This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato's Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

To describe Dee Strange-Gordon as a super utility player is an understatement. Not only is the 34-year-old veteran involved in every aspect of the game, he is making an impact off the field, too.

“I took a break, I got a recharge,” Strange-Gordon said. “It wasn’t easy, but I did some things on the professional level outside of baseball that I never thought I could.”

Strange-Gordon turned being released by the Reds in late March 2021 into an opportunity to use his time to give back to his community. Shortly thereafter, he and his uncle founded D&D Property Groups to build affordable homes in his hometown of Avon Park, Fla. They are working toward the initial completion of 12 houses by 2024, with a goal of expanding to surrounding communities after that.

“You’re supposed to build blessings,” Strange-Gordon said. “We’re all here to help somebody else.”

In the meantime, Strange-Gordon got back into baseball and appeared in 54 Minor League games for the Brewers, Cubs and Pirates organizations last season, before he was released by Pittsburgh on Aug. 1. From then, he purchased 40 acres in Central Florida, cleared the brush with the help of his best friend and founded Black Sheep Farms.

The sprawling multipurpose land is the home to cows and donkeys -- “We’re just letting them live and be happy,” he explained -- serves as a place for Strange-Gordon to hit in the offseason and is the site of his future “barn-dominium.”

Strange-Gordon signed a Minor League deal with Washington this past winter with two new ventures on his resume. This season, he has added Nationals do-it-all infielder/outfielder/one-time reliever/emergency catcher to the list.  

“You’ve got one life -- live,” Strange-Gordon said with a smile. “That’s it. Go have some fun. Go find out what you can do.”