Adams, Vargas make most of rare chance to start

SAN FRANCISCO – Riley Adams doesn’t find himself in this position very often, greeted by teammates in the dugout after launching a three-run homer, so why wouldn’t the Nationals’ backup catcher crack a wide smile and don the colonial wig that has become this team’s new home run celebration?

“Just to be able to drive in some runs in that situation with two outs and help my team, that’s all that mattered there,” he said following the Nats’ 11-6 thumping of the Giants on Wednesday. “It’s pretty cool to see them, and it’s my first time putting on a wig in a while, so I was happy about that.”

Celebration opportunities are few and far between for Adams, because playing time is few and far between. This was the Nationals’ 37th game of the season, but it was only his sixth game played despite being on the active roster since Opening Day.

Such is life for the No. 2 catcher on a team that recently locked up its No. 1 catcher with an eight-year extension. Adams, though, is fine with the role. As are others on the Nationals bench who understand their job isn’t to get regular at-bats. It’s to be ready and make sure to make the most of the few at-bats they do get.

“I know my role. I’ve known my role from the get-go, from the start of the season,” backup infielder Ildemaro Vargas said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. “So I have to be prepared. I work off the field a lot more than most of the guys, because I have to be ready.”

Vargas, like Adams, got a rare chance to start at shortstop Wednesday, with CJ Abrams given the day off. And like Adams, he made the most of the opportunity, going 3-for-5 with a single, a double, a triple and three RBIs. He sent another drive to the warning track in left field that looked like it might be a home run off the bat.

That kind of offensive performance isn’t exactly expected from Vargas, owner of a .641 OPS in 248 career big league games with five different franchises. But the Nats saw last summer how the 31-year-old can provide a spark, whether with his stellar defensive play at three infield positions (and even occasionally in left field), his penchant for clutch hits and his constant energy on and off the field.

“Vargas is in every game,” manager Davey Martinez said. “He’s the voice right now in the clubhouse. You hear him all the time. He’s full of energy. But he’s also engaged. He’s there. He’s helping our youngsters out. But he’s ready to play.”

Always smiling, always chattering away with teammates in both English and Spanish, Vargas never seems to be in a bad mood. It helps that he’s batting .292 (7-for-24) with a .737 OPS following Wednesday’s game. But even if he wasn’t, his mood wouldn’t change.

“I think it’s just because I enjoy being here,” he said. “I enjoy being on the field. I know that one day I won’t be able to play anymore, so I want to take advantage and enjoy every opportunity I get to be on that field.”

Adams has a far more stoic personality, but the 26-year-old catcher is as friendly as anyone inside the Nationals clubhouse, always willing to engage in conversation, always perceptive to what’s going on around him. (To wit: He noted to reporters this week that the press box at Oracle Park was the lowest and closest to the field in the majors, which is correct and not the kind of thing a player would typically ever notice.)

The 2022 season was a struggle for Adams, who never found his groove at the plate and at one point was optioned to Triple-A Rochester so he could get more consistent playing time. He returned to D.C. in late summer but still finished with a paltry .176/.245/.310 slash line in 48 games.

Adams’ numbers so far this year (.217/.250/.391) aren’t appreciably better, but it’s such a small sample of games played that it’s hard to draw too many conclusions. No matter the stats, the Nationals appreciate how he handles a role that’s not easy for many to handle.

“He’s done really well,” Martinez said. “Look, what I really love about Riley is he handles our pitching staff really well. Even though he’s not catching every day, he does his homework. Today, he caught Josiah Gray, and caught him really well. And once again he comes up with a big hit. We talk a lot about if you go 1-for-4 and you drive in a run, and handle our pitching staff and we win, that’s a great day for you. Today, a big day for him.”

Adams may have savored his moment in the dugout, wearing the wig and waving a mini American flag as his teammates cheered him on. But his answer after the game to a question about his contribution to the win underscored his overall mindset, the kind of mindset a bench player needs to maintain.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “But I think, more importantly, the whole lineup was hitting today. That’s even more gratifying to see.”