Rosario brings experience, versatility to Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Playing in the NL East with the Braves parts of the last three seasons, Eddie Rosario is no stranger to the Nationals. This camp, the veteran outfielder will vye to become a member of the team he has faced throughout his nine-year career.

“They gave me an opportunity, and I feel great to be a part of this great organization and help out any way I can,” Rosario, 32, said Friday prior to the Nationals’ 7-6 loss to the Cardinals.

Rosario joined the Nats on a Minor League deal this week that could be worth up to $4 million. He is in the mix to play left field, where he has logged 7,133 innings. In 130 games in left last season, Rosario posted a .983 fielding percentage and two outs above average. Washington does not yet have a set starter for that position. One option has been to fill it by committee along with Jesse Winker, Joey Gallo and Joey Meneses while Stone Garrett (fractured left fibula) continues to rehab.

Manager Dave Martinez also has talked to Rosario about getting reps in center field -- where he has played 384 1/3 frames -- for the first time since 2019. Victor Robles is returning from injury, while Jacob Young is contending after impressing in a late-season debut.

“It’ll give us another option [in center field],” Martinez said. “The thing is to get his bat in the lineup anywhere possible. We’re going to play him there this spring when he’s ready, see how he looks.”

Rosario’s bat could bolster a Nats lineup that recorded the fewest home runs in the NL last season. He hit 21 homers and slashed .255/305/.450 in 2023 after undergoing surgery in his right eye. Rosario’s expected slugging percentage (xSLG) ranked in the 60th percentile among all players.

“He's a threat,” Martinez said. “He can hit. He knows how to play the game, but he plays the game the right way. The things I really like about him are that he runs the bases well and he plays really good defense. He could put a jolt in the ball and help us drive in some runs. He’s a good left-handed hitter, so I'm looking forward to watching him play.”

Joining the Nationals halfway through camp, Rosario will ramp up over the next few days before seeing exhibition action. He already has taken fly balls with first-base coach Gerardo Parra and hit in the batting cage. His first appearance could be in the designated hitter role to get back into game mode.

“I'm just here to get ready,” Rosario said. “I know I'm playing a little catch up to a lot of the guys that were already here. I'm just trying to get to their level in every aspect of the game, and just make sure I'm ready and prepared for the season, and just receive any help I can from anybody here and get ready for the season.”

The 2021 World Series champion and National League Championship Series MVP has plenty of experience to offer, too. In a Major League camp with young teammates and top prospects, Rosario can be a source of advice while learning his new teammates.

“Obviously, he’s a winner,” Friday’s starter Josiah Gray said. “I think he’s going to be really good for our clubhouse, just to have another veteran guy in the outfield and in the lineup that Lane [Thomas] and CJ [Abrams] and all those guys can bounce things off of. … He’s not an easy at-bat; I know from facing him for all those years. I’m just excited to see how he provides some power and some production to our lineup.”