his offense nor his defense showed that he should be an everyday player. For a guy who is now out of minor league options and has to make the 26-man roster or risk the waiver wire, that is not ideal. To his credit, Kieboom played winter ball for the first time, suiting up for 23 games with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League, slashing .281/.400/.402. Interestingly, he played some second base for them, suggesting that he might try to become a bat-first utility infielder going forward.

2024 outlook

Kieboom is competing for a roster spot this spring against Luis García Jr., Nasim Nuñez, and Jake Alu (although Alu has options, unlike the other three). Given that his defense has never been a strong suit, he will need to hit to stick and display enough pop and/or patience that he won’t turn into a black hole in the lineup. Given that the Nationals signed Nick Senzel this winter to be the latest rent-a-third baseman, and given that for all his faults García Jr. is the incumbent at second base, Kieboom will be fighting an uphill battle. Should he make the Opening Day roster, it will likely be just a matter of time before Brady House comes for him. If he doesn’t, he will probably get picked up as a flier by the A’s or Rockies, or given a minor league contract by some other team, particularly since he is a former first-round pick. Regardless of whether he is a Nat in 2024 or has reached the end of the road here in DC, hopefully this season will have more ups than downs for Carter.