RILEY ADAMS NEWS

Avoids arbitration The Nationals and Adams avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $850,000 contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Adams is a career .224/.304/.378 hitter over parts of four big-league seasons and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He's out of minor-league options, so he'll either open 2025 as the Nationals' backup catcher or be exposed to waivers.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Adams was optioned to Triple-A Rochester following Sunday's 5-1 win over Atlanta, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Adams will head back to Triple-A after being called up July 3, batting .243 with a triple, two RBI and four runs scored over 37 at-bats with the Nationals since his promotion. With Adams headed to Rochester, Drew Millas will operate as the primary backup option at catcher behind Keibert Ruiz with the major-league roster.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Filling in for resting Ruiz Adams will start at catcher and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Impact For the first time since July 28, Adams will crack the Washington lineup while top backstop Keibert Ruiz gets a day off. So long as Ruiz doesn't show any signs of wearing down from his heavy workload, Adams will likely be in store for limited opportunities moving forward.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Zac Gallen wins third straight start, Diamondbacks beat Nationals 5-4 for 3-game sweep

Zac Gallen won his third straight start, Ryan Thompson got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a three-game sweep by beating...

JULY 31, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Contreras hits tying homer in 9th, Cardinals complete rally in 11th, beat Nationals 7-6

Willson Contreras hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, Masyn Winn scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball in the 11th, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from an early 5-0 defi...

JULY 6, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Irvin allows 1 hit over 8 innings, Winker homers as the Nationals beat the Mets 1-0

Jake Irvin allowed just one hit and issued one walk in eight innings, Jesse Winker hit a pinch-hit home run and the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 1-0 in the tradition...

JULY 4, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rejoins major-league roster The Nationals recalled Adams from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Adams was optioned a month ago following a slump at the plate, but he's back after posting a .946 OPS with six homers in 22 games at Rochester. He will back up Keibert Ruiz.

JULY 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pops second homer Adams went 2-for-3 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Astros.

Impact The 27-year-old backstop was the only Washington hitter to have much success against Justin Verlander in his 2024 debut, lacing a two-bagger off the the future Hall of Famer in the third inning and taking him deep in the fifth for Adams' second long ball of the year. With Keibert Ruiz (illness) on the shelf, Adams has started seven of the last nine games and gone 9-for-25 (.360) with four doubles and a homer. Even when Ruiz has recovered, a Nationals club searching for offense might try to find ways to keep Adams in the lineup as long as he stays hot.

APRIL 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Verlander allows 2 runs over 6 innings in season debut for Astros in 5-3 win over Nats

Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings to win his season debut for the Houston Astros 5-3 over the Washington Nationals

APRIL 20, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Verlander allows 2 runs over 6 innings in season debut for Astros

Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in the three-time Cy Young Award winner’s season debut for the Houston Astros, a 5-3 win over the Washington Nation...

APRIL 20, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

With Ruiz sidelined, Adams impressing behind the dish OAKLAND -- Whether he is in the lineup that day or not, Riley Adams is engaged. Attending pitchers meetings, studying scouting reports, comm...

APRIL 15, 2024 • MLB.COM

MacKenzie Gore strikes out 11 as Nationals beat Athletics 3-1

MacKenzie Gore tied a career high with 11 strikeouts, CJ Abrams hit an RBI triple and the Washington Nationals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Saturday

APRIL 13, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Abrams homers, drives in 3 as Nationals beat Giants 5-3

CJ Abrams homered and drove in three runs after missing three games with a bruised left pinkie and the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Tuesday night

APRIL 10, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Already shorthanded, Nationals drop home opener after thin bullpen snaps Manager Dave Martinez had just five relievers available, and they could not keep Washington in the game after Riley Adams tied the score in...

APRIL 2, 2024 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 5-0 for the first time since 1983 after beating the Nationals 8-4

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 5-0 for the first time since 1983

APRIL 1, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Set as No. 2 catcher Adams will begin the season as the Nationals' backup catcher behind Keibert Ruiz.

