Lipscomb hopes to make most of surprise return to majors

CHICAGO – This wasn’t the season Trey Lipscomb expected. And it’s certainly not the way he expected it to end, with a surprise promotion to the majors for the final week after CJ Abrams’ unexpected, disciplinary demotion.

But here Lipscomb is, getting one last chance to make an impression on the Nationals before season’s end. And he wants to make the most of it and head into the winter feeling good about the way things wrapped up.

“Honestly, just finish strong,” the infielder said. “That’s been my mentality at Triple-A: Finish strong. And I feel like I’ve been able to do that. I feel like the last week of the year, that’s what you want to do.”

This is, remarkably, Lipscomb’s fifth stint in the big leagues this year. He didn’t technically make the Opening Day roster, but he joined the Nats in Cincinnati the next day after Nick Senzel suffered a freak thumb injury during warmups. He spent the next six months bouncing back and forth between the majors and Triple-A, unable to produce enough offensively to stick up here but always on the club’s speed dial when a roster need arose.

His major league totals – a .207/.276/.239 slash line with three doubles, one homer and 11 stolen bases in 205 plate appearances – don’t look great. But his glovework - especially at third base, where he has four Defensive Runs Saved - was top-notch.

At one point, the Nationals were considering Lipscomb as their second baseman if Luis García Jr. couldn’t make the necessary adjustments to realize his potential. But García’s impressive development this season changed those thoughts. And with top prospect Brady House expected to be the third baseman at some point early in 2025, Lipscomb’s best hope now figures to be in a utility role.

To that end, he had played all around the diamond in his latest stint in Rochester, including games in left field this month.

His offensive numbers at Triple-A (.283/.346/.392, 14 doubles, four homers, eight steals in 264 plate appearances) were better, and he said he’s made a point more recently to work on developing a better power stroke.

“I feel like, throughout my career, I’ve been a good bat-to-ball hitter,” he said. “So I would just put it in play, make contact with it. Down there, I was working on really trying to drive the ball.”

Lipscomb is starting today at third base, with José Tena at second and García sitting after serving as DH on Saturday in his first action since hurting his wrist earlier in the week in New York. There could be a few more opportunities for him to start during this final week.

Whatever happens, the 24-year-old will head home for the winter with plenty to contemplate about his well-traveled 2024 season.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I’m just grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given,” he said. “I feel like that’s what’s going to make me better as a person, not only on the field but off the field.”