Call 'gets after it' as outfield opportunity arises with Nats

PHOENIX -- As the Trade Deadline approached, the Nationals found themselves with a vacancy in the outfield.

Washington called up Alex Call from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday after the Nats traded Jesse Winker to the Mets on Saturday night. The following day, they dealt Lane Thomas to the Guardians.

Manager Dave Martinez penciled Call into the starting lineup in right field for the series opener against the D-backs on Monday. Call responded by hitting a home run in his first at-bat.

“Any time you get called up, it’s great. It’s obviously all that you want,” Call said. “You want to be here. This is where I see myself. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to be here and be with the guys.”

Call, 29, is batting 4-for-8 in his third stint with the Nationals this season, including Wednesday afternoon’s 5-4 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field. He has driven in three runs, stolen one base and drawn four walks to one strikeout.

“He played really well, he really did,” Martinez said. “You know what you’re going to get from Alex every day. He’s going to play hard regardless of what happens. He works good at-bats. As you saw, he gets after it in the outfield. And that’s all we can ask from him.”

Call batted .222 in 75 games with the Red Wings this season, but recent adjustments saw him averaging .321 in 21 contests this month. Call batted .391 in his last 15 Triple-A games.

When he was recalled, Call ranked first in the Nationals’ system in walks, fourth in home runs, RBIs and on-base percentage, fifth in OPS and seventh in slugging percentage.

“Just a little bit of an approach change and kind of a target change,” Call said. “That kind of brought out a little bit of a mechanical change, too.”

Since Monday, Call has made two starts in right field and one in center. He shifted to left in-game on Tuesday and from center to right on Wednesday. Call played all three outfield positions this season in Triple-A.

“It’s the same with everything, no matter where you're at in the outfield,” Call said. “You’ve got to believe that every pitch, it’s going to be a game-saving play. If you have that mindset and intensity every pitch, it gives you the chance to make not only the routine plays but the special plays, and that's the key.”

Thomas, 28, had been the veteran outfield presence playing alongside rookie James Wood (MLB’s No. 2 overall prospect) in left field and center fielder Jacob Young, who is in his first full Major League season. Now, the Nats will look for players to emerge as leaders in the outfield.

“It’s going to be a little weird without him because he was our veteran guy for those guys,” Martinez said of Thomas. “But these guys, they get it. They understand somebody else has got to step up. I love the way Jake plays center field, as we know. Alex did a great job today out there trying to give Jake a day off.”

Call logged his 185th Major League game on Wednesday. He is eager to capitalize on his latest opportunity with Washington.

“This is the big leagues, and this is where I believe I belong,” Call said. “I believe in myself, and I’m grateful that the organization has me here and is putting me in the lineup.

“All I can do is play my game. I feel great. I feel really confident in what I've been doing and the adjustments I've been able to make. I really just can't wait to give it all I've got, play how I always do and help our team.”