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 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

THE LEAD

There were a couple of small injury updates yesterday. On the plus side, James Wood played in the outfield for the first time this spring after dealing with a quad strain and balled out (see below). On the other hand, Mitchell Parker was held out of yesterday’s game - he had been scheduled to follow Shinosuke Ogasawara to the mound - due to a stiff neck suffered overnight in his sleep. He should be fine; holding him out was just a precaution.

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

Game Recap

Last Game

One might have expected a game featuring Sandy Alcántara to be a low-scoring affair, but this is spring training, and the Marlins ace exited after 2 2/3 scoreless innings of a game in which the Nationals ultimately prevailed, 8-7. The most important takeaway was that James Wood, who had been dealing with a bit of a quad strain, played the outfield for the first time and also hit a home run, a 111-mph screamer that had a launch angle of just 16 degrees (!!!). Andrew Pinckney, Luis García Jr., and Cayden Wallace also went yard for the Nats as they fought their way back from a 5-0 deficit dug for them by Shinosuke Ogasawara and Jackson Rutledge, the Nats’ first two pitchers of the day (Joan Adon gave up the other two runs). Jose A. Ferrer looked the sharpest on the bump, as he struck out the side around a hit in his lone inning of work. [Read our full recap here]

Up Next

The Nationals will be back at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium again today to take on the Cardinals this time, with Mike Soroka facing off against old friend Erick Fedde. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM, and the game will be broadcast on MASN.

 theFUTURE

Spring Breakout Rosters to be Revealed

At 11 am EDT today, MLB Network will unveil the rosters for this year’s Spring Breakout games. After its launch last year, Spring Breakout is back in 2025, featuring 16 matchups from March 13-16. This four-day event shines a spotlight on baseball’s next generation, with top prospects from each farm system competing in games across Grapefruit and Cactus League ballparks. Last year, 71 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects filled the rosters.

The Washington Nationals are set to play two Spring Breakout games this year: one on March 14, 2025, against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches (first pitch scheduled to be at 2:05 p.m.) followed by a matchup against the New York Mets’ top prospects, whom the Nationals will host two days after the Houston Astros game on March 16, also at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches (first pitch scheduled to be at 5:05 p.m. EDT)

Who do you think will earn a spot on the Nationals’ roster this year?

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

What Will the Bullpen Look Like?

Spring training is a time to sort out bullpen roles, and when camp started a few weeks ago, the Nats seemingly had no idea where people would fall in that hierarchy. Halfway through the spring, we have a much clearer picture, but there are still plenty of dominoes that could move around. At least for the start of the season, Kyle Finnegan will resume his closer duties - that we know. But now the Nats have no obligation to him beyond this season, and I would expect that Davey Martinez will leaven the Finnegan cake with at least a sprinkling of southpaw Jose A. Ferrer, who has just filthy stuff and won’t hit free agency until after the 2029 season. Jorge López will almost certainly be the righty setup man. Derek Law (who hopefully will not reprise his atrocious performance from a year ago with inherited runners) and Lucas Sims are locks, as they have major league contracts. Eduardo Sálazar was mostly good last season after being claimed from the Mariners and has looked sharp this spring, so he likely has the inside track on a spot.

That leaves two places, one of whom should probably be capable of eating multiple innings at a crack and possibly left-handed, which would put the odds in favor of whichever of DJ Herz, Mitchell Parker, or Shinosuke Ogasawara that neither makes the MLB rotation nor gets sent to Rochester to start there (all have options). Me, I would have Herz start and give Ogasawara some time in AAA to figure out necessary adjustments there, leaving Parker for a long man role. And for the final spot, if the Nats are serious about making moves to try and win more games this year and not just try out JAGs all season long, they would do well to return Rule 5 pick Evan Reifert to the Rays and - I can’t believe I’m saying this after he threw just 16 1/3 innings last year in A+/AA and didn’t look that great doing it - keep Cole Henry on the MLB roster. He could break at any time, so why not use those bullets in the majors? Henry has looked terrific this spring, and while he probably should never be allowed to pitch on consecutive days, he currently looks better than any of the other options save perhaps Orlando Ribalta and is already on the 40-man roster.

Thus: CL Finnegan, SU Ferrer, SU López, RP Law, RP Sims, RP Sálazar, RP Parker, RP Henry/Ribalta. What do you think?

 WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING

Speed Reads

📌 The Latest From Camp (MLB.com)

📌 MLB Hope-a-Meter (The Athletic)

📌 March Is the Time for Hope! (Joe Posnanski)