Impact Adams was surprisingly productive at the plate in 2023, slashing .273/.331/.476 with four homers in 158 plate appearances, and he showed no signs of regression in camp. Ruiz will see a heavy workload, but Adams has earned the trust of the pitching staff and could see more consistent action in 2024, giving him some fantasy appeal as a cheap endgame catcher in deep formats.

MARCH 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to 60-day IL The Nationals transferred Adams (wrist) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Adams underwent season-ending surgery on his left hand/wrist Sept. 11, so his move to the 60-day IL is simply procedural. The 27-year-old slashed .273/.331/.476 with 21 RBI through 158 plate appearances in 2023, and he is expected to be fully recovered before the start of spring training. Tanner Rainey (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list to fill Adams' spot on the 40-man roster.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets hand surgery Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Adams underwent successful surgery to repair the fractured hamate bone in his left wrist, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Adams is expected to be fully healed from the procedure ahead of spring training in February. Drew Millas will serve as the top backup to Keibert Ruiz for the rest of the season while Adams is on the shelf. Adams finishes his second full season in Washington with a .273/.331/.476 slash line to go with four home runs, 21 RBI and eight runs across 158 plate appearances over 44 games.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals place C Riley Adams on IL with broken hand Washington Nationals catcher Riley Adams will miss the rest of the season with a hand injury.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Lands on IL with hamate fracture Adams was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a fractured left hamate bone, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Adams suffered the injury during Wednesday's win over the Mets and will require season-ending surgery. It's a bummer of an ending to what has been a nice season as a part-timer for the 27-year-old, as Adams produced a .273/.331/.476 batting line with four home runs in 44 games as Keibert Ruiz's understudy.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Being evaluated for hamate injury Team officials fear Adams (hand) may have injured his left hamate bone in Wednesday's win over the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Adams departed the game after tweaking his left hand/wrist on a pinch-hit swing in the bottom of the eighth inning. X-rays were inconclusive, which isn't usually a good sign, and he is scheduled undergo an MRI on Thursday. If it's a hamate bone fracture, the 27-year-old catcher would be done for the remainder of the 2023 season.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting MRI on hand Thursday Adams was removed from Wednesday's game against the Dodgers with a left hand injury, and he will get an MRI done Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Adams entered Wednesday's contest as a pinch hitter for Travis Blankenhorn, but Adams injured his hand after fouling off a pitch and wasn't able to finish his at-bat. Initial X-rays came back inconclusive, so more information won't be available until Adams' MRI results come back Thursday, but early indications don't seem promising for the 27-year-old backstop.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Retreats to bench Adams is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact While Keibert Ruiz had experienced some lightheadness, Adams started at catcher in each of the last four games, going 1-for-15 with nine strikeouts. Even though the Nationals called up Drew Millas from Triple-A Rochester on Monday to provide extra insurance behind the dish, Ruiz has been cleared to resume catching duties and will step in as Washington's starting backstop in the series opener in Toronto. Adams is expected to see his playing time take a hit moving forward.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets fourth straight start Adams will start at catcher and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Adams will receive a fourth straight turn behind the dish in place of Keibert Ruiz (head) after going 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the previous three contests. Per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post, manager Dave Martinez said he elected to give Ruiz another day off Sunday on the advice of the Nationals' medical staff, but Ruiz is expected to rejoin the lineup Monday in Toronto. If that's the case, Adams will end up seeing a significant reduction in playing time moving forward.

AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earning more playing time Adams went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and three RBI in Saturday's 11-6 win over the Mets.

Impact The 27-year-old backstop is having a breakout season, and through 100 plate appearances he's slashing .304/.354/.565 with four homers and 15 RBI. Adams isn't going to bump Keibert Ruiz out of the top spot on the depth chart, but he has started three of the last seven games and should continue to earn a bigger share of the workload at catcher as long as he keeps producing at the plate.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE