WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Carter Kieboom - Likely to miss Opening Day Kieboom (forearm) has been shut down from baseball activities and could begin the season on the injured list, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a flexor mass strain Saturday, and while the Nationals don't have an official timetable for his recovery, the condensed spring makes it unlikely he'll be ready in time for Opening Day. "I feel bad for him," manager Dave Martinez said. "And honestly, I feel bad for us. We count on him to be our third baseman. And I'm not saying that he's not, but it's just going to take some time." Kieboom will undergo further testing this week once swelling has gone down to rule out a possible UCL tear, an injury that could result in Tommy John surgery and possibly sideline Kieboom for a much more significant length of time. Non-roster invitee Maikel Franco might now be the favorite to start at third base when the regular season begins, although utility players Ehire Adrianza and Richard Urena may also factor into the mix.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

For Gray, '22 brings chance to make strides WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Josiah Gray took a moment to regroup between innings. He had allowed three home runs in the first -- one coming o...

MARCH 20, 2022 • MLB.COM

Maikel Franco - Could fill in for Kieboom Franco could fill in for Carter Kieboom (forearm) at third base for the Nationals, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports. Franco is currently a non-roster invitee to Spring...

Impact Kieboom, who was thought to be the favorite for the starting job at the hot corner, has been shut down after being diagnosed with a flexor mass strain and is likely to begin the season on IR. In 2021 with the Orioles, Franco hit 11 home runs with a .210 batting average. Franco uses a pull-heavy approach with a career Pull% of 45.5%, yet hits a ton of groundballs (46.2%). Last season, Franco's 113.9 mph maximum exit velocity ranked in the 91st percentile, but he had a 5.1% Barrel%.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals shut down 3B Carter Kieboom, making him unlikely for Opening Day The elbow injury marks the latest chapter in a still-early career that hasn't taken off yet for the former first-round pick.

MARCH 20, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Mets 6, Nationals 2

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carter Kieboom - Diagnosed with flexor mass strain Kieboom has been diagnosed with a flexor mass strain in his right forearm, reports Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com

Impact Kieboom was a scratch from Friday's lineup due to elbow soreness, resulting in an MRI that revealed the strain. Kieboom will undergo further testing to make sure there's no ligament damage. There is currently no timetable for Kieboom's return.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nats skipper Martinez lobbied for night games this spring

Washington manager Dave Martinez wanted the Nationals to play more night games this spring to get players accustomed to a regular-season schedule

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Connolly: Orioles (and Nationals) TV broadcasters aren't traveling to start the season — that's a MASN classic Of MLB's 30 teams, the Orioles are currently the only organization that have TV and radio crews staying home for road games to begin 2022.

MARCH 19, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cesar Hernandez - Hits leadoff in spring opener Hernandez got the start at second base in Friday's Grapefruit League opener against the Marlins, hitting leadoff and going 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez trotted out a top of the order that could mirror what he uses in the regular season, with shortstop Alcides Escobar hitting second, Juan Soto hitting third as the DH and first baseman Josh Bell batting cleanup. Nelson Cruz will likely factor into the mix as well, but Hernandez could be a solid source of runs batting ahead of that group on a regular basis. The veteran infielder is coming off a down year in which he slashed .232/.308/.386 over 149 games for Cleveland and the White Sox, but prior to 2021 Hernandez had posted an OBP better than .350 in four of the five previous seasons.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luis García - Not guaranteed roster spot Garcia could wind up beginning the season at Triple-A if he doesn't prove to manager Dave Martinez he's ready for an everyday role, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Prior to Friday's spring-training opener against the Marlins, Martinez indicated that he viewed veteran Alcides Escobar as his starting shortstop, not Garcia. "I want to make sure that Luis, when he's in the big leagues, that he's going to stay," Martinez said by way of explanation. "I really don't want him to platoon; I want him to play every day. And he did a lot better last year against left-handed pitching, which was good, so I want to see him consistently do the little things every day." The 21-year-old Garcia was assumed to be the replacement for Trea Turner at short as the Nationals re-tool around younger players who can grow along with Juan Soto, so Martinez's statement could be seen simply as a way to motivate the youngster at the beginning of camp. On the other hand, Garcia's .242/.275/.411 slash line in 70 big-league games last season does suggest he still has plenty to learn at the plate, even if a return to Triple-A seems unnecessary after he posted a .303/.371/.599 line with 13 homers in 37 games for Rochester in 2021.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alcides Escobar - Could be Opening Day shortstop Escobar "is going to play every day" this season according to Nationals manager Dave Martinez, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's a bit of a head-scratcher why Martinez would commit to a 35-year-old starting shortstop in Escobar instead of handing the reins to 21-year-old Luis Garcia, who was thought to be the heir apparent to Trea Turner, but the manager wants the youngster to prove he's ready for a starting role in the majors. "I want to make sure that Luis, when he's in the big leagues, that he's going to stay," Martinez said Friday. "I really don't want him to platoon; I want him to play every day. And he did a lot better last year against left-handed pitching, which was good, so I want to see him consistently do the little things every day." This could just be a motivational tool directed at Garcia, but he has minor-league options left and if he does wind beginning the season at Triple-A, Escobar would have the shortstop job to himself. The former Royal batted .288/.340/.404 in 75 games for the Nats last season, his first in MLB since 2018, but even in a starting role his lack of power or speed would make him a marginal fantasy option.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals want top prospect Cade Cavalli to trust his elite pitches as he moves closer to the big leagues Cavalli's fastball has already hit 99 mph early in camp, but he remains likely to start the season in Triple A.

