Washington D.C. - Before the Nationals head to Cincinnati to kick off their 2024 season, Nationals prospects and major leaguers played together on the same field at Nats Park for one last time this year.

In a first for the Nationals, the organization hosted an exhibition game at Nationals Park, pitting its major league players against the top prospects from the minor league system.

The Washington Nationals prospects seem to have considerable work ahead to reach major league standards. Nonetheless, they managed to accumulate ten hits for the nine-inning game this afternoon.

Once again, left-handed pitcher Mackenize Gore took to the mound in what will likely be his final "spring training" game and tune-up for the season. The southpaw pitched four innings, conceding only four hits, striking out seven, and keeping the opposition scoreless.

Facing off against the top prospects of the Washington Nationals—Robert Hassell III, Dylan Crews, James Wood, and Trey Lipscomb—the left-hander struck out three in the top of the first inning, yielding only an opposite-field double to James Wood.

“It was good,” said major league manager Davey Martinez after the game at Nats Park about what he saw in the prospects and the major league players. “We had some good at-bats. I thought we played really well. The key was to get some at-bats, see some pitches. We had a day off yesterday, but I saw some really good things. And the young kids, they stood up there and they weren't afraid. The guys that we had, they swung the bats well. Our kids got up there and they got their swings. So it was a good day.”

40 for 40: MacKenzie Gore

Jeremy Lapidus • Feb 24, 2024

Editors Note: This is a new edition of our ongoing 40-man breakdown series. You can read more of the series here. Position: Left-handed Starting Pitcher Current Status: MLB How Acquired: Mackenzie Gore was acquired as a part of the Juan Soto and Josh Bell trade to the San Diego Padres in 2022

Read full story →

The home opener's starting pitcher, Gore, concluded his spring training with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.293 WHIP. We won't witness Gore on the mound until the home opener at Nats Park on April 1st when the Nationals host the Pirates. Speaking about being the starting pitcher for the Nationals' home opener, Gore said, "It's kinda one of those things you don't want to look ahead too far when you have another outing in spring and do what you need to do so your body feels good. But now that we finished, just trying to get ready for Pittsburgh and see what happens."

Joey Meneses checked in on the scoring, going 3-5 with a triple, double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Second baseman Louis García Jr. also contributed to the scoring with an impressive performance. He went 3-4 with an RBI and scored three of the 13 Nationals runs. García Jr. will conclude his spring training with a batting average of .245, going 12-49 with four RBIs, two home runs, and an OPS of .704.

In other Washington Nationals news, the biggest story of this year’s Spring Training was the status of the prospects that Rizzo and Co. are betting will become part of the future. Where will the top prospects start the 2024 season? It looks like the answers to those questions have been answered, at least regarding James Wood and Dylan Crews.

The biggest two names coming out of big league camp, James Wood and Dylan Crews, will be heading to two locations to kick off the 2024 season.  Washington Nationals breakout star James Wood will be heading to Triple-A Rochester tomorrow morning and be ready for the Red Wings’ season opener on Friday in Syracuse. Dylan Crews will head to West Palm Beach for a few days and then fly to Harrisburg to join the Senators to start the season.

Crews announced this morning in front of his locker in the visitor’s clubhouse before today’s game: “I'm gonna go to the gala and then go to West Palm after that… So probably be there for a little less than a week and then head out to Harrisburg.” The Senators will open their 2024 season on April 5, 2024.

Additionally, after the game, the Washington Nationals announced that they selected the contract of right-hander Derek Law. Right-hander Cade Cavalli was placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Lastly, the Nationals transferred INF Trey Lipscomb to Minor League Camp.

The Nats Report is an independent, reader-supported project with free and paid subscriptions. It is not affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

Those who opt for the paid edition are providing vital assistance to bolster our independent coverage of the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball.