Daily News for Curious Minds

Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 4 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight. Subscribe to 1440 today.

Sign up now!

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

THE LEAD

Looking at the three teams that the Nationals have played the most in the early going this spring (Marlins, Cardinals, Astros), the Nats’ subs - their AA/AAA guys - appear to be much better as a whole than any of those clubs. What does that mean? Folks, the Rochester Red Wings could be a very interesting watch this year. At least one of the Shinosuke Ogasawara/DJ Herz/Mitchell Parker trio will be in the rotation, likely joined by Brad Lord, Tyler Stuart, Andrew Alvarez, and Andry Lara or Jackson Rutledge, with Cade Cavalli almost certain to parachute in sometime in May (in order to claw back a year of team control and prove his health after two years on the shelf.

The infield will likely have Yohandy Morales or Andrés Chaparro at first (with the other the likely first choice at DH), José Tena at second, Nasim Nuñez at short, and Brady House at third, with an outfield of Robert Hassell III, Andrew Pinckney, and probably Daylen Lile. Drew Millas should get the bulk of the starts behind the plate. Darren Baker, Stone Garrett, and Trey Lipscomb will be around filling in. Every single one of those names has a realistic possibility of contributing in some way to a major league roster or already has. Even the bullpen is likely to have Zach Brzykcy, Jack Sinclair, Daison Acosta, Marquis Grissom Jr., perhaps Rutledge, Carlos Romero, and at least one of Orlando Ribalta or Cole Henry.

That’s almost an entire roster with actual promise! I don’t know if the Nats’ AAA team has ever been this deep before, and it’s a testament to positive changes in the franchise’s developmental staffing and models. No player named above exemplifies that more than Lord, an 18th-round pick three years ago who pitched his way to Rochester last summer and has looked like a competent back-end starting pitcher this spring in major league camp. Get yourself an MiLB.tv subscription ($30/year) so you can check in on a group of players that, worst case scenario, will be providing better bench/bullpen/#5 starter depth than the Nats have ever had in their history.

CTA: Check out our own Bill Wade’s previews on the Rochester rotation, bullpen, and infield (with outfield still to come!).

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

Game Recap

Yesterday the Nats comfortably handled the Cardinals 12-1, a game that featured four innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts from Michael Soroka (facing his spring training roommate, former Nat Erick Fedde - the two were teammates with the White Sox a year ago) and a pair of home runs from notorious slow starter Keibert Ruiz. Brad Lord and Orlando Ribalta both followed with two hitless innings each, and Konnor Pilkington finished the job with one scoreless inning. I have no idea what to forecast from Soroka. Tearing an Achilles (twice!) does not have the same predictability for a pitcher as Tommy John surgery. But if he can pitch anything like he has so far this spring, he will be a steal and could cash in on the open market next winter (he turns 28 in August). It is not hyperbole to say that if Soroka can rediscover even two-thirds of his 2019 rookie campaign (when he was runner-up for NL ROY and finished 6th in Cy Young voting), the Nats could very well find themselves a .500 team or better.

This evening, Trevor Williams takes the home mound at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches against Nick Blackburn and the Mets, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM.

CTA

 STORY TYPE

Spring Breakout Roster Drops

Have you forgotten all those names from two sections ago? No worries if you have, because you’re about to see many of them again. The Nats released their Spring Breakout roster for the March 16 prospect showcase game against the Mets, and it really highlights the depth of the system. Make sure to carve out some of your early Sunday evening to see this game. Here are the names, along with their organizational rankings by yours truly and by MLB Pipeline:

C: Kevin Bazzell (23/14), Sir Jamison Jones (35/NR), Caleb Lomavita (12/9), Maxwell Romero (46/NR)

IF: Armando Cruz (NR/NR), Randal Diaz (NR/NR), Luke Dickerson (15/7), Brady House (2/4), Seaver King (5/5), Yohandy Morales (11/13), Jorgelys Mota (34/NR), Cayden Wallace (7/11), T.J. White (32/NR)

OF: Brenner Cox (33/NR), Elijah Green (17/25), Robert Hassell III (14/12), Daylen Lile (10/10), Sam Petersen (42/30), Andrew Pinckney (22/26), Carlos Tavares (39/NR)

SP: Andrew Alvarez (25/NR), José Atencio (NR/NR), Alex Clemmey (6/6), Jackson Kent (27/21), Brad Lord (24/23), Dustin Saenz (39/NR), Tyler Stuart (9/15), Jarlin Susana (4/3)

RP: Brendan Collins (NR/NR), Robert Cranz (NR/NR), Marc Davis (NR/NR), Marquis Grissom Jr. (28/24), Sam Meckley (NR/NR), Ángel Román (NR/NR), Carlos Romero (NR/NR), Thomas Schulz (NR/NR), Seth Shuman (NR/NR), Jack Sinclair (44/NR), Yoel Tejeda (NR/NR), Sam Vázquez (NR/NR)

CTA

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

Analysis

Although he bombed his MLB audition late in the 2024 season, Orlando Ribalta has the chance to be a weapon out of the bullpen. He evidently put in some work on his string-straight fastball over the winter, because his performance this spring has registered a 110 Stuff+, which is very good. Check it out!

Ribalta is a huge (6’7”, 245) Cuban import by way of Miami-Dade CC (he came to the States as a young teen), and he was elite at Harrisburg a year ago before hitting a bit of a wall in Rochester, recovering, and hitting a wall again in Washington. Still, a fastball/changeup righty who can pile up strikeouts is a piece that any bullpen could use. Let’s hope he gets there.

CTA

AD

Wake up with Peet’s Coffee and the Morning Briefing

Peet’s Coffee is crafted for those who crave delicious coffee without the brewing; this versatile blend holds its own in any creation. Silky-smooth and delicious, hot or cold, it takes just one tablespoon and a couple of moments to whip up whatever cup you're craving. Order yours today to take advantage of their limited-time intro price.

 WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING

Speed Reads

📌 Soroka Cooks, Fedde Cleans (MLB.com)

📌 What’s Going On With Gore? (MASN)

📌 Stanton Gets Another Round of PRP for his Elbows (Yahoo!)