Call bringing 'all-out' energy to Nationals

WASHINGTON -- If Alex Call’s calendar wasn’t written in pencil, it should have been.

After making his Major League debut with the Guardians on July 11, the 27-year-old outfielder was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 1, designated for assignment by Cleveland on Aug. 5, claimed off waivers by the Nationals and assigned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 7, then called up to the bigs on Sunday.

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Try having anticipated that in permanent marker.

“[I] got about four hours of sleep last night and took the 6:40 [a.m. flight] from Rochester [N.Y.] to D.C.,” Call said at his locker around 10:30 a.m. ET before the 12:05 p.m. first pitch. “And here we are.”

Call, a third-round Draft pick of the White Sox in 2016, spent six years in the Minors working his way to his big league promotion last month. Though his time with the Guardians was short -- he went 2-for-12 in 12 games -- his Triple-A resume told the story of his potential. Call hit .280 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 46 RBIs, 56 runs scored and a .912 OPS in 71 games with the Clippers this season.

“When I first saw that we claimed him, I’m like, ‘Dang, that’s a good get. I can’t believe Cleveland let him go,’” said Nationals catcher and former Cape Cod League teammate Tres Barrera. “I knew it was just a matter of time before he was going to be up here.”

The Nationals brought up Call for the series finale against the Padres looking to add bats to face left-hander Blake Snell. Call got the start in left field and was plugged into the leadoff spot. He went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Washington’s 6-0 loss at Nationals Park, but the Nats project that to change with additional reps after a whirlwind first day with the team.

“We feel like he can get on base for us,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He’s a gap-to-gap guy, plays all three outfield positions. We liked him, he was doing really well in Rochester, so he’s going to get an opportunity to play up here.”

Call brings a “110 percent” mentality to baseball. He emphasized the importance of sticking to a routine, something he has valued since his early pro days.

“I like to play the game all out,” Call said. “Whether it’s chasing down fly balls or running out ground balls. I take pride in my at-bats. I think my best trait is the ability to compete. I love to go out there and face the best of the best and know that I’m prepared with what I’ve done, how I’ve prepared for the game against the pitcher. All that gives me confidence to go out there and do what I do best: compete.”

When Barrera played with Call on the 2015 Orleans Firebirds, he remembered Call being the first one to arrive and last one to leave the field.

“I can’t say enough about him; everything that I have to say about him is positive,” said Barrera. “[He] plays the game hard, plays the game right and works his tail off, day in and day out. I loved having him on my team then, and I’m sure I’m going to love having him on my team now.”

Call has experienced significant highs and lows of the game in just more than a month. He hustled to reach the goal of wearing a Guardians uniform, and now he will work to earn playing time in a Nationals jersey.

“I try not to read into stuff too much, but it’s great to be wanted and to be put right back onto a 40-man roster and then get called up,” Call said. “Everything outside of that is really out of my control. That’s what I think has helped me have the most success this year, is just focusing on what my lane is and what I’m doing.”