Washington Nationals Spring Training Notebook: February 15, 2026

Editor’s Note: This is our daily dispatch’s from Washington Nationals Spring Training in West Palm Beach, brought to you exclusively for Nats Report+ subscribers. Stay tuned throughout camp for daily updates, on-site notes, and behind‑the‑scenes coverage from CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla- James Wood’s heartbeat, Simon Mathews’s prep work and Blake Butera’s mentor network were all on display during today’s press conference with the Washington Nationals’ new manager on the first full-squad day of Spring Training in 2026.

Asked what he’s learned about James Wood beyond the stat line, Butera didn’t hesitate. He called Wood an “incredible kid,” laid back, the same person day in and day out, “extremely polite” and someone you can tell “was raised the right way.” Butera even joked that he wonders if Wood’s heart rate will rise at all when he’s in a tie game in the ninth with the winning run on second.

That demeanor, Butera knows, can be misread as a lack of edge. He pushed back on that idea with a story from his first call after being hired. Wood, coming off what most 22-year-olds would consider a breakthrough year, “sounded like he was disappointed” with his season. Not because he thought it was bad, Butera said, but because he believes “there’s a lot more in the tank” and wasn’t happy with how he finished. The offseason work backed that up: Wood focused on strengthening his lower half, trying to guard against the late-summer heaviness that can throw off timing and sap power over 162 games.