MARCH 19, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Josh Rogers - Aiming to win rotation spot Rogers gave up one run over two innings in Friday's Grapefruit League start as he works to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact The southpaw made six starts for the Nationals at the end of last year and didn't look out of place with a 3.28 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, although his 22:14 K:BB in 35.2 innings and .236 BABIP were both discouraging markers. Josiah Gray and Patrick Corbin seem to be the only two pitchers locked into rotation spots right now with Stephen Strasburg (neck) likely not ready for the beginning of the season, so a strong camp from Rogers should allow him to claim one of the vacancies. Given his lackluster arsenal and poor career strikeout numbers in the minors, however, he may not be able to repeat even his modest 2021 success.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins 8, Nationals 3

MARCH 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carter Kieboom - Getting MRI on elbow Kieboom was scratched from Friday's lineup due to right elbow soreness and he will have an MRI on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. "It worries me a little bit," manag...

Impact This seems a bit ominous, especially considering an MRI has already been scheduled. Kieboom should be considered questionable for Opening Day. Maikel Franco and Alcides Escobar are options to fill in at third base while Kieboom is out.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Vet Escobar on track for everyday role; Doo, Stras throw WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- In an infield deep with options to be explored in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez has an early ide...

MARCH 19, 2022 • MLB.COM

For a Nats team building for the future, veteran Alcides Escobar is shortstop of the present The Nationals enter this season walking a line between trying to be competitive in the present and building for the future. No position is a...

MARCH 19, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Carter Kieboom - Scratched from lineup Kieboom was scratched from the lineup for Friday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Marlins for an undisclosed reason, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact It's not clear whether Kieboom is dealing with an injury or whether he'll be available as a pinch hitter against Miami. Maikel Franco will start at third base and bat seventh Friday.

MARCH 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Corbin - Focused on working down in zone Corbin intends to work on keeping his pitches down this season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The veteran left-hander did just that in two simulated innings Wednesday, and what little success Corbin experienced in 2021 came when he attacked the bottom of the strike zone. The 32-year-old admitted Wednesday he got away from that approach last year in an effort to give up fewer homers. "Sometimes when you have a couple starts where you struggle and you're looking at those things a little too much, it's like, 'Hey, you got to pitch up more,' " Corbin explained at his locker Wednesday morning. "And it's kind of... not everyone is like that. Not everyone can do that or has the stuff for that." He's not too far removed from a 2019 campaign in which he posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a 28.5 percent strikeout rate, and the Nationals desperately need Corbin to regain something close to that form with Max Scherzer now a Met and Stephen Strasburg still recovering from last summer's thoracic outlet surgery. If he can put together a solid spring, Corbin might even take the mound Opening Day for Washington.

MARCH 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Corbin could start Opening Day for the Nationals. He has a lot to improve on. Corbin was one of the league's worst pitchers in 2021, allowing 37 home runs and 111 earned runs in 31 starts.

MARCH 18, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Nelson Cruz — DH, mentor, nap guy — has arrived with the Nationals Cruz's arrival at Nationals camp sparked excitement around the team facility.

MARCH 17, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Nats new bopper Cruz makes immediate impact with pitcher tip

The Washington Nationals signed 41-year-old slugger Nelson Cruz to be their designated hitter, now that the National League will have a DH on a full-time basis

MARCH 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jhon Romero - Designated for assignment Romero was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Romero got his first taste of major-league action in 2021 and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three in four innings with the Nationals. He'll now lose his spot on the 40-man roster after Washington signed Nelson Cruz, but he'll likely have the chance to provide depth in the bullpen at some point in 2022 if he remains in the organization.

MARCH 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Doolittle, back with the Nationals, feels he has a lot to prove Doolittle returns after spending last season with the Reds and Mariners.

MARCH 16, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Guardians DH Franmil Reyes works with Nationals star Juan Soto on plate discipline Franmil Reyes has lowered his out-of-the-zone swing percentage the last three years, but it was still an area for improvement.

MARCH 16, 2022 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM