MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule

Nationals pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach in five days for the start of spring training. Two weeks later, as the Grapefruit League gets rolling, MASN will be in town for the first of seven exhibition broadcasts.

MASN’s spring broadcast schedule, revealed this morning, includes six games in Florida, plus the new-look exhibition finale in D.C. featuring the club’s Opening Day roster against the organization’s top prospects.

The spring training slate commences Feb. 28 when the Nats host the Red Sox at the newly renamed CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. The crew will be back four days later for a March 3 tilt with the Marlins.

Three of MASN’s spring broadcasts are for road games, though two of those (March 9 and 22) still take place in West Palm Beach, with the Astros the designated home team in the shared facility. But on March 15, the broadcast will originate from Port St. Lucie, where the Nats face the Mets at 6:05 p.m. in the nightcap of an exhibition doubleheader that opens with a 3:05 p.m. game between both club’s top prospects.

The Nationals’ March 17 home game against the Mets also will be broadcast live on MASN from West Palm Beach.

Grapefruit League play ends March 24, but the Nats still have one more exhibition to play March 26 at Nationals Park. That final tune-up, which traditionally has been played against an American League club making its way back up the East Coast, will come this time against the Nationals’ own top prospects, offering local fans a chance to see future major leaguers playing in a big league stadium for the first time.

Here’s the full exhibition broadcast schedule. All games on MASN, all times EDT:

Wed., Feb. 28 vs. Red Sox, 1 p.m.
Sun., March 3 vs. Marlins, 1 p.m.
Sat., March 9 at Astros, 12 p.m.
Fri., March 15 at Mets, 6 p.m.
Sun., March 17 vs. Mets, 1 p.m.
Fri., March 22 at Astros, 6 p.m.
Tue., March 26 vs. Nats Futures in D.C., 12 p.m.

The renaming of the ballpark following Thursday’s announcement of a multi-year sponsorship deal between the Nationals, Astros and CACTI hard seltzer, will become official prior to the Feb. 24 Grapefruit League opener at the ballpark.

Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Travis Scott, who owns the CACTI brand, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the scheduled 6:05 p.m. game between the Nats and Astros.

The jointly used spring facility opened in 2017 as The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches but was renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in 2018 following a sponsorship deal. That arrangement expired in 2022, and the stadium reverted to its original name the last two seasons. This new deal with CACTI is for multiple years, according to a press release announcing it.

“We are pleased to partner with CACTI Hard Seltzer and the people behind the brand to continue offering our guests a first-class experience,” Lerner Sports Group chief operating officer Alan Gottlieb said in a statement. “This relationship will ensure that CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches remains a top entertainment destination, attracting individuals from around the area for sporting events, concerts and more.”

* The Nationals have signed four more pitchers with major-league experience to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training in recent days, according to the club’s official transactions page and sources familiar with the moves: right-handers Luke Farrell, Luis Perdomo, Stephen Nogosek and Adonis Medina.

Farrell has 69 games of big-league experience with the Royals, Reds, Cubs, Rangers and Twins, going 5-5 with a 5.00 ERA across 102 2/3 innings. The son of former Red Sox and Blue Jays manager John Farrell, the 32-year-old pitched last season for the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, finishing with a 5.56 ERA and 1.673 WHIP in 37 games (seven starts).

Perdomo has 147 games of experience, 61 of those starts, with the Padres and Brewers, compiling a 23-31 record, 5.12 ERA and 1.498 WHIP across 468 major-league innings. The 30-year-old went to Japan last season and thrived as a full-time reliever, delivering a 2.13 ERA and 1.263 WHIP in 53 games for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Nogosek has a 5.02 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 33 career games with the Mets, 13 of those coming last season. The 29-year-old was designated for assignment in June, refused an outright assignment to Triple-A and signed a week later with the Diamondbacks. He made 27 appearances for Triple-A Reno after that but struggled to a 6.55 ERA and 1.758 WHIP.

Medina has pitched in 19 big-league games with the Phillies and Mets, with a 5.35 ERA and 1.557 WHIP. The 27-year-old spent last season in South Korea, posting a 6.05 ERA and 1.603 WHIP in 12 starts, but he lowered his ERA to 2.93 in nine games this winter pitching for the powerhouse Licey club in the Dominican Republic.