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.
Have you started your countdown to Spring Training? Calendars are circled? Perhaps bags are packed to go watch it in person? In just eight days, pitchers and catchers will be taking the field for their first workout of 2023.
Before action is underway at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, check out three storylines to watch in Nationals camp.
Starting third-base role: The starting third-base job has been determined in Spring Training in recent years, and the final decision will be made in camp this season, too. Veteran Jeimer Candelario signed with Washington in November, and he expressed an interest in an everyday role at the hot corner, the position he has played the majority of his seven-year career. (Last season, Candelario made 112 starts at third with the Tigers.)
The Nationals also will give reps to Carter Kieboom, who is returning from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. Kieboom, 25, played a combined 91 games at third base for Washington from 2020-21. Prospect Jake Alu made a case for big league consideration following a breakout Triple-A performance, and veteran utility infielder Ildemaro Vargas is returning after making 43 starts at third last year.
Possible additions to starting rotation: The Nationals are heading into Spring Training with five starters -- Cade Cavalli, Patrick Corbin, MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray and Trevor Williams. There is no timetable for the return of Stephen Strasburg in his rehab from a stress reaction in his second and third ribs related to his thoracic outlet surgery. The Nats could add depth to their starting rotation if a candidate emerges during camp, too.
General manager Mike Rizzo said at Winter Meetings, “Few seasons you go through a season with five starting pitchers. You never have enough depth.” On Saturday, Washington signed six-year veteran Chad Kuhl to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. The right-hander went 6-11 with a 5.72 ERA in 27 starts, including a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers, last season with the Rockies.
Vying for bullpen spots on Minor League contracts: The ‘pen was one of Washington’s biggest strengths last season, and there are several relievers with Minor League deals looking to join that group on the big league roster. These pitchers include: southpaws Sean Doolittle, Francisco Pérez and Anthony Banda as well as right-handers Alex Colomé, Wily Peralta, Anthony Castro, Hobie Harris and Tommy Romero.
It was just last year that Víctor Arano, Carl Edwards Jr., Erasmo Ramírez and Jordan Weems entered spring camp on Minor League contracts and made strong enough impressions in Florida to earn spots in the Nats’ bullpen during the season.
Senior Reporter Jessica Camerato covers the Nationals for MLB.com.
