"Comfortable" Espinosa could be the Nats' opening day third baseman

VIERA, Fla. - With one week left before the start of the regular season, it's looking more and more like Danny Espinosa will be the Nationals' starting third baseman on opening day. Anthony Rendon, the team's everyday third baseman, hasn't played since March 9 due to a sprained left MCL. Williams hasn't officially ruled Rendon out for next Monday's opener, but I think it's a safe assumption considering he hasn't taken an at-bat in three weeks.

For Espinosa to start any game, let alone on opening day, at a position he began playing less than two weeks ago may be considered a surprise of major proportions. When Espinosa jogged out to play third base in the ninth inning against the Tigers on March 19, it was the first time he ever kicked the dirt around at the hot corner in his life. Not in the pros, not in high school, not even in tee-ball. That tells you just how much the Nationals value Espinosa's defensive abilities.

"Well I think Danny's capable of playing any defensive position that there is," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "I think he's going to be a really good defensive third baseman."

Nationals manager Matt Williams starred at third base throughout his 17-year career. He's been working with Espinosa at his old position for the past few weeks and says he would feel confident penciling him right now for a regular season game.

"Comfortable, yeah," Williams said. "He's getting there. We'll work again (Monday) and we've got some time left, but he's playing well. He's getting accustomed to the angles over there. It still will take some time. He's improving, for sure."

Williams has given Espinosa a handful of starts and Espinosa has responded with steady play, including flashing some serious leather a few times during yesterday's win over the Marlins.

"I'm pretty comfortable. Just trying to catch it and get the outs," Espinosa said modestly. "Just trying not to overthink. Trying to be comfortable. Just trying to play the position the best I can."

All 441 of Espinosa's career big league games have been played at either second base or shortstop, where he's been widely considered the Nationals' best defensive infielder. Espinosa sees a distinct difference at the corner of the diamond compared to the middle of the field.

"Some of the hops," he said. "Some of the balls that really topspin or balls that really hook and really take off toward the line. Maybe you don't have time like you do up the middle to get your feet around or set. It's more of a reactionary position."

The Nats had already thrown a lot at Espinosa this spring when they asked him to drop switch-hitting in favor of batting only from the right side of the plate. Just as Espinosa had never played third in his life, he had only known how to approach the plate as a switch-hitter since basically the first time he picked up a bat in his youth.

"His stroke right-on-right has been very good," Rizzo said. "I think he's come a long way. What we thought we would see is improved bat speed and club-head speed and a guy that can really drive the ball because he's a top-hand dominant hitter. I think he's getting more and more comfortable each and every day."

Espinosa is hitting a lowly .159 this spring, managing just seven hits in 44 at-bats with 14 strikeouts, though he does have a home run and a couple of doubles. Either way, it seems as though his defensive prowess far outweighs his mostly unproductive bat. With a week to go, it appears the Nats consider him as the best option to start at third base.

"If I get the opportunity, I'll be happy," Espinosa said. "Wherever I can be to be out there and to help out and do what I can to help the team win, I'll be pretty happy doing that."