The impact of Nelson Cruz can already be felt with the Nationals. During Erick Fedde's live batting practice on Thursday, Nelson Cruz noticed that Fedde was tipping pitches. Cruz stopped the batting practice season and went up to Fedde and showed him what he was doing to tip off the batters.

“I was trying to help him out,” Cruz explained. “I saw something — before he threw me the last pitch — that I realized right away what was the pitch that was coming, even before he pitched, so I was just telling him [to] make sure you do this the right way, don’t change your — I guess, your pattern, the way you grab the ball and all this stuff.”

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During Davey Martinez's press conference on Thursday, the manager noticed how Cruz already helped out his fellow teammate: “He’s facing Fedde ... and he’s standing out there and then Fedde, after his first inning, he goes out there and has a conversation with him about what he’s seeing and what he saw, and that’s what he’s going to bring, especially to our younger guys. But he’s a tremendous guy, I told him, I said, ‘Hey, it’s just a testament to who you are, and having such a long career, the way that you go about your business, your routine.’ I mean, he’s — I’m telling all young guys, ‘Hey, watch him.’ Because he’s got an impeccable routine, he does it every day, and he’s going to be good for our young kids.”