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.

When Jake Irvin turned 27 on Sunday, it marked his first birthday as a Major League pitcher. While his status in pro baseball was different than last year, Irvin wanted to continue the same birthday celebration he has enjoyed since college.

“My last six birthdays, I've gone to Applebee's,” Irvin said. “So I say I’ve got to keep the tradition going.”

Irvin’s annual meal consists of boneless buffalo wings with ranch dressing. No appetizers, no dessert -- he likes the simplicity of the tried-and-true order.

“I go for the wings, stay for the wings and celebrate a nice, beautiful birthday with Applebee’s wings,” Irvin said.

Irvin made the most of his age-26 season last year. Following his first Major League camp, he was called up from Triple-A Rochester and debuted May 3. Irvin established himself in Washington’s starting rotation, two years removed from missing all of 2021 because of Tommy John surgery on his right arm. He went 3-7 with a 4.61 ERA in 24 starts across 121 innings.

The Nationals are looking for Irvin to continue that progress this season as a young arm alongside right-hander Josiah Gray, 26, and lefty MacKenzie Gore, who turns 25 this week. They have tasked him with working on his changeup, which he threw for five percent of his pitches last season, to create separation from his fastball.

“With him, it’s just repeating his delivery, pounding the strike zone,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He made some big strides last year from when we first got him to the end. It was a lot for our young pitchers to go through, but they went through it. … This year, knock on wood, if everything goes well, we’ll hope that he can ride the season all the way through.”

From an auxiliary locker in the clubhouse as a prospect last February, to a spot alongside the fellow starters, Irvin is excited to prepare for a full season in the Majors.

“I'd say the routine is just a little bit different, more comfortable knowing these guys a lot better,” Irvin said. “It’s easier to walk into a clubhouse with a bunch of familiar faces instead of being kind of the new guy. The comfortability is a lot different. It allows me to go about my business and do the things that I worked on all offseason, and just prep every day and make the most of it.”

No. 27 is looking forward to the next year of being 27.

“It’s my ‘Irvin year,’” he said with a laugh.