WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As Saturday’s exhibition opener creeps closer, the Nationals are trying to make sure they cover all their bases during these final days of full-squad workouts. Literally.
This morning’s session included the entire defense on the field as one, specifically working on proper relay technique. Outfielders tracked down balls hit to the gaps or corners. Infielders positioned themselves to either receive the relay throw, back up the relay throw or cover an open base. Pitchers ran to their correct backup position in foul territory.
It can all sound mundane, especially for players at the major league level. But manager Davey Martinez pointed out the importance of everyone involved getting it right.
“It is repetitive, but what we’re trying to teach them is: These things do matter,” Martinez said. “The dropping of the ball, the making of a good throw to the bases, to understand that you don’t leave your feet if the guy throws the ball, we’ve got a trail guy behind, all that stuff. Believe it or not, when you see them do it, sometimes they forget. As I always say … we treat these guys like they’re from Mars, they don’t know anything from the game.”
Martinez believes the Nationals cost themselves runs during the course of the 2024 season with seemingly little mistakes that allowed runners to take extra bases (especially trailing runners). That’s why he wants all cut-offs to be caught cleanly, and why he wants the other infielders and pitchers in correct position to cover bases or back up the play in case someone does try to steal an extra 90 feet.
“We talk about when the play starts, it’s also about finishing the play,” the manager said. “That’s the big thing we work on: Finishing the play, making the good throw. Everyone has somewhere to be.
“These are the things we’re going to continue to work on, continue to harp on. So that we get better at it, so that it becomes reactionary. They don’t think about it. They just know where they need to be when the ball is hit.”
* Today’s live batting practice sessions featured several pitchers engaging in that workout for the second time this week. That included Michael Soroka, who actually simulated two innings of work, taking a 10-minute break between throwing sessions to make sure he built his arm up in advance of his upcoming game debut.
Soroka, signed for $9 million over the winter, finished last season in the White Sox bullpen. But he’s been a starter throughout his career and is prepping to be a starter again, going back to his previous spring routines.
“I saw the second (inning), and it was really, really good,” Martinez said. “His four-seam, his two-seam was really good. His changeup was again really, really good. I’m very pleased with the way he threw. I know he was happy about how he threw the ball today as well. That’s awesome.”
Shinnosuke Ogasawara only threw one “inning” during his second live BP session, but the Japanese lefty still put in plenty of work. Before even taking the mound, he threw 50 warmup pitches in the bullpen, far more than anyone else would typically throw.
The Nationals continue to work with Ogasawara on developing a routine that combines his traditional prep work from Japan (where he only pitched once a week) with a more typical major league routine (where starters pitch every five days).
“It’s going to take some getting used to,” Martinez said, “but he’s done well so far.”
* We finally know who’s starting Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Astros (for real this time): Jake Irvin.
Though MacKenzie Gore was originally announced as Saturday’s starter, the Nats changed plans after learning Gore wanted to be able to throw two innings in his game debut. That required more prep time and a second live BP session (which he threw Wednesday).
So it’ll be Irvin first out of the chute in the exhibition opener, looking to build off his strong 2024 season.
The rest of the team’s pitching plan for the start of Grapefruit League play is forthcoming.